| Here is a double terminated thumbnail sized specimen of Hematite ps Magnetite. An Argentina collector and dealer looked for the source of a few of these fantastic specimens. After years of looking and almost giving up, part of the ceiling fell and there they were. First brought to the Tucson Executive Inn, he had had 4 or so 8 foot tables full of specimens covered with a solid layer of specimens. No boxes, no prices and a huge hit. Expensive and expertly priced at the max the market would bear. $50 for a thumbnail, $250 for a miniature, $500 to $2500 for cabinet to large cabinet. He sold enough to pay for his son's complete college education. No checks, no credit cards, cash only sales keep him going to the motel safe each hour. I alone spent $5000. With more specimens coming out during future years, prices on thumbnails and miniatures softened but the excellent large cabinet pieces increased in value. The first find produced the best of these large pieces in my opinion and future finds did not have the same quality of the large specimens. They are all great specimens of skeletal lustrous crystals of this rare pseudo from Argentina. The locality is also on protected land and requires a special permit to take them out of the country and only the local Indians can collect. |
