Marin Mineral
Mixed Minerals
January 11, 2021  ·  8 specimens

LL400 - Pargasite with Spinel   $950  available

Twin Lakes Limestone deposit, Lower Twin Lake, Twin Lakes, Fresno Co., California, USA
Small Cabinet - 7.5 x 6 x 3 cm



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Pargasite with Spinel Pargasite with Spinel Pargasite with Spinel Pargasite with Spinel Pargasite with Spinel Pargasite with Spinel

Large translucent brown Pargasite crystals associated with blue Spinel. A superb California specimen, it was the best Pargasite (that I saw) from the Chuck Trantham collection, and there is nothing comparable to it on Mindat. The Pargasites are well formed and reach 2.1cm in size, with a band of blue Spinel (including crystals to 4mm) along the bottom, adding good color contrast. Chuck valued this at $750 back in 1983, significantly more than others in his collection that I saw, indicating he too rated this one highly. His label shows a locality of 'Locality No. 2, Twin Lakes area, near Lake Shore, Fresno Co., California' and indicates it was collected in August of 1983.


LL403 - Rhodochrosite  sold

Inakuraishi mine, Furubira District, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan
Small Cabinet - 8.5 x 4.8 x 1.5 cm



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Rhodochrosite Rhodochrosite Rhodochrosite

Bladed pink Rhodochrosite crystals atop a layer af darker pink banded Rhodochrosite. Beautiful, undamaged specimen from a historic and now closed locality. These are lesser known and less common than Oppu Mine specimens.


LL405 - Benitoite  sold

Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California, USA
Small Cabinet - 6.2 x 5 x 2.5 cm



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Benitoite Benitoite Benitoite Benitoite Benitoite

Wreath-like grouping of Benitoite crystals wrapping across a Natrolite covered matrix. This specimen has striking architecture, large crystals (to 2.2cm), and most importantly, good luster. There is one repair on the large crystal on the top right, but regardless, this is an extraordinary specimen of great beauty and rarity. This mine is closed and there aren't many out there like this!


LL412 - Spinel  sold

Pein Pyit, Mogok, Myanmar
Thumbnail - 1.1 x 1.1 x 1.1 cm



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Spinel Spinel Spinel Spinel

Complete octahedral crystal of red Spinel. There is one tiny, shallow chip on one point, otherwise it's undamaged with high surface luster and gem zones internally.


LL408 - Babingtonite   $180  available

Hongquizhen Quarry, Meigu Co., Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China
Miniature - 3.5 x 2 x 2 cm



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Babingtonite Babingtonite Babingtonite Babingtonite Babingtonite Babingtonite

Cluster of double-terminated Babingtonite crystals from a now old and defunct locality. The crystals have broad, flat terminations to 1.7cm wide. It's a floater, well crystallized all around with a contact or damage along the side of the large crystal, otherwise perfect all around.

LL409 - Grossular on Diopside  sold

Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
Small Cabinet - 6 x 4 x 1.2 cm



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Grossular on Diopside Grossular on Diopside Grossular on Diopside Grossular on Diopside

Gemmy orange Grossular crystals with green Diopside, a classic from a now defunct mine. Individual crystals reach 1.5cm in diameter. Undamaged.


LL413 - Tourmaline on Kunzite  sold

Kunar, Afghanistan
Thumbnail - 2.9 x 2.5 x 1 cm



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Tourmaline on Kunzite Tourmaline on Kunzite Tourmaline on Kunzite Tourmaline on Kunzite

Double-terminated pink Kunzite crystal with an attached red Tourmaline. The Tourmaline has great color and is well terminated and the combination forms a stunning thumbnail. Undamaged.


LL423 - Spessartine on Orthoclase  sold

Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China
Thumbnail - 2.2 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm



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Spessartine on Orthoclase Spessartine on Orthoclase Spessartine on Orthoclase Spessartine on Orthoclase

Choice thumbnail-sized specimen composed of a single Orthoclase crystal coated on all sides by gemmy orange Spessartine crystals. Ex. Chuck Trantham collection.


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