Greenockite #GNK0001 Rush Creek District, Marion Co. Arkansas, USA 7.5 cm x 6.4 cm x 5.2 cm $195 SOLD
Description:	It's always nice to have a rare species that also looks good in a display cabinet.  And this specimen has vibrant yellow color that will catch your attention from across a room!  We have microcrystals of greenockite that are growing on and are also included in bladed dolomite crystals, all nestled in a vug on a matrix of what appears to be massive sphalerite.  Just a great locality piece of respectable size, that displays well in any lighting!

Lazulite #LZL0002 Graves Mountain, Lincoln Co., Georgia, USA 63.0 mm x 57.0 mm x 55.0 mm $145 SOLD Order this Specimen
Description:	Graves Mountain is famous for its large, mirrored rutile crystals, and of course its well-formed elongated bi-pyramids of this amazing blue mineral!  While Graves Mountain lazulites do not show much gemminess (only the small ones or cut slabs show any translucence when backlit), they offer probably the best formed crystals for the species.  This specimen has a large (30.4mm), complex lazulite crystal that has been exposed from a massive quartz matrix, with a couple of partial crystals scattered about.  Rarely do you find such three-dimensional crystals this well-exposed from the matrix.  As you can see in the photos, the crystal has a few small nicks that expose the royal blue color within.  But overall, this is a great matrix specimen for the species.

Bournonite #BOU0001 Pachapaqui District, Bolognesi Province, Ancash Department, Peru 82.0 mm x 51.0 mm x 45.7 mm $300 Order this Specimen
Description:	This is a knockout specimen of bournonite from this classic Peruvian locale.  The crystals are just clustered together in all sorts of random groups, but the characteristic "cogwheel" cross sections of the crystals is still strongly evident.  The crystals have the typical grayish sooty look to them, and scattered about are quartz crystals and golden flecks of chalcopyrite.  The specimen sits upright for display with no need for a stand, and it looks amazing in a cabinet!  You will love it!

Microcline var. Amazonite #AMZ0001 Florissant, Crystal Peak area, Teller Co., Colorado, USA 65.6 mm x 56.8 mm x 37.6 mm $475 Order this Specimen
Description:	Over the past 5 years or so, we have seen some amazing amazonites come out from other locales, namely Ethiopia and even Burma.  But nothing can compare to a true blue Colorado amazonite!  Unless of course it is a Colorado amazonite with a white cap!  This crystal is just outstanding for it's size, color, and unique form.  The aqua blue is much more intense in person.  You can see the crystal has imperfections, but it is nevertheless very aesthetic, and if you are looking for a reasonable priced, large "white cap" amazonite, then you have found a keeper in this specimen!  Wait ... then should I keep it?

Corundum var. Ruby #RUB0003 John Saul Mine, Voi, Kenya 49.9 mm x 28.6 mm x 23.8 mm $345 Order this Specimen
Description:	Who doesn't love minerals from Kenya?  From the land of safari, giraffes and lions, we get some incredible gems.  The John Saul mine is famous for its large, well-formed rubies.  This crystal was mined over 30 years ago, and it still retains flecks of micaceous earth that could probably be removed with a water gun.  I have not tried to clean it more but I always intended to.  Give it a shot, it's only the second hardest mineral on earth!  Lovely color and form.

Mimetite var. Campylite #MIM0001 Dry Gill Mine, Cumbria, England, UK 37.7 mm x 28.4 mm x 21.0 mm $40 Order this Specimen
Description:	I found this little miniature in a box with the ruby above, so I decided to throw it into the update.  Classic curvy barrel-shaped clusters of an orange-yellow color, with waxy luster.  Typical for the locale.  Any mimetite fans out there?

Zircon #ZIR0002 Ratnapura, Sri Lanka 53.2 mm x 41.5 mm x 31.7 mm $485 SOLD
Description:	Sri Lanka ... my favorite little island!  Well, I have never been there personally, but some day it will happen!  I have owned many zircons from Sri Lanka, but this is the only matrix specimen I ever purchases, and one of the few I have ever seen around.  It is a competition worth miniature for sure, very well trimmed, and the two main crystal are just awesome.  The largest is over 3 cm long, and they both have great terminations and lovely burgundy color.  The crystals are also gemmy to tranlucent with great luster.  Some smaller crystals of zircon are also scattered around.  If my memory serves me, the specimen has very mild radioactivity as well, but not enough to avoid handling or appreciating it.  Seriously, this specimen is a steal, it's really, really, really nice!

Quartz w. Fluorite Incl. #QTZ0001 Miandrivazo, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar 45.5 mm x 17.0 mm x 13.6 mm $90 Order this Specimen
Description:	This is a great miniature of quartz with little purple fluorite crystals included within.  The quartz crystal also has a rare "X"-face, as you can see in the photo.  These crystals have been around for a little while now, but they still command attention for their uniqueness and form.  Just plain neat!

Garnet var. Almandine #ALM0001 Sedalia Copper Mine, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA 11.4 cm x 9.4 cm x 8.6 cm $500 Order this Specimen
Description:	WOW!  This garnet is absolutely the biggest darned garnet I've ever held in my hands!  It weighs around 6 or 7 pounds by my estimate (sorry, no scale around right now to be certain).  This locale is famous for these enormous garnets, some that exceed 15 pounds from what I have read!  Now I have seen garnets for sale from this locale before, but none this big.  This one is museum size for sure.  It has some areas of damage, but for what it is, you really can't complain.  One is just awestruck by its size.  It has phenomenal dodecahedral form.  There are areas with a fuschite-like dusting.  You will not likely find another one of these giants around!

Adamite #ADM0003 Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico 67.3 mm x 52.0 mm x 46.9 mm $45 Order this Specimen
Description:	This is an above-average specimen of adamite from Mapimi, in terms of aesthetics and crystal coverage.  The crystals actually show up differently colored depending upon the lamps I used.  In the incandescent light, they were a more pale yellow, but in the fluorescent light they were more green.  Either way, the specimen displays well from different angles, and shows great depth and form.

Rhodochrosite #RHC0003 Sweet Home Mine, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA 7.7 cm x 5.9 cm x 1.6 cm $1,350 Order this Specimen
Description:	Home, Sweet Home!  Or should I say, "Rhodo, sweet rhodo!?"  This is one amazingly aesthetic plate of rhodochrosite crystals on quartz, with chalcopyrite.  The rhombohedrons, which grow up to 2cm,  have glassy luster, razor-sharp form, strawberry pinkish-red color, and gem clarity.  This specimen is meant for your cabinet!  The back has been sawn flat for display purposed, and overall the specimen has been trimmed to a wonderful symmetrical shape.

Garnet var. Uvarovite #UVR0001 Outokumpu Mine, Outokumpu, Finland 38.4 mm x 27.5 mm x 23.8 mm $260 RESERVED Order this Specimen
Description:	Uvarovite that's NOT from Russia?  Yes, this one is from Finland, and is exceptional for the locale.  The matrix is an attractive chalcopyrite which provides a nice contrast with the deep forest green crystals of uvarovite.  The uvarovite crystals show wonderful modified dodecahedral form, with two main crystals on opposite sides of the specimen that stand out (see the pictures) among the rest.  One of the main crystals is more exposed, and is about 7mm in size, while the other is more embedded and is perhaps larger.  If you have wanted an Outokumpu uvarovite but had trouble find one (or an affordable one), then here you go!

Spodumene var. Kunzite #KUN0001 Laghman Province, Afghanistan 66.4 mm x 42.6 mm x 9.7 mm $420 Order this Specimen
Description:	This is a wonderful crystal of kunzite!  It shows marvelous form, luscious pinkish-lavender color, gemminess, and has great size.  Most importantly, the termination is pristine and complex.  The specimen looks great in a stand, or maybe a custom based could be made for it (I always intended to do this but never got around to it!).

Beryllonite #BRN0001 Kunar Province, Afghanistan 11.5 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.2 cm $680 SOLD
Description:	I call this one "Superman's Ice Palace!"  Because it looks just like where Superman takes his babes when he wants to impress them, you know, up there near Santa's Workshop at the North Pole.  OK, all kidding aside, this is a really aesthetic piece, with radiating cluster of individually terminate beryllonite crystals and a partial quartz crystal attached for good measure.  The quartz could be removed if you so desire, but think it's nice the way it is.

Cafarsite #CFR0001 Wanni glacier, Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland 37.1 mm x 26.4 mm x 15.8 mm $235 Order this Specimen
Description:	A lot of the specimens in this update fall into the "Rare Species" category as well, but they just look so nice in a display cabinet!  This piece is no exception!  Cafarsite from this locale is much sought after due to the well-formed crystals and lovely snowy matrix that provides excellent contrast.  Italian cafarsites produce fine crystals as well, but usually on darker grayish matrixes that don't display as well.  This is a fine miniature with crystals over 1cm, very well-trimmed and displayable.  You will not be disappointed!

Strengite w. Rockbridgeite #SRG0001 Leveäniemi Iron mine, Svappavaara, Kiruna, Lappland, Sweden 54.6 mm x 26.5 mm x 44.6 mm $125 SOLD
Description:	This is perhaps one of the prettiest combinations of minerals in the whole mineral kingdom.  Lovely lavender crystal balls of strengite with micro-clusters of rockbridgeite in between.  But one thing about strengite is this ... you have to keep in incandescent lighting to truly appreciate the pinkish-purple color.  Under fluorescent lighting, the crystals become more grayish and dark.  This is a great specimen that won't break the bank, and it will look great in any cabinet for sure.

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