massive crystals found in warwick new york

Glenn, i am sure that Sterling Hill would love some of the larger ones, as a good example of the marble minerals, and although, they are NY pieces, it is an extension of the same marble belt. Keep collecting and think it through a little. Also, the New York State Museum is an other choice to send a piece or two.

Glenn,

This photo is meant to give you a reference point of what gem quality crystals of minerals, like the ones you found, look like from other parts of the world. Larger crystals of these specimens have been found in and off matrix. From left to right, scapolite, Afghanistan; scapolite, Africa, diopside, China and titanite (sphene), Pakistan.

Hope this helps you value your specimens before you consider departing with any of them. Again, congratulations on a nice find, considering the fact that over a century has passed since they were originally found.

Best,

Joe

I am not a mineralogist, geologist or collector of minerals. But I am a bit of a treasure hunter and can understand the passion of going out and digging every night til dark after work for the last two months. I have put a lot of time and effort into carefully removing these crystals. There were boulders against boulders with crystals in between. Had I known the importance of what I was working with, I probably would have gotten professional help. We have been doing the best we can to remove the crystals as carefully as possible. It is what it is. If you would like to come see what is here, you can call me at 845-551-0484. I would like some to go to museums and others to collectors that appreciate them. I will keep a select few. I'll continue to post more pictures and I appreciate everyones comments. The first picture is a 600 lb. boulder covered on all sides with crystals.What do you do with a 600 lb. boulder?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:08AM by Glenn Rhein.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!! this is amazing!!! i would recommend those to a museum for "yardite" out front to draw in customers. as long as your name is on the plaques....

Glenn,

I suggest you talk with Earl Verbeek who is representing the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. You might want to take a drive down there. Based on your photos I conclude that what you have found is scientifically significant which means regional museums including the New York state museum would be interested. However, I suggest you speak with Earl who can point you in the right direction; he has the knowledge and equipment to break down 600 pound boulders.

Glenn, as a mineral collector of 45 years so I am impressed with your find and thank you for bringing this to the attention of the mineral world, especially on Mindat.

Best,

Joe

You could sell the 600 lb. boulder considering there'd be many collectors out there, right? Anyways, that's in case you underestimate the value of what you have.

Sorry we got cut off Joe, reception is bad up here.

I have to disagree with you Joe on the crsystals being ugly, yes they are not clear and shinny but they are clusterd together in a way that makes them very beautiful. They are sculptures !
Haven't figured out what the crystals are in the first picture yet.
second picture is scapalite crystals (largest is about 1-1/4 inches ) and covered with sphene
last picture is scapalite 4 inches overall



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:08AM by Glenn Rhein.

Glenn,

I apologize for the use of the word "ugly"; we experienced collectors use the term all the time and we often refer to rare uglies. I was just trying to give you a perspective of what the better specimens of those species look like. As I said in every post, what you found is significant and valuable but they are not as valuable as gem minerals even though that have tremendous scientific value. I imagine you are looking to sell some of the specimens? If that is the case you should say so and then contact the museums and collectors I suggested you contact opr you could take out an ad on Mindat or offer them on ebay. If you intend to keep them for yourself, that is your choice. You would be surprised with how many of us have too many specimens in our collections; I have over two thousand (after 45 years) and that might be low on the scale of experienced collectors.

Whatever, choice you make is your business and I envy you for your ability to find the specimens.

Best wishes,

Joe

Glenn-
I have collected the Warwick/Amity area for several years now. I am completely surprised and amazed at your find!
I just wanted to say congratulations on the find and thank you for letting the community know about it. I agree with everyone, get some specimens to the area museums for all to enjoy!! Thanks again.
Jeff

Joe, thanks for all your comments.
I'm not looking to sell them or put them on ebay.
I'm looking for help as what is the right thing to do with them.
I'm looking to give people like yourself the opportunity to come see what I've found and view some very special pieces.
I don't want people digging in my back yard and wandering around in the middle of the night with SW lights
or being pressured into selling them. Yes at some point they will be available to collectors. I'm not keeping them unless I start a museum (not happening)
I would like this to be a good experience for all , am I unrealistic ?

Pictures are all of one boulder, there are seven boulders over 600 lbs

Glenn



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:09AM by Glenn Rhein.

Hi Glenn,

I suport, and encourage you to donate what you don't want to keep for yourself to a museum. The best (by monitary value) sample I ever found, I donated to our national museum of mineralogy, and it made me proud, it still makes me proud :) That's a feeling that can't be counted in dollars, and I was offered quite some for the sample... I hope one day to get a kid, and to bring her or him to the museum and do som bragging! :D

For you fluorescent guys, here are some of the colors
scapolite and scarn are pinkish red
the blue and yellow are in the marble



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:10AM by Glenn Rhein.

This is not related to the crystals shown here, but is sbout a related subject(?). In 1972 I had the oportunity to collect in this area; Warwick, Amity,Vernon etc. One thing I managed to collect a few of and haven't heard or seen any comment about is the quartz in the narrow limestone belt that seems to run from about "Prices Switch, N.J." through New Milford, NY to about Wickham Village, NY. Right under the Warwick High School. The crystals that I have found are rather varied and interesting. No pictures as I don't own a camera. Sorry. Some are typical in style, but others at first look like double terminated crystals. They're not. In the center can be found a very tiny (about 1 mm) crystal of dolomite that seems to have acted as a seed for the quartz to grow on. The quartz in maximum diameter is about 3mm, length up to about 50mm, and they are tapered toward the terminations. I say they are not double terminated because on some of them the faces don't line up at the dolomite crystal. I never had the chance to look but I was told by a much older and more experienced collector that "goshenite" could be found around mt. Peter near Bellvale which is only a few miles from Warwick. This thread about Warwick got me thinking because I had the opportunity to collect there for a few days long ago. It is a very nice area. My appologies for changing the subject. One never knows what will trigger old memories.

These large micas are also on the property



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:10AM by Glenn Rhein.

Looks like Phlogopite. That would indeed indicate that this locality is within the Franklin Marble zone. And although the iron mines in Warwick are outside the marble zone, these probably come from the western side of Warwick

Glenn
Congratulations on your find.
You seem like you are a knowledgeable collector who under the circumstances could use some on-site help in assessing the nature of your find.
I hope that I am not speaking improperly here, but I think that this person might be Alfredo Petrov.
His expertise is respected within the mineral commmunity and I believe that he lives in Peekskill NY when not travelling the world.
You're getting alot of varying opinions on your good fortune and I think he could be invaluable in surveying the location if he were to agree to the undertaking.
Regards,

Greg Kokolus

Black crystals are in a marble matrix, most of the other crystals were found alongside but not in the marble



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:11AM by Glenn Rhein.

The last two appear to be perhaps limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Fluorapatite crystals grouped up together. first piece is about 10 inches wide



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2011 09:32PM by Glenn Rhein.

Thanks for sharing the photos, Glenn. You're a good guy who sees the real value of what you have in your willingness to share.

It seems like you already had all the fun in discovering and recovering all of the crystals. That was a good idea.