Hemimorphite ex. Webb Coll (new lower reserve bid!)

Item Description

Encrusted over a a 3-dimensional and architectural matrix, are bubbly spheres of lustrous and translucent, pastel blue hemimorphite, to 1 cm across. The hills and valleys that are covered by the hemimorphite resemble a flow of hardened pahoehoe lava. This is CLASSIC old material from the 1960s, from Mexico. Seldom today do we get a chance to buy any larger pieces, let alone with such aesthetics and form. An old specimen they inherited from their mentors, and long in the James and Charelle Webb collection. Valued $1000-1200. When you see what contemporary Chinese hemimorphite goes for, or ancient Italian hemimorphite that looks similar, the Mexican material is a bargain. Note that this material is OFTEN confused by excited dealers buying old collections with Kelly Mine smithsonite, and sold at very high prices (but mislabelled) as that classic US material. I have seen it time and again. NOTE ADDED LATER ABOUT LOCALITY FROM DR. PETER MEGAW: Panczner got this locality wrong (and his book promoted it) and mindat picked it up. The correct locality is Bocoyna Mine (usually entered through the Santo Nino workings so you often see that name instead), Cerro de las Minas, Guadalupe Victoria, but still in Durango.