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.

Two cubic crystals of the rare mineral BOLEITE. Boleite contains silver, copper, lead and other elements. The larger crystal has a face of 0.4 inches with noticeable wear on the lower half. The smaller cube has no damage. From the type locality of the Boleo District of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The luster is vitreous.

Reddish-Orange ball of SPESSARTINE, a member of the GARNET Group. The ball lies on a terminated QUARTZ crystal with minor Muscovite and Albite.

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. 

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.

IMPERIAL TOPAZ with its distinctive golden-orange color is the rarest and most valuable variety of topaz. This crystal is 1.0 inch in length with a perfect termination on one end. Luster on all faces is vitreous. It has the internal scintillations that make these topaz so unique and pretty, and prized by collectors. A great thumbnail from this world famous locality that has produced some of the most incredible color Topaz crystals in the world. This specimen is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey.

MOSASAURUS Tooth with sharp edges, good tip. The bottom provides a good view of the enamel. This tooth is from late Cretaceous age, about 70 million years ago. Length is 1.6 inches. Slight wear on both edges.

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.

High quality MOSASAURUS Tooth with sharp edges, perfect tip. The bottom provides a good view of the enamel and dentin. This tooth is from late Cretaceous age, about 70 million years ago. Length is 1.8 inches. Slight wear on one edge.

This brilliant cluster of BRAZILIANITE crystals is translucent. The longest crystal is 1.0 inch. Color is green with a hint of yellow. The luster is vitreous. This specimen is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey.

Slice from a cluster of RHODOCHROSITE STALACTITES from the famous Capillitas mine in Argentina. The dozens of creme-colored “straws” are quite striking. Three years ago, the mine was taken over by the government to mine silver and copper. No more Rhodochrosite will come from this mine.

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.

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.

Cluster of bipyramidal CALCITE crystals with a maroon color, most likely from inclusions of iron. The largest crystal is 1.5 inches in length. The specimen is museum size, 6.1 inches in length. This specimen is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey.

This piece glitters! Stunning color contrast of green Siderite “Blades” with brassy iridescent Chalcopyrite, whitish Calcite, and gray Tetrahedrite crystals in this specimen. The green blades of Siderite in this piece are very rare! Several of the Siderite blades are at least 0.5 inch long. The Calcite crystals are flattened and translucent. The luster of the Siderite is vitreous while the Chalcopyrite and Tetrahedrite have a brilliant metallic luster.

Cluster of large, green, translucent FLUORITE crystals with several CALCITE crystals. The Fluorite fluoresces Blue under long-wave UV light. Specimen is 6.1 inches in length. Largest Fluorite cube is 3.5 inches long. All Fluorite crystals have beveled edges, usually with etching. This specimen is from the collection of Roger Maynard. Roger is a friend and was a long-time geologist with the US Geological Survey.

Cluster of brilliant emerald-green Dioptase crystals on matrix. The largest dioptase crystal is 0.4 inches. Crystals are rhombohedral shape. The specimen is from the type location for dioptase: Altyn-Tyube deposit, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.

Stibnite is an Antimony Sulfide mineral. This specimen has one primary Stibnite crystal 5.4 inches long that is terminated at one end. The color is silver-gray. It has a metallic luster. The piece has many minor Stibnite crystals at one end. 

This specimen is entirely translucent Hyalite Opal except for a little bit of dirt on the bottom that I could not clean off. The Hyalite fluoresces a brilliant green under a short-wave UV light. 

The Hyalite Opal is the clear, globular layer on top of the white Milk Opal in this specimen. The Hyalite fluoresces a brilliant green under a short-wave UV light.