T72 Copper with Cuprite - $2400
Tsumeb, Namibia
Cabinet, 11 x 7 x 3.5 cm
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:


Despite the fact that significant tonnage of processed copper came out of Tsumeb, good copper specimens have historically been quite rare and LARGE copper specimens, such as this magnificent arborescent cluster of spinel twins covered by bubbly cuprite, ever rarer still! In person, it has more of a metallic look to it and the wonderful old reddish patina really is more impressive than it appears in the photos. This is a MAJOR Tsumeb copper specimen worthy of any collection of more "pretty" Tsumeb goodies.




GL80201 Cerussite - $5750 (SOLD)
Tsumeb, Namibia
Small Cabinet, 6 x 4 x 4 cm


A very important and super-rare Tsumeb specimen. This cerussite was in the collection of Gary Hansen for many years and then passed through Wayne Thompson 5 years ago, when the Hansen collection was dispersed, into another private collection where it has resided until now. It is apparently one of only a few known examples of this particular habit and style of cerussite from Tsumeb, and was collected in the 1970’s according to Hansen, a well-known former mineral and gemstone dealer. The specimen consists of two lustrous, interconnected, solid yet intricately crystallized, doubly-terminated crystals showing gorgeous reticulation patterns on both ends. They have extremely fine faces and terminations, and no damage. The smaller crystal looks like a shooting star and is arranged at a 90 degree angle to the larger crystal!




T70 Cerussite on Dioptase - $5000
Tsumeb, Namibia
ex. Irv Brown Collection
Small Cabinet, 7 x 5 x 4.5 cm
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:


An amazing combo piece with a sharp 2.75 x 2.5 x 1 cm cerussite perched on dioptase crystals! The diop crystals have top color and lustre, and the large crystal on the right side of the piece, which balances the ceru, is a full 2.5 cm (one inch!) in size. VERY few ceru/diop specimens are known that are of any quality, and this surely must be among the very top such specimens for its size range. Aside from the combo, a 1-inch dioptase ain't bad, either! Bottom line is that there are few specimens that really STAND OUT above the crowd of other similar pieces as this one does, and it is therefore a really desirable rock!




T80 Smithsonite var. Cadmian - $12450
Tsumeb, Namibia
Cabinet, 21 x 13 x 8 cm
CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:


A magnificent large smithsonite from Tsumeb, with rhombohedral crystals to a whopping 3.75 cm across! The coloration varies from clear/translucent on the outer edges of many crystals to a deep amber color internally, indicative of cadmium inclusions. A specimen of such size, in this condition, is almost unheard of! Note that it has very little damage, just a few trivial nicks, and the large knob in the upper-left is even complete all around. On thebackside, where it contacted the rock and there are some broken sections of smithsonite around the matrix core of this specimen, you can see that the color in the smithsonite is graded from clear to yellow-brown, indicating differential deposition of the coloring ions during crystal formation.



 
The Arkenstone - Dr. Robert Lavinsky
PO Box 450788
Garland, TX 75045-0788
Phone 972-414-9003 "normal hours" Central Time Zone, E-Fax 413-581-0589

<< Back to Home Page