Mineral Species: Fluorapatite

Locality: Sapo Mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dimensions: 15.5 cm, 13.5 cm, 12.0 cm

The Sapo mine, known mainly for it’s vibrant multi-color tourmalines, produced a limited number of incredible, logic-defying apatite specimens from a large pocket discovered around 2007. These specimens are characterized by amazing “stalactites” of lustrous green apatite crystals which has grown in elongated parallel-growth chains of crystals. This is an exceptional specimen for the find, with fantastic aesthetics and large size, measuring almost 16 cm high. These apatites are sure to be remembered for their unique form and stunning aesthetics.

Price: Contact us for Price

SKU: 47924

Photo Credit: Riley Owen

Mineral Species: Silver

Locality: Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway

Dimensions: 11.0 cm, 12.5 cm, 4.5 cm

Kongsberg Silver specimens have for centuries been among the most highly desired of all collectible minerals. Significant specimens of Kongsberg silver grace the majority of the world’s major Natural History Museums and the top specimens in private hands are lusted after by collectors worldwide. The mines of the Kongsberg District yielded specimens possessing impressive size and remarkable aesthetics. According to Jean-Claude Boulliard, Curator at the Sorbonne, Paris, France, in his book “Mineraux remarquables” Kongsberg silvers “remain unparalleled to this day”. He further shares, “In the eighteenth century, many of the most beautiful specimens of native silver were given by King Christian VII (King of Denmark and Norway from 1766 to 1808) to other European monarchs”. <br>This Kongsberg wire-silver specimen has superb aesthetic appeal.

Its silver wires exhibit a variety of thicknesses and lengths which have crystallized in an attractive “tree-like” form with minor calcite association. The silver specimen possesses a wonderful natural surface luster. This luster is partially subdued by natural surface oxidation which is common to native silver specimens. Kongsberg silver specimens are historically significant, with most of the finest specimens having been discovered in the 1700s and 1800s. The mines of the Kongsberg District closed in 1957, sealing the “limited edition” status for Kongsberg Silvers. This exceptional specimen is unrepaired and was previously in the Matak Collection. The incredible sculptural form of this piece makes it a one-of-a-kind, natural work of art.

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SKU: 23076

Photo Credit: Tom Spann

Mineral Species: Elbaite Tourmaline, Lepidolite

Locality: Coronel Murta, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dimensions: 14.8 cm, 11.0 cm, 9.5 cm

Elbaite tourmaline crystals from the Coronel Murta District in Brazil’s Minas Gerais Province are renowned for their exceptional color variety, size, and transparency. The best specimens feature intricate, 3-dimensional sprays of vibrantly-colored red to yellow-green tourmaline crystals, such as the outstanding piece. With an almost 15 cm main crystal surrounded smaller tourmaline crystals and violet lepidolite, this is a visually-stunning specimen.

The tourmaline crystals are a delicate pinkish-red hue and grade into totally-transparent yellow-green terminations showing complex pinacoidal terminations. The yellow-pink coloration these tourmaline crystals exhibit is rare from anywhere, let alone in this kind of quality and transparency. A superb gem tourmaline specimen and one of the highlights of the Proctor Family Trust Collection, built by gem crystal connoisseur Kieth Proctor.

Price: Contact us for Price

SKU: 39426

Photo Credit: Jeff Scovil

Mineral Species: Gold

Locality: Round Mountain Mine, Round Mountain, Round Mountain District, Toquima Range, Nye Co., Nevada, USA

Dimensions: 7.0 cm, 9.8 cm, 2.8 cm

This magnificent specimen is reputed to be one of the best examples of octahedral gold crystals ever recovered at the famous Round Mountain mine in Nye County Nevada, and looking at it, it’s easy to see why this is. The quality of the crystals is absolutely world-class and measuring almost 10 cm tall, it is a stunning cabinet-size example of crystallized gold. The crystals are primarily octahedral but include some spinel-twins, and all individual crystals show a preferred orientation that produces a mesmerizing macroscopic symmetry when viewed from a distance. Up close, the crystals are equally amazing, showing a “fractal geometry” from large to very small but similar gold crystals.

Very few localities in the world have ever produced gold specimens of this quality, and this investment-quality specimen is a stellar representation of a very brief period when a small number of specimens of this quality were being found. This specimen would be a cornerstone of any collection and is worthy of serious consideration.  Ex. Proctor Family Trust Collection.

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SKU: 39418

Photo Credit: Collector's Edge

Mineral Species: Elbaite v. Cuprian, Lepidolite, Quartz

Locality: Brazil Paraiba Mine, Mulungu Site, Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Dimensions: 18.5 cm, 20.0 cm, 6.8 cm

This specimen might well be the largest and most significant “Paraiba Tourmaline” matrix mineral specimen in the world.   The vast majority of this rare copper-bearing tourmaline is cut immediately into gemstones.   Paraiba Tourmaline is among the earth’s most coveted, colored gem materials.

“Copper-bearing ‘Paraiba tourmaline’, a geochemical oddity, was discovered in Brazil in 1988.  Its rich and unique colors have given it extraordinary gemstone value, resulting in the preservation of very few good crystal specimens.

High concentrations of COPPER (1.5 to 2.3 weight % CuO) plus some manganese are responsible for the TURQUOISE-BLUE, tanzanite-blue, sapphire-blue, and ‘electric-blue’ colors.” …  Wendell E. Wilson (The Mineralogical Record; March-April 2002)  

Initially discovered at the Batalha Mine, “Paraiba tourmaline” became one of the rarest and most precious gems in the world.  Worldwide, only five mines produce this rarity:  three of them in Brazil and two in Africa.

This specimen was recovered from the Brazil Paraiba Mine, Mulungu Site in Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte which is the largest “Paraiba tourmaline” mine on the planet.  The gem-pegmatite rough which yielded this spectacular matrix specimen was discovered nearly 20 years ago.   Specimen preparation was a recent, collaborative effort between the Brazil Paraiba Mine and Collector’s Edge Minerals of Golden, Colorado.

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SKU: 59906

Photo Credit: Jeff Scovil

Mineral Species: Cuprite

Locality: Red Dome Mine, Chillagoe, Queensland, Australia

Dimensions: 4.5 cm, 10.5 cm, 4.0 cm

Cuprite specimens from the Red Dome mine in Queensland, Australia are considered the gold standard for the species, but so few good specimens were found that they remain unknown to many collectors. This is a premier-quality cabinet size specimen, featuring sharp, lustrous cuprite crystals to ~1.5 cm completely covering massive cuprite matrix.  The crystals have an intense deep-red color when backlit even minimally, showing their gem-quality interiors.

This is an exceptional specimen both for cuprite as a species as well as this classic Australian locality. Very few undamaged cabinet-sized specimens were found of this quality, and this is an outstanding piece for the serious collector.   Ex. Matak collection.

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SKU: 23116

Photo Credit: Riley Owen

Mineral Species: Beryl var. Morganite

Locality: Corrego do Urucum, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dimensions: 17 cm, 16 cm, 6.5 cm

Morganite, the pink variety of beryl, was named after the famous banker and financier J.P. Morgan by George F. Kunz, and typically occurs as relatively small flattened, tabular crystals. The Corrego do Urucum pegmatite in Brazil has produced some of the world’s largest and finest morganite crystals, such as this outstanding 17 cm wide example, which weighs over 3.6 kilograms. A stunning gem crystal, this is a premier example of one of the hardest varieties of beryl to find in truly high-quality crystals.

The morganite has a rich pink color with good saturation and intensity, and is very well-formed, especially for such a large crystal. Major morganite crystals like this from the Corrego do Urucum came out of several large pockets encountered in the 1990s, and morganite beryl crystals of this size and quality have not been found in Brazil since that time. Small dark green tourmaline crystals are scattered on select faces and provide a pleasing aesthetic contrast to the rich pink morganite crystal. Keith Proctor loved Brazilian gem crystals and actively sought out “the best” from this mineral-rich country for over 50 years, and this world-class morganite is a signature piece of the Proctor Family Trust Collection.

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SKU: 39450

Photo Credit: Jeff Scovil

Mineral Species: Rhodochrosite, Sphalerite, Pyrite, Quartz

Locality: Collector's Pocket, Sweet Home Mine, Alma District, Park County, Colorado, USA

Dimensions: 13.0 cm, 12.3 cm, 7.5 cm

With razor-sharp, deep cherry-red crystals to over 4 cm perched aesthetically on contrasting quartz and sulfide matrix, it is easy to see why this large cabinet-size rhodochrosite from the Collector’s Pocket is such an exquisite Sweet Home Mine specimen. The placement of the main rhodochrosite crystal is stunning, and the surrounding quartz and smaller rhodochrosite crystals provide a fine contrast to this focal point. The color is a deep saturated red, and the crystals exhibit good luster as well. An exceptional Sweet Home mine rhodochrosite, especially for this pocket. Illustrated in Mineralogical Record, Vol 43, pg. 156.

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SKU: 49219

Photo Credit: Riley Owen

Mineral Species: Copper

Locality: Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan

Dimensions: 17 cm, 36 cm, 9.5 cm

The Lake Superior Copper District, located in Michigan’s remote and scenic Keweenaw Peninsula, has the world’s largest concentration of naturally occurring metallic copper.  From the first published reports of the Keweenaw’s copper riches in 1841 by Douglass Houghton to the close of the Calumet and Hecla Company’s operations in 1968, the Copper Country produced over 11 billion pounds of copper!

Specimens of crystallized copper, universally regarded as the world’s best, have been prized from the Keweenaw for over 200 years.  One very very rarely sees a Michigan copper of this size, quality, and magnitude on the market today. This is a significant specimen than stands out compared to the literally tens of thousands of crystallized copper specimens that have been produced from Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

The huge size of the crystals (over 7 cm) combined with their sculptural arrangement and superb patina make this a truly special copper.   This specimen was a highlight of the collection of Ernie Schlichter (1929-2007), a well-known Massachusetts mineral dealer and collector who specialized in Michigan copper. The variety of crystal forms is noteworthy on this specimen as well – the largest crystals (typical of large Michigan copper crystals) are complexly-twinned and modified tetrahexhedra, yet there is a second generation of very sharp dodecahedral crystals which have overgrown the large primary copper crystals, in places in an apparent epitaxial relationship.  This is a stunning crystallized copper and a piece of American mineral history.

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SKU: 23089

Photo Credit: Tom Spann

Mineral Species: Plumbogummite after Pyromorphite

Locality: Yangshuo Mine, Yangshuo Co., Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

Dimensions: 13 cm, 19 cm, 15.5 cm

Plumbogummite is a rare lead aluminum phosphate mineral first discovered in France in the early 19th century, but better-known from the classic Caldbeck Fells locality in Cumbria, England.  While almost always a vibrant shade of blue-green, for hundreds of years the most one could expect from a plumbogummite specimen was a thin botryoidal coating, or perhaps small growths on pyromorphite crystals.

Enter the Yangshuo mine in Southern China’s scenic Guilin Province in 2015.  Previously known for its world-class pyromorphite crystals, the Yangshuo-Daoping mining complex stunned the mineral collecting world with a large pocket of electric-blue plumbogummite pseudomorphs after pyromorphite crystals.  Due to our long history and superb contacts within China, Collector’s Edge Minerals was able to acquire a majority of the top pieces from this important find shortly after their discovery.

This outstanding specimen is one of the very best of the find.  It is an amazingly aesthetic “hedgehog” of large (up to 4.5+ cm!) barrel-shaped pyromorphite crystals which have been almost completely replaced by blue plumbogummite.  The color is exceptional for the species and find, and the crystals form divergent sprays that seem to radiate out from many different points, creating an overall look that is visually stunning.  It is rare to find a new mineral occurrence that is both aesthetically beautiful and scientifically important; this is a contemporary Chinese discovery that fits that bill perfectly.

Price: Contact us for Price

SKU: 23690

Photo Credit: Riley Owen

Mineral Species: Acanthite, Quartz, Calcite

Locality: Fresnillo Mine, Mun. de Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico

Dimensions: 8.8 cm, 7.4 cm, 5.6 cm

This is an aesthetic and interesting mineral specimen.  Acanthite is a silver sulfide mineral with the chemical formula Ag₂S.   Acanthite is an important ore of the precious metal – Silver.

This specimen features very large, cubic crystals that exhibit deeply hoppered crystal faces.   Why are we seeing cubic (isometric) crystals when the mineral species Acanthite is in the monoclinic crystal system?  Acanthite is named for the Greek term “akantha”, which means “thorn”, in allusion to it sharp, pointy crystal forms.  This is where things get interesting …  above temperatures of 356 degrees Fahrenheit this silver sulfide compound is CUBIC and is called Argentite.   Below 356 degrees Fahrenheit, the crystal structure of Argentite becomes unstable and changes to Acanthite (monoclinic).  This specimen, however, has retained the CUBIC shape of the original Argentite crystals.  Therefore, what we are seeing is in this specimen are Acanthite pseudomorphs (meaning “false form”) after Argentite.

The Fresnillo Mining District in Mexico’s Zacatecas State has a long history of producing silver and is the location of one of the world’s richest silver mines. Between 1682 and 1757 the district’s silver mines were operated continuously. Superb examples of various silver minerals have long been known from the district, however, these huge acanthite crystals are from a recent occurrence at the locale.  Large crystal size, complex crystal development, and sharp jet-black crystal faces have combined to make this specimen a top example of the species.  This is a very choice acanthite specimen for the serious collector.

Price: $97,500

SKU: 44545

Photo Credit: Tom Spann

Mineral Species: Azurite, Malachite

Locality: Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Mun. de Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico

Dimensions: 7.5 cm, 9.5 cm, 4.5 cm

This azurite and malachite specimen from the now-famous Milpillas mine in northern Mexico comes from a very special pocket (dubbed the “malachite pocket”) found at the mine several years ago which produced what many consider to be the finest azurite and malachite specimens from this world-class locale. Featuring very lustrous, sharp midnight-blue azurite crystals perched on a contrasting matrix of bright green fibrous malachite, this specimen is outstandingly aesthetic, and surely ranks in the top 1% of specimens ever found at this highly productive locality. Very few azurite specimens from this prolific locality feature the high luster, perfection of form, and isolation on contrasting malachite matrix that this specimen has.

From the collection of Dr. Steve Neely, this specimen was illustrated in Mineralogical Record Midwest, pg. 164 and Mineralogical Record Vol. 42, pg 264. Dr. Neely was a connoisseur of Milpillas mine azurite and malachite specimens, and this was one of the very finest specimens he was able to procure.

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SKU: 49412

Photo Credit: Jeff Scovil