"lost" MEXICAN  MINERALS  COLLECTION  of Dr. Richard Heck

When I was starting in minerals in the early 1980s, a kind old dentist at the swap table next to me loaned me some Mineralogical Records to read during slow parts of the Cincinnati Show. Dick Heck helped teach me the value of perfection and aesthetics in buying minerals; and he showed me some of the pieces he purchased in following that course at a time when many collectors simply bought for reference and beauty, without regard for condition. His collection encompassed a remarkable breadth of Mexican localities, with emphasis on unusual combinations, and on classic finds. The collection disappeared for over a decade, and was "lost" for the 1990s. It turned up recently, and i was able to purchase it at Tucson this year after a few battles with competitors. I am now honored to release part 2 of the Heck Collection update, featuring 130 of his pieces representing Mexican locales primarily from the 1960s through mid-1980s. About a dozen Mexican specimens from the Stoudt Mexico collection are also added

40 NEW SPECIMENS POSTED:

NEW SPECIMENS ARE NUMBERED "200" and up

 and start on page Nine

Chalcopyrite, patinated green by oxidation, is the host for a spectacular, glassy and gemmy, octahedral crystal of fluorite, 2 cm in length, which is perched high on its matrix. The colorless fluorite crystal exhibits unusual growth on its crystal edges , and the faces appear to be slightly concave. In fact, the overall appearance of the fluorite is that of stepped growth, similar to the pyramids, but with some curves on closer inspection. The combination of fluorite on chalcopyrite is highly unusual from ANY locality

This is a really neat and weird style of specimen, that we have only seen from the old finds at this locality. Multiple fingerlike stalactites of celestine and calcite intergrowths, to 6.9 cm in length, are emplaced on matrix (also intermixed). The celestine is lustrous and gemmy and a lovely sky blue color, while the calcite is nearly snow-white. The swirling contrasts are striking, and this is one of the better-preserved examples of the material that I have seen go by in 2 decades of knowing about them. I could not even find when they were mined, except that older collectors always told me (as a young calcite collector myself): "a long time ago." Usually you only see small pieces, or large but damaged specimens. This one is pristine and complete all around , except only the massive matrix at base. It is aesthetic and displays well from ANY angle or view. The upper display side of the largest finger glows a neon-green fluoresence, indicative of a thin coating of hyalite opal. Although not in the Heck collection of Mexican minerals as are most others in this update, this piece is from the Stoudt collection which I also recently acquired, and so fit well with the larger update.