Kevin Ward's Photo Gallery

FWJ-L6FGold Au

Waverley, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, Canada

Dimensions: 7.4 cm x 5.7 cm x 2.1 cm

Rich specimen of Native Gold from a lesser seen locality in Nove Scotia.
This scarce locality Gold is from Waverly and is the first I've discovered from this locality.
The mines here operated from 1862 to 1940 and produced around 73,000 oz of Gold.
I've not seen another so I must assume not many specimens were preserved. This one
displays leafy Gold on a matrix of Quartz and schist with a scattering of small Gold crystals.

ML7-QR3Rhodochrosite MnCO₃ , Quartz SiO₂

John Reed Mine, Alicante, Lake County, Colorado, USA

Dimensions: 7 cm x 7 cm x 4 cm

Gemmy red rhombs of Rhodochrosite with Quartz drusy!
This is a classic rarity of Rhodochrosite on micro-crystalline Quartz from one of the rarest localities for Rhodochrosite in both Colorado and the world. This specimen displays half a dozen gemmy and beautifully colored rhombs which are a deep cherry-red with just a touch of burgandy in the mix. The rhombs are surrounded by sparkling micro-crystalline Quartz and the specimen is in excellent condition.
From the John Reed Mine, Alicante, Leadville District, Lake County, Colorado.
Measures 7 cm by 7 cm by 4 cm in total size.
Ex. Korfmacher Mineral Collection
Currently in the Oleszczuk Mineral Collection

Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 2nd May 2015

H1Q-L3HSilver Ag , Calcite CaCO₃

White Pine Mine, White Pine, Ontonagon County, Michigan, USA

Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 4 cm x .8 cm

Fine specimen of crystalline Native Silver with white Calcite!
This specimen is crystalline dendritic form in all its wonder and glory. It's incredibly aesthetic
and the sharp crystal dendrites are some of the best I've seen recently from this classic locality.
From the White Pine Mine, Ontonagon County, Michigan.
Measures 3.5 cm by 4 cm by .8 cm in total size.
Ex. LaBerge Mineral Collection

AYK-M7EGold Au , Quartz SiO₂ , Calcite CaCO₃

Purdy Mine, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, USA

Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 3.4 cm x 1.8 cm

Native Leaf Gold on Calcite-Quartz matrix from Alaska!
This specimen is from the obscure Purdy Mine near Chicken, Alaska. It's the first example
I've seen from this rare locality and mindat.org has no photographs of any specimens for
comparison. This mine was discovered by Fred and Arthur Purdy in the 1960s but it never
developed into a much larger operation and specimens of this richness are quite scarce.
From the Purdy Mine, Fortymile District, Southeast Fairbanks Borough, Alaska.
Measures 3.5 cm by 3.4 cm by 1.8 cm in total size.

WUK-YWHBaryte BaSO₄ , Orpiment As₂S₃

Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad, Peru

Transparent white Baryte tabs on botryoidal Oripiment!
These combos appeared at the show this year from a new find in Peru. The crystals are very
glassy with a great deal of transparency and contrast beautifully with the orange surfaces.
From the Quiruvilca, Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad, Peru.
Measures 12.3 cm by 10.8 cm in size.

Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 28th May 2013

6GJ-ALVWulfenite Pb(MoO₄) , Calcite CaCO₃

Searchlight Mining District, Clark County, Nevada, USA

RARE! Unique specimen featuring yellow Wulfenite blades with Calcite inside a matrix vug!
This aesthetic specimen looks like a broken geode but is probably a small matrix pocket
which filled with Wulfenite and Calcite. The yellow blades are in excellent condition and some
are coated by the stark white Calcite. A wonderful mineral combo from a seldom seen locality.
From the Searchlight District, Clark County, Nevada.
Measures 7.3 cm by 9.4 cm by 5.4 cm in size.
Ex. Schlichter Mineral Collection

G4G-NAMBeryl (Var: Emerald) Be₃Al₂(Si₆O₁₈) , Calcite CaCO₃

La Pita Mine, La Pita, Maripí, Western Boyacá Province, Boyacá Department, Colombia

One of the finest Emerald specimens I've ever seen or owned! Three gemmy, deep green
and perfectly terminated Emerald crystals sit atop a matrix covered with pearly-grey Calcites!
All three of the Emeralds are complete, undamaged, and very flashy as they radiate grassy-green
color under even faint lighting. They all measure between 1 cm to 1.5 cm in size and are so gemmy
transparent that you can easily look through the top of each crystal and see the matrix underneath.
Near the top, a smaller Emerald can be seen peeking out between the glassy Calcite crystals so there
are actually at least four and maybe more on this specimen. A prize specimen for the finest collection!
From the La Pita Emerald Mine, Vasquez-Yacopi Mining District, Boyaca Department, Colombia.
Measures 5 cm by 7.9 cm in total size.
From the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection

Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 28th Jul 2010

1ED-CQRRhodochrosite MnCO₃ , Quartz SiO₂ , Pyrite FeS₂

Sunnyside Mine group, Bonita Peak, Gladstone, Eureka Mining District, San Juan County, Colorado, USA

Killer rhomb of pinkish-red Rhodochrosite sitting atop Quartz covered matrix!
Classic and beautiful! Small crystals of Pyrite also add a nice accent to this large 3.7 cm rhomb.
The Rhodochrosite rhomb is complete and undamaged and is well balanced on an equal amount of Quartz.
From the long closed American Tunnel Mine, Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado.
Measures 3.9 cm by 3.6 cm in size.
Ex. Frank Wright Mineral Collection

A2A-PFJStephanite Ag₅SbS₄ , Calcite CaCO₃

Doloras Mine, Mineral del Monte, Mineral del Monte Municipality, Hidalgo, Mexico

Lustrous, silvery-gray crystal cluster of Stephanite with Calcite on matrix!
VERY impressive example of this late stage Silver Antimony Sulfosalt which is roughly
about 69% Silver by formula. The crystals appear as flattened hexagonal tables with
an obvious twin visible in the photo on the far left side of the cluster. Crude looking
dogtooth Calcite crystals surround the cluster and cover most of the host rock matrix.
From the Doloras Mine, Real del Monte, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Measures 5 cm by 4.8 cm by 4 cm in size.
Ex. Manhattanville College Mineral Collection, Purchase, New York

5NV-30VQuartz (Var: Smoky Quartz) SiO₂ , Microcline (Var: Amazonite) K(AlSi₃O₈)

Sentinel rock, Pikes Peak, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Stunning combination of Amazonite crystals with Smoky Quartz and Albite!
One of the finest Amazonite-Smoky combos I've seen in a long time. Not only is the specimen
large in size, the color of the Amazonite crystals is every bit as deep as those from the Tree Root
find. The crystals of both minerals are large and well formed and the overall arrangement has to be
one of the most aesthetic I've seen in years. This large plate has the balance and artistic qualities
that all collectors look for in the finest of specimens. There are the usual repairs and restoration
common to Amazonite-Smoky but they are so expertly done that they are virtually invisible.
Considering the pocket conditions in which these specimens are found, it's always amazing
to me just how beautifully they're put back together. Even the Smoky points on this specimen
are complete and terminated with only the most minor of bumps here and these along the edges.
From the Mona Mine, Sentinel Rock, El Paso County, Colorado.
Measures 8.6 cm by 12.8 cm by 8.5 cm in size.