OKF-221
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OKF-221    Rhodochrosite Casts    Stratoni, Greece.  Ex Nancy Collins collection.  The rhodochrosite crystals which make up this specimen are intergrown and in epitactic overgrowth on an unknown species of crystal.  I would assume these were originally dolomite, perhaps siderite crystals of very large size.  Maybe they were even rhodochrosites and the rhodochrosite remaining is a second generation.  Whatever the case it is made for a very displayable cabinet size specimen of an uncommon mineral from a rare location in an unusual form.  There is minor pyrite and tiny double terminated quartz crystals mixed within the specimen’s matrix.  This is simply an outstanding specimen, perhaps the best one I've ever owned from any location.  It has so many things going for it that it is almost difficult to describe.  The cast reach 4.3 cm on edge and are up to 3 cm deep.  They stand up well off the matrix which is also fully crystallized on its backside, but does not have the large rhodo casts seen on the front.  There is no damage whatsoever to the stellar piece which displays beautifully the specimen is far better in person and not as fragile as it looks.  I do not have the astronomical price which one might expect to be associated with piece of this magnitude.  He would absolutely be a five figure specimen with another dealer.  I would prefer to have it in the collection of someone who takes their rhodochrosite specimens seriously.  This somewhat rectangular shape piece measures 10.6 x 8.1 x 6 cm overall.  Give me a call and we will talk about how to get the specimen to your collection.    Price on request

OKF-213

OKF-213    Amethyst Scepters    Denny Mountain, King Co. Washington.  Ex Nancy Collins collection.  This is one of the rare finds which is written about in a chapter of the new book, “American Mineral Treasures”.  Some of these outstanding specimens were also on display at this year's, 2008, Tucson gem and mineral show.  It is extremely rare to see any of these for-sale in fact is one of the few I have ever seen.  It came to me as part of a collection which was built in the 1950s and 60s.  This piece is an absolute killer with the primary show been put on by three beautifully formed scepters with deep purple caps.  The stems are lustrous smoky quartz.  The piece itself beautifully for display and really draws your eye to it.  The caps to the crystals have tiny skeletal growth zones.  The edges of the base of the piece at peripheral breakage from where was removed from its host rock.  This said, it is outstanding damage free small cabinet specimen.  The piece measures 5.2 cm in height is 4.2 cm wide and 3.4 cm deep.  This is a rare a beautiful specimen and this is your opportunity to add to your collection.  $1600

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKF-203		Base

OKF-203    Rhodochrosite on Marcasite    Oppu Mine, Aomoriken, Honshu Prov., Japan.  Ex Nancy Collins collection.  Specimens don't get much more desirable than this one.  The piece measures 9.4 x 6.5 x 4.7 cm and is almost entirely solid pyrite.  On the pyrite are mounds of low luster pink rhodochrosite.  Much of the lower sections of the specimen, its base, are also mineralized.  One small chip a pirate is missing it is certainly not distracting to any of its views.  This piece sits in displays wonderfully.  An important piece from a desirable location.     Price on request.

 

 

 

 

OKF-055

OKF-055    Galena and Chalcopyrite    Buick Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri.  Ex. Art Edwards Collection.  Here is one of the finest galena specimens I have seen in years.  It is perfectly balanced on a natural section of matrix (not trimmed).  The massive cube measures 7 cm on edge!  It has a great patina not a newly mined flashy luster.  This is truly a specimen that could display well in any museum case.  Chalcopyrite crystals coat the upper sections of the matrix and a couple of minor calcites are on the bottom.  The cube is fully formed on all sides and displays great from any view.  14 x 10.5 x 10 cm overall.  An absolute steal at 850$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-390	Back.

OKE-390    Cubanite    Henderson Mine #2, Chibongamau, Quebec, Canada.  Ex. Art Edwards Collection.  This is a very special and rare specimen.  It is an unusually large piece measuring 5.5 x 4.2 x 1.5 cm.  It shows the classic crystal form and is composed of several intergrown crystals none of which are totally complete.  Main face is highly displayable.  A choice piece of rare mineral here.  The price sounds high but it is far less than most others I have seen of this size.  4,200$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-034	Back

OKE-034    Tourmaline with Lepidolite    Paproc, Kunar (Nuristan) Prov., Afghanistan.  This fine, pink, striated tourmaline crystal is translucent/ transparent and has a thin blue green termination layer.  This outstanding fan shaped crystal measures just shy of 10 cm long and is 5.5 cm wide at its termination and is 2.3 cm thick.  There is contact on the backside of the crystal which is minimal.  The display faces are very nice, damage free as is the termination.  As with all the other tourmalines described her the lepidolites are well formed and translucent.  Lots of tiny rider tourmalines in base and sides of main crystal.  Displays upright on an acrylic base.  A relatively serious tourmaline for the discriminating collector.   1,250$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-271

OKD-271    Aquamarine on Muscovite   Chumar Bakhoor, Nagar, Northern Areas, Pakistan.  Wonderful double terminated crystal aqua on a well trimmed base of muscovite blades.  The aqua measures 6 cm long by 5 cm wide.  The specimen could probably be displayed several different ways with good results.  Even light blue color with lots of veils internally.  There is a minor etched pink fluorite on the opposite side as the aqua in the mica.  It is small measuring only .7 cm.  The top termination has a couple very tiny dings which are barely noticeable on a crystal of this magnitude.  Backside of plate has been trimmed perfectly so it displays well.  This is a fine specimen worthy of a good home.  2,000$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-630	Barite close up.	Tetrahexahedral fluorites.

OKD-630        Fluorite (Tetrahexahedral Crystal Form) and Barite   Ana Mine, also known as Ana Berbes Location, Berbes, Spain.  Ex. Bob Borofsky Collection.  An old, rare find that is seldom represented in even the top comprehensive fluorite, Spanish or European collections.  Most collectors are not even familiar with this old mine which was once close to the Berbes locale with which every fluorite collector is now acquainted.  This one is a fine domed cluster of purple tetrahexahedral crystals to 1.7 cm on edge and white barites to 1.2 cm on edge.  The fluorite range from small and gemmy to larger with modified surfaces which take on the appearance of being etched.  Below these are other fluorites which are mostly obscured and more yellowish in color and phantomed.  This is a fine and rare specimen with only a single barite blade being partially missing.  10 x 8 x 5 cm overall size.  2,000$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-379		Crystal Closeup

OKD-379      Copper    Phoenix Mine, Michigan.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   Here is certainly the nicest copper specimen I have ever had the privilege of handling.  It measures 11.5 x 9.5 cm and is far more three-dimensional than the photos seem to indicate.  The specimen is illustrated in Teresa Kennedy's book, "Gems of Wisdom, Gems of Power".  It branches out in several directions with large crystals to 4 cm in diameter.  The piece has a wonderful light patina and is textbook in form.  I have photographed the specimen without a stand whereas it displays best with one.  When displayed the piece should be rotated 90 degree from the position in which I have photographed it.  That way the small crystals are at its base and the largest crystals stand up and branch outward on the top of the specimen.  The specimen is a free-floating pocket specimen with only one spot that could potentially be a point of attachment to matrix.  There is no damage visible even with the aid of magnification.  It would have a hard time being better in any way.  I searched all the top dealers and the Michigan specialists at the Tucson show this year and failed to find a specimen that stacked up to this one.  I could go on and on about how nice this piece is but it really needs to be seen to be appreciated.  Without a doubt this is of museum caliber.    9,200$

 

 

 

OKD-381	Back

OKD-381       Prehnite on Copper in Calcite    Quincy Mine, Michigan.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   Here is a smaller cluster (5 cm) with very nice copper phantoms.  One calcite tip is cleaved but difficult to notice in person or photos.  Crystals are well formed, double terminated and lightly striated.   It takes a nice, yet realistic, photograph.  The piece is one of the finest miniatures I have ever offered.  2,800$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-631	Back	Barites.
Tetrahexahedral fluorites.

OKD-631        Fluorite (Tetrahexahedral Crystal Form) and Barite   Ana Mine, also known as Ana Berbes Location, Berbes, Spain.  Ex. Bob Borofsky Collection.  An old, rare find that is seldom represented in even the top comprehensive fluorite, Spanish or European collections.  Most collectors are not even familiar with this old mine which was once close to the Berbes locale with which every fluorite collector is now acquainted.  This specimen is simple amazing for the location.  It measures a whopping 17 x 10 cm and is a two sided plate which is about 8 cm thick.  It sits up nicely on edge for display and is mineralized on about 50% of its edges.  The purple fluorites have a high degree of modification and so the surfaces appear frosted.  Inside the fluorites are fine yellow phantoms.  The white barites approach 2 cm and the only damage to the specimen are a couple of cleaved barites which are tough to find.  This is a wonderful museum piece from a rare, old European locale.  Extremely tough to get and desirable specimen.  6,500$ firm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-550

OKD-550     Rhodonite on Galena    Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.    A beautiful 2 cm crystal erupts vertically out of galena.  The crystal has gemmy regions with a good deal of internal flaws.  Although it may not appear gemmy, keep in mind that I never backlight my specimens like the competition loves to do.  You will be pleased with its color and clarity.  Double terminated with the basil termination being almost entirely buried in the galena.  The upper termination is damage free, fully exposed, complex and interesting.  Some faces are sharp and others morphed (or smoothed over) which is normal for these crystals.  Prism faces are all very clean.  3.2 x 1.6 x 1.6 overall.  Tiny rhodonite crystals climb up one side of the galena matrix.  A top, competitive thumbnail specimen.  Very rare to see these for sale and almost unheard of in this quality. Classic location, exceptionally well formed and a very rare and difficult to acquire specimen.   3,100$

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-375

OKD-375     Dioptase    Altyn-Tube, Khirgiz Steppes, Kazachstan.   Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   Previous older collection of unknown origin.  This is a nice deep green dioptase specimen with some serious size.  The individual crystals reach 2 cm in diameter, although most are closer to one cm each.  They are gemmy with outstanding form and luster.  There are two small regions on the display face that are scraped clean of crystals so it is not damage free.  It does however still display very well and present itself as a substantial piece.  It measures 10 x 9 x 4.5cm.  A great specimen to add some color to a case.  3,800$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-337	Back
		This photo is closest to the true color.

OKD-377   Cerussite on Malachite after Azurite    Tsumeb, S.W. Africa.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   This is arguably the most valuable piece in Nancy’s collection.  It is a massive plate of malachite crystals to 5 cm each.  In its entirety it measures 18 x 17 x 6 cm.  In this we find approximately 60 to 70 twinned cerussite crystal to 1.7 cm each.  They are well formed, have a medium luster and stand up high off the matrix. It looks like six more crystals should be on this piece but they have been cleaved off leaving a smooth contact where they once were.  Even with this damage, which does not draw your attention, the specimen is a killer and a classic.  I have seen specimens one quarter of the size of this one with no cerussite command many thousands of dollars.  This one is far superior to any similar specimens that I have seen for sale over the years.  A one of a kind that should get center stage even in the most serious Tsumeb collection.  13,000$

 

 

 

 

OKD-378

OKD-378      Barite on Calcite   Elk Creek, Meade Co., South Dakota.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.  Certainly a classic American specimen that is uncommon to find on today’s market.  This one has a pair of parallel growth crystals which are transparent and a rich brown color.   The barites are up to 4.3 cm each rising off well formed, yellow calcites.  One crystal has a tip ding on its backside.  The specimen displays best with support so I have it attached to an acrylic plate at this time.  It is 7.5 x 5 x 2 cm in overall size and there is an exceptional luster to the barites.  950$

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-365

OKD-365    Fluorite   Tsumcorp Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia, S.W. Africa.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   Circ. 1970.   A nice large plate of gree crystals to 2.2 cm on edge.  The specimen measures 14 x 10 cm and is up to 4.5 cm thick.  Beautiful blue phantoms and some incusions of a unknown mineral (maybe siderite).  One ding on a single cube, otherwise clean.  A fine classic…1,495$

 

 

 

 

OKD-368	Closeup

OKD-368     Azurite and Malachite      Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   This large specimen appears to be from a seam where the display face had a few minor contacts with the opposing wall. These are the brown spots where matrix shows through, not damage.  The crystals are sharply formed azurites and malachites between .2 and .5 cm each in length.  The entire specimen measures 16.5 x 8.5 x 6 cm and has the one primary display face.  It sits up well for display.  There is some mineralization on the back but there is really only one display face.  A nice large North American classic.  5,000$

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKD-369

OKD-369     Azurite and Malachite      Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona.  Ex. Nancy Collins Collection.   This block of azurite matrix has large regions which are hollowed out and filed by azurite crystalline druze.  Measures 8 x 9 x 6 cm.  Very bright.  1,500$

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKB-575	Back with minor secondary quartz.	Closeup.

OKB-575   Amethyst     Blue Points Mine, Near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.  Oh my!  30 cm dome of clean hematite included amethyst crystals that I recovered and horded away in my collection for many years.  Have to part with this beauty now.  Seen below is a photo of its recovery from its home in an exceptional 10 foot long pocket.  Maybe longer...we never found the end of this huge vug!  Exceptional in all regards.  The photos do not do this specimen justice.  It has a wonderful luster and only a couple very tiny spots of damage which are difficult to detect.        3,200$

  By far, the best specimen of the trip!

 

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