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JUNE 2005 OFFER SHEET
A few years ago, we met an American couple who own an opal mine in Australia,
and cut their own stones. From them, we’ve obtained boulder opal cabochons at
bargain prices for Cheryl’s wire jewelry and to offer at shows. (Remember the
write-up? “Boulder opal” is used for ironstone concretions with opal fillings,
sometimes with bands of precious opal alternating with common opal.) We have
their freeform cabochons from ¾” by ¼” to 1" by ½”, all with flashes of Precious
opal, for $28, and if you’d like to wear one or give it as a gift, Cheryl can
set it in one of her elegant wire pendants for an additional $35, a special
price for Club members. (She uses 24 karat gold-filled wire for her pendants.)
In Tucson this year, we picked out three fire opal faceted stones, beautiful
color, but with no flash. (“Fire opal” has an orange-to-red body color.) We have
a 3-carat trillion cut with light orange color for $30, and two deeper
reddish-orange trillion-cut gemstones: 1.75-carat for $52 and 2.45-carat for
$70. Again, Cheryl can set any of these in an elegant wire prong-setting in
24-karat gold-filled wire for $50.
NEW LOT OF LABRADORITE from Madagascar, our April 1997 featured mineral.
These are very pretty pieces, about ½” thick and polished on one side to show
the labradorescent schiller of this unique feldspar group mineral, and the
write-up explains what causes the flashes of color. We have irregularly shaped
pieces about 2½” by 2" up to about 4" by 2" for $10, $12, $14, and $16 by size.
NEW LOT OF DANBURITE, our February 1999 featured mineral, and one of our
favorite minerals. These are singles crystals with a light pink color from the
Charcas District, San Luis Potosi, Mexico– danburite would be a very rare (and
no doubt expensive) were it not for this locality. We have nice crystals with
good color and terminations from about 3" by 1¼” and bigger for $12, $14, $16,
by size, with a couple smaller specimens for $10 and one larger– a group with
two crystals, the termination on the larger one is covered by tan calcite
crystals, for $40.
NEW LOT OF COBALTOAN DOLOMITE, our August 2002 featured mineral. These
are good sized matrix pieces, each with a layer of hot pink drusy crystals on
top, about 3" by 2" and 2" high for $22.50, with slightly bigger/better pieces
for $24, $30, $36, $40 and $45. This hot pink drusy is very popular with jewelry
designers.
NEW LOT OF LARGE PINK HALITE, our January 1997 featured mineral. Bright
pink hopper crystals on pink matrix from Searles Lake, California, large pieces
from 4" by 3½” to 4½” by 4" for $50 & $60.
NEW LOT OF GOLD IN QUARTZ, our December 1999 featured mineral. We have
flat slices from 1½” by 1½” to 2½” by 1½” with minor gold flakes and veins for
$15; and quartz matrix pieces about 1½” by 1" and larger with gold flecks for
$30, $60 and $90, priced by the amount of gold.
NEW LOT OF APATITE, our October 1998 mineral. These are translucent green
crystals with natural terminations of a melted appearance on a matrix of white
fluorescent calcite. We have crystals up to 1" on small matrix for $12, and
Deluxe-size pieces for $22.50, along with bigger, very high quality specimens
for $75, $100, and $120.
We recently picked up four large matrix pieces of vanadinite, our November 2001
featured mineral. Each is on a thick matrix, more than 6" across, 4" high, and
2" thick, with hundreds of drusy crystals almost completely covering the
surface, for $48.
We purchased a small part of the Fred Devito collection, including 5 dravite
crystals from Yinnietharra Station, Australia, purchased or collected in 1969.
These are well-formed brown crystals about 1½” by ¾” for $16 and one bigger,
better for $30.
New find of zinkenite [Pb9Sb22S42] from Itos-San Jose mine, Oruro Dept, Bolivia,
as sprays of greyish-black needle thin crystals going every which way– 1¾” by
1¾” sprays and larger for $24, $30, and $36
From Russia, quartz crystals with green chlorite phantoms inside, from the Polar
Ural Mountains.
Unpolished but clear crystals with clear phantoms about 1½” by ½” to 2½” by 1"
for $10, $15, $20, with larger specimens for $28, $45, $60, and $70.
Moldavite, our December 2001 featured stone (we had to say stone rather than
mineral, as moldavite is the most beautiful kind of tektite) from the Czech
Republic. These are pieces of very pure natural glass, bottle-green in color,
with neat shapes showing the pitting and grooving caused by ablation as they
fell through the atmosphere. The write-up explains in detail how these formed.
We have exceptional pieces from ¾” by ¾” up to about 1¼” by ¾” for $24, $28,
$32, $36, $40, and $48, depending on size.
Lazulite [MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2] is the most beautiful and desirable of the rare
phosphates found here. The MR says: “No other locality in the world has produced
specimens of comparable quality and quantity.” The Yukon government proclaimed
it the “official gemstone of the Yukon” in February 1976. Our pieces are on
matrix up to about 3" by 1½”, each with a number of lush, intensely beautiful
dark blue crystals about ⅛” to ¼” across for $24, and $30. (We’ve put together a
two-page write-up with information on lazulite and the next four minerals on the
list to send with them.)
Gormanite [Fe2+3Al4(PO4)4(OH)6⋅ 2H2O] is one of the minerals first discovered at
Big Fish River. It forms as flattened, blue, radial sprays on fracture surfaces
and as radial aggregates of blue-green crystals. Again our pieces are on matrix
up to about 3" by 1½”, for $24, and $30.
Wardite [NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4⋅2H2O], of which the MR says: “No other locality has
produced such an abundance of fine specimens.” Wardite forms here as colorless
to white, pale yellow to brown crystals with a pronounced pseudo-octahedral
habit. Our specimens are on matrix up to about 3" by 1½”, for $24, $30, and $36,
according to quality.
“The discovery of Arrojadite [KNa4Ca(Fe2+Mn2+)14Al(PO4)12(OH,F)] in the Yukon is
significant because it marks the first time this species has ever been found
outside a granite pegmatite environment, and it represents the second known
occurrence of individual, euhedral crystals,” says the MR. We have pieces on
matrix up to about 1½” by 1½”, with clusters of very small, olive-green
arrojadite crystals for $30, and $40.
Finally, we obtained a few pieces of Whitlockite [Ca9Mg(PO3OH)(PO4)6] as flat,
translucent white crystals on matrix on matrix up to about 2" by 1" for $24, and
a couple of pieces twice that size for $48.
The Chrysocolla with Drusy Quartz, our April 1999 featured mineral, we offered
last year was so popular that we obtained another lot. Our April 1999 pieces
were from the Ray Mine, Pinal County, Arizona, a huge copper mine that is not
currently producing any chrysocolla; these specimens are from Ludwig, Lyon
County, Nevada. These bright blue specimens, about 2" by 2" in size are offered
for $8 and $10, with larger pieces from 2" by 3" for $16 and up to 4" by 4" and
bigger for $24.
Highly fluorescent fluorite from the Rogerley Mine, England, our March 2002
featured mineral. These are so sensitive that the UV rays in sunlight will turn
the corners of the crystals blue! We have Deluxe-size specimens for $22.50, and
bigger/better crystallized pieces for $25, $35, $40, $60, $75
Also, Microcline variety Amazonite from a new find in Ethiopia (boy we would
love to be able to get enough specimens to feature both these new finds, but
it’s highly unlikely)! These are well-formed, light greenish-blue crystals with
no matrix, up to about 1½” by 1" for $16, $24, and $30, with matrix pieces up to
about 4" by 4" covered in crystals for $120, and the best for $300.
From Baja California, Mexico, we obtained a small lot of Almandine garnets, our
March 1997 featured mineral (they were from Wrangell, Alaska) as large single
crystals of brownish-red color, no matrix, about 1" to 2" in diameter for $8,
$12, $14, $16, $18, $20, $22.
And from Bou Azzir, Morocco, very beautiful crystals of Erythrite with deep
magenta color, as subparallel groups of thin crystals on matrix from 1¾” by 1¾”
to 2" by 2" for $14, $16, $18, $20, and $24, and large matrix pieces up to 3" by
4" for $36, and $50. More of the Dendrites in silty limestone, from Germany,
that look like bushes and tree branches in stone, cut slabs about 3" by 3" for
$8, $10, and $12
With few exceptions, we don’t see many minerals from European localities
offered, so we are happy when we get a chance to pick up a few, including the
following rare minerals. These are not highly attractive specimens, more of
interest because of their rarity and/or crystal forms– you’ll need your 10x
loupe to really appreciate these. All come mounted in plastic specimen boxes
used by many European collectors, so they display nicely:
Vantasselite [Al4(PO4)3(OH)3⋅9H2O], another rare phosphate, from its type
locality in Belgium, as very small sprays of radiating light blue crystals on
matrix, pieces about 1" by 1" for $22 and about 2" by 1" for $32.
Very rare and extremely small crystals of Turquoise [Cu2+Al6(PO4)4(OH)8⋅4H2O],
another phosphate that is not so rare in its massive, gemstone form, but is
quite rare as crystals as these are. You’ll need your 10x loupe to see these 1mm
crystals well, on 2" by 1" matrix, for $20.
From the famous Laurium Mine in Greece, we have a few specimens of Annabergite
Ni3(AsO4)2⋅8H2O], which coincidentally forms a series with erythrite that we’re
also offering. These are very small but very pretty crystals of a
malachite-green color on matrix about 1" by 1" for $16.
Also from Laurium, again very pretty but very small, is the Cuprian variety of
Adamite, tiny translucent green crystals on brown matrix– cuprian adamite
doesn’t fluoresce. We have specimens with lots of little crystals on 1" by 1"
matrix for $8, with larger matrix pieces for $16 and $26.
Manadonite [Li2Al4((Si4AlB)O10)(OH)8, an analog of amesite, from its type
locality in Madagascar, as brownish globules on matrix up to about 2" by 1" for
$32.
We also got a small lot of Variscite, our April 2000 featured mineral, from
Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah. These are much larger than what we sent Club
members that month, nodules that have been cut open with the interior surface
coated rather than polished, which is much more cost effective, to highlight the
creamy green color characteristic of this rare phosphate. We have pieces from
about 3½” by 3" to 4½ by 3½” for $30 and $36 by size.
From Australia comes “Rain Forest Jasper,” a pretty name for a pretty green
rhyolite with brown and clear zones of chalcedony throughout, many of which
fluoresce bright green under shortwave UV light. The fluorescence is caused by a
few parts per million on uranium in the stone, which will also register on a
Geiger counter, so use common sense when deciding to order one. We have 1½”
spheres for $12, 2" spheres for $16, and 2" by 1½” eggs for $18.
Another unusual stone from Australia is called “Tiger Iron”, because it’s a
combination of gray hematite, red jasper, and yellow tigereye. We have 1½”
spheres for $12, 1¾” by 1¼” eggs for $12, and 2" by 1½” eggs for $16; larger,
heavier 3" spheres for $84; bigger, for $100 and $180. (Call or E-mail about big
spheres.)
“Printstone” is an Australian stone consisting of mineral-stained silt, with
shades of creamy pink and earthy red, and streaks of dark brown running
throughout. We have it in 2" by 1½” eggs for $16; and 3" spheres for $60, and
bigger spheres for $96 and $120. (Call or E-mail about big spheres.)
And the best for last: “Peanutwood” is a brown petrified wood with a difference:
each piece has openings made my marine borer worms, naturally filled in by white
silt of some kind! So unusual that Rock & Gem magazine did an article about it–
we’ll try to find it and make copies to go with the eggs we have, a little
pricier because of their rarity. We have 2" by 1½” eggs for $30, and about 2¼”
by 1½” for $36.
From Russia: Grossular garnets, small peachy-colored crystals on matrix from the
Bazhenovskoe deposit, Ural Regions, Russia. We have matrix pieces up to 2" by 2"
with lots of very small crystals for $15, $20, $25. Titanite from the Polar
Urals. Sprays of sharp gray crystals jutting up from matrix about 2" by 2" for
$20, $25, $30, $40, and $45. The gem variety of titanite is known as sphene.
Ferro-axinite from Dalnegorsk, Russia. We have small, dark brown crystals in
clusters about 1" by 1" for $6, and slightly bigger for $12, $15, $20, $25, and
$30. Lorenzenite [Na2Ti2Si2O9] as sharp black orthorhombic crystals frozen in
matrix, from the mineral-rich frozen tundra of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, as ½”
long crystals on matrix for $6. Epidote as small sprays of lovely green color,
similar to the color and translucense of moldavite, on matrix with pretty, clear
needle quartz. We have pieces on matrix about 2" by 1½” to 3" by 2" for $20,
$25, $28, $40, and $50. And Rutile [TiO2] as small grey crystals with metallic
luster on matrix from Azerbaijan. We have matrix pieces up to about 2½” by 2"
with lots of sharp crystals about 1/16" to 1/8" for $40. Also, smoky quartz
crystals with small anatase crystals on them, from the Polar Urals. We have
crystals about from about 2" long and ¾” wide to 3" by 1½” for $15, $18, $20,
$22, $25, and $35. Each has many minute anatase crystals on it.
Pyrite from Navajun, La Rioja, Spain, our March 1996 featured mineral (our first
month). We picked up some graduated sets of the near perfect cubes, as follows:
15 graduated cubes from 1/16" to 3/4" for $60; 17 graduated cubes from 1/16" to
1" for $90; or 20 graduated cubes from 1/16" to 1¼" for $150. Lay these in a row
and they make quite an amazing display!
Instant collection! A flat with 54 different minerals and rocks, everything from
opal to tinchalconite, to epidote to rose quartz, all nicely mounted in 1" by 1"
boxes. Each flat is slightly different, with specimens mostly from the western
U.S. augmented by world localities, for $78.
SPECIAL PACKAGE PRICE ON JUNIOR-SIZE SPECIMENS. Buy any 12 for $5 each and get
two free; buy any 24 for $4 each and get four free; Buy 36 for $3 each and get 6
free. We have these available: azurite, vivanite, kyanite, dravite, biotite,
rhodochrosite, sulfur, amethyst “Cactus” quartz, cinnabar, aragonite, peridot,
chalcopyrite, pyrite, glendonite, tourmaline, rhodonite, scepter quartz,
fluorapatite, magnetite, colemanite, aurichalcite, grossular, conichalcite,
cobaltoan dolomite, pyromorphite, actinolite, eudialyte, malachite, barite,
vanadinite, dioptase, trona, gypsum, topaz, dolomite, celestite, jarosite,
hemimorphite, spinel, tektite. (Please indicate a couple of extra choices, so we
can substitute in case we run short of any.)
To order, call us toll-free at 1-800-941-5594 or E-mail us here:
mailto:Richard@Mineralofthemonthclub.org Thanks!
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