Rare Mineral Gallery 1

         click on images for larger views                                                     FOV ~ 1 x 0.8 mm                                

ZAL11-1  Zálesíite  $18  SOLD
collected by Bob Jenkins

Tucumana Mine, Inca de Oro, Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, Chile

3.0 cm x 2.7 cm x 2.6 cm

Green balls amidst spiky needles of the rare arsenate Zálesíite: (Ca,Y)Cu₆(AsO₄)₂(HAsO₄,AsO₄)(OH)₆·3H₂O, collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.

 
click on image for larger view

EZC11-1  Ezcurrite (TL)   $3 (<-- yes! $3!)
collected by Bob Jenkins

Tincalayu Mine, Salar Del Hombre Muerto, Salta, Argentina

various sizes up to 2.8 cm long

Ezcurrite : Na₄B₁₀O₁₇·7H₂O is an extremely rare borate from the type and only locality in the world.  These pieces were collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Argentina.  I have many pieces, and the best (the largest and most crystaline) will go on a first-come, first-serve basis.

                 click on images for larger views                                             FOV ~ 1 x 0.9 mm                                

PERR11-1  Perroudite  $22  SOLD
collected by Bob Jenkins

Capitana Mine, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile

3.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.6 cm

Red needles of rare Perroudite : Hg₅Ag₄S₅I₂Cl₂, collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.  Think about what a bizarre chemical formula that is: just mercury, silver, sulfur, iodine and chlorine!  I can also see some clear Cerussite : PbCO₃ crystals and patches of yellow Iodargyrite: AgI.

                 click on images for larger views                                             FOV ~ 1 x 0.9 mm                                

ARS11-1  Arsentsumebite  $16  SOLD
collected by Bob Jenkins

Capitana Mine, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile

3.7 cm x 2.0 cm x 1.6 cm

Tiny apple-green Arsentsumebites: Pb₂Cu(AsO₄)(SO₄)(OH) collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.  I can also see a nice little Cerussite in a vug, and the red patches might be Perroudite, though unlike the specimen above, here I cannot discern needles.

 click on images for larger views

 FOV ~ 1 x 1.4 mm                    click on images for larger views                  FOV ~ 1.5 x 1.4 mm

MANS11-1  Mansfieldite and Pharmacoalumite  $28   SOLD
collected by Bob Jenkins

Maria Catalina mine, Pampa Larga district, Tierra Amarilla, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile

7.1 cm x 4.3 cm x 2.6 cm

Blue spheres of Mansfieldite : AlAsO₄·2H₂O (lower right photo) with clear cubes of Pharmacoalumite : KAl₄(AsO₄)₃(OH)₄·6.5H₂O (lower left photo) collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.  Two very rare minerals in one specimen!  The white spheres on the reverse side are also Mansfieldite, so this specimen is a very rich one.

    click on images for larger views                                                     FOV ~ 6 x 4 mm                   

 FOV ~ 1 x 0.8 mm                    click on images for larger views                  FOV ~ 8 x 7 mm

PSM11-1  Pseudomalachite  $22  SOLD
collected by Bob Jenkins

Manto Cuba Mine, San Pedro de Cachiyuyo District, Inca de Oro, Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, Chile

7.1 cm x 4.8 cm x 3.0 cm

Pseudomalachite : Cu₅(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.  The really interesting thing about this specimen is that it presents Pseudomalachite in two habits, tabular crystals and balls.  The photos on the upper and lower right show both habits together.

                 click on images for larger views                                             FOV ~ 4 x 4 mm                                

SAMP11-1  Sampleite  $48 (TL)
collected by Bob Jenkins

Santa Catalina Mine, Caracoles, Sierra Gorda District, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile

6.0 cm x 4.8 cm x 3.5 cm

Sampleite : NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O collected by Bob Jenkins while he was working in Chile.  The green needles also visible in the right-hand photo are probably Atacamite.

 click on image for larger view

ANDES9-1  Andesine  $38

Iou Island (Iwo Jima), Volcano Islands, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

1.1 cm x 1.1 cm x 0.6 cm

Andesine ((Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]) is a plagioclase Feldspar with an Albite-to-Anorthite molar ratio ranging from 50:50 to 70:30. According to MinDat, the Iwo Jima locality is "a classic feldspar locality which has produced many loose plagioclase crystals coated with thin crusts of glassy lava.  Much unexploded ordnance left over from WWII - trespassing prohibited and dangerous."

 click on images for larger views                                             FOV ~ 7 x 10 mm

 FOV ~ 10 x 8 mm                   click on images for larger views                   FOV ~ 8 x 6 mm

LIN9-2  Linarite  $250
ex Rod & Helen Tyson; ex Carl Acosta; ex L. St-Cyr

Beaver Claim, Kaslo, Central Kootenay Regional District, Kootenays, British Columbia

4.0 cm x 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm

An extraordinary Linarite from a rare location - Kaslo was originally designated as a sawmill site in 1889, but grew on the silver boom of the 19th century.  Today it is a town of about 1,000 people.

            click on images for larger views                                                  FOV ~ 5 x 5 mm                        

FOV ~ 1 x 0.7 mm                    click on images for larger views                  FOV ~ 2 x 1.3 mm

NiAUS9-1  Nickelaustinite (TL) and Wendwilsonite (TL)  $145
ex L. St-Cyr  SOLD

Aghbar, Bou Azer District, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco

5.5 cm x 4.7 cm x 3.0 cm

Green crystals of Nickelaustinite: Ca(Ni,Zn)(AsO₄)(OH) and gemmy, wine-red crystals of Wendwilsonite: Ca₂(Mg,Co²⁺)(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O, as verified by Ernesto Ossala in France.  The Bou Azer District is the type locality for both minerals.  This specimen was part of my suite of Moroccan rareties.

   click on images for larger views 
 
FOV ~ 6 x 6 mm                    click on images for larger views                  FOV ~ 2 x 2 mm

TALM9-1  Roselite and Talmessite  $95
ex L. St-Cyr

Aghbar, Bou Azer District, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco

4.3 cm x 3.0 cm x 2.0 cm

Gemmy, wine-red crystals of Roselite: Ca₂(Co²⁺,Mg)(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O and stacks of tabular tan Talmessite: Ca₂Mg(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O, as verified by Ernesto Ossala in France.  This specimen was part of my suite of Moroccan rareties.

Depth of field in all close-ups is achieved with CombineZP freeware.

Next Gallery

or select a gallery from the table below:

Mixed Minerals Gallery 1	Bargain Gallery
Mixed Minerals Gallery 2	Mont Saint-Hilaire 1
Mixed Minerals Gallery 3	Mont Saint-Hilaire 2
Mixed Minerals Gallery 4	Geodes, Nodules, Agates 1
Tucson Mineral Show 2011	Geodes, Nodules, Agates 2
Spanish Scolecite	Rare Mineral Gallery 1
Tincalconite	Rare Mineral Gallery 2
Pseudomorphs	Fluorescent Gallery 1
Large Museum Specimens	Fluorescent Gallery 2