6UF-3GFSapphirine Mg₄(Mg₃Al₉)O₄[Si₃Al₉O₃₆] , Biotite K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂ , Albite (Var: Anorthoclase) (Na,K)AlSi₃O₈

Undisclosed sapphirine occurrence, Vangaindrano, Atsimo-Atsinanana, Madagascar

Dimensions: 60 mm x 55 mm x 42 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 27 mm

From a new find in 2023, these crystals represent best-of-species examples of sapphirine, blue-black thick tabular crystals on a matrix of biotite, with a halo of white anorthoclase surrounding the crystal.

FC7-1C6Bournonite PbCuSbS₃

Machacamarca Mine, Machacamarca subdistrict, Cornelio Saavedra Province, Potosí, Bolivia

Dimensions: 84 mm x 65 mm x 40 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 35 mm

Shiny Bournonite cogwheel crystals up to 35 mm on massive sulfides
Specimen 84x65x40mm.
collection and photo of the author

1EL-MEVFluorite CaF₂

Frazer's Hush Mine, Rookhope, Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK

Dimensions: 36 mm x 30 mm x 29 mm

This is a small group of extremely dark purple twinned fluorite crystals, up to 27 mm on edge, which exhibit some beautiful growth patterns on the crystal faces.

L3M-77DPyromorphite Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl

Driggith Opencut, Caldbeck, Allerdale, Cumbria, England, UK

Dimensions: 45 mm x 36 mm x 25 mm

This is probably the best-crystalized example I have seen from this well-known find. Sometimes labeled as mimetite/pyromorphite series, these specimens are typically pyromorphite grading into mimetite as the arsenic content increases. The crystals on this specimen range from the typical small, seed-like, olive green form, 2-3mm in length, to larger grey-green crystals forming aggregates, with individual crystals reaching 7 mm which exhibit extremely pronounced curves. There are a couple of areas with minor damage to the crystals which reveals a much deeper, bright green interior.
Originally purchased from Nick Carruth it came with a label from Secured Minerals which states that it was collected in the '60s by A. Walshaw.

NTU-4LJClinochlore Mg₅Al(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₈

Southbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA

Dimensions: 6 cm

Clinochlore crystals from a large alpine cleft in Southbury. This unusual find was made in 2020 and yielded numerous beautiful clinochlores.

Tucson Shows 2020

Epilogue. I can't totally sign off from this report without mentioning that Brian Kosnar has convincingly won the coveted 'Best Chocolate from a Mineral Dealer at Tucson 2020' award with this incredible bribe gift of high quality truffles. Thank you Brian and the entire Kosnar family. One more photo to come...

Tucson Shows 2020

Who could this be next door to me?

Tucson Shows 2020

And OMG level bismuthinite from Tasna, Bolivia.

D0X-85VChalcopyrite CuFeS₂ , Quartz SiO₂ , Dolomite CaMg(CO₃)₂

Banská Štiavnica, Banská Štiavnica District, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia

Dimensions: 70 mm x 60 mm x 18 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 27 mm

Superb group of brass yellow disphenoidal chalcopyrite crystals up to 27 mm in size resting on crystalline quartz with minor tan dolomite associated. Collected in early 1980s. Ex. Hans Engelbrecht collection. Photographed by Olga Kaspera. Martin Števko collection.

Munich Mineral Show 2019

Crystal models from Johann Gottfried Schmidt