Chinese Sphalerite Specimens
Fine gemmy sphalerites from China appear on the mineral market from time to time. They never show up in great quantity and seldom in top quality like some of the ones offered on these pages. Given all the zinc and lead mining going on in China it is surprising that more of these fine specimens have not turned up. At this time I only invest in the highest quality specimens of this species.
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OKE-227 Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz and Chalcopyrite RESERVED Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A neat specimen with good, large, high luster twinned chalcopyrites to 2.3 cm each. Edge damage due to extraction and internal damage to the large sphalerite cluster. Still a good specimen with nice twinned chalcos (which is quite unusual). 8.5 x 7 x 5.5 cm. Small ball of galena at front bottom of piece. Pre 2000 specimen which I have seen no more of since. 160$
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OKE-221 Quartz on Sphalerite Lianshan, Guangdong Prov., China. A wonderful and large piece showing clear tint quartz on sphalerite crystals. The piece measures 11 x 8 x 6 cm. The sphalerites are not in discrete crystals but in more of an intergrown mat. They are nicely translucent. The specimen has no damage and only minimal contact areas along one side of the piece. A very fair price on what is normally costly material…especially in damage free specimens. 175$
OKD-036 – OKD039 Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz Nu Nan, Cheng Zhou, China. These sphalerites could rank as some of the finest ever produced, ANYWHERE! I come from zinc country in northern New York and have seen some very sweet sphalerites over the decades. These are some of the gemmiest red sphalerites ever on attractive quartz. The contract is spectacular. There are not a lot of these around but those that are have prices out the roof. The prices on the four here are not low because they have problems. I was able to select the best from a large lot of great specimens. Don’t waste you time waiting for prices to go lower on these…they won’t. Galena is cubic and cubeoctohedal in form, moderate in luster and often having etched corners or a ball shaped appearance. Paragenesis is quartz followed by galena with sphalerite last. Sphalerite crystals are facet grade material! Even the big ones. Many are twins.
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OKD-036 Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz Nu Nan, Cheng Zhou, China. 8.5 x 5.5 x 4 cm domed grouping with huge sphalerites to 4 cm in a tight mound. Gemmy even though large crystals. A minor rub on one crystal otherwise damage free. 470$
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OKD-037 Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz Nu Nan, Cheng Zhou, China. 11 x 7.5 cm slab with somewhat tabular sphalerites to 1 cm. They appear gemmier due to their being thinner. No damage. 200$
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OKD-038 Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz Nu Nan, Cheng Zhou, China. 9 x 5 x 5 cm steeply faced dome with a great mix of all the minerals mentioned above. Sawn flat on base. One contact spot near top of specimen otherwise fully viewable from all sides. 440$
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OKD-039 Sphalerite, Galena, Quartz Nu Nan, Cheng Zhou, China. One primary sphalerite twin on this wonderful quartz. It measures 1.3 cm and stands up showing off on the high part of the piece. Minor galena and other sphalerites. 195$
OKA-424 Sphalerite on Quartz Shuikoushan, Hunan, China. Gemmy and translucent/ gemmy crystals to 1 cm form clusters as large as 3.5 cm across on micro quartz. Piece is 9 cm tall and 5 cm wide. Great looking specimen. 25$
