Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 92

Manuscript, Sports, Collectibles, Space and Philatelic Auction

Natural History

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 795		Fantastic Collection of Minerals, Metals & Stones in a H. Gerstner & Sons Oak Chest. From an avid collector, a spectacular collection of minerals and some precious stones, and some jewelry. At least 100 -125 specimens of various sizes from many regions of the world. Most identified and with notation cards from professional dealers, many from the Southwest United States. Some of the pieces still have their prices and those few alone exceed hundreds of dollars. Briefly listing the collection includes (and in some cases several examples) malachite, lapis lazuli (several large sizes, one tumbled) epidote, pyrite, a variety of quartz crystals (one especially large and fine), amethyst, opal, colcite, benitoite, sphalerite, chrysocolla, barite, garnet, aragonite, tourmaline, beautiful copper specimens, smithsonite and many more. But most impressive is the wonderful collection of turquoise from throughout the US, many cut and polished and ready for mounting exceeding 800 hundred carats total, with one already fashioned into a very nice pendant on 18K gold chain and mounting. Entire collection is housed in a 7 drawer, H. Gerstner & Sons oak chest which retails for almost a $1000, 14 x 20 x 10", minor scuffs and scrapes to the hardware and only a minimum of nicks and dings in the woodwork. Inside of cabinet, excellent. Estimated Value $1,500-UP View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 796		Petrified Rainbow Colored Wood. This large 10x9¾ x 5½" agatized and polished partial lob of petrified wood from the Araucarioxylon tree has a wonderful mix of rainbow colors that resulted from many different minerals permeating the wood at different times from the volcanic soil over millions of years. The highly polished top of the 5.5 inch high log has an artistic palette of colors with shades of burnt orange, hues of browns, burgundy and cream. The unusual shades of burnt orange and burgundy colors were produced by replacement by various iron oxides. Most of the original bark still remains on all of the sides of this heavy 39 pound log. Araucarioxylon arizonicum is an extinct 225 million conifer tree that is the state fossil of Arizona and known to all visitors to the Painted Forest National Park. Estimated Value $700 - 900 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $552
Lot 797		Two Opalized Belemnites. The best quality of fire opal comes from the famous Cooper Pedy region of Australia. As rare as fire opals are, they are much rarer to find in a fossil. This 4 x 2" natural cream colored stone matrix contains two .8 inch long opalized belemnites that have been polished to reveal the fine fire opal of reds, greens and blues. Belemnites are an extinct group of cephalopods that are related to squid and the chambered nautilus. The only part of the extinct belemnite that fossilizes is the torpedo shaped shell that is contained inside its body and makes it rigid for swimming. This is a rare opportunity to purchase gemstones contained in a fossil. Estimated Value $600 - 850 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $552
Lot 798		Ammonites and Belemnites. The 180 million year old Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden, Germany is famous for the exceptional preservation of its fossil sea creatures. The black slate is a perfect matrix for the golden brown fossils that are occasionally encountered. This large 14X12 inch black slate matrix contains six beautiful golden brown ammonites, Dactylioceras commune ranging in size from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. There are also two three inch long Belemnite guards that are brown in color with one having a bright gold color pyritized end. Belemnites were squid-like animals with 10 equal tentacles extending out from their head and a shell like guard at the end of their tale to balance their head when swimming. The guard was the only hard part to their body and therefore the only part found as a fossil. There is even a 1.5 inch pygidium of a trilobite on the plate also. The museum quality plate has been evenly cut and has a hook imbedded in the back for hanging. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful fossil from a classic fossil site. Estimated Value $600 - 900 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 799		Trinitite From First Atomic Bomb Blast. Trinitite is a glassy light green fused silica sand that was created by the first atomic bomb blast near Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945. The glass is mostly composed of arkosic sand primarily consisting of silica quartz grains and feldspar. The intense heat of the resulting fireball depressed a 300 yard in diameter crater transforming the desert sand beneath the crater into one of the rarest minerals on earth, Trinitite. Contained within the Trinitite are melted bits of the first atomic bomb itself as well as the supporting structure. This fairly large specimen is 38X29X5 mm and weighs 4.47 grams which is considerably larger than most pieces available. There is a green glossy color on top of the specimen and a fused gray stone bottom. All available specimens of Trinitite were collected in the late 1940's and early 1950's. In 1953 the entire site was bulldozed and buried by the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Trinitite resembles meteorite tektites which were also formed at extremely high temperatures when very large meteorites were vaporized before impacting the ground liquefying the ground material which then solidified as it fell from the sky into a glassy substance known as a Tectite. This rare specimen is contained in a 6X5 inch Riker mount with a picture of the actual 1945 atomic explosion. Trinitite is still mildly radioactive but is considered to be safe to handle but should not be swallowed. Estimated Value $450 - 650 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 800		Crystalline Gold Nugget. Nice example of a crystalline gold nugget with only slight traces of quartz. Specimen has been tested and is of high karat and measures 27 x 16 x 12½ mm. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $780