Natural History - Historic 'Tsumeb, South West Africa' Dioptase on Calcite Crystal Specimen

Comprising: rose quartz from Brazil, collection number 320; calcite from Mexico on a granite display base; optical calcite; granite from adjacent to Ruislip Road, Greenford, Middlesex, England, collection number 402; granite from adjacent to Ruislip Road, Greenford, Middlesex, England, collection number 470; septarian nodule section from Horsenden Hill, Ealing, Middlesex, England, collection number 216; granite with high muscovite content from Middlesex, collection number 535; linarite with prosopite from Grand Reef Mine, Arizona, USA, collection number 549, with an old Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd label; zinkenite from San Jose Mine, Oruro, Bolivia, collection number 564, with an old Simon Harrison Minerals label. 760 grams total, 22-88 mm



Acquired on the UK mineral and fossil market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent. Six specimens accompanied by an original historic index file card.

Comprising three rounded sandstone matrices, each with a Knightia alta specimen. 159 grams total, 75 mm each



From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

In southwest Wyoming (and parts of Colorado and Utah) in the Green River Formation are found some of the world's most outstanding specimens of fossil fish. The Green River system was composed of three lakes: Lake Ulinta, Lake Gosiute and Fossil Lake. These Eocene lakes lay in a series of intermountain basins formed by geological events that uplifted the Rocky Mountains during the early Tertiary time. The climate was much different from the desert-like climate of this area today. Both the fauna (crocodiles, alligators, boa constrictors and some subtropical fish families) and the flora (such as large palm trees) indicate a climate much like that found along the Gulf Coast today. Large amounts of ash found in the sediments indicate that volcanoes were particularly active at this time.

Well-formed crystals on a matrix of brownish black limonite, the crystals coated, in certain areas, by very small, translucent light brown crystals, possibly calcite, collection number 492, with an old Gregor, Bottley & Lloyd label. 56 grams, 74 mm



Acquired on the UK mineral and fossil market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent. Accompanied by an original historic index file card.