Bournonite from the
Machacamarca mine, Bolivia
No. BournBol10091
Bournonite
(twinned crystals) -
$550
One of the best quality Bournonites in the lot that I purchased. The photos do not do this piece justice as the luster is very good compared to most. It is a multi-crystal group comprising a few rather thick blades with stepped faces and the classic “gun metal” appearance. A few trivial nicks around the edges keep this from being a top-notch miniature, but the quality is there, and the fact that it is not a single crystal but rather a group of crystals, is rare from this mine.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 2.5 cm.
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No. BournBol10092
Bournonite
(highly lustrous twinned crystal) -
$500
A very fine toenail sized display specimen with superb luster, sharpness and overall appeal. The display side of the specimen is virtually undamaged and shows wonderful beveled faces with beautiful metallic silver reflectivity. The crystallization is wonderful, and for the quality, there are few this good from Machacamarca.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.7 cm.
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No. BournBol10093
Bournonite
(twinned crystals) -
$525
A great miniature size specimen from Machacamarca featuring wonderfully lustrous faces that have very sharp, distinct, “squared” corners and beautiful aesthetics. The crystals form a “heart”-shaped twin, and were it not for a small contact on the back corner, the display side of the piece would be pristine. For the size and the great balance of the crystals, this is certainly a good buy considering that so many specimens from this mine have serious damage problems.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.5 x 3.4 x 1.8 cm.
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No. BournBol10094
Bournonite
(twinned crystals) -
$600
A complete all the way around miniature size specimen with beautifully lustrous and smooth
twinned crystal faces that are accented by a pair of secondary crystals which are poking out of the middle of the main crystal. Were it not for a contact on the back of the piece, it would be a floater and even with the point of attachment, it is a lovely specimen with great blocky form.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.3 x 3.6 x 1.6 cm.
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No. BournBol10095
Bournonite
-
$550
A great full size miniature specimen comprising a few sharp, very lustrous, metallic crystals of Bournonite. The piece has a wonderful three-dimensional quality, and main crystal in the center is superb quality with defined striated faces. Groups of crystals like this are few and far between from Machacamarca, and this piece is one of the best of its size that I have had to offer.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 5.0 x 3.3 x 3.3 cm.
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No. BournBol10096
Bournonite
-
$375
An excellent single bladed crystal of Bournonite showing good luster with beautiful blocky and striated faces. The piece has a professional repair which does not detract from the overall character of the specimen. The “gun metal” appearance combined with the fine solitary form of the piece makes a great loose crystal of Bournonite from any locality.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.2 x 4.2 x 0.7 cm.
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No. BournBol10097
Bournonite
-
$275
This piece, despite our best efforts to photograph it, is actually a very attractive and worthwhile thumbnail specimen of Bournonite from Machacamarca. It hosts a pair of fine quality, sharp, lustrous, stepped, tabular crystals of a metallic silvery-grey color. There is a point of attachment on the right hand side of the piece, but is virtually damage free the rest of the way around.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.2 cm.
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No. BournBol10098
Bournonite
-
$100
A good representative Bournonite specimen from this mine hosting a few grey tabular crystals with decent luster and aesthetics. The crystals are associated with micro grey/white Quartz crystals.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.6 x 3.6 x 1.1 cm.
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No. BournBol10099
Bournonite
-
$475
For a small cabinet/large miniature display piece, a group of intergrown crystals such as this one is more than rare from this locality. The piece comprises several well-formed, tabular, metallic silvery “blades” with excellent luster and beveled faces. This cluster of Bournonite crystals from Machacamarca is one of the few of its kind that I have seen. The piece has one very unobtrusive minor repair, which is why I don’t have it price a few hundred dollars higher.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 6.0 x 5.2 x 3.2 cm.
Largest Crystal: 2.5 cm across
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No. BournBol100910
Bournonite
("cogwheel"-esque twins) -
$250
A hard to find “cogwheel”-esque group of sharp, thick, blocky modified
twinned crystals of Bournonite with excellent luster and aesthetics. The piece would be classified as a toenail, and displays well from several angles (my favorite being the first picture on the top). The stacked appearance of the crystals, combined with the bright metallic luster makes this one of the more unique smaller Bournonites I have handled from this mine.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.3 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm.
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No. BournBol100911
Bournonite
-
$225
This group of intergrown crystals shows good luster and a lovely metallic grey appearance. The crystals themselves are good quality for this mine, with stepped and striated faces. There is one repair on the side of the specimen, hence the reduced price, but it is still a nice reference specimen with larger sized crystals for the locality.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.1 x 3.5 x 2.2 cm.
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No. BournBol100912
Bournonite
-
$300
A wonderful single crystal of Bournonite showing BRIGHT metallic luster, and superb form. Crystals with high luster from this mine are not common, even in thumbnail sized crystals like this one. The piece is complete all the way around and damage free, save the base where it came off the host rock.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 2.6 x 1.6 x 0.5 cm.
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No. BournBol100913
Bournonite
-
$200
A good single Bournonite crystal with classic tabular form, good luster and relatively sharp faces. The alternating smooth and striated faces along with the metallic silver color and minor associated micro grey/white Quartz make this a good little reference specimen from this classic locality.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.0 x 2.9 x 1.2 cm.
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No. BournBol100914
Bournonite
-
$350
Matrix specimens of Bournonite from this mine are not common, the majority of the crystals end up getting blown off the host rock in the blast due to poor mining techniques. This sharp bladed crystal managed to stay on its matrix of modified Siderite rhombohedra and minor Pyrite. The Bournonite has super luster with small truncated faces along the edge. A pretty miniature specimen and aesthetic to boot.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.4 x 3.2 x 2.8 cm.
Largest Crystal: 1.7 cm.
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No. BournBol100915
Bournonite
-
$500
A choice toenail sized specimen featuring modified crystals of Bournonite with sharp faces, wonderful luster, eye-catching form and the classic silvery metallic appearance that is rare seen from this mine. The piece is in great shape overall, and is not just a single crystal as it has a small accenting crystal running perpendicular against the main crystal.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.2 x 2.9 x 1.5 cm.
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No. BournBol100916
Bournonite
on Siderite -
$550 (SOLD)
Matrix specimens of Bournonite from Machacamarca are hard to find, especially in the small cabinet to cabinet size range. Crude mining methods combined with brittle nature of the Bournonites (and sometimes their host rock) do not allow many crystals to leave the mine on matrix. This piece features a beautiful pair of very well defined, metallic, steel-grey color, sharp, lustrous, tabular crystals of Bournonite on bladed Siderite matrix with a minor dusting of micro Pyrite. For the size, aesthetics and quality of the piece, it is certainly one of the better specimens in this size range that I have had to offer in years.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 7.6 x 5.4 x 5.4 cm.
Largest Crystal: 2.1 cm. across
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No. BournBol100917
Bournonite
(superb twinned crystal) -
(SOLD)
Hands down, this is one of the finest miniature sized twinned crystals of Bournonite that I have seen from this mine. The amazing form, HIGH luster, and sheer perfection of the crystal make it a real treasure among so many poor quality pieces from this mine. The intense metallic reflections in the crystal faces along with the bright silvery color leave nothing to be desired in a single Bournonite crystal. The photos simply do not do this piece justice. The photos showing the beveled faces along the edge of the crystal are good representations of the quality, but still better in person. If you’re in the market for a superb quality, single Bournonite twinned crystal, this is a perfect specimen to add to your collection.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.6 x 3.2 x 1.0 cm.
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No. BournBol100918
Bournonite
on Siderite -
$225
Matrix specimens of Bournonite from Machacamarca are hard to find, especially in the small cabinet to cabinet size range. Crude mining methods combined with brittle nature of the Bournonites (and sometimes their host rock) do not allow many crystals to leave the mine on matrix. This piece features a nice, sharp, lustrous, “chisel”-shaped crystal Bournonite on bladed Siderite matrix with minor micro Pyrite. The quality of the crystal itself is actually very good, and certainly worthwhile for somebody looking to purchase a nice Bournonite crystal on matrix. Better in person !
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 5.7 x 3.8 x 3.7 cm.
Crystal: 1.4 cm. across
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No. BournBol100919
Bournonite
-
$450
The incredible luster, fine quality and beautiful arrangement of the crystals on this specimen make it one of the nicest toenail sized pieces from this mine that I have seen in a long time. The photos simply are not enough to convey the great appeal of this specimen. The piece has a wonderful combination of rather stout, thick blocky crystals along with delicate slender blades. A gorgeous Bournonite specimen for the locality, and one of the most attractive smaller sized
pieces I have seen.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm.
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No. BournBol100920
Bournonite
-
$600
Compared to their Chinese counterparts, a piece like this would typically be well over $1000, and for the size and quality, it is very fairly priced for what it is. Simply put, this piece is a large intergrown group of beautiful bladed, metallic, sharp, lustrous crystals that is rarely seen from this mine. Due to the nature of the piece, the photos were difficult to take, but there are several pronounced crystals with beautiful form and classic silver color. The piece is crystallized on all sides, and despite a few contacts, it is amazingly good shape for the material. Multi-crystallized specimens of this size are exceedingly difficult to obtain from Machacamarca, and this piece is certainly one-of-a-kind.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 7.7 x 4.0 x 3.2 cm.
Largest Crystal: 3.4 cm.
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No. BournBol100921
Bournonite
-
$300
A full-sized miniature specimen hosting several thick bladed crystals of metallic grey color Bournonite on a small layer of grey/white micro-crystallized Quartz. There is certainly a fair amount of Bournonite on this specimen, and it is a small miracle that the piece was not completely destroyed in the blast when it was found, let alone the fact that the crystals stayed on matrix!
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 5.2 x 4.8 x 2.8 cm.
Largest Crystal: 2.1 cm.
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No. BournBol100922
Bournonite
-
$575
A fantastic miniature specimen from this classic locality. It comprises several very attractive, sharp, tabular, “cogwheel”-shaped twinned crystals of metallic grey Bournonite forming what is a very well-balanced and eye-catching display piece. As you can see from the photos, the piece can be shown from several angles, and is virtually damage free on the main display side. Rarely are the Bournonites from this mine found in such attractive crystal groups like this one.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.2 x 3.4 x 2.8 cm.
Largest Crystal: 2.7 cm.
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No. BournBol100923
Bournonite
-
$550
The amazingly bright luster of this specimen along with the intricate faces of the crystals themselves makes this a very charming toenail sized specimen of Bournonite, not only from Bolivia, but any world locality. The piece is crystallized on both side, and except for the base where it came off the matrix, the piece is in remarkably fine condition all the way around. Sadly, the photos do not communicate the wonderful quality of this piece, and it is truly more striking in person, take my word for it.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.8 x 3.7 x 2.1 cm.
Largest Crystal: 3.7 cm.
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No. BournBol100924
Bournonite
-
$600
A dramatic and very three-dimensional miniature Bournonite to be sure. The excellent, modified bladed crystals jut out in several directions, giving the piece great visceral impact. Rarely are the specimens from Machacamarca this aesthetic, and unfortunately, the piece was not easy to photograph, and must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. The soft grey striated crystal faces are elegantly mixed among the smooth faces which make this piece all the more attractive.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.6 x 4.3 x 3.7 cm.
Largest Crystal: 3.5 cm.
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No. BournBol100925
Bournonite
(“cogwheel” twin) -
$400
This piece simply is better than the photos indicate. The HIGH luster of the faces combined with the alternating striations made it impossible to photograph and sadly look black in the pictures. The display side of this charming specimen is in great shape overall, and the robust crystals with their sharp surfaces are very hard to find from this mine. The piece is twinned and shows the classic “cogwheel” shape that was made famous by the classic specimens from Cornwall.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 3.4 x 3.0 x 2.8 cm.
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No. BournBol100926
Bournonite
(twinned crystals) -
$350
This piece hosts a well defined twinned crystal group of Bournonite with an obvious reentrant angle at the top. A soft grey luster and rather sharp faces make this piece a well-priced and attention-grabbing miniature that is not seen very often from Bolivia.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.8 x 3.7 x 3.2 cm.
Largest Crystal: 3.3 cm.
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No. BournBol100927
Bournonite
(“cogwheel”) -
$40
A small thumbnail “cogwheel”-shaped specimen with a few distinct, sharp octahedra of Pyrite. The specimen is in decent shape all the way around, but is more of a reference piece than anything else.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 1.5 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm.
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No. BournBol100928
Bournonite
-
$50
A rarely seen matrix specimen from this mine featuring a solitary, grey blade of Bournonite on micro Pyrite matrix. A fair piece for the size and quality, and a good opportunity for one to purchase an above average reference specimen with good aesthetics.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.3 x 3.7 x 3.0 cm.
Crystal: 1.5 cm. across
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No. BournBol100929
Bournonite
(“cogwheel” twin) -
$550
This piece features one of the nicest “cogwheel”-twinned crystal group of Bournonite that I have offered from Bolivia. The crystal group itself has excellent luster, with dozens of discreet, striated “cogs” that form the edge of this wide, tabular, metallic grey crystal which sits atop a matrix of mixed Quartz and Pyrite. To find a fine quality “cogwheel” such as this on matrix from Machacamarca is not common, and the photos honestly do not do this piece justice as it is much more eye-catching in person.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 7.2 x 4.5 x 3.6 cm.
Crystal: 3.3 cm. across
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No. BournBol100930
Bournonite
(“cogwheel” twin) -
$400
To find a fine quality “cogwheel” such as this on matrix from Machacamarca is not common, and the photos honestly do not do this piece justice as it is much more eye-catching in person. This piece features a very attractive “cogwheel”-twinned crystal group of Bournonite with superb luster sitting atop a matrix of micro Pyrite, Quartz and Sphalerite. The “cogwheel” features dozens of discreet, striated “cogs” that form the edge of this thick metallic grey crystal. One side of the crystal is contacted where it more than likely was removed from the host rock, but the piece in general is in very good shape.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 8.7 x 5.2 x 3.8 cm.
Crystal: 1.8 cm. across
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No. BournBol100931
Bournonite
(twin) -
$95 (SOLD)
This is a nice small cabinet Bournonite specimen that could easily be trimmed down to miniature size to help reduce the discrepancy between the crystal and the matrix. It features a fine quality, twinned, tabular, lustrous, metallic Bournonite crystal on a massive Quartz matrix with minor Pyrite. The crystal itself is good quality, and actually better than most crystals on matrix that I have handled over the years.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 6.1 x 4.6 x 2.8 cm.
Crystal: 0.8 cm. across
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No. BournBol100932
Bournonite
(multiple “cogwheel” twins) -
$750
This is without a doubt one of the most aesthetic and unique Bournonites that I have seen from Bolivia in my life. The piece features several stacked groups of sharp, lustrous, very well-defined “cogwheel”-twinned crystals which are dramatically perched atop a stem of Quartz and Pyrite matrix. The crystals certainly resemble a medieval castle sitting at the top of a hill. One could not ask for a more sculptural and alluring display specimen of Bournonite from any locality, not to mention one that features multiple “cogwheels” ! The display side of the specimen is essentially damage free to top it off.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 6.4 x 2.8 x 2.3 cm.
Cogwheel Crystal Group: 2.7 x 2.5 cm. across
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No. BournBol100933
Bournonite
(“cogwheel” twins on matrix) -
$450
A superb miniature size specimen with wonderful aesthetics. The piece hosts a predominant and salient “cogwheel”-twinned crystal group of Bournonite with superbly defined “cogs”, excellent luster and sheer visceral appeal which sits atop a dark Sphalerite matrix with minor Pyrite. To find such a good-sized, and thick “cogwheel” of Bournonite on matrix such as this is nearly unheard of when it comes to Bolivian specimens. Some minor nicks are the only things keeping this piece from being double in price, and the damage does not stand out when weighed against the elegance of the specimen as a whole. Pieces like this are few and far between from this mine.
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 4.8 x 3.6 x 3.2 cm.
Cogwheel Crystal Group: 3.1 x 2.8 cm.
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No. BournBol100934
Bournonite
(“cogwheel” twins on matrix) -
$1400
The sheer AMOUNT of Bournonite on this specimen is more than virtually any other piece of comparable size from this mine. It has some of the largest “cogwheel”-twinned crystals of Bournonite that I have seen on or off matrix from Machacamarca as well. The crystals themselves are broad and impactful with a matte-grey luster and are sitting atop a mound of massive Quartz with associated Pyrite and minor Tetrahedrite. This is a full cabinet size display specimen, which is next to impossible to obtain from this locality, as the majority of pieces are either too damaged or too ugly to be considered by most collectors. Relatively speaking, this piece is very good condition, especially for the size. The few pieces I have seen that are in this size range are typically broken on all sides and terribly unaesthetic. With a custom base, this piece would display very well, and would certainly attract some attention as it resembles the famous “Bancroft Bournonite” from Cornwall (but for a tiny fraction of the price).
Locality: Viboras section (vein), Machacamarca mine, Colavi District, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 12.8 x 12.2 x 7.8 cm.
Cogwheel Crystal Group: 8.8 cm. across
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