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May 2008 Update
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OKF-228 Aquamarine/ Apatite/ Albite/ Quartz/ Muscovite/ and Unknown RESERVED Baha, Shigar Valley Baltistan, N.A., Pakistan. I have recently reacquired this fine piece from a collector liquidating his specimens. Just shy of one half a foot of aquamarine coated with a diversity of accessory minerals. This 15 cm single terminated main aqua is truly unique with nice pink apatites, snow white albite (classic "albite jacket") climbing its backside and lots more. The clear/ cloudy double terminated quartz is 3 cm, muscovite book a cm and the pink apatites are up to almost 2 cm each. Some tiny black (unknown) crystals are in the mix, as well. Several double terminated aquas in parallel growth near the termination of the main crystal. There are two invisible repairs otherwise damage free. This is a very special piece for both its form and the uncommon association. I don't care for custom acrylic bases but this is one specimen that would benefit greatly from having one. An impressive specimen to see in person. A true centerpiece for any gem collection and no at a "stupid" price... 2,500$
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OKF-247 Rhodochrosite Hotazal, South Africa. Ex. Nancy Collins Collection. 4.3 x 3.6 cm section of an encrustation pseudomorph coating of deep pink rhodochrosite. Fun piece for the rhodo collector. Approx .2 cm thick, egg shell like piece. Amazing surface texture which does not show up in photographs but is very evident when the specimen is backlit. The inner surface of this piece has an exceptionally high, glassy luster. Unusual and aesthetic. 240$
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OKF-242 Rhodochrosite on Dolomite Chihuahua, Mexico. Ex Nancy Collins Collection. This large rhodo crystal (5.5 x 3.5 x 3 cm) of light pink (pinker than the image indicates) color rests with a thin walled bowl of micro crystalline rhodochrosite. The piece is very sculptural in form. The dolomites are not visible unless the specimen is inverted. They are light gray and have little bearing on the appearance of this piece. It is actually rather difficult to figure out exactly how this unique specimen formed. It appears to be a rhodochrosite casts after an unknown mineral into which a large complex rhodochrosite crystal has formed. At least that's my best guess. Damage free. Impressive from all angles. The competition would have this one priced at 2 to 3K or more. I believe 550$ is a great deal for someone on this fine specimen.
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OKF-224 Prehnite Stalactite Bendoukou, Sandare District, Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. One of many beautiful specimens recovered by Rock Currier and the purchased by myself at the 2006 Tucson show. Fine luster and sculptural form makes these some of the best prehnites ever. Likely to become the material that all future prehnites will be compared to. What a rare and aesthetic piece. A wonderful stalactite which measures 6.5 cm in length and has great translucence. True stalactites from this location are almost unheard of. Zero damage. 185$
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OKD-542 Epidote Bendokou, Sandare District, Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. A fine cluster of double terminated epidote crystals with the highest luster attainable for the species. This aesthetic grouping is composed of beautifully formed crystals which partially encase the waist of the central crystal (which measures 6.5 cm long, 2.5 cm wide and 1.3 cm thick). Matrix and other crystal contacts are reserved to the back and one small one (where it looks like there may have been a small garnet) on the side of the big crystal. This is an impressive epidote which rivals the finest from Prince of Wales Island. 200$
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OKF-277 Smithsonite Stalactite Tsumeb, S.W. Africa. Ex. Nancy Collins Collection. A small but very fine specimen! Light yellowish green crystals of smithsonite form this 4.8 cm stalactite. Form, luster and uniqueness are all great. Zero damage and views great from all sides. This will be a fine addition to someones Tsumeb collection. 395$
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OKF-269 Barite on Fluorite Moscona Mine, Villabona Region, Asturias, Spain. Ex. Collection. Clear/ white barite crystals to 2.3 cm almost entirely coat the one side of the plate of yellow fluorite cubes. A far less common mineral combination as compared to the calcite and fluorite specimens frequently seen from the Moscona Mine. This one measures in 6.5 x 5.1 x 4.7 cm. Some of the barites are slightly scuffed. A nice specimen for….120$
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OKF-267 Celestine Maybee, Michigan. Ex Eric Edey collection. Attractive floater plate measuring 6.7 cm x 4.5 cm and averaging approximately 1.5 cm thick. An extremely minor contact on the back end base several small Crystal's missing on back of specimen and on edge. This is still a fine display specimen in need of a good home. $60
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OKF-268 Sphalerite La Troja, San Sabashtan, Spain. Ex Bob Borofsky collection. An attractive specimen measuring 5 x 4 x 3.2 cm. A generous coating of gemmy crystals to .8 cm each. There is a nice contrast between the tan color dolomites and these beautiful red sphalerites. Damage free and showy. $80
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OKF-248 Fluorite, Chalcopyrite and Barite La Collada, Asturias, Spain. Ex Bob Borofsky collection. This piece is an absolutely amazing fluorite of exquisite form and clarity. The pictures cannot do this piece justice and it is far better in person. The fluorites reach an impressive 6 cm on edge and possess completely hollowed out faces. The edges and corners remain and they are gemmy with beautiful white internal phantoms. Inside the hollowed out faces are brassy chalcopyrite crystals as well as some small, tabular, white barites. There couple minor dings which are difficult to find due to the complexity of the piece and the mix of shades and contrasting colors. The piece sits on edge and views wonderfully from the sides, main display face and top. The fluorites color is actually a very light blue. The entire piece measures 10.2 x 8.7 x 5.2 cm. This is an absolutely stunning specimen from a choice European locality. $1400
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OKF-270 Apophyllite Ball with Chlorite Inclusions Jalgaon, North Maharashtra State, India. An attractive ball of apophyllite deeply included with green chlorate. The blocky crystals are in semi-parallel growth radiating from a central point on this matrix. If you tiny lighter green crystals on the rich forest green crystals may appear as damage, but they are not. This is a totally damage free specimen which possesses exceptional display qualities. 8.3 x 6.5 x 6.1 cm overall. $125
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OKF-271 Tourmaline Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ex Steve Lewis collection. Here is a great Crystal from a classic locality which measures 5 cm long by 1.6 cm thick is a damage free singly terminated specimen which has a rich pink/red core encased by light blue tourmaline. It is a gemmy crystal with no shortage of internal inclusions. Thankfully, no one would probably cut this fine piece anyways. $850
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OKF-272 Fluorite La Collada, Asturias, Spain. Ex Bob Borofsky collection. What is special piece this one is! This fine cluster of large fluorites measures 9.5 x 5.7 x 7.2 cm and displays beautifully on edge individual cubes reach 6.5 cm on edge and each corner of the cube is capped by a clear fluorite cube. The underlying fluorite is a deep purple color and somewhat translucent. The clear fluorites also in case some of the edges of the larger crystals. Two of the small clear fluorites have minor dings which are hardly noticeable. The overall quality of this specimen is exceptional. Very few pieces of this quality have been mined at this location. This piece is a real killer to say the least. $1000
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OKF-278 Goethite on Quartz Pike's Peak, El Paso County, Colorado. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is an older piece from the George Springs collection and sold to Steve by Wards of Rochester. It is and aesthetic for centimeter Quartz Crystal which to groupings of goethite. One cluster is 2.3 cm in size and stands well off the surface of the Quartz there is matrix contact on the back end base otherwise a piece is damage free and clean. Good luster in form. $125
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OKF-243 Malachite “Mushroom” RESERVED Congo. Ex Steve Lewis collection. This is a highly aesthetic botryoidal grouping of high luster malachites. It measures 3.7 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm and displays beautifully. Good views can be had from all sides on this piece. Excellent color and unusual form to this totally damage free specimen. $200
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OKF-275 Datolite Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. Ex Nancy Collins collection. An attractive copper included specimen which measures 6.3 cm x 4.5 cm. Beautifully polished and highly desirable. $235
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OKF-245 Fluorite Walworth, New York. Collected by Michael Walter. This specimen has a fine water clear, tabular crystal of fluorite measuring 1.2 cm on edge. It sits up high off the matrix which in total measures 6.4 x 5.2 x 4.5 cm. Tough to get material in a quality specimen. $60
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OKF-276 Apophyllite Millington quarry, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Ex Jim Turek collection. This is an exceptional piece for the location with deep green crystals to over a centimeter on edge each. This nice 8.2 x 8 x 6 .8 cm specimen sits beautifully and views well from the front and the sides. All contact with matrix is on base, back and a little on the front lower edge. Zero damage and very displayable. $125
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OKF-274 Pyrite Quiruvilca Mine, La Libertad Dept., Peru. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection this is a cute specimen which measures 4.3 x 3.2 x 2.2 cm overall. Finally formed octahedral crystals to 1.4 cm on edge with good luster dominate the specimen. They have unusual modifications with which I am unfamiliar. There is visible crack down the center the specimen which is natural and minor over growths of quartz. An interesting and attractive piece which is not the normal material for this location. $100
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OKF-273 Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Galena 2nd Sovietskiy Mine, Dal’negorsk, Russia. This is an exceptionally large crystal measuring 7.7 x 6 cm and is up to 2.8 cm thick. Pieces like this have become very uncommon today especially at the price being offered here. The smaller rider crystal measures 4 cm itself and is the only place on the specimen where there is contact. There is minor surface cracking, which is natural, but the piece is totally stable and damage free. This would be an impressive specimen in any collection, and a must have for anyone who focuses on this country or this mine. $200
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OKF-249 Gyrolite on Calcite with Apophyllite This is a beautiful and unusually rare specimen. This combination of minerals is quite unusual to say the least. The double terminated calcite crystal measures 8.8 cm and is beautifully jacketed with gyrolite balls to 1.5 cm each. Most of this material is on the backside of the calcite, giving it a much different look than the front. On the back is a .5 cm clear up awfully crystal and other micro crystals as well. The front face of the calcite has unusual surface features, nice luster, and good transparency. The entire piece is a very showy specimen, and again, quite unusual. $185
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OKF-250 Apophyllite and Stilbite on Chalcedony Jalgaon, India. I can't say enough good things about this specimen. It is totally unique and exceptionally aesthetic. It is a curved stalactite composed of gemmy apophyllites and pink stilbites in a horseshoe shaped cluster. The piece is a total floater with no points of attachment and zero damage. It's hard to imagine a nicer specimen. It even stands on edge for display, although I don't think I'd take the risk of doing this with a specimen that is so perfect. This is an old specimen from the 1970s or perhaps early 1980s. The length of the stalactite is approximately 14 cm but the piece actually measures only 6.2 x 6.4 cm. We never see great pieces like this anymore at any price. A great specimen. $220
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OKF-251 Native Copper on Malachite after Azurite Inspiration mine, Miami, Arizona. Ex Nancy Collins collection. This is an interesting specimen which is composed primarily of a 4.3 cm x 2.4 cm by .8 cm azurite crystal, completely replaced by malachite. On the malachite pseudomorph refined copper groupings to 1 cm in size. And unusual and desirable specimen. $350
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OKF-252 Aquamarine “Pencil” Nyet, Braudu Valley,Baltistan, northern area, Pakistan. This great little gem measures 5.2 cm and has a minor amount of feldspar at its base, which is actually regrown. It is highly striated yet he retains his hexagonal form which is exquisite. The entire crystal is gem with only one or two extremely tiny inclusions. A beautiful specimen in all regards. $300
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OKF-253 Dolomite Twins Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection # 6994. Another specimen which has become exceedingly uncommon on today's market are these gemmy dolomites from Spain. Noted as being the best in the world, hands down, these look more like calcites and dolomites. This grouping measures 5.6 x 3.5 x 3 cm with the largest crystal being 2.3 cm on edge. For the most part these are totally gem material, beautifully formed, and there is no damage to this exceptional piece. A very showy specimen which stands securely on edge for display. This piece is one of the nicest I have seen from the location for sale. Nicer than others I have seen offered for 2,500$... $725
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OKF-254 Stibnite Including Quartz Manhattan, Nevada. Ex Nancy Collins collection. This specimen consists of a singly terminated quartz crystal measuring 2.8 cm in length. It is very clear and has inclusions of silver colored stibnites within its central region. There is an older collection number on its base and very tiny chips on the termination which are visible with magnification. An interesting and attractive piece. $60
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OKF-255 Cobaltite Cobalt, Ontario, Canada. Ex Nancy Collins collection. This rare piece is a single Crystal measuring 1.7 cm on edge that is .6 cm in thickness. The specimen is repaired in the crack from that repair is visible in the central region of the crystal. This is still a very attractive and difficult to find specimen. $135
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OKF-256 Prehnite and Epidote Arrondissement Nioro du Sahel, Matia, Cercle de Yelimane Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. This is an excellent specimen measuring 7.3 x 6 x 3.5 cm overall. It is composed of a nice mix of single and double terminated at a epidotes heavily coated by large balls of prehnite. The prehnite is very translucent. The backside of the specimen shows one minor contact to a prehnite, otherwise a specimen is a floater three epidotes on the bottom of the specimen are missing their terminations. A very good specimen for this location. $140
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OKF-257 Selenite Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Ex Nancy Collins collection. There are two specimens of doubly terminated selenite which will be sold together here. One measures 11.2 cm in the second measures 10.1 cm both are well terminated and have numerous rider crystals within their central regions. They are clear with the typical internal inclusions of clay. Both are good damage free specimens. $50 for both.
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OKF-258 Goethite pseudomorph after Pyrite New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Ex William Pinch collection and Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is an exceptional pseudomorph of what was once a tabular pyritohedral crystal of pyrite. It is a beautiful example with well preserved striations, sharp crystal faces at a fantastic patina. The piece measures 3.1 x 3.2 x 1.9 cm overall it is damage free. It is a far better example of this material than most that I've seen. $130
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