Mixed Minerals!

A selection of mixed specimens, including beautiful new chatoyant malachites from China, and an exciting find of rare ferrokesterite from Bolivia!

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MLF01 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
18.0x 8.4x 6.1 cm
$1400

An exquisite example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

This piece has a botryoidal appearance that borders on stalactitic, and the beautiful banding of the malachite can be seen around the edges.  There are only minor scuffs. 

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, the form and size and particularly good and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.











MLF02 Bournonite
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
3.7x3.3x 2.0 cm
$850

A great bournonite "cogwheel" from Yaogangxian-- in my opinion the bournonites from this mine are the best to come out in recent years.  Bolivia certainly wins for quantity, but the pieces from there always seem to be lacking in at least one area, be it luster, size, or sharpness.  

This is reasonably well sized for Yaogangxian, with good "cogwheel" faces on the sides and good luster.  It does have a few chips, though nothing that particularly detracts, and the bottom is actually etched (not a contact!)

All in all, a great (and somewhat hard to obtain) example of bournonite from China-- far more complete than most!













MLF03 Calcite (Twin)
Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
6.2x 5.1x 4.7 cm
$395

A beautiful example of a damage free calcite twin on matrix, from Leiping.  These are probably the most distinctive calcite twins from China, though matrix examples are not nearly as common as loose twins, especially when you want a more symmetrical piece.













MLF04 Fluorite
Shangbao Mine, Leiyang Co., Hunan Prov,. China
9.8x 7.8x 3.3 cm
$400

A beautiful example of fluorite from the famous Shangbao Mine, displaying the characteristic cubo-octahedral crystals with complex faces.  Unless you are paying an arm and a leg, specimens from this mine usually just have just one or two fluorite crystals.  This piece has several light purplish-blue crystals, and makes for a nice display.







MLF05 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
13.5x 1.5x 1.5 cm
$200

A great example of a malachite stalactite from China--you see this sort of thing from the D.R. Congo, but not so much from China.  This comes from a recent find.  Minor scuffing.







MLF06 Andradite Garnet
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.6x 4.5x 2.8 cm
$465

An exceptionally good andradite specimen from Huanggang.  Andradite has been coming out since the early days of the discovery around 2011, though seldom have these specimens contained crystals with this degree of sharpness and finesse.  There are examples with larger crystals, but they always have compound faces, and most pieces with smaller crystals tend to be tightly packed jumbles.

After having seen thousands of these, this (and the other one posted) really stood out for combination of crystal size/ distinctness with sharp edges and clean faces.  Furthermore, these andradites tend to form in layers-- in some places you can see through the outermost layer to the one below, with creates an interesting outline on some faces. 









MLF07 Roweite, Magnetite on Andradite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.2x 5.1x 3.4 cm
$265

An interesting specimen from recent discoveries at the Shijiangshan Mine, in Inner Mongolia.  Most of the attention has focused on the world class borates from the site-- roweite and olshanskyite-- with magnetite sometimes present as an accessory.  I thought this piece was interesting because it was actually a good example magnetite in its own right-- there are several well formed crystals aesthetically arranged on an andradite matrix, with small roewite crystals on the reverse.  Some of the magnetite crystals have natural cracks (visible in the photos) but this remains a very good reference specimen for this new Chinese locality.









MLF08 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
14.0x 13.4x 4.1 cm
$865

An exquisite example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, the form and size and particularly good and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.









MLF09 Quartz (Japan Law Twin) with Hematite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.3x 6.1x 1.9 cm
$600

A great example of a large and unusual quartz Japan law twin.  While most Japan law twins resemble V's, this one is more of a Y-- the twin branches off the main, doubly terminated crystal.  Many so-called "twins" from this location just *resemble* twins, but do not actually have a twinning plane-- on this one however, you can clearly see the twinning plane from the back of the specimen.  No damage









MLF10 Calcite
Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
7.2x 4.9x 2.1 cm
$335

A beautiful (and rather large for the locality) example of twinned calcite from Leiping.  Pictured rom both the front and back, though it might be hard to tell without looking closely.  No damage.









MLF11 Quartz incl./ with Hematite
Dongwu Qi, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
6.2x 4.8x 3.7 cm
$195

A beautiful cluster of quartz crystals from Inner Mongolia, with hematite rosettes and minute hematite inclusions that impart an orangish red hue to the quartz.  There were a number of single and broken crystals, but I thought this was a particularly nice miniature, considering the arrangement the crystals and the hematite association.







MLF12 Quartz incl Japan law Twin
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.6x 6.1x 6.0 cm
$195

An unusual Japanese law twinned quartz, presumably from Inner Mongolia as everything else in the group was from there as well.  There is no damage-- the edges are complete, including on the smaller lobe.







MLF13 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
25.5x 7.5x 7.1 cm
$850

An exquisite example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

This is a particularly large, long specimen with the bulk of the piece contained in a shallow vug.  There is minor scuffing in a few spots.

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, the form and size and particularly good and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.













MLF14 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
11.3x 9.0x 2.6 cm
$400

An exquisite example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

This piece has most of the malachite protected within a shallow tug.

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, the form and size and particularly good and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.







MLF15 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
21.5x 10.3x 5.8 cm
$685

A large cabinet specimen of malachite from China-- this piece is more visibly crystalline, with one side displaying a botryoidal habit and the other having a more fibrous, crystalline appearance.  This one is not chatoyant, though is a particularly good example of a Chinese malachite made all the more interesting by the contrast of the forms on the front and back.











MLF16 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
19.6x 9.0x 3.4 cm
$480

An large cabinet example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.







MLF17 Calcite (Butterfly Twin)
Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
3.4x 3.1x 1.4 cm
$165

A perfect example of the distinctive butterfly twinned calcite that the Leiping mine is most famous for. No damage.  The piece is shown from the front and back.







MLF17A Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
10.4x8.0x 2.6 cm
$380

A beautiful cabinet example of chatoyant malachite from a recent find in southwestern China.  While the overwhelming majority of malachite specimens on the market are Congolese, these recent Chinese pieces display a beautiful chatoyancy that is rarely seen in the literally tons of samples that come from Congo.  

All in all this is an excellent example of malachite for the country, and under bright lights (as in the last picture) or even just held in direct sunlight, the full chatoyancy is revealed.







MLF18 Calcite (Twin)
Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
3.9x 3.2x 1.7 cm
$165

A perfect example of the distinctive twinned calcite that the Leiping mine is most famous for. No damage.  The piece is shown from the front and back.







MLF19 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
9.2x 3.3x 2.5 cm
$225

An unusual example of stalactitic malachite from China.  Usually when you see malachite stalactites, they're Congolese, but this piece comes from a recent find in Guangdong. 







MLF20 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
8.4x 5.3x 4.3 cm
$195

An unusual example of stalactitic malachite from China.  Usually when you see malachite stalactites, they're Congolese, but this piece comes from a recent find in Guangdong. 







MLF21 Quartz inc. Iron Oxide with Calcite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.3x 4.0x 3.2 cm
$170

A cluster of quartz crystals from Huanggang, with an orbicular cluster of calcite crystals on top.  What caught my eye about this piece (apart from the interesting overall form) was the color of the quartz crystals-- Huanggang has been producing colorless and green examples with the same habit and distinctive complex lateral faces for years, though this is the first time I have come across red examples. Most were small single crystals, this piece was my favorite both for its being a cluster, and the calcite association..







MLF22 Fluorite on Quartz
Jiangsu Prov., China
8.6x 4.7x 2.9 cm
$255

A beautiful example of fluorite crystals on an earlier generation of purple, quartz-covered fluorite.  The fluorite crystals have a slightly bluish green color with hazy purple cores, and the underlying massive fluorite makes for a particularly beautiful display with even minor backlighting. 







MLF23 Fluorite
Jiangsu Prov., China
7.7x 5.2x 3.5 cm
$270

A beautiful example of fluorite crystals on an earlier generation of purple, quartz covered fluorite.  The fluorite crystals have a slightly bluish green color with hazy purple cores. Minor peripheral damage, but exactly as shown, and not visible when displayed as in the first image.







MLF24 Fluorite
Jiangsu Prov., China
6.6x 5.5x 3.5 cm
$285

A beautiful example of fluorite crystals on quartz.  The fluorite crystals have a slightly bluish green color with hazy purple cores, making for a pleasing display.







MLF25 Andradite Garnet
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.1x 5.5x 3.1 cm
$385

An exceptionally good andradite specimen from Huanggang.  Andradite has been coming out since the early days of the discovery around 2011, though seldom have these specimens contained crystals with this degree of sharpness and finesse.  There are examples with larger crystals, but they always have compound faces, and most pieces with smaller crystals tend to be tightly packed jumbles.

After having seen thousands of these, this (and the other one posted) really stood out for combination of crystal size/ distinctness with sharp edges and clean faces.  Furthermore, these andradites tend to form in layers-- in some places you can see through the outermost layer to the one below, with creates an interesting outline on some faces. 









MLF26 Quartz inc. Iron Oxide with Hematite
Dongwu Qi, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
16.5x 3.2x 3.0 cm
$185

A decently sized quartz crystal with a wispy orangish-red color caused by hematite inclusions.  There are a number of dark metallic hematite crystals clinging to its sides as well.  There is a small chip on one side of the termination.

The bottom of the piece is a complex etched termination; it appears to have been attached to another crystal slightly above this point.







MLF27 Quartz inc. Iron Oxide with Hematite
Dongwu Qi, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
13.7x 2.8x 2.1 cm
$165

A pair of quartz crystals with a wispy orangish-red color caused by hematite inclusions.  There are a number of dark metallic hematite crystals clinging to its sides as well.  

The crystals re both doubly terminated, and I cannot find the point of attachment.







MLF34 Ferrokesterite
San Jose Mine, Oruro, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
1.7x 1.4x 1.4 cm
$195

New find!

A great thumbnail-sized specimen of this exceedingly rare copper iron tin sulfosalt, from Bolivia.  This is a twinned crystal with unusually clear crystal form visible. The last time these were discovered was in 2004!  Ferrokesterite is the iron analogue of kesterite, best known as the green (due to a mushistonite coating) crystals from Mt. Xueboding (the famous Chinese scheelite locality.)

The only other place you are likely to see this mineral from is Cornwall (the type locality is the Cligga Head Mine) those are pretty much always just masses with no visible crystals.  These are very large for the species, and exceedingly hard to obtain... as a sort of indicator of its rarity, there are only about 20 pictures of the species listed on Mindat.







MLF35 Ferrokesterite
San Jose Mine, Oruro, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
1.6x 1.5x 1.3 cm
$175

New find!

A great thumbnail-sized specimen of this exceedingly rare copper iron tin sulfosalt, from Bolivia. The last time these were discovered was in 2004!  Ferrokesterite is the iron analogue of kesterite, best known as the green (due to a mushistonite coating) crystals from Mt. Xueboding (the famous Chinese scheelite locality.)

The only other place you are likely to see this mineral from is Cornwall (the type locality is the Cligga Head Mine) those are pretty much always just masses with no visible crystals.  These are very large for the species, and exceedingly hard to obtain... as a sort of indicator of its rarity, there are only about 20 pictures of the species listed on Mindat.









MLF36 Ferrokesterite
San Jose Mine, Oruro, Oruro Dept., Bolivia
1.6x 1.4x 1.3 cm
$165

New find!

A great thumbnail-sized specimen of this exceedingly rare copper iron tin sulfosalt, from Bolivia.  The last time these were discovered was in 2004!  Ferrokesterite is the iron analogue of kesterite, best known as the green (due to a mushistonite coating) crystals from Mt. Xueboding (the famous Chinese scheelite locality.)

The only other place you are likely to see this mineral from is Cornwall (the type locality is the Cligga Head Mine) those are pretty much always just masses with no visible crystals.  These are very large for the species, and exceedingly hard to obtain... as a sort of indicator of its rarity, there are only about 20 pictures of the species listed on Mindat.









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