Best Of California Minerals

In person, this specimen was a killer - the specimen measured 6.4cm x 5.3cm x 3cm with crystals ranging in size to 5mm. It had come from the collection of John L. Parnau. There was purple kammererite in association around the uvarovite crystals that you can't really appreciate from the photos - however in person it was quite a stunning combo. This is one of those specimens I still wish I had!

not sure about "best" but this is one species that doesn't get too much press - metacinnabar from the Mount Diablo Mine - it's a TN in our collection

Jasun, nice uvarovite!

Maggie, My take on "Best" is in the eye of the beholder not their wallet. Nice meta cinnabar you got there it photographed well.

Orthoclase, Water Canyon, Cinco, Kern County, California. Largest crystal measures 4.2 x 4.2 x 2.2 cm.

This linarite specimen's locality was ultimately confirmed as being from the Copper Queen Mine, Oasis, Inyo Co., California. Initially, the specimen was labelled as being from Bisbee (obviously the "Copper Queen" name was the likely reason for the misattribution), but after some very thorough and lengthy research the specimen was confirmed as being from the Copper Queen Mine. This specimen was part of a small handful of exceptional linarite specimens recovered from this locality circa 1920! This specimen measures 9.8cm x 8cm x 5.8cm with the main crystal measuring over 3cm!

Jasun, That's one fine California Linarite. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Jason, Ditto...one fine California linarite.

Native Gold photographed on a jade slab, Eagles Nest Mine, Placer Co., California. Measures 28 x 25 mm.


Chlorite included Quartz, Gold Hill, El Dorado Co., California. 4 cm tall.


Quartz, Crystal Ridge, Near Lone Pine, Inyo Co., California. Measures 7 x 4 x 3 cm.

Stunning arborescent gold, Jay.

A less common California mineral I've had as a thumbnail for 25 years:

Light yellow Halotrichite from Kern County, a personal favourite. Enjoy.


Andrew Haighton,
Brampton, Ontario

Fluorite. Felix Mine, Azusa, San Gabriel Mts, Los Angeles Co. 7.2 x 10 cm.

© A&M

AM, Love how you captured all the surface features at once on the fluorite, very nice!!

Woodhouseite from the type locality, the Champion Mine, Mono County, California. Measures 4 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm.


Vesuvianite, Bill Waley Mine, Drum Valley, Tulare Co., California. Measures 4 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm.


Epidote in Quartz, Drum Valley, Madera Co., California. Measures 5 x 5 x 3 cm.

Ankerite on Dolomite, Carson Hill Gold Mine, Calaveras Co., California. Measures 9 x 8 x 4.5 cm.


Chorlite etched Smoky Quartz, Near Georgetown, El Dorado Co., California. Measures 21 x 11 x 10 cm.


Pesudomorph of an unknown mineral after Dolomite, Carson Hill Gold Mine, Calaveras Co., California. Measures 7 x 5 x 2 cm. This was the only piece of any size from a small pocket that contained only this pithy limonitic dolomite replacement material.

Andradite Garnets, Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., California. Measures 5 x 3.5 x 2 cm.


Quartz with Calcite overgrowth, Gold Bank Mine, Butte Co., California. Measures 8 x 4.5 x 3 cm.


Sanbornite,Esquire No. 1 Mine, Big Creek, Fresno County, California. Measures 10 x 8 x 5 cm.

Molybdenite, Consumnes River Copper Mine, Calaveras Co., California. Measures 8.5 x 4 x 3 cm.



Analcime, Point Sal, Guadalupe, Santa Barbara Co., California. Measures 15 x 12 x 10 cm.


Cave Coral, Bill Waley Mine, Drum Valley, Tulare co., California. Measures 13 x 8 x 9.

Pyrite with Purple Fluorite from Main Anaconda Dump in Darwin, California. Self Collected on Bay Area Mineralogists (BAM) annual trip.

Cinnabar from near the Manhattan Mine, Knoxville District, California. Self Collected on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Two pieces of Aquamarine in a Perky Box from the California Blue Mine, San Bernardino County, California. Purchased from my friend Rick Kennedy.

Psilomelane needles in Manganese ore from the Arlington District, McCoy Mountains, Riverside County, California. Self Collected. The camera flash makes it look metallic, but it is actually very dark gray to black. I also have a piece covered in velvety black Psilomelane with a few small Calcite crystals on top.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2011 10:36AM by David Lowe.

Quartz (variety Chalcedony) from the Opal Hill Mine, Mule Mountains, Riverside County, California. Self Collected. I have another that looks like a group of golden popcorn kernels.

Terminated Schorl Crystal from the Southern Pacific Silica Quarry, Nuevo, Riverside County, California. Self Collected. It barely fits into a Perky Box. Two views.

Two Self Collected pieces from the Gisler Pit, Thompson Peak, Plumas County, California. Schorl with Muscovite. Terminated Quartz crystal in Schorl bundle nest.