| 21 Rows |
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 Sphalerite
This is a very handsome specimen of red sphalerites on (and in) radiating quartz from Shuikoushan (probably the Kangjiawan Pb-Zn-Ag-Au deposit), Hengyang, in the Hunan Province of China. Some of the sphalerites are 3 cm on an edge! There's also black zones in some of them. Also, there's a couple of pockets of tiny white calcite rhombs. Interspersed among the quartz are numerous "nailhead calcites". Thanks to Chris Korpi at Pangaea Minerals for the specimen! | |
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 Sphalerite
Sphalerite (zinc sulfide) comes in a lot of different colors - these black ones are from the La Mure, Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France. Thanks to Chris Korpi at Pangaea Minerals for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
The matrix here is sphalerite with quartz, pyrite, and one tetrahedrite crystal and is fun to look at with a magnifying glass or loupe! This one's from Cavnik in Maramures, Romania. Thanks to Rick Green at Uniquely Crystalline for the specimen and the image! | |
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| Row 2 |
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 Sphalerite
More ruby jack sphalerites on radiating quartz from China - I couldn't resist having two of these! This one has some flattened calcite rhombs (top right) as well. |
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 Sphalerite
This is a gorgeous dark ruby jack cluster, probably from the Elmwood Mine in Tennessee. Thanks to Anne & Charles Steuart's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Another ruby jack cluster - this one's lighter in color and has smaller crystal faces and comes from the famous Elmwood Mine in Tennessee. Thanks to Kevin MacNelly's (Geodeland) auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 3 |
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 Sphalerite
Green sphalerites with a dusting of golden chalcopyrite from Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Thanks to Dave Hayward at Lucky Strike Minerals for the specimen and the image! |
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 Sphalerite
Sphalerite this black (and opaque) has a high iron content - this one from the 1800 Stope, 21 Level, Camp Bird Mine, Ouray, Colorado also has pyrite, quartz, and an unknown silvery coating with it. Thanks to Henry Truebe's auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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 Sphalerite
More "ruby jack" sphalerite - this one's from the famous Tri-State District, Picher, Okahoma. Thanks to Stan Perry's (Our Gangue Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 4 |
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 Sphalerite
A four-inch cluster of black sphalerites with calcite crystals on the bottom. Thanks to Suzanne's (Bumps Fine Art) auction on eBay for the specimen and images! |
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 Sphalerite
More black sphalerites - these (there's a big spinel twinin the center) from Naica, Mexico have striated faces and micro pyrites dusting their faces. There's also some massive calcite and pyrite around the edges of the cluster, which grew on a pyrite core. Thanks to Emilie & Ron Kendig's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 5 |
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 Sphalerite
Beautiful sphalerites in many shades of red and orange on dolomite from the Tri-State Mining District, Joplin, Missouri. Thanks to Anne & Charles Steuart's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Another rubyjack cluster from Elmwood - this one has a bunch of doubly-terminated honey calcites along for the ride. Thanks to Wayne Bloechl's (GeoJoe's) auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
This Elmwood sphalerite on dolomite also has a few gemmy lavender fluorites in association. Thanks to Roger Hoek's (ARCH Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 6 |
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 Sphalerite
Lustrous black sphalerites from Peru. Thanks to Dave Hayward at Lucky Strike Minerals for the specimen and the image! |
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 Sphalerite
Golden sphalerite, galena, and calcite crystals on a 3-inch spire from Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Russia. Thanks to Tom Hales' (Museum Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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 Sphalerite
A beautiful cluster of black spinel-twinned (larger picture, right) sphalerites from Naica, Mexico. Thanks to Emilie & Ron Kendig's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 7 |
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 Sphalerite
Big crystals of rubyjack sphalerite with dolomite and a few honey calcites from Elmwood (of course!). Thanks to Steven White's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Green sphalerite on tan siderite from the Volcan zinc mine, Lima Department, Peru. Thanks to M. Phantom Minerals' table at the 2000 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! | |
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 Sphalerite
Beautifully shaped rubyjack crystals on dolomite from Joplin, Missouri. |
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| Row 8 |
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 Sphalerite
A very nice cluster of black sphalerites with siderite and pyrite. Thanks to Mike & Vickie Gerrie's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
A single rubyjack thumbnail from the Mid-Continent Mine, Treece, Cherokee County, Kansas. Thanks to Graeber & Himes' table at the 2000 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Bright yellow sphalerites from the Frontier Stone Quarry, Lockport, Niagara County, New York. Thanks to Wright's Rock Shop's table at the 2000 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! | |
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| Row 9 |
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 Sphalerite
Another Elmwood cluster - too bad it's incomplete! It would be about eight inches across if it were a full cluster. Thanks to Detrin Fine Minerals' table at the 2000 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
A very nice thumbnail cluster of rubyjack from Lime City, Ohio. Thanks to the Carnegie Natural History Museum Store for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Almost three pounds of somewhat gemmy rubyjack from the Tri-State area in Missouri. Thanks to Piqua Lesnick's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 10 |
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 Sphalerite
Drusy quartz on quartz and black sphalerite from the Stari Trg Mine, Trepca, Kosovo - there's also some chalcopyrites. Thanks to Carl Bentley's auction on eBay for the specimen and images! | |
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 Sphalerite
A pretty little black sphalerite miniature with highly striated faces and a few pyrites and quartz clusters, probably from Peru. Thanks to Martha Crawford for the specimen! |
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| Row 11 |
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 Sphalerite
Shiny black sphalerites, pyrites, chalcopyrites, and quartz clusters comprise this busy miniature from Huaron, Peru. Thanks to Don Clausen's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
A mix of minerals including sphalerite, calcite, and pyrite from (one of) the San Antonio Mine(s) in Mexico. Thanks to Jim Simpson's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
The sphalerite tetrahedrons are highly striated in this miniature from Pine Point, Northwest Territories, Canada. Thanks to SoCal Nevada's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 12 |
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 Sphalerite
This beautiful black lustrous small cabinet cluster of sphalerite comes from the 1968 single-pocket find at the Lavra da Ilha pegmatite, Jequitinhonha River, nearTaquaral, Itinga, Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Thanks to Mike Keim at Marin Minerals for the specimen and the image! | |
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 Sphalerite
A chunk of red (larger image, middle panel) sphalerite with chalcopyrite from the Mid Continent Mine, Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahome. As is often the case, the chalcopyrites are aligned (larger image, bottom panel). Thanks to Frank P. Butler's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 13 |
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 Sphalerite
A cabinet specimen of massive high-grade sphalerite cut by calcite veins from the Mississippi Valley Type deposit at Daniel's Harbour Mine, Newfoundland, Canada. The zinc mine is now closed (1975 - 1990) and the area reclaimed so there is no more material to be found at the site. Thanks to Garry Luffman's (Once-A-Rock Inc.) auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
Beautiful gemmy orange sphalerite with barite on a quartz matrix - this miniature's from the 2001 find at the Manuelita Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Junin Department, Peru. The larger image shows a second miniature from the same locale (bottom row, middle and right). Thanks to Stan Perry's (Our Gangue Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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| Row 14 |
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 Sphalerite
A beautiful cluster of green sphalerites on quartz mined 1975 - 78 from the Mogila Orebody, Deveti Septemvri Complex, Madan District, Southern Rhodope Mtns, Plovdiv Region, Bulgaria. Thanks to North Star Minerals's table at the 2001 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
From the classic locale of the Portland Mine in Ouray County, Colorado, comes this small cabinet piece highlighting a 1.7cm lime-green sphalerite. The specimen also has the typical manganocalcite, pyrite, and galena association. Thanks to Dave Bunk's (Dave Bunk Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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 Sphalerite
Beautiful light yellow sphalerite rosettes and white dolomite rhombs on matrix comprise this miniature collected in 1973 from the Frontier Stone Quarry near Lockport, Niagara County, New York. Thanks to Nicole Gariepy's auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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| Row 15 |
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 Sphalerite
Beautiful red sphalerite thumbnail with dolomite from the Dolomite Products Corporation Walworth Quarry, Walworth, Wayne County,
New York. Thanks to Val Collins' auction on eBay for the specimen and the images!
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 Sphalerite
A beautiful cluster of green sphalerites mined 1980 - 85 from the Mogila Orebody, Deveti Septemvri Complex, Madan District, Southern Rhodope Mtns, Plovdiv Region, Bulgaria. Thanks to North Star Minerals's table at the 2001 Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show for the specimen! |
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| Row 16 |
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 Sphalerite
An interesting miniature cluster of rubyjacks on matrix from Baker Springs, Howard County, Kansas. Thanks to Saul Krotki's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
A sharp and lustrous small cabinet cluster of black sphalerites from the Huaron Mining District, Cerro de Pasco, Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Department, Peru. The larger image shows closeups of some of the wonderfully complex etched crystals. Thanks to Saul Krotki's auction on eBay for the specimen and the images! |
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 Sphalerite
An almost floater crystal (3cm) of black sphalerite from Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia. Thanks to Val Collins' auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 17 |
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 Sphalerite
A double-terminated black sphalerite crystal with other sphalerites and a few quartz crystals from the Middlecleugh 1st Sun Vein, Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria, England. Thanks to Kevin Conroy's (Kevin Conroy Minerals) auction on eBay for the specimen and the images! |
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 Sphalerite
A sparkly gemmy thumbnail cluster of deep orange sphalerites from the silver-bearing lead and copper mines of the Silvermines District,
County Tipperary, Ireland that have been in production for centuries. Thanks to Jan Garland's (Fine Rocks) auction on eBay for the specimen and the images! |
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 Sphalerite
A 3-inch intergrown cluster of rubyjack crystals from the now-flooded Elmwood Cumberland Mine, (Savage Zinc Corporation) 1200' level, Gordonsville, Smith County, Tennessee. Self-collected by Chris Wong in June 1998. Thanks to Chris Wong's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 18 |
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 Sphalerite
These next three sphalerites are the famous Santander sphalerites - they're from the Las Manforas Mine, Aliva, Cantabria, Spain, about 100km inland from the coastal city of Santander - the mine is now flooded and caved in. There will be no more "Santander" sphalerites except those from old collections - a pity, they are gorgeous! This one's a small cabinet specimen, the larger photo shows it backlit. Thanks to Juan Fernandez Buelga's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
A sphalerite floater (miniature) from the Las Manforas Mine. Thanks to Juan Fernandez Buelga's auction on eBay for the specimen and the image! |
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 Sphalerite
A slightly larger minaiture of massive sphalerite from the Las Manforas Mine. Thanks to Juan Fernandez Buelga's auction on eBay for the specimen and the image! |
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| Row 19 |
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 Sphalerite
Another miniature sphalerite from the Las Manforas Mine - this one is orange and yellow crystals in matrix. Thanks to C. J. Lanese's auction on eBay for the specimen and the image! |
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 Sphalerite
A nice miniature of brown complex sphalerite clusters on matrix from (probably) the Trzebionka Mine, Trzebinia, Chrzanów district, Malopolskie, Poland. Thanks to Mirek Dorejko's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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 Sphalerite
This miniature of equant black complex crystals of sphalerite in a calcite matrix was obtained in 1969 from miner and collector Harlan Crouse of Butte, Montana. It's from the Steward Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana. Thanks to David Smith's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 20 |
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 Sphalerite,
var. Brunckite
Brunckite's the name given to cryptocrystalline sphalerite - most of it (as does this miniature) comes from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It's also brightly fluorescent (yellow-orange) under LW. Thanks to SoCal Nevada's auction on eBay for the specimen!
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 Sphalerite, var.
Gumucionite
Gumucionite is sphalerite mixed with realgar - this thumbnail from Llallagua, Bustillo, Potosí, Bolivia (probably the Siglo Veinte Mine) contains 0.64% arsenic; gumucionite from Chile contains more (1.7%). Thanks to Tom & Vicki Loomis at Dakota Matrix Minerals for the specimen and the images!
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 Sphalerite
and Wurtzite
An interesting mixture of sphalerite and wurtzite (mined in 1934) from La Calamaine, Belgium. One end has been cut and polished to show the layers. Thanks to Alexander Falster's auction on eBay for the specimen! |
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| Row 21 |
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 Matraite
Matraite's the rarest of the three sphalerite trimorphs - this miniature stalactical section with minor galena comes from the type locality of Gyöngyösoroszi, Mátra Mountains, Heves County, Hungary. Thanks to Thomas Bee's auction on eBay for the specimen and the image! | |
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 Wurtzite
Wurtzite's the second and rarer member of the sphalerite trimorphs (the third being matraite)- this one's from the Mines Les Malines, St Laurent-le-Minier, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France and has tetrahedrites on the back side. Thanks to Michael Cottingham's auction on eBay for the specimen! | |
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 Wurtzite
Tiny sharp wurtzite crystals from the Metrel Inc. Negley strip mine, Negley, Columbiana County, Ohio. See here for an in-depth article and here for typical photos. microphotographs. Thanks to Joe Vasichko's Rockmanjoe Minerals auction on eBay for the specimen, the images, and the article! |
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