Mineral Specimens - page 20
The Desmond Sacco Collection

ME96W7: Crystal comprised of the hexagonal prism, a much flattened pyramid and the pinacoid. The crystal is notable for its intense yellow color. As usual when the identification is uncertain we will provide an analysis to the buyer of the specimen. In this case to prove that it is Sturmanite and not Ettringite.
The sample is with an autographed label from the Desmond Sacco collection that we'll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 2.5 × 1.5 × 1.3 cm = 1.0” × 0.6” × 0.5”

MC47W7: Crystal comprised of the hexagonal prism, a much flattened pyramid and the pinacoid. The crystal, with a small matrix of microcrystalline Calcite, is notable for its intense yellow color. As usual when the identification is uncertain we will provide an analysis to the buyer of the specimen. In this case to prove that it is Sturmanite and not Ettringite.
The sample is with an autographed label from the Desmond Sacco collection that we'll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 3 × 1.9 × 1.5 cm = 1.2” × 0.7” × 0.6”

Main crystal size: 2.9 × 1.3 cm = 1.1” × 0.5”

MD57W7: Crystal comprised of the hexagonal prism, a much flattened pyramid and the pinacoid. The crystal, with a small matrix of microcrystalline Calcite, is notable for its intense yellow color. As usual when the identification is uncertain we will provide an analysis to the buyer of the specimen. In this case to prove that it is Sturmanite and not Ettringite.
The sample is with an autographed label from the Desmond Sacco collection that we'll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (1987)

Specimen size: 3.5 × 1.6 × 1.3 cm = 1.4” × 0.6” × 0.5”

Main crystal size: 3.5 × 1.4 cm = 1.4” × 0.6”

MA77W7: Isolated crystals, some of them doubly terminated, comprised of the hexagonal prism, a much flattened dipyramid and the pinacoid. The crystals, implanted on a matrix coated by microcrystalline Calcite, are notable for their intense and bright yellow color. As usual when the identification is uncertain we will provide an analysis to the buyer of the specimen. In this case to prove that it is Sturmanite and not Ettringite.
The sample is with an autographed label from the Desmond Sacco collection that we'll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (1987)

Specimen size: 3.6 × 3 × 2.6 cm = 1.4” × 1.2” × 1.0”

Main crystal size: 1.3 × 0.9 cm = 0.5” × 0.4”

MX56V7: Bundled aggregates of Olmiite crystals with slightly curved faces and edges, good color and excellent luster, on matrix and on a base of scalenohedral Calcite crystals. The sample is from the Desmond Sacco collection whose label we’ll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, upper levels, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (±2008)

Specimen size: 5.5 × 4.4 × 3.4 cm = 2.2” × 1.7” × 1.3”

MF11V0: Splendid and not common association of Olmiite, forming groups of bright crystals, slightly pinkish, with very acute scalenohedral crystals of Calcite that are colorless, transparent and extraordinarily bright. One of the best pieces from this find.
N'Chwaning II Mine, upper levels, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (12/2008)

Specimen size: 9.4 × 6.4 × 5.3 cm = 3.7” × 2.5” × 2.1”

TV98S1: Spheroidal groups and some single doubly terminated crystals of Olmiite, of clear cream color, with excellent luster and on matrix.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (2005)

Specimen size: 9.1 × 5.8 × 4.6 cm = 3.6” × 2.3” × 1.8”

Main crystal size: 1.2 × 0.5 cm = 0.5” × 0.2”

ML67V7: Group of sharp rhombohedral crystals slightly modified by the scalenohedron. The crystals are colorless, bright and between transparent and translucent. The sample is from the Desmond Sacco collection whose label we’ll send to the buyer.
N'Chwaning II Mine, upper levels, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 6.5 × 6 × 4.9 cm = 2.6” × 2.4” × 1.9”

Main crystal size: 4.5 × 2.6 cm = 1.8” × 1.0”

TF67S1: Group of crystals, one of them clearly dominant, with very well defined faces and edges, between white and clear, the main one very transparent and with inclusions of crystallized Hematite. The sample is considerably better than the picture shows.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (1998)

Specimen size: 7.2 × 5.1 × 5 cm = 2.8” × 2.0” × 2.0”

Main crystal size: 4.1 × 3.3 cm = 1.6” × 1.3”

ME97R8: Scalenohedral crystal of Calcite with polycrystalline surfaces on its faces. The base is a group of very bright Hematite crystals with very well defined faces and edges.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (2008)

Specimen size: 6.3 × 6.3 × 3.8 cm = 2.5” × 2.5” × 1.5”

Main crystal size: 5.4 × 4.1 cm = 2.1” × 1.6”

TA47Q5: Twinned Hematite crystal with a very good luster and very well defined faces and edges, positioned esthetically on its matrix of white Calcite that gives a nice contrast to the piece.
Black Rock Mine, Black Rock, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 3.6 × 2.5 × 2.4 cm = 1.4” × 1.0” × 0.9”

Main crystal size: 2.2 × 1.6 cm = 0.9” × 0.6”

TJ93S1: Floater complex crystal of Hematite with very well defined faces and edges and an extraordinary luster, with very well developed crystals of black Gaudefroyite that have a considerable size for the species and are formed mainly by the prism and terminal pyramids.
Black Rock Mine, Black Rock, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 3.1 × 2.5 × 2 cm = 1.2” × 1.0” × 0.8”

MF50R8: A botryoidal crust of Rhodochrosite crystals. They are transparent and bright and have a very intense color. The matrix is also very rich in botryoidal aggregates of gray, slightly greenish, Gonyerite. Although at first the secondary species was labeled (with question) Orlimanite, an analysis indicates that it is really Gonyerite, an extremely rare silicate of manganese of the Chlorite group. We'll send a copy of the analysis to the buyer of the piece.
The specimen has been reviewed, photographed and published in the magazine ‘Mineral Up’ on page 38 in number 2011/2
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa (±2007)

Specimen size: 11 × 9.5 × 7.3 cm = 4.3” × 3.7” × 2.9”

MA47V7: Irregular aggregate, on limonite matrix, of crystals formed by an elongated prism and a very shallow terminal dipyramid. Many of the crystals, which are bright with a very intense yellow color, are doubly terminated. The sample is from the Desmond Sacco collection whose label we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1980)

Specimen size: 7.8 × 6.2 × 3 cm = 3.1” × 2.4” × 1.2”

Main crystal size: 1.1 × 0.3 cm = 0.4” × 0.1”

TB13R0: Group of sharp flattened rhombohedral crystals of very uniform pink color on a very small matrix of granular Galena. The sample had been analyzed and we'll send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 2 × 1.8 × 1.7 cm = 0.8” × 0.7” × 0.7”

Main crystal size: 1.2 × 0.7 cm = 0.5” × 0.3”

TE67Q5: Clear yellow crystal formed by a ditrigonal prism and a very acute terminal rhombohedron. The termination below, even not being especially defined, is complete.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 2.5 × 1.3 × 1.3 cm = 1.0” × 0.5” × 0.5”

TQ96Q6: Isolated rhombohedral crystal, a very infrequent case in Tsumeb, with very well defined faces and edges, bright, with colored inclusions and very aerial on a metallic matrix coated by the same Smithsonite. We’ll send a copy of the analysis.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 2.2 × 1.4 × 1.5 cm = 0.9” × 0.6” × 0.6”

Main crystal size: 1.3 × 1.2 cm = 0.5” × 0.5”

TB66Q5: Group of Cuprite crystals with very well defined faces and edges. The crystals are partially pseudomorphed by Malachite, on a group of clear cream deformed crystals of Smithsonite of spheroidal aspect.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 5.2 × 3.4 × 2.2 cm = 2.0” × 1.3” × 0.9”

MR37T7: Group of rhombohedral Smithsonite crystals with curved faces and edges and a lenticular shape. They are pale pink color and have very well defined brown inclusions of iron oxides on their edges.
With a handwritten Sacco collection label, that we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 3.8 × 2.7 × 2.2 cm = 1.5” × 1.1” × 0.9”

Main crystal size: 1.4 × 0.7 cm = 0.6” × 0.3”

MC49V0: Aggregate on matrix of rhombohedral crystals with sharp faces and edges. They are very bright, more transparent than usual, and they have a deep pink color corresponding to the cobaltoan variety of this species.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 4.4 × 4 × 2.8 cm = 1.7” × 1.6” × 1.1”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.9 cm = 0.4” × 0.4”

MY27T7: Druze of rhombohedral crystals with curved faces and edges and a lenticular shape. They are bright and have a very intense pink color and they are more aerial than usual for samples from Tsumeb.
With a handwritten Sacco collection label, that we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 5.8 × 4.8 × 2.2 cm = 2.3” × 1.9” × 0.9”

Main crystal size: 0.7 × 0.7 cm = 0.3” × 0.3”

MQ50V0: Globular aggregates on matrix of small rhombohedral crystals with curved faces and edges. They are bright and they have a very deep green color corresponding to the cuprian variety of this species.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 10.4 × 9.2 × 6.4 cm = 4.1” × 3.6” × 2.5”

MA66V0: Group on matrix of rhombohedral crystals of Calcite, with sharp faces and edges and with clear geometrical color zoning due to the inclusion of small crystals of Dioptase that also appear as “window” growths formed on the faces of the Calcite crystals.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 3.4 × 3.2 × 2.6 cm = 1.3” × 1.3” × 1.0”

Main crystal size: 1.1 × 1.1 cm = 0.4” × 0.4”

TC16S1: Group of very bright and translucent crystals of Dioptase, whose deep color especially enhances the lighting effect on the piece. With minor Calcite and on matrix.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (±1985)

Specimen size: 5.9 × 4.4 × 4.4 cm = 2.3” × 1.7” × 1.7”

Main crystal size: 0.9 × 0.5 cm = 0.4” × 0.2”

MM76V7: Parallel aggregates of well-formed crystals composed of two rhombohedra, one of them clearly dominant. The crystals are bright, yellowish and between transparent and translucent. The sample is from the Desmond Sacco collection whose label we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 3 × 2.9 × 3 cm = 1.2” × 1.1” × 1.2”

Main crystal size: 0.8 × 0.7 cm = 0.3” × 0.3”

TX16R0: Parallel growth of beveled rhombohedral crystals with very well defined faces and edges and having different phases of crystallization underlined by different degrees of transparency.
N'Chwaning II Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari  South Africa

Specimen size: 4.7 × 3.1 × 3.1 cm = 1.9” × 1.2” × 1.2”

Main crystal size: 3.1 × 1.8 cm = 1.2” × 0.7”

TH26S1: Echeloned group of rhombohedral crystals that, selectively on the edges, are partially coated by small globular growths of green crystals of Duftite.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (±1987)

Specimen size: 5.1 × 2.4 × 1.7 cm = 2.0” × 0.9” × 0.7”

Main crystal size: 1.4 × 1 cm = 0.6” × 0.4”

MZ27T7: Group of rhombohedral crystals with a curious nuance on their transparency and luster, very much clearer on the areas near the edges.
With a handwritten Sacco collection label, that we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 7.6 × 6 × 1.8 cm = 3.0” × 2.4” × 0.7”

Main crystal size: 1.8 × 1.6 cm = 0.7” × 0.6”

MF68T7: Druse of polycrystalline rhombohedral crystals having a lenticular shape. They are very bright and have red phantom growths of Hematite inclusions.
With a handwritten Sacco collection label, that we’ll send to the buyer.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1970-1985)

Specimen size: 12.5 × 7 × 3.6 cm = 4.9” × 2.8” × 1.4”

TB66Q6: White laminar crystals of Mimetite of hexagonal shape with a Cuprite crystal with multiple growths and small crystals of Calcite, on matrix. We’ll send a copy of the analysis.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 3.9 × 2.9 × 2.2 cm = 1.5” × 1.1” × 0.9”

Main crystal size: 0.5 × 0.4 cm = 0.2” × 0.2”

TD26Q6: Yellow globular growths and flattened crystals of hexagonal shape on matrix, with a small group of cube-octahedral crystals of Cuprite and white crystals of Calcite. We’ll send a copy of the analysis.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 4.1 × 3.2 × 2.9 cm = 1.6” × 1.3” × 1.1”

Main crystal size: 0.5 × 0.4 cm = 0.2” × 0.2”

TD67Q5: Group of crystals of considerable length for the species, some of them doubly terminated, with vivid yellow color, translucent and very bright, formed by an elongated prism and the terminal faces of a pyramid.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 3.4 × 2.6 × 2.6 cm = 1.3” × 1.0” × 1.0”

Main crystal size: 2.4 × 0.3 cm = 0.9” × 0.1”

MF97R6: Parallel growths of flattened dipyramidal crystals of Mimetite of very well defined faces and edges, bright and of intense yellow color, on a matrix of small crystals of Dolomite.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 8.4 × 5.7 × 2.4 cm = 3.3” × 2.2” × 0.9”

Main crystal size: 0.5 × 0.4 cm = 0.2” × 0.2”

MG68R8: Azurite crystal, on small matrix, partially doubly terminated and with sharp, very well defined faces and edges and having zones partially pseudomorphed by Malachite with a silky luster.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 4.3 × 2.2 × 2 cm = 1.7” × 0.9” × 0.8”

TX96Q3: A growth of two divergent crystals, one of them doubly terminated, with very well defined faces and edges, pseudomorphic after Azurite and with surface silky fibrous recrystallizations.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 2.7 × 1.8 × 1.6 cm = 1.1” × 0.7” × 0.6”

Main crystal size: 2.7 × 1.2 cm = 1.1” × 0.5”

TT16S5: Very well defined globular growths of Malachite that have a very intense grass-green color, with small aggregates of white crystals of Mimetite, a very unusual association, and small milky crystals of Smithsonite.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 6.3 × 5.2 × 2.9 cm = 2.5” × 2.0” × 1.1”

TN27S1: Group of crystals forming multiple cyclic twins. They are clear translucent, very bright and on matrix.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (±1987)

Specimen size: 4.6 × 3.9 × 3.5 cm = 1.8” × 1.5” × 1.4”

TP76R8: Twinned crystals with sharp and very well defined faces and edges. They are transparent, very bright and have notable phantom growths. An excellent miniature.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia

Specimen size: 3 × 2.8 × 1.7 cm = 1.2” × 1.1” × 0.7”

Main crystal size: 2.6 × 1.7 cm = 1.0” × 0.7”

MY36R8: Group of twinned elongated prismatic crystals. They are translucent, with defined faces and edges, and have good acute terminations.
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb  Namibia (1978)

Specimen size: 5.8 × 4.5 × 4.3 cm = 2.3” × 1.8” × 1.7”

Main crystal size: 5.5 × 2 cm = 2.2” × 0.8”