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 Apatite and Quartz Specimen #avrmix01 Capim Grosso Bahia Brazil 4.4x3.4x2.4 cm Small Miniature 4.4x3.4x2.4 cm Partially Gemmy $125 I would best describe this specimen as a large, partial, bi-colored apatite xl. Depending on how you hold it up to the light, it is either blue or green. It has two separate gemmy sections; one blue and one green. There's also minor quartz found on this piece.  |
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Austinite Specimen #avrmix02 Mapimi Durango Mexico 4.7x3.0x2.5 cm Miniature $150 This specimen consists of a brownish matrix that hosts numerous small acicular masses of vividly green austinite xls. They are lustrous and I can detect no damage. A somewhat rare mineral species. This specimen was X-rayed to verify the species and I am including the report along with the specimen. |
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Bournonite on Calcite Specimen #avrmix03 Quiruvilca Mine Santiago de Chuci Province La Libertad Department Peru 5.4x2.3x2.3 cm Large Miniature $200 This specimen consists of a base matrix comprised of light pink mangano calcite xls that host several lustrous bournonite xls to 1.5cm. The xl that is on the edge of the specimen, is a partial xl. The two larger xls form cogwheel aggregates, which is indicative of this species. Minor dings. |
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Cinnabar Specimen #avrmix04 Horse Heaven Mine Jefferson County Oregon 7.3x4.5x4.0 cm Small Cabinet $150 This specimen consists of matrix that plays host to numerous dark red cinnabar xls to 8mm. Some of the xls appear to be incomplete or partial xls. A nice display piece from an unusual and not easy to obtain locale. |
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 Fluorite Specimen #avrmix05 Riemvasmaak Siyanda District Northern Cape Province South Africa 3.9x3.0x2.5 cm Miniature $225 What sells this specimen to me is its color, which is vivid candy apple green. It's made up of adjoining octahedral fluorite xls that display a bit of phantoming. Some of the faces are modified and there is a contact point on the back side of the specimen. The color of this piece is awesome, in my opinion. Enjoy! |
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Galena on Quartz with Sphalerite Specimen #avrmix06 South-End Mogila Mine Deveti Septemvri Complex Madan District Southern Rhodope Mountains Bulgaria 8.0x6.0x5.4 cm Small Cabinet $175 Let me start off by saying this specimen is MUCH better in person than my humble photographs portray. It is truly a VERY 3 dimensional piece and a photograph will never do it justice. It consists of what I would best describe as two adjoining plates of highly crystallized and hoppered galena xls, sitting atop a bed of micro quartz xls. The plates display the intricate "stair step" pattern, somewhat unique to complex galena specimens. Aside from the quartz xls, there are a number of clusters (to 1cm) of Coca-Cola colored sphalerite xls, scattered about the piece. This is one really cool mineral specimen exhibiting no damage. Enjoy! |
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Groutite on Manganocalcite on Kutnahorite Specimen #avrmix07 Wessels Mine Cape Province Kalahari manganese fields South Africa 5.8x4.3x3.3 cm Small Cabinet $195 This is a multi-generational specimen, one that my humble photographs do not do justice to, and is much better in person. It consists of a "base" of fibrous masses of off white kutnahorite xls that are then covered by numerous pale pink scalenohedral manganocalcite xls (to 2.3cm). To top this specimen off, literally; is a coating of lustrous, silvery, metallic, micro groutite xls. Minor damage to the calcite xls, but only noticeable under magnification. This is an unusual, unique and quite attractive mineral specimen, in my estimation. |
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Kinoite with Apophyllite Specimen #avrmix08 Christmas Mine Gila County Arizona 9.5x4.0x1.4 cm Small Cabinet Rare Mineral Ex Harold Michel Collection Type Locality $250 This specimen consists of the rare species kinoite. The kinoite xls are tabular, azure blue and measure up to 2mm. Some peripheral edge abrasion, but otherwise no damage. There are a number of collection cards as well as a color transparency (Kodak slide) that come with this specimen. The cards all list ruizite as a secondary species, but I have my doubts. I believe the water clear xls on this piece to be apophyllite. |
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Mottramite on Calcite Specimen #avrmix09 Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb Namibia 5.4x4.9x4.3 cm Small Cabinet Defunct Locality Classic Locality $495 This specimen consists of a calcite matrix made up of numerous rhombs that have been nearly completely covered by dendritic aggregates of forest green mottramite xls to around 5mm. I say dendritic because being a forester, the groups look like needle clusters to me. This specimen is basically intact except for a few trivial dings, only visible under magnification. This is a somewhat rare, unique and very attractive specimen from a defunct and world class locality. |
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Rhodochrosite and Quartz Specimen #avrmix10 Osikovo Mine Deveti Septemvri Complex Madan District Southern Rhodope Mountains Bulgaria 7.6x5.8x4.8 cm Small Cabinet $185 This specimen consists of a "rosette" or cluster of off white to ice cube clear quartz "spires" to 3.3cm. Sandwiched amongst the spires are plate like aggregations of pale pink rhombohedral rhodochrosite xls, some of which have cleaved. Being a confirmed rhodo nut, I'd have to say that I really like this piece as it is very unusual and showy. |
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Rhodochrosite on Tetrahedrite and Quartz Specimen #avrmix11 Sweet Home Mine Alma District Park County Colorado 5.6x4.5x2.0 cm Small Cabinet $595 Most of you who know me, know that I am a Rhodo NUTT, in the worst way. I love the species as others enjoy benitoite or tourmaline. I respect that and am always on the lookout for quality specimens. Kim and I were pleasantly surprised when we visited Howard and Janet Van Iderstine (Cardinal Minerals) at the main Tucson show this year. They shared with us a flat of Sweet Home specimens they had squirreled away years ago. They gave us the opportunity to cherry pick through it and this was one of the specimens that came home with us. I have bemoaned the ever rising prices of Sweet Home specimen prices the last few years and was happy to purchase a number of specimens from them at what I considered to be quite reasonable prices. I cannot say for sure how much longer we will be able to afford specimens such as this one, as the prices most dealers ask, continue on up above 4 figures and I refuse to participate in what I consider to be fantasy pricing. Enough soap box.....on to this specimen. It consists of a granitic base that is covered by micro and spire shaped quartz xls to 6mm. Adjacent to the quartz xls are numerous massive, metallic and lustrous tetrahedrite xls to 1.3cm. Perched proudly at the top of this specimen is pale cherry red rhodochrosite rhomb that measures 1x1x0.9cm. I would love to report to you that it is complete and pristine, but that would be lying. It appears to have ding in one corner and because of the cleavage properties of this species, I would have to say that is damage. If it weren't, I probably could not have afforded to purchase it. In my opinion, it is none the less and excellent display specimen and the damage is only readily noticeable under magnification. Been waiting to purchase a quality Sweet Home piece? This may be your opportunity. Enjoy! |
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Rhodochrosite and Fluorite Specimen #avrmix12 Urad Mine Dailey District Clear Creek County Colorado 2.0x1.7x1.6 cm Thumbnail Defunct Locality Ex Rich Kosnar Collection $195 This mine closed down in the 1960's, so quality specimens such as this one are getting harder to come by. It consists of two individual adjoining rhodochrosite xls that display a "rounded" rhombic shape. This may be considered damage, or possibly etching, but it looks like a natural occurrence to me. Also found on the faces of the two rhombs are purple micro fluorite xls, a bit of quartz and possibly apatite. A unique specimen with a good pedigree from a long closed locale. |
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 Microcline var. Amazonite Specimen #avrmix13 Crystal Peak area near Lake George Park/Teller Counties Colorado 3.7 x 3.2 x 2.2cm Miniature ex Frank G. Knauss Collection $95 This specimen consists of a nearly perfect, turquoise blue amazonite xl. Other than a few what I would describe as contact points, all of the edges on this piece are sharp and the termination completely intact. Great color, form and presentation with this specimen. Self collected by Frank in October, 1982. Enjoy!  |
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Wulfenite Specimen #avrmix14 Sierra de Los Lamentos Chihuahua Mexico 2.4 x 2.2 x 1.7cm Thumbnail $35 This specimen consists of a number of intergrown, burnt orange, lustrous wulfenite xls. They are quite translucent and showy. Mostly intact with edges that appear to have cleaved then rehealed. A very cute thumbnail. |
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