Cinnabar (rare locality specimen) (ex Geary Murdock Collection)

Item Description

According to mindat.org, this locality started in the 1970s was the last operating primary mercury production mine in the USA when it ceased operations in 1990. Cinnabar specimens from the McDermitt Mine are incredibly rare on the market, and I've personally never had one to offer in the auctions prior to this piece. A pair of crystal-lined vugs in the Quartz matrix on this specimen host carmine red colored Cinnabar crystals, but instead of the typical irregular matte / dull luster, the main 6 mm crystal on this specimen is rather sharp and lustrous (for the material). It's not 100% complete, but it's a very good representation of a species from a locality that is virtually impossible to find these days. From the worldwide collection of noted Idaho collector Geary Murdock. Among other accomplishments, Geary was responsible for discovering some of the finest gem grade deep blue Aquamarine crystals in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho - which remain arguably the finest Aquamarines from any North American locality. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36634006/geary-jack-murdock