Wheat Sheaf" Rhodochrosite 
Specimen #KR03
N'Chwaning Mine
Kuruman
Cape Province
South Africa
5.5 x 5.0 x 2.0cm
Small Cabinet
Rare Habit
$2,800

This specimen is made up of a mass of "wheat sheaf" bundles of rhodochrosite xls formed on a rhodochrosite and black manganite matrix.   This unusual habit displays a very attractive color zonation where the interior portion of an individual bundle displays a light pink core, while the exterior is covered by xls that are bright pink to light cherry red.  The exterior of each bundle is formed by a multitude of tightly packed scalenohedral xls that create the distinct "wheat sheaf" look. This specimen displays a very gemmy quality.  All of the major crystals on this piece are intact and damage free.




Rhodochrosite 
Specimen #KR02
N'Chwaning Mine
Kuruman
Cape Province
South Africa
4.2 x 3.7 x 2.4cm
Miniature
$1,750

This specimen consists of a bed of black manganite that hosts a number of dark cherry red scalenohedral rhodochrosite xls to 1.3cm.  The best way that I could describe this form of scalenohedral formation is modified.  The crystals on this specimen look like they were trying to form wheat sheaf bundles but ended up forming this modified form of scalenohedron instead - A rather unusual shape which displays well in person.  All of the xls are very gemmy and virtually all of the major xls are damage free. Along the edges of the specimens are a few open vugs that contain what appears to be druzy micro quartz xls.  This is my favorite piece in this release as I absolutely love the near blood red color of the xls






Wheat Sheaf" Rhodochrosite 
Specimen #KR01
N'Chwaning Mine
Kuruman
Cape Province
South Africa
3.9 x 2.5 x 1.8cm
Miniature
Rare Habit
$675

This specimen is made up of a mass of "wheat sheaf" bundles of rhodochrosite xls formed on a rhodochrosite and black manganite matrix.   This unusual habit displays a very attractive color zonation where the interior portion of an individual bundle displays a light pink core, while the exterior is covered by xls that are bright pink to light cherry red.  The exterior of each bundle is formed by a multitude of tightly packed scalenohedral xls that create the distinct "wheat sheaf" look. The photo below displays the previous rhodochrosite layers or deposits that form the base or matrix of this specimen.  This specimen displays a very gemmy quality.  All of the major crystals on this piece are intact and damage free





Beryl var Emerald
Specimen #Denver04
Chivor Mine
Chivor
Boyaca Department
Colombia
8.2 x 5.5 x 2.5cm
Small Cabinet
$130


Here's an attractive emerald specimen from Colombia.  It consists of numerous partial to full xls (to 1cm) scattered over a base of what appear to be dolomite xls on matrix.  Nice rock!






Amazonite with Columbite
Specimen #Denver01
Crystal Park
El Paso County
Colorado
6.5 x 4.8 x 3.7cm
Small Cabinet
Ex Frank G. Knaus Collection
$75 SOLD

This years theme of the Denver show was Minerals from Colorado.  To kick off our Denver specimen update, we bring you a colorful and showy Amazonite specimen from Colorado.  We saw many an amazonite specimen while in Denver, and this one caught our eye as it has an interesting story behind it. 

I found it at Dave Bunks and while examining it closely with my loop, I found something rather interesting on this piece.  While looking into a small vug, I found what looks like a small copper or possibly silver wire.  See photo below.  I had one of Dave's folks look at it under their microscope and he could not identify what the wire is made of.  I've tried to shake the specimen gently to see if the wire would fall out, and it hasn't.  Another customer who was shopping at Dave's while I was there, thought it might be part of a tree root.  This is a possibility, but as a forester, it does not look like a tree root to me, so the mystery exists.

This specimen consists of a number of turquoise blue amazonite xls, a small xl of colombite and a number of small smoky quartz xls all on matrix.  No damage.  It comes with Mr. Knaus's personal collection card and was field collected by him in 2002.  Comes mounted on a clear acrylic base


Uruguayan Quartz var Amethyst with stand
Specimen #Denver02
Uruguay
10.8 x 8.1 x 5.0cm
Cabinet
$95  SOLD


While combing the halls of the Denver show this year, we came across a dealer that was selling Uruguayan Amethyst specimens that were mounted on custom made polished mahogany stands.




Dioptase
Specimen #Denver07
Christmas Mine
near Hayden
Gila County
Arizona
5.5 x 3.9 x 1.8cm
Small Cabinet
$95 SOLD



This specimen consists of a piece of matrix that is covered by a mass of emerald green dioptase xls (to 1mm) that are very gemmy and brightly colored.  They sit on top of a bed of frosty white quartz xls.  A very nice and showy specimen indeed!


This specimen consists of an opened vug of inky purple quartz var amethyst xls to 1.5cm. In my opinion, Uruguayan amethyst displays the deepest, darkest purple of all of the South American countries producing amethyst specimens. There is some minor abrasion to the xls found along the outside edge of this specimen, while the internal xls are intact. Comes with it's own custom made mahogany base. Please note: I measured the dimensions of this specimen without the base.



Fluorite
Specimen #Denver08
Xiefang Mine
Ruijin County
Jiangxi Prefecture
China
11.5 x 10.5 x 3.7cm
Cabinet
$295  SOLD



Over the past several years, Collectors Edge has been importing many a fluorite specimen that has been etched out from quartz xls.  Here is an example of the same type of material, but this specimen has not been etched according to Graham Sutton. 

It consists of a mass of cubic sea foam green fluorite xls to  1.1cm.  Some of the xls display a bit of purple phantoming as well.  I tried to show off the complicated nature of this specimen in my photographs, but this piece is much better in person, in my opinion.  It is intact and virtually damage free.  Enjoy!




Polished Fluorite Slab with Stand
Specimen #Denver10
Zhengzhou
Henan Province
China
16.0 x 8.4 x 1.0cm
Cabinet
Mildly Fluorescent
$95  SOLD

Collector's Edge continues to come up with unusual and highly collectible specimens from China. This piece was described to me by their Chinese representative as a "Shu Fa Stone".

This piece consists of a cut and polished (both sides) slab of light purple fluorite. The fluorite is botryoidal in form, as can be witnessed along the edges of the specimen and is included by a granular matrix. When exposed to SW UV light, this specimen glows a ghostly pale blue color. It comes with a custom made wooden stand that has been numbered 449/1000. Please note: I provided measurements of this specimen excluding the stand.


Kutnohorite
Specimen #Denver14
Wessels Mine
Hotazel
Kalahari manganese fields
Northern Cape Province
South Africa
9.4 x 8.8 x 5.0cm
Small Cabinet
$150 SOLD

This specimen consists of several generations of xls encased in a sedimentary matrix.  This is something you rarely see - Kutnohorite xls in matrix.  There are what looks like to me three separate generations of xls.  There are large mamillary or botryoidal xls.  Small botryoidal xls as well as sharply tapered, trumpet shaped xls.   The larger xls are pale pink in color and vary in size to 2.9cm.  There are a few cleaved xls found on this specimen. This is one cool rock!




Olivenite, Malachite, Cornwallite on Limonite
Specimen #Denver15
Ibiajara
Bahia
Brazil
7.2 x 7.0 x 3.8cm
Small Cabinet
$125

This specimen is covered with prismatic xls of olivenite to 0.6cm in length.  Most of the xls are coated with both malachite and cornwallite, though a few are uncoated.  An attractive mineral specimen from Brazil.




Pyrophyllite
Specimen #Denver16
Indian Gulch
Mariposa County
California
5.9 x 3.6 x 2.8cm
Small Cabinet
$45   SOLD

This specimen consists of a mass of radiating tabular pyrophyllite xls to 2cm.  An interesting and attractive specimen from my home sate of California.





Rhodochrosite on Quartz with Kutnohorite
Specimen #Denver18
Level 5
Remedios Mine
Taxco
Guerrero
Mexico
8.9 x 6.9 x 3.2cm
Small Cabinet
Ex Carol and Bill Smith Collection
$295  SOLD

This specimen consists of matrix that has been covered by frosty quartz xls to 1.5cm.  Subsequently, there has been a deposition of minute rhombohedral rhodochrosite xls in the form of rosettes to 8mm that are host to another generation of quartz, which gives the rhodo xls a very sparkly and reflective appearance.  In addition to all of the above, there are a number of snow white kutnohorite xls found on this specimen adding a bit of contrast.  There is a bit of trivial edge damage to this specimen which is only visible under magnification.  In my ever loving rhodochrosite mentality, this is a excellent example of this species.  Enjoy!




Rhodochrosite Slab
Specimen #Denver19
CapillitasMine
Catamarca Province
Argentina
15.0 x 14.0 x 0.8cm
Cabinet
$2250
Price Reduced to $2000  SOLD

I have been searching for a complete "round" of Argentinean rhodochrosite for some time now.  We've seen many a partial specimen, or those that show a fracture or crack in them.  Many do not display a complete "rind" as well.  This year in Denver, we got lucky!

While searching the aisles and hotel rooms this year, we found several complete polished rhodo stalactite slabs.  I'd almost venture to guess that some may have come from the same stalactite.  The issue with these has always been the price.   All of the pieces we found this year were priced between $5000 and $7000 (ouch!) except for this one.  We came back to it several times and finally struck a deal that we thought was fair for all.

It's nearly a perfect circular cut slab from a stalactite that has been polished on both sides.  The "rind" is completely intact and I could go on and on about this specimen, so you'd better purchase it, or I'll be forced to add it to my display case.  I backlit the piece to show off it's color in my fourth photo below.  This piece comes with a metal display stand.



Fluorite and Pyrite
Specimen #Denver12
Climax Mine
Fremont Pass
Lake County
Colorado
3.8 x 2.4 x 2.0cm
Miniature
$140

Here's another unique specimen; a combination of mineral species that I have not come across before.  It's made up of several brilliant altered pyrite cubes that have a few bright green fluorite cubes  (to 1.1cm)  perched amongst them.  The underside of this specimen displays a few small purple fluorite xls.  The fluorite displays some minor damage to one xl.  I really like the combination of the fluorite and pyrite.  A unique and attractive mineral specimen in my humble opinion.  Comes mounted on a clear acrylic base.



Native Gold on Quartz
Specimen #Gold07
Alaska Mine
Pike
Sierra County
California
3.9 x 2.5 x 2.5cm
22.61 grams (total weight including quartz)
Miniature
$1200

Here is the one specimen in this update that is not from Round Mountain.  It is made up of a base quartz matrix that is home to numerous slender gold wires scattered all over the piece, some of which display what appears to be spinel twinning.  What more can I say that my pictures don't already portray.  This is one cool rock!



Gold Vial(s)
Specimen #Gold_vial
Product of the USA
6.6 x 1.7cm (bottle dimensions)
14 grams (Bottle, liquid & gold)
Miniature
$20 each


These vials are awesome and potentially a decent investment as the price of gold climbs higher and higher.  I purchased them when gold prices were much lower, so I'm passing on my good fortune to you. I can't say how much gold is in each vial, but at $20 each, they're a steal.  The gold leaf in each little bottle is .971 pure.  As you can see in the photo directly below, the leaf is very lustrous and shiny.  To my mind, these are a wonderful and fun collector item!




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold02(46)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
1.7 x 1.4 x 0.4cm
0.57 grams
Thumbnail
$65


This is a very interesting and unique specimen indeed! It displays very good color and luster as well as a complex crystalline structure.  It was difficult to capture in a photograph, but this piece displays arrays of octahedral crystals which formed with triangular shaped micro patterns that match the shape of the surface morphology of the specimen.  You can kinda see this pattern in my second photo.  It also displays flattened octahedra and hoppered crystal faces along with elongated or wire like xls.  A very attractive specimen!




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold03(06)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
1.3 x 0.9 x 0.5cm
0.67 grams
Thumbnail
$75


This specimen reminds me a bit of a piece of coral.  It's made up of multitudes of minuscule cubo octahedral crystals displaying what I would describe as dendritic branching with perhaps a bit of a herringbone pattern. Great color!




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold09(61)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
3.2 x 1.5 x 0.4cm
1.55 grams
Small Miniature
$150




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold10(57)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
2.8 x 1.3 x 0.4cm
1.95 grams
Thumbnail
$175 SOLD


This specimen reminds me of a pre-historic fish with multitudes of bony appendages. It displays flattened octahedra and hoppered crystal faces.  I guess I could best describe this piece as a leaf that has sprouted triangular appendages all along it's edges.  It is quite unique and is much different than every other piece in this offering.  A very attractive specimen indeed!




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold11(59)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
1.8 x 1.4 x 0.5cm
2.43 grams
Thumbnail
$250


This specimen is made up of flattened octahedra with hoppered crystal faces.  It is better in person as my photos did not capture its interesting geometrical form.  One side of this specimen displays a somewhat iridescent gold color. Cool rock!





Native Gold
Specimen #Gold12(65)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
2.3 x 1.4 x 0.5cm
3.38 grams
Thumbnail
$310


This specimen is made up of a solid mass of cubo octahedral crystals some with hoppered crystal faces.  It has excellent luster which unfortunately did not get portrayed in my photos as well as I had hoped for.  I really like this piece and consider it a very attractive specimen!




Native Gold
Specimen #Gold13(75)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
2.8 x 1.8 x 0.6cm
4.10 grams
Thumbnail
$360


I would best describe this specimen as an altered gold leaf.  It is made up of flattened octahedra and contains hoppered crystal faces.  The surface of the "leaf" displays a complex geometric or "etched" pattern,  It also displays a few octahedral crystals which formed with triangular shaped micro patterns that match the shape of the surface morphology of the specimen.  This specimen is much better in person.   A beautiful specimen in my opinion!



Native Gold
Specimen #Gold14(73)
Round Mountain Mine
Nye County, Nevada
4.3 x 1.5 x 0.8cm
4.64 grams
Miniature
$395


This specimen is unique and completely different than all of the other specimens listed in this update.  I would best describe it as a gold leaf that displays an etched pattern across its mid-section with a bit of flattened octahedra with hoppered crystal faces making up the edges of the piece. It also displays a few octahedral crystals which formed with triangular shaped micro patterns that match the shape of the surface morphology of the specimen.  This is one cool and unique mineral specimen!