FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[GneissWare]

A great old European classic. Several clusters of lustrous, gemmy olive-green Andradite (v. demantoid), with crystal to 11 x 10 mm, are attractively arranged on matrix. Less typical, bright-green, gemmy crystals to 4 mm provide a nice accent.

[GneissWare]

Picked this up from Luis Menezes in the mid 1990s.

This aesthetic specimen consists of several smoky Quartz scepters and is dominated by a large, slightly-sceptered smoky Quartz measuring 76 x 21 x 19 mm, with a milky phantom. All have skeletal features. It is nicely accented with minor white Albite and yellowish mica.

[GneissWare]

Another one from Luis circa 1995

I rarely see a Gwindel Quartz from Brazil, and this is a nice one with a gemmy, light-smoky color and high Alpine-like luster. It is complete all around, flattened with a pronounced twist, and is accompanied by a slightly flattened Quartz point. Like many Gwindels, this one has a few minor chips, but they don't distract. Although it looks like a Swiss Gwindel, it was purchased from well-known Brazilian dealer Luis Menezes in 1995, so the provinance is definitely Brazil. These are much rarer than Alpine Gwindels and this is a great example.

[am mizunaka]

Really nice Brazilian gwindel Bob.

[GneissWare]

Thanks, Mike. Thought you might like.

[Mike Wood]

Hi Bob, I really like the classic andradite var. demantoid in talc specimen from Italy. Nice Brazillian Gwindel, if I'm allowed to say that! Edit - (Oh just realised Mike's said it already, so it must be alright).
Cheers,
Mike ;-)

[Don Lum]

Bob, I agree with both Mikes.

Don

[Tobi]

A really great andradite, Bob, wow!!!

[GneissWare]

Thanks Tobi!

[GneissWare]

Lustrous, light-brown rhombs of Siderite to 11 mm cover a shiny-silver Muscovite matrix on this old, classic Swiss specimen. Lightly-smoky, transparent, gemmy Quartz crystals to 19 mm, come doubly terminated, richly cover one side of the specimen. In excellent condition, this is from the A.G. Boynton collection, circa 1910-1940s. Boynton was a mining engineer, and later City Manager of Boulder City, Nevada. He assembled a nice collection of rare specimens from the localities of that period.

[GneissWare]

This highly lustrous, botryoidal, brownish iridescent Siderite displays a rainbow of colors. I have only seen a few of these and this is much better than any of those. This is from the A.G. Boynton collection. Boynton was a mining engineer circa 1910-1920, and City Manager of Boulder City, Nevada in the mid-1940s. He assembled a nice collection of rare specimens from the localities of the 1910s to the 1940s.

[GneissWare]

Rich specimen with bright bluish-green Dioptase crystals to 1.5 mm filling a vug on contrasting light-colored Baryte matrix. Although these look much like the classic Dioptase from Harquahala, Arizona, these are in fact from a new locality - a small deposit found in late 2013 in California. This is one of the best available from the initial find. It has lots of sparkle factor in person, and is in great condition.

[GneissWare]

Two specimens from the famous Champion Mine.

[Don Lum]

Bob,

I like your Woodhouseite.

Don

[GneissWare]

[Don Lum]

[am mizunaka]

Bob - Really nice combination pieces from the Champion Mine.

[GneissWare]

[GneissWare]

I picked up this piece a while ago. It is ex Smithsonian #137353. It is an ex. Gary Hansen, PhD (Hansen Minerals) specimen.

[Martin Rich]

Rare to see a well terminated Stibnite from this classical locality and also a huge one!

Martin