Best Of California Minerals

Opal, White Rock Canyon, El Dorado Co., California. Measures 6 x 4.2 x 2 cm.


Actiinolite, South Fork American River, Mesquito Rd., El Dorado Co., California. measures 4.5 x 2.5 x 1 cm.


Rutile in Quartz, Pino Grande, El Dorado Nat'l Forest,El Dorado Co., California. Measures 5.5 x 2.2 cm.

Natrolite, Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California. Measures 8 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm.


Calcite,German Bar Gold Mine, Nevada Co., California. Measures 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm.


Quartz,Ankerite, Dolomite, Carson Hill Gold Mine, Calaveras Co., California. Measures 14 x 12 x 7 cm.

Muscovite, Thompson Peak, Lassen Co., California. Measures 7 x 7 x 2.5 cm. This is a solid plate of muscovite crystals with no matrix.


Dumortierite, Indian Pass, Imperial Co., California. Measures 8 x 4 x 1.5 cm.


Lepidolite on Feldspar, Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California. Measures 7 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm.

One of my best specimens with Inesite crystals from the Hale Creek Mine in Trinity County, California. It was a gift from a friend that collected it (~10 cm tall). I have others with dark pink crystals, but I can't seem to get a good photo of these.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:14PM by David Lowe.

Brookite crystals in quartz from near Georgetown, El Dorado County, California. Self Collected.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:14PM by David Lowe.

Two views of quartz crystals with a conformal coating between them of what is most likely Wavellite from near Slate Mountain, El Dorado County, California. Self Collected.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:15PM by David Lowe.

Smithsonite from Cerro Gordo, Inyo County, California. Self Collected (5 x 3 x 2.5 cm) after staying overnight in the bunkhouse at the site.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:16PM by David Lowe.

Close up of one of the thumbnails that I collected from the A.O. Prospect, San Bernardino County, California. Pearly brown Vanadinite on bright orange Descloizite.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:16PM by David Lowe.

This is one of my favorite thumbnails. Yellow Topazolite garnets with bluish-green Clinochlore crystals. It was a gift from a friend that collected it from the Yellow Cat Mine in San Benito County, California. Yes, the New Idria District / Clear Creek Area is still closed..... Sorry, my camera can't capture the real beauty of this specimen.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:17PM by David Lowe.

Photos of two specimens of pink Clinochlore (variety Chromian "Kammererite" ) and dark green gemmy Uvarovite garnets on Chromite (probably Magnesio-). Self Collected from Tahoe National Forest in California. Very rare at the site as are the pieces with microcrystal blades and dense layers of pink to purple Kammererite on massive Chromite. The largest garnets are 0.5 to 1.5 mm in size. (6 x 2.5 x 2 cm) and (2 x 2 x 2 cm).





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2011 09:19PM by David Lowe.

David, Thanks for sharing your California specimens with us.

Rhondonite, Foresthill, Placer Co., California. Measures 20 x 20 x 18 cm.


Pectolite, Russian River, Sonoma Co., California. Measures 6 x 3 x .5 cm.


Cinnabar, Culver Baer Mine, Sonoma, California. Measures 4 x 3.2 x 2 cm.

Nipomo Agate with Marcasite inclusions,Nipomo, San Luis Obispo Co., California. Measures 10 x 9 x 6 cm.


Nipomo Agate Cabs, Nipomo Agate with Marcasite inclusions,Nipomo, San Luis Obispo Co., California. Largest cab measures 27 x 20 mm.

Mercury with Cinnabar

Socrates Mine
Pine Flat District
Sonoma County, California
United States of America

72.0 x 52.0 x 41.0 mm overall. An extremely rich specimen liberally covered with shiny silvery globules or drops of native Mercury (quicksilver) on a Cinnabar-rich matrix. Mercury is the only recognized mineral that is found as a liquid at room temperature. Cinnabar alters to native mercury in the oxidized zone of deposits. Native mercury is also quite rare. This specimen is from an uncommon California locality, the Socrates Mine. Very rare in specimen form and a very difficult element to obtain in its pure form for an elements suite in a collection.

I know many people out there have better pieces than I, but no one has stepped up to post these California classics. I can’t stand it anymore, so here are photos of mine. Both of these are form Dallas Gem Mine in San Benito County (where else?).


Benitoite; specimen 5.5 x 5.6 cm; largest crystal 0.8 cm on a side.


Neptunite; specimen 12.0 cm in length, with largest crystals 1.8 cm in length.

Norman,

In answer to your question "where else?", here is a Benitoite, and associated Joaquinite, that is not from the Dallas Gem Mine.
Mina Numero Uno, Clear Creek, Hernandez, Clear Creek area, Picacho Peak, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA

Gene



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2011 02:31AM by Mineralogical Research Company.

While I'm at it, here is a Neptunite that is not from the Dallas Gem Mine.
Mina Numero Uno, Clear Creek, Hernandez, Clear Creek area, Picacho Peak, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA

Gene

I see that a few specimens from Sonoma Co. have been submitted. Here's one more odd ball entry that was self-collected in 2011.



Idrialite with Cinnabar and Quartz - Culver-Baer Mine, Sonoma Co., CA

Gene

Gene,

Great! I knew somebody out there had better material. I was thinking of the whole neptunite, etc. district in San Benito County, but don't know the geography of the region very well. It may seem odd for a California native, but I've never been to San Benito County, although I've been through there on California 1, US101, and I-5. Haven't lived in California since 1963, and back then didn't have my own car. Thanks for the posts. The benitoite is gorgeous, and I wish I could do as well as your neptunite photography.

Norman,

Thanks for your kind comments, but keep in mind that the two specimens are only micros. I put these up because most people don't know that there are a couple of other obscure Benitoite and Neptunite localities.

It's is a shame that you never got a chance to collect in San Benito Co., as it is very rich from a mineralogical standpoint. Unfortunately, as you can read in other threads, the location is now closed to collecting and we hopefully await its reopening.

Gene

Thanks everyone for your contributions here.

Stilbite-Ca over Laumontite from Pine Creek Mine, Bishop District, Inyo County, California. Measures 7 x 6 x 4.5 cm. This started out as a specimen twice this size before the laumonite crystals started degrading to powder.


Bromargyrite, Blue Bell claims (Hard Luck claims), Baker, San Bernardino Co., California, USA.


Argentite, Zaca Mine, Alpine Co., California. Measures 4.5 x 3 x 2.5 cm.