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No. CALCU110 - $ 3000.00
Calcite included with Copper
Locality: Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Specimen Size: 7.2 x 5.3 x 4.5 cm (small cabinet)
A classic specimen of Copper in Calcite from the famous Copper Country District of Michigan. The termination of this incredibly sharp and distinct scalenohedral crystal is nearly optic grade, which gives way to show the amazingly bright inclusions of Native Copper throughout. The form of the crystal along with the SUPERB striations and smooth undistorted faces make this one of the finest single crystal examples of this material that I have handled. The base of the crystal shows a few patches of exposed, oxidized Copper along with a few minor spots of mint-green Malachite. Complete all the way around, and aside from a few very minor abrasions, is in perfect condition. Perhaps the most prestigious and highly sought after "inclusion" Calcites in the world.
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No. QTZHER110 - $ 4000.00
Quartz ("Herkimer Diamond")
Locality: Ace of Diamonds Mine, Middleville, Herkimer County, New York
Specimen Size: 10.6 x 6.8 x 3.0 cm (cabinet)
Largest Crystal: 4.7 cm.
The aptly named "Herkimer Diamond" Quartz specimens from upper central New York and world famous for their distinct crystal form, ideal crystal proportions and water-clear transparency. Simply put, this is one of the most elegant and eye-catching display pieces that I have handled from Herkimer. Well over a dozen razor-sharp, highly lustrous, GEM quality, perfectly formed, textbook, doubly-terminated, bi-pyramidal, colorless Quartz crystals are intergrown to create this graceful and highly quality specimen. Some of the crystals are included with classic black amorphous groups of the hydrocarbon "Pyrobitumen", which is well known from Herkimer. The piece is just a hair from being a floater, as there is only the tiniest point of attachment on the reverse side, otherwise completely crystallized all the way around. For a Quartz specimen, this one is truly impressive, and some of the crystals are such fine quality that they resemble high quality glass. The photos cannot convey the beauty of this piece as well as the naked eye, and it must be seen in person to truly appreciate the quality. A custom made acrylic base is included with the purchase of this specimen.
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No. CAV110 - $ 6000.00
Cavansite
Locality: Wagholi, near Pune (Poona), Maharashtra State, India
Specimen Size: 9.0 x 7.7 x 6.2 cm (small cabinet)
Largest Crystal Group: 1.5 cm.
Cavansite is among the most beautiful of all mineral species. Nothing quite has the color of Cavansite, and there is but a single locality in the world where fine collector quality specimens are found! The Deccan Trappe in India does not receive the proper amount of attention for the incredible quality specimens it has produced over the last 30 years. Yes, I know that Indian Zeolites and associated minerals are plentiful on the market, but this area has produced the finest examples of very well known mineral species such as Stilbite, Apophyllite, Heulandite, Mesolite, Scolecite, Powellite and Cavansite just to name a few. Outside of India, Cavansite is only found in FOUR other world localities, and the majority of that material is microscopic! Indian Cavansites are the finest in the world, and I would equate them to Dioptase from Tsumeb or Rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home mine for setting the standard of excellence for the species. They are simply an order of magnitude above anything else in the world. If it wasn't for India, Cavansite would only be known to a handful of collectors in the world, that's how rare it is. This piece is one of the richest and most sculptural Cavansites that I have seen. It is simply loaded with the classic blue spherical aggregates sitting atop white-grey bladed Stilbite matrix. Overall, the piece is in amazing shape, and displays beautifully when mounted on the custom acrylic base which is included with the specimen. Recently, I saw a few Indian dealers offering Cavansites that were far inferior to this piece at MUCH higher prices. I've had this piece for a while in my own collection, and it stands up incredibly well against 99% of the Cavansites I have seen on the market recently.
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No. TOURM110 - $ 2900.00
Tourmaline
Locality: Santa Rosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Specimen Size: 8.5 x 3.5 x 2.6 cm (small cabinet)
A beautiful polychromatic crystal group of Elbaite from the famous Santa Rose mine in Brazil. The main crystal is complete on all sides, including the termination, and shows a lovely array of color ranging from green to blue-green around the edges with a pink core and a colorless "Achroite" cap ! Some accenting pinkish-purple Lepidolite crystal aggregates at the base of the specimen make for a nice touch. The piece is accompanied by a custom made acrylic base for easy display.
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No. FLQTZ110 - $ 3400.00
Fluorite on Quartz
Locality: Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Specimen Size: 7.2 x 4.3 x 4.2 cm (small cabinet)
Fluorite crystal: 3.1 x 2.7 cm.
In a short period of time, Yaogangxian has risen to the upper ranks amongst Chinese and worldwide localities alike. This mine has produced some very impressive, colorful and unique display specimens over the past few years. When it comes to Fluorite, Yaogangxian is arguably the preeminent locality for the species in China right now. For aesthetics and quality, this is one of the very finest Fluorites from this mine that I have handled or seen. A top notch, glassy, razor-sharp, gem/gemmy, purple and green "phantom" cubic crystal group of Fluorite is gracefully suspended along the prism face of a highly lustrous, very sharp, striated, water-clear, colorless Quartz crystal. The Quartz is so transparent, that one can see completely through to the opposite side to view the golden Muscovite crystals which are perched on the back of the piece. The piece is essentially damage free, super high quality, and incredibly aesthetic. I personally love it when a solitary species is so dramatically set atop a single Quartz crystal like this. The piece displays beautifully on the custom made acrylic base that is included with purchase.
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No. FLZNS110 - $ 1450.00 SOLD
Fluorite on Sphalerite
Locality: Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee
Specimen Size: 8.5 x 6.7 x 6.4 cm (small cabinet)
Fluorite crystal: 4.3 cm. on edge
A classic, built-up, gemmy, royal purple, hefty cubic crystal of Fluorite sits atop a mound of gemmy, lustrous, reddish-brown Sphalerite. The Fluorite itself has wonderful "phantom" zoning, and the color is saturated, but just enough to the point where the crystal is not black. Damage free all the way around, save for one tiny spot on the back where it detached from the pocket, and is hardly noticeable without a loupe. Despite that fact that only a handful of species are found at Elmwood, it remains as one of the most renowned and beloved of US localities due the incredibly beautiful minerals such as Fluorites that are found there. The piece comes with a custom made acrylic display base.
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No. INES110 - $ 1750.00
Inesite
Locality: Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Specimen Size: 3.7 x 3.2 x 1.8 cm (miniature)
The Wessels Mine is well known for many species such as Ettringite, Sturmanite, Kutnahorite, Hematite, Xonotlite, but it also has produced some of the finest Inesite specimens extant. This miniature size piece is one of the best examples of Inesite form Wessels that I have handled. It is filled with dozens upon dozens of distinct, sharp, lustrous, gemmy, vibrant pink-red bladed crystals forming a very well balance "rosette"-like crystal aggregate. Superb color and excellent crystallization.
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No. WAV110 - $ 1500.00
Wavellite
Locality: Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Specimen Size: 5.1 x 4.3 x 4.0 cm (small cabinet)
I've handled more Bolivian Wavellites than virtually any other dealer, and hands down, this is one of the largest Wavellite "spheres" with some of the finest crystallization I have seen from Bolivia. The individual blades of Wavellite that comprise the "sphere" are broad and extremely well defined with excellent luster and translucency around the edges. There is actually a second generation of smaller Wavellite "spheres" on the piece creating a very three-dimensional appearance. The classic soft yellow color along with the associated Quartz and Cassiterite make this is a signature specimen from what is arguably the most celebrated of all Bolivian localities. Out of literally thousands of Wavellites from Siglo XX that I have seen, this one truly stands out as one of the most impressive.
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No. ILV110 - $ 7500.00
Ilvaite on Quartz
Locality: Sovietskiy #1 Mine, Dal'negorsk, near the Sea of Japan, 500 km NE of Vladivostok, Primorskiy Kray, Russia
Specimen Size: 12.5 x 10.2 x 9.2 cm (cabinet)
Largest Crystal: 4.5 cm.
Typically, Ilvaite is not found in large matrix display specimens. Most often, the species is seen in slender single crystals off matrix. This specimen is from one of the most impressive Ilvaite discoveries at Dal'negorsk in the mid 1990's. As was the case with nearly every specimen from this find, the specimen is repaired, but expertly so, and it does not detract from the appeal and character of the specimen. The mirror bright, nearly wet luster and classic "chisel"-shaped terminations of the two predominant crystals at the top most part of the specimen is hard to miss. They, along with a few smaller accenting Ilvaite crystals sit atop a mound of dark green Hedenbergite which is coated by dozens of sharp, lustrous "Beta Quartz" crystals. This is easily one of the most dramatic and aesthetic Ilvaite specimens I have seen from this or any locality. For the size and superior quality, it would be hard to find another like it in this market, especially since Dal'negorsk has not produced these specimens in years.
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No. BERYLN110 - $ 4000.00
Beryllonite
Locality: Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Specimen Size: 7.0 x 6.8 x 4.1 cm (small cabinet)
A VERY good-sized, doubly-terminated, multi-crystallized, white, chatoyant, crystal group of thin, prismatic Beryllonite crystals from what is one of the top localities in the world for the species. It seems to me that the number of Beryllonite specimens from Afghanistan has dwindled over the last ten years, and if it wasn't for these specimens, there would be very little available on the market. This species is most commonly found in pegmatites, and most people don't realize that it's actually a phosphate, as opposed to most pegmatite species which are silicates. For a phosphate species, this is a large specimen, and very attractive for the material. For the size, the piece would certainly yield a large number of sizeable "cat's eye" gems that would be worth MUCH more than the specimen itself. A great Beryllonite specimen for any pegmatite collector, a phosphate collector or anyone who appreciates excellent crystallized examples of lesser known species.
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No. STOK110 - $ 950.00
Stokesite on Quartz
Locality: Urucum mine (Tim mine; Córrego do Urucum pegmatite), Galiléia, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
Specimen Size: 10.2 x 6.2 x 5.3 cm (cabinet)
Stokesite aggregate: 1.7 cm.
Stokesite is a relatively rare phosphate found only in about a dozen world localities, the best examples coming from the Urucum mine in Brazil. Most often, Stokesite specimens are single crystallized "spheres" off matrix. This piece is a very fine and rarely seen matrix specimen of Stokesite featuring a good sized, beige spherical aggregate which has grown on the underside/interior of a sharp, euhedral gemmy Smoky Quartz crystal. The Quartz obviously was separated at one point in time from the pocket wall, and a second fluid solution was introduced allowing the Stokesite to form on the underside of Quartz crystal. It is a most unusual and notable cabinet sized display specimen of this hard to find species. Stokesite is named after noted physicist George Stokes, for whom Stoke's Law of fluid mechanics is also named.
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No. BARQTZ110 - $ 900.00
Barite on Quartz
Locality: Jinkouhe, Sichuan Province, China
Specimen Size: 8.0 x 7.3 x 6.7 cm (small cabinet)
Largest Barite Crystal: 4.5 cm.
For a Barite and Quartz specimen, this is as aesthetic as it gets. An undamaged group of multi-terminated, chalk-white, broad, tabular crystals of Barite sit atop a "spray" of colorless, gem quality, prismatic Quartz crystals. The most attractive aspect of this piece is the fact that the Barite crystals have a distinctive "stripe" running down the prism face, and when backlit, actually allows one to view inside! The piece displays beautifully without a base or clay, and is without question the most aesthetic and salient specimens of this material that I have seen from this locality.
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No. QTZGW110 - $ 8000.00
Quartz (var: Smoky) (var: "Gwindel")
Locality: Puiva Mountain, Saranpaul, Prepolar Ural, Tyumenskaya Oblast', Urals Region, Russia
Specimen Size: 12.0 x 8.8 x 5.0 cm (cabinet)
Gwindels are some of the most unique and easily recognizable crystal forms in the mineral world. They are one of the many aspects of Alpine Quartzes that are so intriguing to collectors. The term "Gwindel" comes from the German word "gewunden" meaning twist, as the crystals that comprise every Gwindel show at least a small amount of angular rotation as though a stack of crystals had been twisted around a central pivot point to create the shape. Little is known about exactly how Gwindels form, but what is known is that they always form with the crystals growing parallel to the prism faces, with the c-axis lying horizontally. Some have suggested that Gwindels due to the piezoelectric quality that Quartz possesses, but this has only a theory. Also, Gwindels seem to only be able to form in slow crystal growing environments, sometimes taking millions of years to complete their growth. For a fairly short period in the 1990s, the locality at Puiva produced some of the finest quality Gwindels extant. This area is now defunct and non-operational, and from all accounts may not be reopened again for a very long time if ever. This piece is from the Russian Alpine collection of my father, Richard Kosnar, and remains one of the finest Russian Gwindels that I have encountered. It is an outstanding, large, sharp, highly lustrous, "Swiss" quality, museum display specimen with a highly desirable "smoky"-sherry color. The Gwindel itself is nearly flawless, especially from the aspect of GEM TRANSPARENCY as it is virtually water-clear throughout. Several smaller pale smoky Quartz crystals which are relatively perpendicular to the Gwindel constitute a quasi-matrix. For the size and quality, it is amazingly fine. I have seen only a handful of Russian Gwindels on par with this piece in my life, and it could easily be mistaken for a top shelf Swiss specimen, at which point the price could be as much as three times more. A shining example of how notable the Russian Gwindels truly are. A custom acrylic base for display is included with the specimen.
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No. TOP110 - $ 6000.00
Topaz (water clear !)
Locality: Xanda mine, Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Specimen Size: 11.7 x 7.7 x 7.2 cm (cabinet)
The Xanda mine is one of the most prolific localities for blue Topaz in the world, and has produced some of the most impressive and memorable specimens with distinctive etching and larger sized crystals. This specimen is certainly a large Topaz from any locality, not just Brazil, and is in amazingly good condition for the size. The piece has some delicate and graceful hydrothermal etching along the sides of the prism, yet has a very well defined, large, glassy (041) face displayed prominently at the front of the specimen. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this large crystal is the fact that it is nearly 100% GEM QUALITY with a gorgeous aqua blue color. Honestly, the entire crystal looks like a artfully sculpted piece of "blue ice". Rarely do the Topaz crystals from Xanda reach this size without serious etching, which can leave them as nothing more than etched pieces of gem rough, so to find a crystal in this condition is rather rare. A terrific natural blue Topaz specimen that is not priced anywhere near 5 figures.
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No. AQUA110 - $ 6000.00
Beryl (var: Aquamarine)
Locality: Erongo Mountain, Usakos & Omaruru Districts, 140 km from Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia
Specimen Size: 11.4 x 8.9 x 4.3 cm (cabinet)
Largest Crystal: 6.4 cm.
ex. Charlie Key
A very good sized (for the locality), sharp, glassy, rich blue to sky blue color, hexagonal prismatic crystal of Aquamarine with a few accenting lighter blue color crystals (which are partially water clear) sit atop a mound of porous, etched beige color Feldspar crystals. The Erongo region has recently produced some of the most striking and remarkable Aquamarine specimens in the last ten years. This piece is from the collection of world-famous mineral dealer, Charlie Key, and is certainly one of the finest I have encountered. The irrefutable nearly pristine quality of the piece is obvious from the onset, and the sheer aesthetic appeal make it a wonderful display specimen from this noted pegmatite region. If this piece were from Pakistan, it would certainly have a much higher value on it, and this is a great cabinet sized specimen for an excellent price. A custom made acrylic base is included with the specimen.
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No. CASS110 - $ 3300.00
Cassiterite (twins) on Albite
Locality: Córrego Frio mine, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
Specimen Size: 9.0 x 5.7 x 2.9 cm (small cabinet)
Largest Cassiterite twin: 2.2 cm.
Cassiterite as a species is typically not what comes to mind when one thinks of pegmatites. The Linópolis area in Brazil has produced some outstanding pegmatite Cassiterites over the years, and this piece certainly falls into that category. It features several sharp, very distinct, lustrous, jet-black, dramatic, interpenetrant cyclic twins which are set atop a matrix of white to colorless, GEM/translucent, bladed crystals of Albite (var: "Cleavelandite"). The Cassiterites are essentially damage free, and the photos might suggest that they are chipped, but this is simply highly modified faces that were very difficult to photograph, but when inspected in person show that they are completely crystallized. A lovely display specimen and a hard to find matrix piece of this well known material. The piece comes with a custom built acrylic base for easy display.
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No. AZUR110 - $ 9500.00
Azurite (gemmy) with Malachite
Locality: Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Specimen Size: 10.2 x 7.0 x 3.9 cm (cabinet)
Largest Crystal: 2.3cm
ex. Ed David
Azurite from Tsumeb is among the most classic of all minerals, which a wide array of crystal habits and associations. This piece from the renowned collection of Dr. Ed David is one of the more interesting and unique Tsumeb Azurites that I know of. Some of the thick, HIGHLY lustrous, deep royal blue color bladed crystals on the specimen have unique stepped faces along the sides of the prisms, while some are completely smooth, and yet other have an almost "rounded" appearance. Several of the crystals exhibit the most electric blue color when backlit, and the reverse side of the specimen is coated with a blanket of forest-green, acicular Malachite crystals. Damage wise, this piece is in great shape, with only a tiny amount of edge wear that was obviously caused when the piece was removed from the pocket wall, but it amazingly completely crystallized on virtually all sides! A very attractive and worthwhile "hand sized" display specimen of this highly prized and now sparsely available material on the market.
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No. AMETH110 - $ 3500.00
Quartz (var: Amethyst) (floater)
Locality: Goboboseb Mountain, Brandberg area, Uis District, Erongo Region, Namibia
Specimen Size: 12.1 x 6.2 x 4.3 cm (cabinet)
A complete "floater" crystal group of beautiful purple Amethyst and colorless Quartz crystals with micro inclusions of bright red and metallic black iron oxide (erroneously identified by many as Lepidocrocite, but most likely Hematite). The internal royal purple color of the crystals, along with the noticeable and striking "phantoms" make it a very distinctive and showy piece of this now world famous material from the Brandberg area. I have searched the entire piece over, and cannot find a single point of contact, so it is about as perfect as it can be. The piece is notable to me as the crystals are single prisms and they do not show any skeletal faces or "scepters" as is often the case with this material. With the custom made acrylic base that accompanies the piece, it will display beautifully in your case.
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No. DIOP110 - $ 1500.00
Dioptase
Locality: Morenci Mine, Morenci, Copper Mountain District, Shannon Mountains, Greenlee County, Arizona
Specimen Size: 11.1 x 6.6 x 5.3 cm (cabinet)
I have not encountered many Dioptase specimens from Morenci, and this piece is certainly the largest and richest piece of the material that I have owned to date. This "hand sized" display specimen is just filled with hundreds of electric green, sparkling, thin, prismatic crystals of Dioptase on a layer of pale blue-green Chrysocolla and forest-green Malachite on matrix. A true Arizona classic, and a very colorful, eye-catching piece of this well known material from south-eastern Arizona (near the New Mexico border).
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