Cross section of a RHODOCHROSITE STALACTITE from the famous Capillitas mine in Argentina. Since most of the Rhodochrosite from this mine is sold to make jewelry, it is priced according to weight. This piece weighs 25 grams. At US$8 per gram, the price is $200. Three years ago, the mine was taken over by the government to mine silver and copper. No more Rhodochrosite will come from this mine.

Brilliant GOLD LEAF from the famous Little Jonny Mine in Leadville, Colorado. The gold weighs 1.8 grams (0.063 ounces).

Cross section of a RHODOCHROSITE STALACTITE from the famous Capillitas mine in Argentina. Since most of the Rhodochrosite from this mine is sold to make jewelry, it is priced according to weight. This piece weighs 42 grams. At US$8 per gram, the price is $336. Three years ago, the mine was taken over by the government to mine silver and copper. No more Rhodochrosite will come from this mine.

HESSONITE is a variety of GROSSULAR GARNET. This specimen is orange in color, gemmy and translucent. Luster is adamantine and size is thumbnail (0.9 inches). From the famous Jeffrey Mine in Quebec, Canada. This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. He is a friend and long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

Beautiful cluster of green TSAVORITE which is a variety of GROSSULAR (Garnet). The translucent Tsavorite crystals are on a matrix of silvery Graphite. The largest Tsavorite crystal is 0.4 inches. Green color is from traces of chromium. Luster is vitreous.  This specimen is from the type locality of Merelani Hills, Tanzania.

Peach colored, translucent TOPAZ crystal. The terminated end is vitreous but all of the sides are adamantine. There is conchoidal fracturing on one side and the bottom. Topaz is the birthstone for November. This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

Double-terminated, Scalenohedral Rhodochrosite from Uchucchacua Mine, Peru

Very pretty and showy gem lustrous red scalenohedral crystals of rhodochrosite are set on matrix. The largest rhodochrosite crystal is double-terminated and measures 17 mm in length. Excellent cherry-red color. Glassy to Vitreous luster.

Large, translucent SCHEELITE crystal with a contact twin. The largest face is 1.4 inches long. Brilliant golden-yellow color. It fluoresces blue under short wave UV light. The matrix is silvery MUSCOVITE. The specimen is from the famous Pingwu mine in China. Scheelite is a major ore for Tungsten. This specimen is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey.

Beautiful REALGAR crystal from a classic location in 1992. Brilliant red color with a good termination on one end. The crystal is 1.3 inches in length. Realgar is light sensitive. Realgar is an arsenic sulfide mineral. This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

HESSONITE is a variety of GROSSULAR GARNET. This specimen is orange in color, gemmy and translucent. Luster is adamantine and size is thumbnail (1.0 inch). From the famous Jeffrey Mine in Quebec, Canada. This piece is from the collection of Roger Maynard. He is a friend and long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey in New Mexico.

Ametrine, Anahi Mine, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia
A beautiful etched crystal of Ametrine (mixed Amethyst-Citrine) from Bolivia. Measures 7 x 6 x 3.5 cm.
​Weighs 6.4 0z.

Two blue, translucent TOURMALINE, variety ELBAITE, crystals with pink LEPIDOLITE Mica from the famous Cruzeiro mine in Brazil. Minor white Calcite. Luster is vitreous. The longest crystal is 1.2 inches. This specimen is thumbnail size as it fits in a 1.25 inch perky box. Pictures are with and without a direct light on the side of the crystals to show the blue color and translucency.