Marin Mineral
Mixed Minerals
April 19, 2020  ·  10 specimens

D244 - Bournonite  sold

Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan, China
Thumbnail - 2.1 x 2 x 1 cm



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Bournonite Bournonite Bournonite Bournonite

Bournonite from Yaogangxian is considered by many as the finest in the world, with bright silvery, mirror lustrous surfaces and good more prismatic (rather than 'cogwheel') form. This is a good thumbnail sized crystal, partially double-terminated, and complete on both sides. From the collection of Lorraine Sofia, a local collector who considered herself to be a 'mini John Barlow\" and had a good eye for quality specimens.


D242 - Tourmaline  sold

Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thumbnail - 2 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm



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Tourmaline Tourmaline Tourmaline Tourmaline

Unusual Tourmaline crystal with a green cap atop colorless 'Achroite' Tourmaline. A fat single crystal that is complete all around and undamaged.


D207 - Sanidine  sold

Itrongay, Betroka, Anosy Region, Madagascar
Miniature - 4 x 3.2 x 1.8 cm



(click on an image to enlarge)

Sanidine Sanidine Sanidine

My last Sanidine, a big transparent crystal. Feldspar is a mineral not ususally known for fine collector gem crystals, but at this locality in Madagascar, amazing water clear crystals are sometimes found. This is a large, thick crystal in good condition, crystal faces on the front, top, top left, and right sides, a cleavage face on the back and edge chipping on the lower left side. The crystal has a good yellow coloration, is internally transparent, and looks (to my non-gemcutter eyes) like it could cut a large gemstone. Weighs 44.15 grams.


D235 - Halite with Sylvite  sold

Kerr McGee Mine, Eddy Co., New Mexico, USA
Thumbnail - 2.8 x 2.4 x 2.1 cm



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Halite with Sylvite Halite with Sylvite Halite with Sylvite Halite with Sylvite Halite with Sylvite

A sharp, transparent blue cubic crystal. In great condition and all the faces are natural, not cleavages. The blue color of the Halite is caused by natural radiation in the mine.


D241 - Lawsonite  sold

Reed Station, Tiburon, Marin Co., California, USA
Thumbnail - 3.1 x 2 x 2 cm



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Lawsonite Lawsonite Lawsonite Lawsonite

Blue Lawsonite crystals on a green schist matrix from the type locality in Marin Co., California. The crystals display good lustrous faces rather than more commonly seen broken surfaces. This is an old Chuck Trantham specimen. His old label notes that it was collected by him and Al McGuinness back in 1968.


D243 - Calcite, Barite on Fluorite  sold

Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
Miniature - 5 x 4 x 3 cm



(click on an image to enlarge)

Calcite, Barite on Fluorite Calcite, Barite on Fluorite Calcite, Barite on Fluorite Calcite, Barite on Fluorite

Purple and yellow cubic Fluorite (purple outer layer, yellow core) withe backside covered by scalenohedral Calcite crystals and small platy Barite crystals. An undamaged floater crystallied all around.


D237 - Cubanite  sold

Henderson #2 Mine, Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada
Thumbnail - 3 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm



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Cubanite Cubanite Cubanite Cubanite Cubanite

Large single crystal of rare Cubanite from the world's best locality for the species. Bright, lustrous golden color wtih twinning striations evident on the front face. These are typically more coin-like in form, and at 1.2cm thick, it is much chunkier than most. Rare material from a closed locality dating back 25 years or more.


D262 - Opal after Bamboo  sold

Banten, Java, Indonesia
Miniature - 3.9 x 1.5 x 1.2 cm



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Opal after Bamboo Opal after Bamboo Opal after Bamboo Opal after Bamboo

Black opal that has completely replaced a section of fossil Bamboo from recent finds in Java. It has a bright play of color (reds and greens) in areas and also shows fine detail of the former bamboo. These were found in the past 2 years and are uncommon.


M897 - Ilvaite   $200  available

Huanggang Mine, Inner Mongolia, China
Miniature - 3.5 x 3 x 3 cm



(click on an image to enlarge)

Ilvaite Ilvaite Ilvaite Ilvaite Ilvaite

Glossy black cluster of Ilvaite crystals with typical chisel-shaped termination. Aesthetic specimen, especially as compared to most which are single crystals.

D256 - Phillipsite on Gismondine  sold

Osa Quarry, Rome, Italy
Small Cabinet - 8 x 4 x 3 cm



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Phillipsite on Gismondine Phillipsite on Gismondine Phillipsite on Gismondine Phillipsite on Gismondine Phillipsite on Gismondine

White spheres of Phillipsite on sparkly Gismondine on dark grey basalt creating a specimen with both variety and sparkle. Both Phillipsite and Gismondine are uncommon Zeolite minerals.


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