The Sterling Mine is co-type locality for zincite. Apart from its neighbor, the Franklin Mine, natural zincite crystals are essentially non-existent from anywhere else. They are not at all common here.
This specimen features numerous small, but interesting, steeply pyramidal yellow zincite crystals together with numerous zincite “suns” (or “daisies”) composed of radiating aggregates of smaller zincite crystas. There are also numerous sharply formed, shiny black, crystals of hetaerolite. But you will need 15-20X to view these crystals. In addition, the front of the specimen is partly covered by fibrous sussexite.
The first photo (1.1 x 1.4 mm) is an extreme close-up of a small (0.8 mm) zincite “witch’s hat”. The white fibers are sussexite. The photo isn’t very sharp because my scope doesn’t really have good enough resolution for such high magnification.
The second photo (FOV 1.7 x 1.4 mm) shows a trio of less pointy crystal to ca 0.7 mm.
The third photo (FOV 3.6 x 2.3 mm) shows more zincite pyramids to 0.6 mm and several zincite “daisies” of similar size. The black crystals are hetaerolite – not franklinite.
The fourth photo (FOV 6.8 x 3.8 mm) is a broader of view of a “field” of zincite “daisies” and “dunce caps”. The largest “dunce cap” is ca 0.7-8 mm.
The fifth photo (FOV 2.1 x 2.4 mm) shows an isolated zincite pyramid 0.6 mm tall surrounded by hetaerolite and small fluorite cubes.
The sixth photo (FOV 1.5 x 1.7 mm) shows yet another zincite pyramid (0.7 mm) and some hetaerolite crystals (0.6 mm on edge).
The seventh photo (FOV 2.1 x 1.7 mm) is a different view of the same area.
There are numerous orther zincite pyramids and hetaerolite crystals on the specimen. The arrows in the full-view photo point to some of those shown in the close-up photos. Pretty much all of the shiny black areas on the front are hetaerolite – not franklinite. (But the matrix is calcite poor franklinite-willemite ore.) The somewhat dirty beige-gray area at center-left is sussexite.
The main interest of this specimen is probably the zincite, but it is also a very good specimen of hetaerolte and there are also numerous small fluorite cubes – uncommon at the Sterling mine.
The specimen is rather heavy. With packing, the single item shipping weight is about 13 oz.
For buyers outside the USA, this unfortunately means that postage gets bumped up to the “second tier” package rate, which is what I have quoted. The “good” news is that this rate applies up to a total weight of 32 oz (950 g), so if you are getting multiple items (or have the patience to wait for a future auction), there will be no additional postage.
For USA buyers I will use Priority Mail. The quoted rare is good up to a total weight of 16 oz.
Please see my "Shipping Policy" for details