HUBNERITE

Dims: 1" x 3/4" x 1/4"

Wt: 5.7 g

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

Though the smallest of our Huebnerite specimens by far, it's the piece's beauty that sets it apart from the others. It is basically one crystal of Huebnerite about 3/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide flanked by two similarly sized and extremely clear Quartz crystals. This is the perfect thumbnail specimen!

Dims: 1-3/4" x 1-1/8" x 1/2"

Wt: 24.5 g

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

This Huebnerite specimen is special because not only does the Huebnerite constitute most of the specimen's weight, but that weight is mostly due to a single, 1-3/4-inch-long crystal with a natural termination! The balance of the specimen's weight is made up of a framework of tiny Quartz crystals that really act as a "skeleton" to hold the Huebnerite crystals together. For a quality crystalline example of Huebnerite, this piece is the best we have.

Dims: 5-3/8" x 3-1/4" x 3"

Wt: 1 lb., 4 oz

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

This specimen of Huebnerite has a crystal spray that is over 2 inches long! It is laid along with a few other crystals in a matrix of dozens of Quartz crystals, the largest being 3-1/8 inches long and 1-1/8 inches in diameter! The largest crystal is not the best, however, as there is a nearly perfect crystal about 1/2" long and 3/8" wide, and thin enough to show its deep red transparency.

Dims: 2" x 1-1/4" x 1"

Wt: 2.9 oz

Consuzo, Peru

This specimen of Huebnerite is nice! Several crystals of Huebnerite are erupting through a tightly-knit spray of clear, radiating Quartz crystals. The Huebnerite crystals reach lengths up to 1-1/8 inches, and about half of them end in crystal terminations. The Quartz crystals get as long as 5/16 inch- there are scores of them!

Dims: 4-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 2-3/4"

Wt: 1 lb., 14.2 oz

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

A very large specimen, this beauty has lots of Huebnerite, with at least 6 different formations of the mineral amidst a dense pack of quartz crystals that makes up the matrix. One particular formation is 2-1/2" long, and 1-1/2" wide. All show imperfect but definite singular and sloping termination faces, and have a deep, deep red color and a submetallic luster, and a small amount of damage, possibly due to weathering. This is one of the largest Huebnerite specimens that I've seen.

Dims: 2.3" x 1.7" x 1.4" (5.8 x 4.3 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.54 oz. (72.0 g)

Kara-Oba, Kazakhstan

A "parallel association" of at least 3 intergrown Huebnerite crystals is partially embedded in the crystalline quartz host rock of this specimen. The Huebnerite association has dimensions of 2.1 x 0.9 x 0.3" (5.3 x 2.3 x 0.8 cm) and is in very good condition; the only damage that I can see is in the form of a small area of fresh cleavage. It has reasonably good monoclinic, bladed form with sharp edges and smooth faces, some of which show a pearly, almost dull metallic luster. Most of the faces, however, have either a thin oxide coating or are covered with a crust of almost microcrystalline quartz. They have a black coloration and are definitely opaque. The crystals have definite, angled termination faces at one end of the association. The quartz to which the Huebnerite is attached is in the form of large, well-formed crystals that are also heavily intergrown and aligned nearly parallel to each other. Their hexagonal prismatic form is standard, and their faces and edges are well-defined. Their luster is vitreous, and all are translucent, with random patches of transparence. Oddly, their terminations face in the opposite direction of those of the Huebnerite. Likely oddest of all is the specimen's locality- this is the first Huebnerite that we have seen from Kazakhstan.

Dims: 2.0" x 1.5" x 1.5" (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm)

Wt: 2.41 oz. (68.4 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

At least 7 monoclinic, bladed Huebnerite crystals rest among the intergrown quartz-crystal matrix of this specimen. The largest of these has dimensions of 1.5 x 0.9 x 0.2" (3.8 x 2.3 x 0.5 cm) and like all but two of the crystals, is in excellent condition and shows no damage; the two damaged crystals appear to have been broken prior to their mining, as the damage does not have a fresh appearance. Though not very well-defined, they do have many straight edges and relatively clean faces that possess a bright, nearly adamantine luster. Their red color is so deep that only the smallest and thinnest crystals show any transparence- most of them show only a dim translucence around their edges. They are partly enveloped by the matrix, which consists of crusts made up of tightly-intergrown quartz crystals that do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in length, and often are less than 1 mm in diameter. These hexagonal prismatic crystals are generally in good condition and show excellent form. They are colorless, transparent, and very clear.

Dims: 1.7" x 1.5" x 1.4" (4.3 x 3.8 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.90 oz. (82.3 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash, Peru

The intergrown quartz-crystal matrix of this specimen hold together at least 9 Huebnerite crystals. These crystals do not exceed 1.3" (3.3 cm) in length and are all in excellent condition, showing no human-induced damage. Their monoclinic bladed form is not very well defined, but is very good with respect to Huebnerite crystals in general. Their edges have moderately good definition and their visible faces are striated but clean, and possess a bright, nearly adamantine luster. All have a rich, wine-red coloration that is so deep that a dim translucence is visible only at their edges. The intergrown quartz crystals that hold the Huebnerites together are mostly damaged and broken. Those that are intact, though, show excellent hexagonal prismatic form, a vitreous luster, and transparence and excellent clarity. They do not exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm) in length.

Dims: 3.0 x 2.4 x 1.8" (7.6 x 6.1 x 4.6 cm)

Wt: 10.8 oz. (306 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash Department, Peru

Scores of thin, dark Huebnerite crystals extend through the crystalline quartz host rock of this small hand specimen. The maximum length that they attain is difficult to determine, but it does not exceed 2" (5 cm). Damage is surprisingly sparse- even the longest and most exposed crystals generally are complete and have intact terminations. Their monoclinic forms have a widely varied quality- some of the crystals are very well-defined, and some are rather deformed- but most have a moderately good form. Their prism faces are heavily striated and their termination faces are generally clear, and all have a bright, vitreous-to-adamantine luster. All have a red coloration, but it is so deep that one can only see it under a bright halogen light or sunlight, and even then it is dim. The quartz matrix consists of hundreds of hexagonal prismatic crystals that have grown off of and around the Huebnerites, and are intergrown with each other. There are very few exposed quartz crystals that are intact, as most intersect with either each other or with the Huebnerites. They are colorless and transparent or milky-white and translucent, though most are rust-stained.

Dims: 2.1 x 1.6 x 1.2" (5.3 x 4.1 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 3.75 oz. (106.4 g)

Longfellow Mine, near Silverton, Colorado, U.S.A.

At least 20 Huebnerite crystals rest on the chalky, cream-colored host rock of this specimen. These crystals reach lengths of nearly 1.1" (2.7 cm) and are in fair to moderate condition, showing weathering and what appears to be rather old breakage. Some are rather isolated and have a monolclinic form and a thin, bladed habit. Most, however, appear to be compacted parallel to each other into almost columnar formations. The edges of individual crystals are generally very sharp, and their faces are clean and possess a pearly luster. All have a red-brown coloration and are dimly transparent, though many of the thicker blades and all of the formations are opaque. I cannot define the host rock, but it appears to contain a few more Huebnerites, some very tiny pyrite cubes, and possibly many tiny bits of quartz.

Dims: 3.7 x 2.5 x 1.7" (9.4 x 6.4 x 4.3 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 2.3 oz. (518 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash Department, Peru

Dozens if partly intergrown Huebnerite needles are trapped in the quartz host rock of this specimen. These needles reach lengths of at least 3" (7.6 cm) and are in fair condition, as most appear to have either broken or missing terminations. Where intact, however, they have reasonably good monoclinic form, with well-defined edges and striated but generally clean faces that possess a bright pearly luster. All are essentially colored black and are opaque, though they do show some definite deep-red highlights. The quartz matrix in which they rest is basically massive, milky-white, and translucent.

Dims: 4.9 x 3.2 x 3.2" (12.4 x 8.1 x 8.1 cm)

Wt: 2 lbs., 9.0 oz. (1.160 kg)

Adams Mine, Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado, U.S.A.

This cabinet specimen consists of a large cluster of heavily intergrown Huebnerite blades that are partly enveloped by a quartzite matrix. These blades are damaged in several areas, but this damage seems to be minor. Some blades reach 2" (5 cm) in length, but these are heavily intergrown as a rule. Some of the smaller blades are more exposed, however, and show excellent monoclinic bladed form, with sharp edges and striated but clean faces. Their color is a deep red-brown, their luster is bright and pearly, and all are definitely opaque. The accompanying documentation says that minor scheelite is present in the quartz matrix, but only very tiny points of bright white fluorescence are visible under shortwave UV light.

Dims: 3.4 x 2.8 x 2.8" (8.6 x 7.1 x 7.1 cm)

Wt: 15.5 oz. (438 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash Department, Peru

Two "parallel associations" of intergrown Huebnerite blades are embedded in the crystalline quartz host of this specimen. These associations are in fair condition, as most of the crystals within are damaged or broken, usually missing their terminations. They reach lengths of up to 2.9" (7.4 cm) and are so heavily intergrown that their monoclinic bladed form is very difficult to study. All have a deep black-brown coloration with strong deep-red highlights, and their intact surfaces show a bright, nearly adamantine luster. The quartz host in which they rest is made up of 5 large and countless small crystals that have good hexagonal prismatic form. All but one of the larger crystals are damaged, however, as are many of the smaller ones.

Dims: 2.2 x 1.0 x 1.0" (5.6 x 2.5 x 2.4 cm)

Wt: 2.23 oz. (63.2 g)

Pasto Bueno Mine, Ancash Department, Peru

This hand specimen consists of several nearly parallel Huebnerite blades that are held together by crusts of crystalline quartz. These blades are generally in good condition, though one shows some obvious damage on a prism face, and reach lengths of 2.1" (5.3 cm). Their monoclinic, bladed form is reasonably good, and all have the standard deep red color and a resinous luster that is nearly adamantine on their prism faces. They are transparent, but one needs a bright light to see this due to the depth of their color. Many tiny quartz crystals extend from the thin crusts between the Huebnerites, but does not really serve as a base or host rock.