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Pyrg TN 1081 - Pyrargyrite - $1050
425 Level, San Guillermo Vein, San Luis Shaft, Proano mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico
Thumbnail, 2.5 x 2.3 x 2.1 cm
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A very handsome Pyrargyrite specimen consisting of highly splendent, sharp, hexagonal prisms with deep blood-red color when back-lit. Mexican Pyrargyrites are among some of the finest in the world, and to find a piece like this that is in such good condition is impressive. A choice Fresnillo Pyrargyrite thumbnail to be sure.
Bourn TN 1081 - Bournonite - $900
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm
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Simply put, Yaogangxian has produced some epic Bournonite specimens. The best of these specimens rival and even surpass the finest Bournonites from any world locality. I have personally seen thousands of these specimens, and the biggest problem they all face is that they are terribly damaged. This specimen is in amazingly good condition with mirror-bright, splendent faces and metallic silvery color. It is definitely a full sized thumbnail and displays very well from several angles.
BixTop TN 1081 - Bixbyite on Topaz - $(SOLD)
Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah
Small Miniature/Large Thumbnail, 3.1 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm
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One of the most classic associations of all Western U.S. minerals has to be Bixbyite and Topaz. Top quality specimens are truly hard to find, and the best pieces are always in demand. This specimen features a very large, sharp, highly lustrous, beautifully modified cubic crystal of Bixbyite measuring 1.8 cm (!) sitting on a pair of prismatic, sherry colored, gemmy Topaz crystals. The overall aesthetics and top shelf quality make this a unbelievably good thumbnail specimen of this ultra rare combination. You just don’t see specimens with this kind of quality, displayability in a “boxbuster” thumbnail like this. Do not miss out on this one because it is undoubtedly one the best pieces in this size range to come out.
CalRus TN 1081 - Calcite - $450
Nikolaevsky mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
ex. Pellman Collection
Small Miniature/Large Thumbnail, 2.7 x 1.8 x 1.1 cm
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Regardless of the size, this is an amazingly fine quality Calcite from Dal’negorsk. The crystal is astoundingly glassy and water-clear exhibiting compressed, striated scalenohedral form sitting on another generation of brown Calcite crystals. The crystal is complete all the way around, and is stunner of a Calcite thumbnail for this locality. This is a first-class Dal’negorsk Calcite and would be worthy of any collection.
Stel TN 1081 - Stellerite - $150 (SOLD)
Sarbai Mine, Rudnyi Altai, Kustany Oblast', Kazakhstan
Thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.0 x 1.2 cm
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These are certainly some of the most distinctive Stellerite specimens around. This piece consists of a rich orange colored spherical aggregate of lustrous Stellerite crystals on matrix. The crystals are translucent on the edges, and the overall aesthetics of the piece are fantastic.
QtzFr TN 1081 - Quartz (“Faden”) - $250 (SOLD)
Mont Blanc, France
Thumbnail, 2.2 x 1.7 x 1.1 cm
Pictured in Mineralogical Record: Vol 21, No. 3, Page 259
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Alpine Quartzes are some of the finest quality specimens in the world. Their value is only multiplied when they exhibit a unique habit such as a “Faden” or a “Gwindel”. This piece is a superb quality “Faden” Quartz showing a distinctive “string” that runs perpendicular to the prisms. The crystals are water-clear in areas and have extremely sharp, lustrous faces. To top it off the Quartz is on a small mound of matrix, making it a superb display piece.
Lazul TN 1081 - Lazulite - $400 (SOLD)
Cross Cut Creek, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada
Large Thumbnail, 3.0 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm
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This area is best known for its world class Lazulite specimens, and this piece is no exception. The piece features a superb quality, sharp, highly lustrous, deep inky blue color Lazulite crystal with gemmy brown Siderite rhombs on matrix. For a Lazulite, this is a wonderful display piece, and is certainly one of the better thumbnails I have offered from this world famous district.
FlCel TN 1081 - Fluorite on Celestine - $95 (SOLD)
White Rock Quarry, Clay Center, Ottawa County, Ohio
Thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm
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Clay Center is well known for its unique Fluorite specimens, but this one really grabs one’s attention as I have not seen a piece quite like it. It features a gorgeous, lustrous, sharp, gemmy golden-yellow Fluorite cube measuring 1.0 cm perfectly perched atop a white, translucent Celestine crystal. For the overall aesthetics and quality, you really can’t ask for a better thumbnail specimen from Clay Center.
VanAz TN 1081 - Vanadinite - $600
Pure Potential mine, La Paz County, Arizona
Thumbnail, 2.5 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm
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This specimen was surprisingly difficult to photograph, and I will say that it looks much better in person. It is a superb Vanadinite from the Pure Potential mine featuring highly lustrous, rich orange-red color, “hoppered” (skeletal) habit crystals. The piece displays amazingly well and is in excellent condition. You don’t see many of these pieces on the market these days, and the best ones are highly prized by Arizona collectors.
SpessCh TN 1081 - Spessartine with Smoky Quartz and Orthoclase - $85 (ON HOLD)
Tongbei, Yunxiao Co., Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China
Thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm
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A nice representative specimen of these beautiful bright orange Spessartines from Tongbei. This piece features a few sharp, lustrous, gemmy, orange, striated dodecahedra of Spessartine associated with tan Orthoclase crystals and dark “Morion” Smoky Quartz crystals. An attractive association specimen of these contemporary classics.
Pold TN 1081 - Poldervaartite - $950
N'Chwaning Mines, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Miniature, 4.0 x 3.2 x 2.0 cm
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This is the only “non-thumbnail” specimen in the update, but it truly could be trimmed down to create a wonderful thumbnail. The newer Poldervaartites from N’Chwaning are truly the finest in the world. This piece consists of a few gemmy, lustrous peach-colored Poldervaartite aggregates on thin scalenohedral Calcite crystals on matrix. One does not see many of these specimens on the market these days, and the prices are rising for good ones. Do not miss out on this piece, whether you leave it as a miniature or trim it down to a thumbnail, it’s a superb Poldervaartite for certain.
SpessPak TN 1081 - Spessartine - $1250 (ON HOLD)
Shengus, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.1 x 2.0 cm
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What an outstanding Paki Spessartine thumbnail ! This piece has a lot going for it with superb quality, razor-sharp, highly lustrous, deep wine red color trapezohedral crystals (with minor dodecahedral modifications) sitting atop golden Muscovite blades. The main crystal is complete on all sides and the piece displays very well from several angles. Even though these specimens are still coming out, I am finding it harder and harder to obtain top quality, highly aesthetic display specimens such as this, and one would be hard pressed to find a better thumbnail for excellence and functional displayability.
AmzSmQtz TN 1081 - Microcline (var: “Amazonite”) with Quartz (var: “Smoky”) - $225 (SOLD)
Two Point Claim, Teller Co., Colorado
Large Thumbnail, 3.0 x 2.8 x 1.5 cm
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A classic Amazonite and Smoky Quartz combo specimen featuring a pair of sharp, blue-green color Amazonite crystals with a dramatic gemmy Smoky Quartz crystal flaring directly out of the Amazonites. A wonderful display specimen of this world-famous material.
Wurtz TN 1082 - Wurtzite - $750
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm
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Wurtzite is not seen in well crystallized examples from many world localities, and the two specimens in this update are the ONLY Chinese Wurtzites that I have offered. To the best of my knowledge, this species has not been reported from Yaogangxian, but it has been analyzed and is confirmed. This piece features several highly lustrous, sharp, deep reddish-brown, platy hexagonal crystals measuring up to 11 mm associated with white Calcite. It would certainly make an excellent addition to ANY Chinese suite, and would round out any Yaogangxian collection.
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