Middle Earth Minerals: Mineral specimens for sale

Rare Mineral Gallery 1

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ASBEC9-1 Asbecasite $95

Mount Cervandone, Devero Alp, Baceno, Ossola Valley,
Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy

6.3 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm; largest crystal size ~ 1 mm

This specimen hosts numerous crystals of extremely rare, yellow-tan Asbecasite (Ca₃(Ti,Sn⁴⁺)Be₂[(AsO₃)₃|SiO₄]₂) on a fragment of quartz from the Italian Alps. It is best appreciated if you have a loupe or a microscope, although the crystals are naked-eye visible. The name Asbecasite is a combination of some of the chemical elements in it: As+Be+Ca+Si, perhaps an example of mineralogists' humor?

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LF8-2 Leifite on Polylithionite and Rhodochrosite $95

Poudrette quarry, Mt Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada

2.4 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.4 cm

Leifite ((Na,H₂O)Na₆[F₂|Be₂Al₂(Al,Si)Si₁₅O₃₉],) is quite rare, found in half a dozen localities, of which Mont Saint-Hilaire produces the finest specimens. This thumbnail Leifite fluoresces pale yellow-orange under LWUV. The matrix contains minor Rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) and Polylithionite (KLi₂Al[(F,OH)₂|Si₄O₁₀]), the latter of which fluoresces yellow under SWUV. The future of Mont Saint-Hilaire is uncertain; it is possible that no more specimens will be coming out

click on left image for larger view image on right is 12 x 12 mm

FERR9-1 Ferrierite-Mg $28 SOLD

Monastir, Cagliari Province, Sardinia, Italy

4 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm; diameter of ball = 6 mm

Ferrierite-Mg (Mg,Na₂,K₂,Ca)_3-5Mg[Al_5-7Si_27.5-31O₇₂]·18H₂O is another rather rare zeolite. A few colorless Heulandites are nestled up against the Ferrierite balls, and a particularly nice cluster is located in front of the central Ferrierite ball on the photo on the left, which partially blocks the Ferrierite from the camera's view.

click on left image for larger view image on right is 12 x 12 mm

AESCH9-1 Aeschynite-(Y) and Hematite on Adularia $55

Lucendro pass, Lucendro Valley, Central St Gotthard Massif, Leventina, Ticino, Switzerland

7.0 cm x 6.3 cm x 3.3 cm; size of largest crystal ~ 1 mm

Amidst tiny Hematite roses on a pretty matrix of translucent white Adularia, can be seen three brown, mm-sized Aeschynite-(Y) (Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆ crystals. This piece is very beautiful under the microscope where you can see the detail in the Hematite roses. Although the Aeschynite-(Y) crystals are naked-eye visible, much more pleasure can be taken from this specimen with the use of a loupe or a microscope.

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DENIS9-1 Denisovite $40 SOLD

Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula
Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia (TL)

5 cm x 4 cm x 2.7 cm

White fibrous Denisovite (Ca₂(K,Na)Si₃O₈(F,OH)₂) on a matrix of Aegirine (NaFe³⁺[Si₂O₆]) from the type locality. Denisovite is only known from one other locality outside the Khibiny Massif. Denisovite is an asbestiform mineral, meaning that it resembles the six minerals that are legally defined as asbestos, but is not one of them. Asbestiform minerals are perfectly safe in a mineral collection.

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PRIX9-1 Fibrous Mimetite variety Prixite $20

Saint-Prix, Beuvray, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France

4.8 cm x 4.3 cm x 3 cm

Prixite is a bizarre, fibrous variety of Mimetite (Pb₅[Cl|(AsO₄)₃]). As a variety rather than a true species, it does not strictly speaking have a type locality, but according to mindat.org, this is the locality from which it was first reported. It comes with a Diederik Visser label that also lists Pyromorphite, but I can only identify the yellow Mimetite on this specimen.

PRET9-1 Pretulite $95 SOLD

Höllkogel Mt., Alpl, Freßnitzgraben, Krieglach,
Fischbacher Alpen Mts, Styria, Austria (TL)

3.4 cm x 2.1 cm x 2 cm

Pretulite (ScPO₄) is one of only a few scandium-containing minerals, and this specimen comes from the type locality for Pretulite. The Pretulite is the yellowish material. The blue matrix consists of Lazulite in Quartz.

click on left image for larger view image on right is 8 x 10 mm

TILA9-1 Tilasite $95

Mount Cervandone, Devero Alp, Baceno, Ossola Valley,
Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy

5.5 cm x 3 cm x 7 cm; largest crystal size ~ 7 mm

Characteristically curved Tilasite (CaMg[F|AsO₄]) crystals in a couple of bundles up to 7 x 2 mm. Although Tilasite is a rare mineral, the curved shape of the crystals makes it very distinctive and easy to spot. Mount Cervandone, which can be accessed both in Italy and in Switzerland, is a classic locality for this species.

There are also many rare minerals in our other Galleries.

Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3 Gallery 4

Rare Mineral Gallery 2 Bargain Gallery Big Rocks

Fluorescent Gallery 1 Fluorescent Gallery 2


	Rare Mineral Gallery 1 Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3 Gallery 4 Rare Mineral Gallery 2 Bargain Gallery Big Rocks Fluorescent Gallery 1 Fluorescent Gallery 2 click on image for larger view ASBEC9-1 Asbecasite $95 Mount Cervandone, Devero Alp, Baceno, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy 6.3 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm; largest crystal size ~ 1 mm This specimen hosts numerous crystals of extremely rare, yellow-tan Asbecasite (Ca₃(Ti,Sn⁴⁺)Be₂[(AsO₃)₃\|SiO₄]₂) on a fragment of quartz from the Italian Alps. It is best appreciated if you have a loupe or a microscope, although the crystals are naked-eye visible. The name Asbecasite is a combination of some of the chemical elements in it: As+Be+Ca+Si, perhaps an example of mineralogists' humor? click on image for larger view LF8-2 Leifite on Polylithionite and Rhodochrosite $95 Poudrette quarry, Mt Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada 2.4 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.4 cm Leifite ((Na,H₂O)Na₆[F₂\|Be₂Al₂(Al,Si)Si₁₅O₃₉],) is quite rare, found in half a dozen localities, of which Mont Saint-Hilaire produces the finest specimens. This thumbnail Leifite fluoresces pale yellow-orange under LWUV. The matrix contains minor Rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) and Polylithionite (KLi₂Al[(F,OH)₂\|Si₄O₁₀]), the latter of which fluoresces yellow under SWUV. The future of Mont Saint-Hilaire is uncertain; it is possible that no more specimens will be coming out click on left image for larger view image on right is 12 x 12 mm FERR9-1 Ferrierite-Mg $28 SOLD Monastir, Cagliari Province, Sardinia, Italy 4 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm; diameter of ball = 6 mm Ferrierite-Mg (Mg,Na₂,K₂,Ca)_3-5Mg[Al_5-7Si_27.5-31O₇₂]·18H₂O is another rather rare zeolite. A few colorless Heulandites are nestled up against the Ferrierite balls, and a particularly nice cluster is located in front of the central Ferrierite ball on the photo on the left, which partially blocks the Ferrierite from the camera's view. click on left image for larger view image on right is 12 x 12 mm AESCH9-1 Aeschynite-(Y) and Hematite on Adularia $55 Lucendro pass, Lucendro Valley, Central St Gotthard Massif, Leventina, Ticino, Switzerland 7.0 cm x 6.3 cm x 3.3 cm; size of largest crystal ~ 1 mm Amidst tiny Hematite roses on a pretty matrix of translucent white Adularia, can be seen three brown, mm-sized Aeschynite-(Y) (Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆ crystals. This piece is very beautiful under the microscope where you can see the detail in the Hematite roses. Although the Aeschynite-(Y) crystals are naked-eye visible, much more pleasure can be taken from this specimen with the use of a loupe or a microscope. click on image for larger view DENIS9-1 Denisovite $40 SOLD Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia (TL) 5 cm x 4 cm x 2.7 cm White fibrous Denisovite (Ca₂(K,Na)Si₃O₈(F,OH)₂) on a matrix of Aegirine (NaFe³⁺[Si₂O₆]) from the type locality. Denisovite is only known from one other locality outside the Khibiny Massif. Denisovite is an asbestiform mineral, meaning that it resembles the six minerals that are legally defined as asbestos, but is not one of them. Asbestiform minerals are perfectly safe in a mineral collection. click on image for larger view PRIX9-1 Fibrous Mimetite variety Prixite $20 Saint-Prix, Beuvray, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France 4.8 cm x 4.3 cm x 3 cm Prixite is a bizarre, fibrous variety of Mimetite (Pb₅[Cl\|(AsO₄)₃]). As a variety rather than a true species, it does not strictly speaking have a type locality, but according to mindat.org, this is the locality from which it was first reported. It comes with a Diederik Visser label that also lists Pyromorphite, but I can only identify the yellow Mimetite on this specimen. PRET9-1 Pretulite $95 SOLD Höllkogel Mt., Alpl, Freßnitzgraben, Krieglach, Fischbacher Alpen Mts, Styria, Austria (TL) 3.4 cm x 2.1 cm x 2 cm Pretulite (ScPO₄) is one of only a few scandium-containing minerals, and this specimen comes from the type locality for Pretulite. The Pretulite is the yellowish material. The blue matrix consists of Lazulite in Quartz. click on left image for larger view image on right is 8 x 10 mm TILA9-1 Tilasite $95 Mount Cervandone, Devero Alp, Baceno, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy 5.5 cm x 3 cm x 7 cm; largest crystal size ~ 7 mm Characteristically curved Tilasite (CaMg[F\|AsO₄]) crystals in a couple of bundles up to 7 x 2 mm. Although Tilasite is a rare mineral, the curved shape of the crystals makes it very distinctive and easy to spot. Mount Cervandone, which can be accessed both in Italy and in Switzerland, is a classic locality for this species. There are also many rare minerals in our other Galleries. Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3 Gallery 4 Rare Mineral Gallery 2 Bargain Gallery Big Rocks Fluorescent Gallery 1 Fluorescent Gallery 2
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