Wulfenite (large crystal!)

Item Description

The Glove Mine lies about 55 miles south of Tucson, and is one of the premier localities for Wulfenite in the state, which is really saying something considering all the major localities for the species throughout Arizona. This specimen is certainly one of the largest Wulfenite crystals that we've ever had to offer from this prestigious locale. Most Wulfenite crystals don't get much larger than 1-2 cm, and this one is a whopping 5+ cm(!) across. The main crystal shows a "phantom" color zoning with a light yellow hue on the exterior and darker golden-brown color in the center, which is highlighted by many smaller bright yellow Wulfenites on the front, and a coating of little "rosettes" of compressed white rhombic Calcite on the back. Sadly, the corner of the crystal is broken, it's not a modified face (I looked at it under the microscope just to be sure), but the size of the crystal still makes it one of the more significant examples from the Glove Mine that we've ever had to offer in the auctions. Even with the contacted corner, the piece is still valued in the $4k range, and you're not likely to see another this size anytime soon.
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.