SCORODITE on GOETHITE
San Judas Chimney, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
The Scorodite from Mapimi is generally a gray-green color, however, on this specimen because the crystals are small and are on a dark brown Goethite matrix, the color of the crystals appears to be brown like the color of the matrix.  Examining the crystallization with 10-20X, one can see that much of surface of the matrix is covered with a druse composed of many hundreds of  oriented, intergrown, very sparkly Scorodite crystals.  Mined during the early 1980’s, this specimen was formerly in the collection of Ed Oyler (Edoylerite). For additional information on Scorodite from Mapimi, see the Mexico II issue of the “Mineralogical Record’ magazine, Sept-Oct 2003 (Vol. 34, No. 5), P. 82.
Specimen size:  2 1/2” X 1 1/2” across, X 5/8” thick
Order Item MI-1181             
Price:  $35.00  SOLD

DOLOMITE Var. Co-Dolomite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Very vuggy, light pink crystalline and crystallized Co-Dolomite richly coats the matrix.  This specimen would provide a colorful addition to any Tsumeb locality collection.  Formerly in the collection of Ed Oyler (Edoylerite).
Specimen size:  2 1/2” X 1 1/2” X 1 3/4”
Order Item MI-1179             
Price:  $35.00

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HEMIMORPHITE with CALCITE
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
The best background information on the Hemimorphite and other minerals of the Mina Ojuela district can be found in the “Mineralogical Record” magazine, Vol. 34, No. 5 (Sept-Oct 2003, Mexico II special issue featuring the Ojuela Mine).  Hemimorphite has been fairly abundant on the mineral market since the early 1960’s, perhaps even earlier than that, and excellent specimens were often fairly easy to obtain.  There is no way to predict what will be found in the future, but the supply of good Hemimorphite specimens seems to be fairly scarce at the present time. 

MI-1087-A  This specimen is from the F. Marshall collection, probably mined circa the early 1970’s.  There are several fairly large Hemimorphite crystals in the group, with a very small amount of the typical red-brown Limonite matrix adhering to the Hemimorphite crystals on the back of the specimen.  A secondary deposition of colorless, micro Calcite crystals forms a sparkly druse covering much of the front of the specimen.  The red-brown color of the Hemimorphite crystals, seen in the accompanying photo, is due to the presence of a very thin dusting of powdery Limonite that was deposited concurrently with the drusy Calcite crystals.  The largest crystal in the group measures 1 1/4” tall X 5/8” wide across the termination.
Specimen size:  1 1/4” tall X 1 3/8” wide X 1” thick
Price:  $30.

MI-1087-B   We purchased this unusual, well traveled specimen at the 2003 Gemboree, Australia’s national gem and mineral show held in April each year.  The Aussie dealer said he bought it in Tucson the year before that!  Hemimorphite is sometimes seen as “wheat-sheaf” or “fan-like” formations.  This unusual specimen is a combination of three fan-like intergrowths, with each of the fans composed of 20 or more individual crystals which began to grow from a central nucleus at the base, and then radiated outwards to form a fan.  The largest crystals in these individual fans are from 1” to 1 1/4” in length, and 1/2” wide.  The width of the individual fans, measured across the top of the fan, ranges from 1 1/4” to 1 1/2”.  There is very little matrix at the base of the crystal group.  A secondary deposition of colorless, micro Calcite crystals forms a sparkly druse covering part of the back of the specimen.   A very thin accent of powdery Limonite was deposited concurrently with the drusy Calcite crystals.
Specimen size:  2” X 1 1/2” X 1 1/4”
Price:  $75. SOLD

ELBAITE TOURMALINE on ALBITE
Golconda, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Multi-terminated, striated, very lustrous, medium green color Elbaite crystal 1 3/4” long X 3/8” wide, is standing up on a matrix of sparkly white crystallized Albite.  Lorraine Sofia collection.
Specimen size:  1 3/4” long, and 7/8” wide X 3/4” thick (the Albite matrix)
Order Item MI-1158              Price:  $30.00  SOLD

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This "thumbnail" size specimen is also from the F. Marshall collection of San Francisco, CA. This attractive specimen has the famous Kelly Mine blue-green color with a very lustrous, botryoidal surface. The vug in which this specimen was formed, was initially lined with a thin cross-fiber intergrowth of light turquoise blue color Aurichalcite. The Smithsonite was then deposited upon the Aurichalcite, so the back of the specimen is coated with a very thin vein of Aurichalcite and has no rock matrix.
Specimen size: 5/8" X 1/2" across, X 1/4" thick
Order Item MI-1055 B Price: $20.  SOLD

ELBAITE TOURMALINE
Mogok, Burma
Three specimens from this locality are available, each with different features.  Individual descriptions follow:

A.  Crystal group -- This small miniature size specimen consists of a multi-terminated, rose-pink crystal group with a slightly divergent  form, without matrix.  The prism faces are shiny, and the terminations of the crystals have a frosted luster.
Specimen size:  1 3/8” tall, 1 1/8” wide, 3/4” thick
Order Item MI-1159-A          Price:  $150.00 

B.  Scepter – The top of this multi-terminated specimen has a wide-spreading, divergent intergrowth composed of many very tightly compacted individual rose-pink Elbaite crystals.  The top of the specimen (termination) is rounded and can only be described as botryoidal in form.   A short section of a dark green individual crystal of Elbaite can be seen protruding from the base of the group – in addition to the interesting botryoidal form, this specimen is a scepter!   The back of the group has a V-shaped impression of another crystal that was in contact in the pocket, during growth.  Very unusual!
Specimen size:  1 3/8” tall, 1 3/8” wide, 1 1/8” thick
Order Item MI-1159-B          Price:  $150.00 

C.  Scepter – This fan-like intergrowth of rose-pink crystallized Elbaite also has the botryoidal termination described above.  Before being collected, this specimen also had a dark green Elbaite crystal protruding from the base, as evidenced by a very tiny “neck” of dark green Elbaite at the base if the group.  Improper collecting techniques resulted in only a very small portion of the “neck” of the scepter being preserved.  However, it is still a very unusual specimen, especially interesting because of the unusual fan-like formation of the crystals, and the botryoidal termination.   Both  sides of the specimen are illustrated.
Specimen size:  1 1/4” wide, 7/8” tall, 5/8” thick
Order Item MI-1159-C          Price:  $250.00

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