Mineral Gallery I

AZURITE, Chessy, near Lyons, Rhône, France. An extremely large, nearly-spherical, crystallized mass or “ball” with a little malachite. The azurite crystals are bladed and the surfaces are soft, not lustrous but of excellent blue-color. This specimen is one of the largest examples, from this old, classic locality, ever to pass through my hands. 4-1/2x4x2-3/4 inches. Sold.

ANDRADITE GARNET, Miracle Mountain Mine, Garnet Hill, near Volcano, Calaveras County, California. A most unusual specimen. It is a huge, compound, multiple crystal. The photograph from the back shows the compound crystal development quite well. The original label written about 15 years ago says: “Largest crystal from this unusual locality. Probably mined 10 or 20 years ago.” 3-1/4x2-5/8x2-1/8 inches. Sold.

click here

GEM ELBAITE TOURMALINE, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is for specimens like this one that the term gem-crystal should be reserved. An old-time specimen. Three crystals (one is barely visible) are well-terminated, of transparent-green grading into near-black and are in, more or less, parallel position.Weight 32 grams. 2-5/8x3/4x1/2 inches. $3,000.

FLUORITE, Weardale, County Durham, England. I quote from an anonymous old label that accompanies this specimen. “Pale green brilliant cube, the faces of which are composed of parallel growths of smaller cubes which show the tetrahexahedron. With inclusions.” Hugh A. Ford, on his label calls it a”built-up xl.” I must add that at some time in its early past it was broken cleanly, just about in half, without loss, and was repaired. This probably happened as it was being collected from the earth. The repair-joint shows quite clearly in the photograph. I have never seen a fluorite like this one and it came from the Ehrmann and Karabacek collections in 1939. 2-1/4x1-3/4x1-1/2 inches. $500.

click here

DOLOMITE, Eugui, Navarra, Spain. A superb group of unusually large, rhombohedral crystals. The largest crystal measures more than two inches. 2-7/8x2-3/4x2-2-1/4. $1,000.

email lhc3820304@aol.com

Send your email address to join my mailing list:

Lawrence H. Conklin
Wallingford, CT 06492
203-793-7667

Web Site maintained by Sarah Conklin-Zimmerman & Ian Zimmerman.