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FC1 - Wulfenite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Large Miniature, 5.5 x 4 x 3.8 cm

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Sharp, glassy, lustrous crystals to 1.5 cm cap this wonderful matrix specimen. Wulfenite of this quality is VERY rare for Tsumeb, and the great display quality of the piece adds to the wulfenite quality itself. The wulfenites have only the tiniest of edge wear despite their exposure.





FC2 - Calcite with Hematite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 7.5 x 6.3 x 4.3 cm

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A gorgeous radial cluster of traditional Tsumeby-style rhombohedra, that are almost curved with extra faces, and attractively dusted by included specks of red hematite grains. Good lustre, excellent transparency into the crystals, and overall just VERY PRETTY! and, unique to Tsumeb





FC3 - Calcite on Mottramite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 6.9 x 6.2 x 3.8 cm

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A really beautiful calcite because of the clarity of the water-clear calcite on top of the green mottramite-coated matrix. It is stunning! The smaller calcite, in front, is 3 cm across. It has minor edge wear on the bottom but this does not detract at all , visually. The upper crystal shooting up from teh top of the piece is to 3 cm on edge, or 4.5 cm across longways. It is complete on the front and all around the sides, contacted slightly on the backside only. This piece is in incredible display piece and shows off dramatically - MUCH better in person.





FC4 - Dioptase with Malachite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 6.4 x 3.7 x 1.9 cm

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An unusual association for the mine, with malachite druse on top of dioptase! The color is phenomenal on the diop and the association with velvety light green malachite serves to enhance and contrast the darker, emerald-green dioptase! The diop crystals are to 1 cm and this is a rich, solid cluster of dioptase: quite a bit of it for the price, I think.





FC5 - Cuprian Smithsonite on and with Cerussite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 7.7 x 5.4 x 3.6 cm

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A totally unique piece like none I have ever seen before! This remarkable combo piece features cuprian smithsonite encrusting an odd extension of the adjoining reticulared cerussite, and then draping over parts of that crystal as well. Smaller reticulated, gemmy cerussites crowd in at the junction. I think this represents several stages of cerussite growth, actually, in that the smithsonite replaced one generation and habit, but NOT the other which came along in part after the smithsonite casting was done (since little retic cerus nest in the junction - see below). It may have pseudomorphed that vertical extension, as that portion seems all smithsonite and not cerussite. It is a replacement or a cast, at the very least, of that second habit of cerussite. It is extremely odd in appearance, and you just sort of hold it and say "what the heck happened here", but it is very aesthetic as well. Complete and displayable from all sides with just the tiniest of edge wear.





FC6 - Cerussite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 5.7 x 5.5 x 2.9 cm

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A shockingly pristine, symmetric, radial reticulated cerussite of classic style but with an unusual reddish tint to it! The piece is glassy and lustrous, and complete all around. No damage! Specimens of this quality and perfection are few and far between today, are generally 30 years and more out of the ground, and generally much more pricey. This is a rare treasure...





FC7 - Cerussite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 8.2 x 7.2 x 2.8 cm

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One of the classic "fragile" reticulated cerussites of extremely fine filigree, from the mid 1970s finds by mine geologist John Innes (so I am told). this is a very distinct form, and style. They are extremely rare on the market for obvious reasons, given the fragility and length of time passed since they were found. This is an excellent piece because it also has a more "normal" v-twin cerussite in association, measuring about 2 cm across. As with all such specimens form this pocket (or nearly all, i Should say), there is minor damage, trivial in context, to some of the more outlaying spokes. But the overall visual impact of this most reticulated style of cerussite is simply mesmerizing and there is little in the mineral world to match the elegance and cityscape complexity you see here. TOO FRAGILE TO MAIL.





FC8 - Cobaltian Smithsonite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 7.6 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm

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This specimen features juicy, transparent, sharply terminated cobaltian smithies to almost 1.5 cm. The color is TOPs for the varietal, not pale at all but almost red in hue. They are the more rare form, compared to the simple rhombohedra you normally see. The specimen is attractive and 3-dimensional overall, and the piece is just REALLY visually appealing! No damage! It is an exceptional specimen also because unlike most such which are fully covered, this has ISOLATED crystals and thus displays rather more dramtically than the usual carpeted matrix pieces





FC9 - Cuprian Smithsonite on Dolomite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Miniature, 4.4 x 4 x 3 cm

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This specimen features a VERY rare style of cuprian smithsonite, such that I believe it was only found in one pocket (early 1980s?). The style is defined by isolated, gemmy, sharp crystals as you see in the closeup, to 8mm in size. Usually , cuprian smithsonite from here is rhombohedral or a simple druse but these are more elongated and look more prismatic in habit. However, these are real, euhedral crystals of superb quality. A rich druse of glistening, sugary microcrystals contrasting against the dolomite matrix completes the visual appeal here! I have seen only one other of this type for sale recently, and that from the Sussman collection and at a much higher price for comparable quality (though the piece was larger, too)





FC10 - Azurite on Malachite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 5.2 x 4.4 x 2.3 cm

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Wow! This is a stunning combination piece featuring an unaltered azurite crystal perched like a cowboy on a bucking primary malachite matrix! The azurite measures 3 x 2.25 x 1 cm and is doubly-terminated, since you can see the bottom peek out. The azurite has ELECTRIC color and lustre to it, and really jumps out at you. it has a phenomenal, lustrous, broad termination that is most unusual. See closeup photo for that. Also, it is notable that the azurite is still an azurite...most Tsumeb azurites in association with malachite have themselves altered at least partially to malachite but this remains 99% azurite with just small spots of alteration having begun in pocket. A stellar, 3-dimensional piece of a common species, common association eve, but in a uniquely aesthetic arrangement





FC11 - Dioptase
Tsumeb, Namibia
SIZE DESCRIPTION, 3.1 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm

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A killer toenail featuring a 2.25 x 1 x 1 cm dioptase crystal perched atop a natural pedestal. No damage, this is pristine! The aesthetics are incredible. Would trim slightly to a full thumbnail, as well...





FC12 - Cerussite with Mimetite on Dolomite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 6.7 x 5.4 x 4.5 cm

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A really strange beast with drusy mimetite selectively covering some rounded cerussite crystals, themselves perched on a 3-dimensional hollow dolomite cast. Very attractive contrast and much more pretty and also 3-dimesnional in person!





FC13 - Calcite
Tsumeb, Namibia
CABINET, 10.1 x 7 x 5 cm

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A really dramatic large piece of classic Tsumeb stacked rhombohedra! They ar elightly speckled with a black mineral I forget the name of, but it occurs often with this habit. The complex, stacked visual effect of the crystals is classic for Tsumeb!





FC14 - Cuprian Calcite
Tsumeb, Namibia
CABINET, 13.5 x 6 x 4 cm

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We call this the "ice cream" pocket for obvious reasons. This is a VERY choice specimen from this one famous pocket of calcite with included copper, that gives it a wonderful pastel green hue unique to my knowledge. The surface looks like sugar, brilliant and sparkly ! This is not a true species per se, but rather a varietal of calcite. Nevertheless, it is unusual stuff from a one-time find , and extremely attractive in any case. They glitter like you won't believe. This is a large one! I am told these came out in the mid-1980s





FC15 - Cobaltian Dolomite cast after Calcite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 8.8 x 7.6 x 1 cm

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This oddball is a cast formed as a thin layer of (sturdy!) cobaltian dolomite coated an existing plate of rhombohedral calcite crystals. The calcites then dissolved away, leaving this cast plate with both positive and negative sides showing!





FC16 - Mimetite on Quartz and Tennantite
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 7.2 x 4.2 x 5 cm

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This specimen hosts a gorgeous flowery cluster of mimetite crystals to 1 cm, gracefully curving in upon themselves, and centered in matrix. It is a very unique piece in overall appearance, to me, and is quite attractive in person. It is very 3-dimensional, and the mimetites are set off so nicely, that it ranks up there as a great mimetite even though the mims themselves are not very large.






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The Arkenstone - Dr. Robert Lavinsky
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