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Clearance Minerals
CCN61 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.0x 3.7x 1.6 cm
$64
A pair of colorless and transparent fluorite crystals on matrix, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine.
CCN62 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.5x 3.7x 3.6 cm
$78
A cluster of colorless and transparent fluorite crystals on matrix. A beautiful little specimen from the Huanggang Mine-- I think it looks nicer in person, the pictures make it look messier.
CCN65 Fluorite with Arsenopyrite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.3x 6.6x 2.5 cm
$59
A group of colorless fluorite crystals sharing a matrix with silvery arsenopyrites, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. The fluorites look more transparent in person, the camera is focusing on the topogrpahy of the crystals' surfaces and the resulting reflections.
CCN66 Pyrite and Marcasite
Ross Co., Ohio, United States
4.7x 3.9x 3.4 cm
$42
A cluster of pointed pyrite and marcasite crystals from Ross Co., Ohio. This is the same locality that produces the elongated stalactites of this material--this is just a slightly smaller sample.
CCN70 Bismuth
Vilaque River, La Paz Department, Bolivia.
2.3x 1.4x 1.75 cm
$50
A bismuth nugget from Bolivia, only this one seems to retain some of its anglar crystal form, rather than simply being a rounded mass of metal..
CCN77 Calcite
Stoneco Quarry, Lime City, Wood Co., Ohio, United States
5.5x 4.3x 2.7 cm
$49
A doubly terminated calcite crystal from the American Midwest. The form reminds me of some of the Indian calcites from around Wagholi, of course this is on a sedimentary matrix and not on Basalt.
CCN88 Hemimorphite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.5x 2.5x 3.1 cm
$36
A couple white hemimorphite sprays on a matrix of nicely contrasting limonite.
CCD01 Apophyllite
Nasik Area, Maharashtra State, India
11.4x 5.4x 9.4 cm
$74
A spray of pointed green apophyllites on a nicely contrasting matrix, from India.
CCD07 Variscite
Avant, Garland Co., Arkansas, United States
7.2x 6.4x 4.6 cm
$48
A matrix specimen, hosting a layer of bright green variscite from Arkansas. Although this area is generally associated with wavellite and quartz, it has also produced a number of variscite specimens. Of course, they are not quite as rich as the nodules from Utah, butt hey are interesting samples nonetheless, and actually brighter in color.
CCD20 Celestite
Stoneco Portage Quarry, Portage, Wood Co., Ohio, USA
7.8x 5.3x 2.4 cm
A light blue crystal of celestite from Michigan. While the bulk of the celestite on the market today comes from Madagascar, the crystals from there seldom reach the size of those found int he American Midwest.
CCD24 Libethenite
Mindola Pit, Rokana Mine, Kitwe, Zambia
4.1x 2.2x 1.9 cm
A single libethenite crystal on matrix, form the locality that arguably produced the best examples of the species. Sprinkling of small crystals are occaisionally available from portugal, but the crystals never even come close to the size of those from Rokana. These were mostly collected in the 1960's and 70's. This is a very good price, seeing it for double would not be unreasonable.
CCD26 Wavellite
Montgomery Co., Arkansas, USA
4.5x 4.4x 3.0 cm
$39
Hemishpherical aggregates of wavellite on matrix. The best wavellite in the world is arguably from this part of Arkansas, though not very much is found these days. I was in the area a few months ago and asked at a couple local rock shops, and the story was always the same-- there used to be a lot years ago, but the land is now off limits to collecting.
CCD29 Calcite
China
10.1x 9.8x 6.2 cm
$88
A tabular calcite crystal on a matrix of quartz and more calcite.
CCD31 Marcasite
Cap Blanc-Nez, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
6.5x 5.4x 3.0 cm
$69
A cluster of marcasite crystals on a chalk matrix, from France.
CCD34 Fluorite on Quartz
Shangbao Mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
6.1x 3.7x 2.6 cm
$49
A light purple fluorite on a cluster of quartz crystals.
CCD36 Pyrite
Huanzala Mine, Dos de Mayo Prov., Peru
3.6x 3.2x 2.4 cm
A cluster of bright octahedral pyrite crystals from Peru.
CCD40 Arsenopyrite
Julcani Dist., Angaraes Prov., Huancavelica Prov., Peru
6.8x 5.5x 4.7 cm
$58
A cluster of bright arsenopyrite crystals, with some small galenas embedded in what I'm guessing is iron oxide on the reverse.
CCD52 Calcite on Celestite
Stoneco Portage Quarry, Portage, Wood Co., Ohio, USA
6.3x 3.8x 2.7 cm
A double terminated crystal of lustrous orange calcite on a nicely contrasting matrix made up of a broken celestite crystal.
CCD55 Calcite
Auglaize Quarry, Junction, Paulding County, Ohio, USA
3.8x 3.0x 1.6 cm
A doubly terminated calcite scalenohedron on a bit of matrix, from the Auglaize Quarry. No damage.
CCD56 Calcite
Annabel Lee mine, Harris Creek District, Illinois , United States
9.7x 7.3x 4.5 cm
$64
A cluster of calcite crystals from the southern Illinois Fluorspar District. The last mines closed in the mid 90's.
CCD58 Calcite
Pugh Quarry (France Stone Co. Custar quarry), Weston, Wood Co., Ohio, United States
9.8x 7.5x 3.6 cm
$59
A terminated orange calcite on a plate of sedimentary matrix, that also has numerous smaller crystals on the reverse.
Having lived in the Midwest for some time now, I've come to appreciate the diversity of calcite specimens from the various quarrying operations scattered around the region. For whatever reason (perhaps a lack of color?) they rarely turn up at the larger shows, but I find them to be interesting examples of the diversity of calcite appearances and localities.
CCD62 Calcite
Elmwood mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee, United States
10.3x 8.5x 3.8 cm
$60
A cluster of off-white calcite scalenohedrons on a layer of matrix, from a find made in early 2014.
CCD64 Calcite
Maumee Stone Co. Quarry, Maumee, Ohio, United States
10.6x 7.8x 5.8 cm
A cabinet specimen of calcite, from one of the more obscure Midewestern localities. Having lived in the Midwest for some time now, I've come to appreciate the diversity of calcite specimens from the various quarrying operations scattered around the region. For whatever reason (perhaps a lack of color?) they rarely turn up at the larger shows, but I find them to be interesting examples of the diversity of calcite appearances and localities.
CCD68 Quartz with Manganocalcite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.2x 5.8x 5.3 cm
$58
Quartz with manganocalcite from the Huanggang Mine.
CCD70 Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.1x 4.0x 2.1 cm
$48
A cluster of terminated quartz crystals on matrix. A couple crystals are sheared, but it displays exactly as shown.
CCD74 Creedite on Fluorite
Dachang Sn Ore Field, Nandan Co., Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang, China
5.3x 3.6x 2.0 cm
Numerous small crystals of creedite on etched fluorite, from a find made around 2009. Virtually all the creedite on the market today comes from Mexico, with odd specimens from classic localities in Colorado or Kazakhstan. This was arather unique find for China.
CCD77 Clinoclase
Majuba Hill, Pershing Co., Nevada, United States
4.8x 2.3x 3.3 cm
A specimen of deep blue clinoclase from the now closed Majuba Hill mine, with other colorful arsenates (I would guess the green is arthurite) on the reverse.
CCD78 Topaz
Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan
3.2x 3.8x 3.0 cm
$48
A topaz crystal from northern Pakistan, imported in the days before irradiation became a common practice.
CCD80 Copper ps. Aragonite
Corocoro, Pacajes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia
2.5x 1.9x 1.8 cm
$39
A pseudomorph of copper after a hexagonal crystal of aragonite, from Bolivia.
CCD84 Almandine Garnet
Soavinandriana Dist., Itasy Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
6.3x 3.9x 2.5 cm
$47
A sample of almandine garnet on an orthoclase matrix from Madagascar.
CCE12 Tourmaline var. Elbaite
Paprok, Kunar, Afghanistan
3.8x 2.7x 1.5 cm
$34
An unterminated tourmaline prism frozen in a quartz matrix.
CCE15 Pyromorphite
Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France
4.6x 3.4x 2.5 cm
$69
A matrix of solid barite, coated with many small but bright green pyromorphite crystals from a classic French locality. These pieces date to the 1970's, before any of the Spanish or subsequent Chinese pyromorphite finds that made the mineral easily obtainable.
CCE18 Cuproadamite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
4.8x 4.5x 3.0 cm
$34
An old example of cuproadamite from Ojuela, featuring a small but very bright green cluster of adamaite crystals on a contrasting limonite matrix.
CCE19 Fluorite on Magnetite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.0x 7.1x 4.2 cm
$76
A group of colorless fluorite crystals on weathered magnetite, from the Huanggang Mine.
CCE21 Clinoclore with Magnetite
Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy
5.5x 3.5x 1.8 cm
$64
An unusual specimen, consisting of what appear to be hexagonal plates of clinoclore (or perhaps hematite?) that have pseudomorphed to magnetite (or again, hematite). There are a couple green clinoclore books on the specimen, as well as a few on the reverse that have also been pseudomorphed. A very unusual piece.
CCE29 Spinel
Mogok, Burma (Myanmar)
2.8x 2.2x 2.1 cm
$46
An octahedral crystal of spinel from Burma-- the smaller gemmy crystals are more familiar, but this is what the larger examples (that are not thousands of dollars) tend to look like. Vietnamese spinels were common a few years ago, but the Burmese examples have always been somewhat harder to find.
CCE31 Tourmaline var. Liddicoatite
Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
3.2x 3.1x 2.4 cm
$79
A terminated liddicoatite crystal from Madagascar, mostly dark with a lighter pink layer at the termination.
CCE32 Vivianite
Huanuni mine, Huanuni, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
4.6x 4.2x 1.1 cm
$68
was $125
A terminated and slightly bent crystal of vicianite on a siderite/ sulfide matrix from Huanuni. This is a slightly older piece, dating to the 80's or 90's.
This item was listed on the website as # VB1 at $125
CCE34 Siderite on Pyrite
Tasna Mine, Rosario section of Cerro Tasna, Atocha-Quechisla District, Nor Chichas Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia
7.1x 3.2x 4.6 cm
$59
A brown siderite crystal on bright pyrite, from a 2008 find at the Tasna Mine.
CCE41 Cerussite
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
3.9x 2.6x 1.0 cm
$39
An oddly shaped group of flattened cerussite crystals, from a recent find at Mina Ojuela. Cerussite has never been common at the mine, and this is a rather unusual example.
CCE45 Andradite Garnet
San Benito Co., California, United States
5.0x 4.0x 2.1 cm
$39
A group of dark andratite garnets on matrix.
CCE46 Betafite
Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway
3.6x 3.3x 2.1 cm
A partial crystal of betafite from Norway, showing good faces. Looking at message boards, I always get the impression that there is a fair amount of field collecting that goes on at these Scandinavian localities, but I don't often see examples for sale. This certainly isn't beautiful, but I find it interesting, particularly as a betafite that is NOT from either Canada or Madagascar/
CCE47 Tourmaline var. Liddicoatite
Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
3.0x 1.8x 1.6
A pointed crystal of liddicoatite tourmaline, with a pinkish band at the termination, from the Sahatany Valley.
CCE51 Fluorite on Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.5x 6.1x 4.0 cm
$69
A pair of ball shaped aggregates, composed of many small fluorite octahedrons. The color varies from purplish to having greenish undertones depending on the lighting source. This habit of fluorite was found at the mine around 2010-2011.
CCE55 Quartz
Unknown
5.6x 3.3x 2.6 cm
$34
A pair of parallel quartz crystals, with gray phantoms. I am not sure where this is from.
CCE59 Boracite
Alto Chapare, Cochambamba Dept Bolivia
5.7x 4.0x 3.5 cm
$64
An unusual (for the locality) crystal of boracite-- typically they are bluish cubes. This is the same locality that is better known for the blue-gray danburites.
CCE60 Tourmaline var. Dravite
Yinnietharra Station, Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia
4.6x 3.0x 2.6 cm
$44
A doubly terminated brown prism of dravite from Autralia. There is someedge wear, as shown.
CCE62 Fluorite with Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.2x 5.1x 5.7 cm
$59
A group of etched colorless fluorite crystals with quartz, from recent finds at the Huamggang Mines.
CCE69 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.5x 5.1x 4.8 cm
$125
A large and well formed fluorite crystal with excellent form and smooth faces that do not display the etching so typical of fluorites from this locality. It also sits on a bit of matrix that helps to add a degree visual balance. There is a part on the back/ side where another crystal was once attached, though that is not damage. When oriented correctly, this looks like a somewhat more expensive piece.
CCE72 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
9.0x 8.1x 2.4 cm
$78
A group of unusually colored blue-greenish fluorite crystals on matrix. Depending on the type of lighting, they take on either a more purple or greenish hue. This piece comes from a small find made around 2 years ago, which is when pieces of this habit were discovered. There is obvious damage, but it's a decent reference piece.
CCE73 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
9.2x 5.7x 2.8 cm
$59
A group of colorless fluorite crystals on matrix, from recent workings at the Huanggang Mines.
The crystals are more distinct than the pictures show, the colorless crystals over a white machground makes it difficult to photograph.
CCE74
Berry Materials Corp. Quarry (North Vernon Plant), North Vernon, Jennings Co., Indiana
6.0x 3.7x 3.0 cm
$46
A group of honey colored calcite crystals from the Berry Materials quarry. These are probably some of my favorite American calcites, both for their unusual, generally rounded form (vs. the rhombs and scalenohedrons that you find everywhere else) and their luster.
This one is included by numerous tiny ~ 1mm marcasite crystals.
CCV29 Adamite
Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore field, Nandan Co., Hechi Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
6.2x 4.3x 3.2 cm
$45
Although at first glance this looks a lot like a typical adamite from Mexico, this is actually a piece from a very limited Chinese find made several years ago. The limonite matrix hosts numerous light yellow crystals, making for a decent reference piece from the find.
CCV40 Rhodizite-Londonite
Antsongombato, Betafo Region, Madagascar
6.1x 4.3x 2.8 cm
$73
A rhodizite-londonite specimen, with a yellow crystal on matrix.
CCV42 Goethite ps. Magnetite
Unnamed Fumarole, Arequipa Dept., Peru
3.8x 3.0x 2.3 cm
$45
A pseudomorph of goethite after magnetite, from a fumarole somewhere in Arequipa Department, in the southwestern corner of Peru.
These were found by a meteorite hunter who mistook the extinct fumarole for a metorite crater... (it's a long story... you never know who you'll meet when you leave your door open late at night in Tucson...)
It is structurally reminiscent of the Argentinian hematite ps. magnetite specimens from Puyun Volcano, though bears a textural resemblance to the goethite ps. marcasite pseudomorphs from Egypt.
Something new and interesting (though still rather ugly), for the collector of Peruvian material who already has it all.
CCV48 Azurite
Dikulushi Mine, Lake Mweru, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
5.6x 4.1x 3.5 cm
$50
So this is not the prettiest specimen, but it is a rather unusual example of Congolese azurite, consisting of a miniature sized nodule of the mineral.
For all the tons of malachite for the country—all the specimens, stalactites, carvings and boxes—one almost never sees azurite.
For all the tons of malachite for the country—all the specimens, stalactites, carvings and boxes—one almost never sees azurite.
CCV52 Celestite and Calcite on Quartz
Salem, Indiana, United States
8.8x 4.7x 5.2 cm
$46
An old and unusual specimen from the American midwest, consisting of a quartz-lined geode hosting a few celestite and calcite crystals. I am always surprised to see the many calcites that turn up at the smaller Midwestern shows-- many of the localities are not well represented at the larger international shows, and pieces like this highlight the variety of the mineral.
CCV63 Calcite
Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States
4.3x 4.0x 1.3 cm
$29
A nicely arranged cluster of terminated yellow calcite crystals from Missouri.
CCV76 Dravite Tourmaline
Serra Branca, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
3.0x 1.55x 1.2 cm
$33
A very sharp, double terminated dravite crystal from Brazil.
LBAR5 Barite
Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Scott Co., Iowa, United States
2.6x 4.1x 1.7 cm
$42
A terminated barite crystal from the Linwood Mine.
Although not particularly well known outside the US, the Linwood Mine has produced some of the country's finest (and certainly largest) barite crystals, though it had not received the same attention as Elk Creek (South Dakota), the various Colorado localities, or the Meikle Mine (Nevada).
This piece comes from a find made within the last year and a half. Barite specimens from this mine in nearly all cases are displayable from only one side-- the back is usually heavily covered with sediment, or the point of attachment.
Opened in 1944, the Linwood Mine is an active producer of calcium carbonate products, which are used in glass and plastic manufacture, cements and other building materials, feed, water purification, and various other chemical applications. Given the high purity of product necessary for such uses, the presence of these barium sulfate crystals is actually considered a bad thing--when crushed into the mix, they become contaminants.
The site was originally operated as a quarry, though is now an underground mine.
