Sphalerite (fine gemmy crystals) on Quartz

Item Description

The mining town of Creede, Colorado was one of the better silver-producing areas in Colorado, but it also produced some of the finest Sphalerites from any district in the state. Many Creede Sphalerites are often gemmy, but they can sometimes lack fine crystallization/morphology. THIS piece is a stellar example for its superior, distinct, well-formed crystals which show various golden and greenish hues internally when backlit. What really makes this piece stand out from others from Creede is the fact that the Sphalerites are mostly isolated, so you can really take in all sides of the crystals and see the beautiful, complete, smooth faces all around. The matrix is composed of hundreds of tiny Quartz crystals which have a reddish hue due to inclusions of iron oxide (presumably Hematite), a sure sign that the piece is from Creede. Underneath the Quartz I can see some massive Galena and Chalcopyrite as well. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the piece is that virtually every Sphalerite crystal is undamaged, which is notably rare to find in any Creede Sphalerite specimens, as there is often even a little bit of damage. A really choice example of these now notably hard to find pieces from this famous mineral-producing district in southwestern Colorado.
Valued $1,250.
From the collection of Gary and Terry Butts of Livermore, Colorado. This husband and wife collecting duo were childhood sweethearts, and have been together since they began dating as teenagers growing up in East Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950s. Both of them had an early interest in the hobby thanks to the fact that Terry's parents had a keen interest in lapidary, which sparked an interest in rocks for both of them. Gary and Terry were featured in an article in the Des Moines Register on Feb 4, 1962 (see photo in this listing) highlighting their interest and prowess in the hobby as youngsters. Gary traveled to various localities around the US as a teenager with his father (who worked in the tin industry), to personally collect specimens. He then attended the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and graduated in 1967 with a degree in extractive metallurgical engineering. We went to work for Duval Corp at the Esperanza Mine south of Tucson, Arizona and then work for Cyprus Mines, Hazen Research, Pincock, Allen & Holt and the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. His final job was in the mineral and environmental division of Intertek Testing Services of London, which owned the Canadian mineral testing company, Bonder Clegg. Gary's various jobs allowed him to travel the world and build his collection by buying a lot of specimens in person when they were coming out of the ground. Additionally, Terry's uncle was a miner in Creede, Colorado and later owned a rock shop which supplied Gary with specimens from the area. The specimens in this auction represent what Gary and Terry considered the "cream of the crop" of their collection.