Minerals from Different Locations

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M413b  Here is an interesting Calcite and Pyrite specimen.  It measures 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 2 1/2 with a soft frosted appearance that has a sprinkling of shiny, sparkly Pyrite.  The Calcite has an unique step like appearance that escalates upward.  This mineral group is from Morocco.

Pyrite, or Iron Pyrite, is an Iron sulfide with isometric Crystals that usually appear as cubes.  It is brittle and can break or powder easily.  Its metallic luster and brass yellow hue have earned it the nickname of "fool's gold" due to many miners mistaken it for the real thing.  Ironically, small quantities of actual gold are sometimes found in Pyrite.  It is the most common of the sulfide minerals and is usually found with other sulfides or oxides in Quartz veins, sedimentary or metamorphic rocks. 

Calcite is a Carbonate mineral that is most widely distributed on the Earth's surface.  It is a common constituent of sedimentary rocks with Limestone in particular.  A Calcite formation can take on many different shapes and sizes which is dependent on the location, ground water occurrence and temperature.  Calcite is usually white or colorless but can be gray, red, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown or black.  The deeper the color is usually indicative of the definitive impurities from the earth or water.

Calcite-Pyrite

M402c  This is a very nice cluster of light Lavender Amethyst Cactus Quartz Crystals.  The Crystal cluster measures 2 5/8" x 1 1/2" x 1 5/8" and has not been polished.  This gorgeous specimen is from the Magaliesberg Mountains west of Pretoria, South Africa.  A true beauty indeed!

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These Crystals are often slender Crystal cores with Amethyst tips and are coated with orange Hematite stained mini Crystals giving the bristly, cactus appearance.  Sometimes they may have a druzy veil in lavender or yellow or white.  Each in unique in their own right and can not be duplicated.

Cactus Quartz Crystals

M403b  This is a larger, beautiful piece of deep Blue Kyanite from Brazil. This is a nice specimen measuring 7 1/2" x 1 over 1/2" x 1 1/4" and has a very pretty shaded Blue color.  This specimen has White Quartz embedded in the Blue Kyanite making a wonderful mix of color and shine.

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Kyanite is a typically blue Silicate mineral that is commonly found in Aluminum rich metamorphic pegmatites and/or sedimentary rock.  It is used primarily in refractory and ceramic products including porcelain plumbing fixtures and dinnerware.  It is also used in electrical insulators and abrasives.  It is definitely a collector's mineral.

Kyanite-Quartz

M414c  Here is an interesting mineral combination from Morocco.  This is a very nicely detailed Cerussite and Barite specimen.  It measures nearly 2" x 1 1/2" x almost 1" and has a natural finish.  This specimen has an unique design with the tiny Cerussite crystals scattered among the numerous nice Barite Crystals. Very nice.

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Cerussite (also known as white lead ore) is a mineral consisting of Lead Carbonate or an important or of Lead. Mineral collectors appreciate it's sparkle and the twinned crystals. It is usually colorless or white, sometimes grey or greenish in tint and  is very brittle. Cerussite belongs to the Aragonite group minerals and is found in the oxidation zone of lead deposits usually associated with Galena.   

Barite is a mineral consisting of Barium sulfate and is generally white or colorless.  It is used in the manufacture of paints and paper.  Although Barite contains a 'heavy' metal, Barium, it is not considered to be a toxic chemical because of its extreme insolubility.

Cerussite-Barite

M415b  Here is something different for the mineral collector.  This is a section of a larger Druzy Crystal Quartz Geode from Morocco.  This specimen measures 5" x 2" x 1 3/4" and has a nice sparkly appearance.

Geodes are geological rock formations which occur in sedimentary and certain volcanic rocks.  They are essentially rock cavities or vugs with internal Crystal formations or concentric banding.  The exterior is generally Limestone while the interior contains Quartz Crystals and/or Chalcedony deposits.  If the Geode is completely filled with Crystal, being solid all the way through, it is then called a nodule.

Quartz Geode

M416c  Here is a nice Brochantite specimen from Bisbee, Arizona. This cool mineral measures 2" x nearly 1 1/4" x 7/8" and has a natural sparkly appearance.  This mineral has very nice prismatic crystals of pretty green colored Brochantite on an unidentified matrix. A nice specimen for your collection.

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Brochantite is a Sulfate mineral; Copper Sulfate Hydroxide.  It is very similar to other fibrous copper minerals like Malachite and often has acicular crystals in randomly organized coatings or tufts. Brochantite is formed from the rapid oxidation of copper ore minerals. It's color is a deep emerald green also like Malachite. Brochantite is named for the French geologist and discoverer, Brochant de Villers.

Brochantite

M418c  This is a very pretty Lavender Amethyst Cactus Quartz Crystal.  The Crystal measures over 3" x  1 3/4" x 1 1/8" and has not been polished.  This naturally sparkly specimen is from the Magaliesberg Mountains west of Pretoria, South Africa.  A true beauty.

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These Cactus Quartz Crystals are often slender Crystal cores with Amethyst tips and are coated with orange Hematite stained mini Crystals giving the bristly, cactus appearance.  Sometimes they may have a druzy veil in lavender or yellow or white.  Each in unique in their own right and can not be duplicated.

Cactus Quartz Crystal

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Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth's continental crust.  It is mainly composed of Silica or Silica based minerals.  Although Quartz is known by a variety of names, the most important distinction between types of Quartz is that of macro-crystalline, individual crystals visible to the unaided eye, and micro-crystalline, where aggregates of crystals are only visible under high magnification.  There are many forms of Quartz including Chalcedony, Amethyst, Citrine, and Carnelian which are results of mineral impurities or heat treatments.

Crystal Quartz

Sphalerite is a mineral that is the chief ore of Zinc.  It consists mainly of Zinc Sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains valuable Iron.  When the Iron content is high, it is an opaque black variety called Marmatite.  It is usually found in association with Galena, Pyrite, Calcite, Dolomite and Fluorite.  It is usually yellow, brown or gray to gray-black in color and may have a shiny or dull luster or sheen.

Sphalerite

M404c   Here is something different for the mineral collector.  This is a larger, rare specimen of multi-colored Bismuth.  It measures 2 1/4" x 1 7/8" x almost 1 1/4".  It has a shiny appearance and a very unique shape.  There is evidence of being separated from another specimen in two areas but it doesn't detract from the overall appearance of this cool mineral.

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Bismuth is a native element.  Peru is one of the world's major sources.  Native crystals are extremely rare.  These crystals are grown in laboratories in the United States.  Bismuth is scarce as Silver, heavier than Lead and is classified as a semi-precious semi-metal.  It is non-toxic to humans.  It is used in medicine and cosmetics, applications in inks, paints, free-machining steels and fire sprinklers.

Bismuth

M411c  Here is a different item, a very nice Selenite Rose from Eastern South Dakota where they are not generally found. This cool rose measures nearly 3 1/2" x 3" x 2 1/4" and has a warm yellowish, nearly clear appearance on the many different "petals".   This unique specimen came from an old collection and has not been available for years and years.

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Selenite, also known as Satin Spar, Desert Rose and Gypsum Flower, is a variety of Crystalline Gypsum.  Gypsum is a very soft mineral composed of Calcium Sulfate.  Gypsum Flowers are rosette shaped Gypsum with spreading fibers and can include an outer druze of sand or with sand throughout.  The difference between Desert Roses and Gypsum Flowers is that Desert Roses look like roses, whereas, gypsum flowers are a myriad of shapes.

SD Selenite Rose

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Calcite is a Carbonate mineral that is most widely distributed on the Earth's surface.  It is a common constituent of sedimentary rocks with Limestone in particular.  A Calcite formation can take on many different shapes and sizes which is dependent on the location, ground water occurrence and temperature.  Calcite is usually white or colorless but can be gray, red, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown or black.  The deeper the color is usually indicative of the definitive impurities from the earth or water.

Red Calcite

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Lapis is a stone with a long tradition of being considered a gem.  It is usually deep blue in color and is opaque.  It is a rock and not a mineral as it is made up from various other minerals.  The main component is Lazurite which is a Feldspar Silicate.  Lapis may also contain Calcite, Sodalite and Pyrite.  It is found worldwide.

Lapis

M408b  A nice specimen of natural Copper from Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. This is a natural copper specimen just as you would find it on the surface of the ground.  Commonly called float copper it is found in glacial sand and gravels.  The piece has been polished on several of the surface areas to show the gleaming copper beneath.  It measures nearly 4" x 2 1/8" x 1/2".

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Copper is a reddish colored metal with a high electrical and thermal conductivity.  It has its characteristic color because it reflects red and orange light and absorbs other frequencies in the visible spectrum due to its band structure.  It is in the same family as Silver and Gold and is a malleable metal.  It is beautiful natural or polished.

Float Copper Nugget

M410c   This is a new item and a very nice beautiful piece of Eudialyte from Russia.  The colorful specimen measures approximately 3" x 2 1/2" x 1 7/8".  It has vibrant Pink colors accented by Black and White. The black material is Tourmaline and the white material either calcite or quartz. This unique specimen makes an excellent display of rare mineral or a wonderful addition to your collection.  

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Eudialyte, also spelled Eudialite,  is a complex material  consisting chiefly of the silicates of iron, zirconium, and lime. Some samples of Eudialyte have been found to have up to 46 different elements.  The zirconium has many uses from the production of synthetic fibers, in construction materials for aircraft and space vehicles and in the manufacture of super-hard alloys.  Eudialyte is found in Arkansas, Greenland, Russia, Norway, Canada and Madagascar.

Eudialyte

M400c   This is something different for the mineral collector.  Here is an above average quality specimen of Sphalerite.  The unusual mineral measures 4 5/8" x 2 1/4" x 1 3/4" and has an unusual shape with a very shiny appearance.

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Sphalerite is a mineral that is the chief ore of Zinc.  It consists mainly of Zinc Sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains valuable Iron.  When the Iron content is high, it is an opaque black variety called Marmatite.  It is usually found in association with Galena, Pyrite, Calcite, Dolomite and Fluorite.  It is usually yellow, brown or gray to gray-black in color and may have a shiny or dull luster or sheen.

Sphalerite

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Pyrite, or Iron Pyrite, is an Iron sulfide with isometric Crystals that usually appear as cubes.  It is brittle and can break or powder easily.  Its metallic luster and brass yellow hue have earned it the nickname of "fool's gold" due to many miners mistaken it for the real thing.  Ironically, small quantities of actual gold are sometimes found in Pyrite.  It is the most common of the sulfide minerals and is usually found with other sulfides or oxides in Quartz veins, sedimentary or metamorphic rocks. 

Pyrite

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Crystals of Sulfur are usually yellow to yellowish-brown blocky dipyramids. Also it is found more typically as powdery yellow coatings. Native Sulphur is usually formed from volcanic action - as a sublimate from volcanic gasses associated with Realgar, cinnabar and other minerals. It is  found in some vein deposits as an alteration product of sulfide minerals.

Sulfur

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Copper is a reddish colored metal with a high electrical and thermal conductivity.  It has its characteristic color because it reflects red and orange light and absorbs other frequencies in the visible spectrum due to its band structure.  It is in the same family as Silver and Gold and is a malleable metal.  It is beautiful natural or polished.

Copper-Silver-Quartz