Banquet and Benefit Auction Thank you for joining our Banquet and Benefit Auction at the Renaissance Hotel as part of our 2016 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium
August 19-21, 2016
6 PM
Cocktail Hour
Beer and wine compliments of The Arkenstone Cocktails available by cash purchase
7 PM
Buffet Dinner
8 PM
Benefit Auction
Auctioneer Dr. Peter Megaw Proceeds to benefit the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, the Mineralogical Record, and Rock & Minerals Magazine
Please note that as with most auctions, bids are binding. Payment is expected within the week. Once auction totals are finalized, auction customers will make payment directly to the assigned benefiting organization.
LIVE AUCTION CALCITE Elmwood, Tennessee Est. Value $7500 This recently mined specimen from the finds Steve discussed in his talk today features a superb, gemmy crystal cluster standing on matrix, with other crystals as well. He personally obtained it from the miners within days of the find. An exceptional piece from this recent find. Donated by Dr. Steve Neely HALLELUJAH JUNCTION, NV COLLECTING EXPERIENCE Hallelujah Junction is world-famous for amazing smoky quartzes and quartz scepters! One day collecting for you and your family with Geffner and the HJ “Dream team,” during their summer or fall digs at their private claim. Easily accessible, after flying into Reno and driving about an hour north! Keep everything you find that is individually valued under $500. Any specimen worth over $500, you have the right to purchase at 50% of estimated retail value. Travel costs not included. Donated by Paul Geffner and Hallelujah Partners RUBELLITE TOURMALINE gem Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California Est. Value: $3500 9.96 ct, a classic “Himalaya Pink” tourmaline from the famous Himalaya Mine, mined during its heyday under the management of Larson and Pala Intl. A Classic, and now hard to find on the general market. Donated by Bill Larson
LIVE AUCTION SMOKY HAWK/TOPAZ MTN, CO COLLECTING DAY (Based on time of year/conditions) One day collecting for you and your family with the Dorris Family at their famous mining claim, during their summer or fall digs. Famous localities from the Prospectors TV filming! Keep everything you find that is individually valued under $500. Anything specimen worth over $500 you have the right to purchase at 50% of retail value. Travel costs not included. Donated by the Dorris Family MALACHITE ps AZURITE Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia Est. Value $7500 This specimen is from the historic and highly-regarded Tsumeb Mine of Namibia. It features several lustrous, intergrown azurite crystals displaying varying stages of pseudomorphing to Malachite. The prominent crystal of this specimen, caught in the act of transforming into malachite on the surface, still retains the sharp crystal faces and peaked termination of the original azurite crystal which is present under the alteration. It is a fine example of this variety from a closed mine. Donated by Daniel Trinchillo/Fine Minerals International MCEARL RIDGE, ARKANSAS COLLECTING DAY One day collecting for you and your family at this proprietary Quartz Mine in the Hot Springs National Park area of Arkansas during their summer or fall digs. The new McEarl Ridge Mine is located on the adjacent property to the famous McEarl Mine that produced the gem crystals of the mid 1980s and has been producing superb quartz crystals to over a meter in size! James will lead you on a tour and explain the mine workings and cleaning operation he has built there at what is now the nation’s premier source of clear quartz. Keep a bucketfull of everything you find individually valued under $500. Purchase material over $500 at half retail cost. Travel costs not included.
LIVE AUCTION DOLOMITE ps. ARAGONITE “Star of David” Twin Roswell, New Mexico Est. Value: NO CLUE! This cyclic twin from Roswell, New Mexico showed up at Marshall’s home in Tucson this summer. The twin of aragonite has been replaced by dolomite in this pseudomorph. Unique! Donated by Marshall Sussman OCEANVIEW MINE COLLECTING DAY Experience an underground tunnel tour (normally inaccessible except to employees and industry scientists) at the only working Gem Mine in California (run by Jeff Swanger). See where the fabulous crystals found in the Symposium talk were found and where they expect more. There is also fee dig site access to pan for small crystals in the mine dumps, and a Swanger-led historic tour of the Pala Mountain on his ATV vehicles. Kunz took out the first Kunzites and Morganites here to be named by Tiffany’s in NYC, circa late 1890s! Your tour will take you in to the original mine entry and an actual pocket that Kunz wrote about finding the first morganites in, as well as the newer modern-era shafts elsewhere on the mountain. Keep everything you find that is individually valued under $500. Anything specimen worth over $500 you have the right to purchase at 50% of retail value. Travel costs not included. GOLD Round Mountain, Nevada Est. Value $6000 A fine crystallized gold specimen , with arborescent form and great color, from the now-classic finds of the mid-2000s at this huge gold mine. Many people consider Round Mountain golds among the finest USA golds found, and they tend to be a bargain for quality compared with their California cousins Donated by Scott Werschky/Miner’s Lunch Box
LIVE AUCTION BARITE on FLUORITE Beihilfe mine, Freiberg, Saxony, Germany Est. Value $7500 A superb example of German barite featuring an upright, dramatic spray of lustrous white crystals perched on fluorite, from this famous silver mining district! No repairs, though there is some minor damage that needs to be noted, in the middle of the cluster. This is one of the most dramatic large German specimens we have seen, overall, and is fairly important for the locality and region. Donated by Wendel Minerals, Wolfgang and Karen Wendel CUPROADAMITE Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico Est. Value $3000 A large specimen of sparkling, rich, green adamite with many vugs and pockets. This is a large and important specimen for the find, which was around 2008 when a drought made underwater zones accessible for a brief time. Donated by Jim and Gail Spann ROCKS & MINERALS SET Est. Value $4000 Amateurs as well as professional scientists delight in and pour over R&M, which has published feature articles on mineralogy, geology, and paleontology since 1926. Regular departments explore topics like minerals for the collector, recent books, videos, and DVDs, upcoming events, museum, news, and personalities in the field. Detailed lists of collecting opportunities in specific localities are published periodically, as are special theme issues. This set includes 1926 through 2015 - a history of mineral collecting! Condition varies due to age and rarity. Donated by Marc and Debra Wilson
SILENT SILENT AUCTION AUCTION AMETHYST “Flower” Las VIgas, Veracruz. Mexico Est. Value $2500 An aesthetic radial cluster of gemmy Amethyst crystals perched on sparing matrix, with a really nice sidecar rocketing up and off to the top. Phantoms, geometry, and contrast make this a standout specimen in the size and price range. Donated by Jim and Gail Spann
RARE ILLINOIS MINERAL SPECIMENS Est. Values $100, $200 Symposium Speaker Alan Goldstein personally collected several rare finds at Cave-inRock, including azurite. In Alan’s own words, “Although it was predicted in 1925, I have not read about previous occurrences in any other literature. I mentioned it in my 1997 Min Rec article (p26) though the sample was microscopic on smoky quartz. The last time I looked at that specimen, I couldn’t find it. I collected a few new specimens earlier this month at Hastie’s Quarry, from Lead Hill, on the west side of Spar Mountain. It occurs with malachite in a chert matrix, some with quartz crystals. A very rare find personally discovered and collected by me, recently, that seem to be the first and finest from the area! I can hardly imagine any Cave in Rock collectors having specimens. Although I haven’t been to the source (which may have been mined away already), I suspect the occurrence is localized and unique.” Donated by Alan Goldstein. MINERAL CASE Est. Value $350 Specializing in lighted display cases for fine minerals, cases made by Greenstone Fine Mineralia have built-in dimmers to control LED lighting so collectors can highlight pieces at their best. These handcrafted cases (made in Texas!) have a classic and sleek feel while protecting your specimens. Donated by Greenstone Fine Mineralia
SILENT AUCTION FIVE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION - Mineralogical Record Est. Value $375 A bi-monthly publication, the MR is one of the top sources of information for mineral collectors reaching back to the 70s. Regularly highlighting featured authors, the MR includes field reports, famous localities, themed issues, and special supplemental issues to more deeply cover highlighted topics. Modern publications feature full-color illustrations of some of the best minerals known to man. Donated by Tom Gressman, The Mineralogical Record.
RUBELLITE TOURMALINE Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California Est. Value: $2400 8.13 ct, a classic “Himalaya Pink� tourmaline from the famous Himalaya Mine, mined in the heyday under the management of Larson and Pala Intl. A true classic! Donated by Bill Larson THREE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION - Rocks & Minerals Est. Value $162 Amateurs and professionals alike find their enthusiasm sparked by Rocks & Mnerals. Covering relevent minerology, geology, and paleontology topics since 1926, R&M explores mineral collecting, publications, mineral events and shows, and noteable mineral personalities. Special themed issues are always a highlight, and recent publications contain full color minerals in all their glory. Donated by Marie and Terry Huizing, Rocks & Minerals Magazine
SILENT SILENT AUCTION AUCTION RARE BOOKS AND DVDs Est. Value $500 Assortment of interesting locality books, species books, and DVDs on minerals. Donated by Rob Lavinsky MINERAL CARE PACKAGE 5 professional photos+bases Est. Value $1500 Send The Arkenstone your 5 favorite specimens and let us give your specimens the glam treatment - custom bases and professional photos to show your pieces at their best! Each base is hand-carved to Donated by The Arkenstone
RARE MINERALOGICAL RECORD ANTIQUARIAN REPRINT Est. Value $650 Pierre Joseph Buc’hoz’ The Marvellous Gifts of Nature in the Mineral Kingdom (17761782). Buc’hoz (“Boo-Koh”) was a French naturalist who published many color-plate books on botany but only three on minerals, two of which were identical except for the title pages. Our reprint combines all three, reproduced in full “folio” size (nearly 11x17 inches!) like the originals, on heavy, archival 24-pound cotton paper, in a beautiful binding consisting of maroon-colored leatherette boards and maroon calfskin spine with gold stamping and head- and tail-bands. Donated by The Arkenstone
SILENT SILENT AUCTION AUCTION HERKIMER DIAMOND (QUARTZ) Middleville, New York Est. Value $5000 You heard the talk, now own the rock! Don’t miss your shot at this Herkimer Diamond (Quartz) from the famous finds in New York as discussed by John Medici in his talk. Donated by Heritage Auctions
MANGANOCALCITE Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia Est. Value $500 Hand-carried all the way from Australia, this manganocalcite from the famous Broken Hill mine glows a pleasing pink/orange under fluorescent lighting. Trace amounts of manganese contribute to the coloring of this pink-tinged calcite specimen. Donated by Greg and Debra Willis