Walter Kellogg's Photo Gallery
YT6-5NYThénardite Na2SO4
Dimensions: 12 mm x 6.3 mm x 4.5 mm
The crystals are well formed with pyramidal faces and and often double terminated (in most cases one of the terminations is merged with adjoining crystals). The crystals have a high luster with a melted appearance. The top most crystals are a dark gray color due to the inclusion of clay particles and phase into clear to white in color on the bottom. The appearance of the specimen is partially marred by small encrustations of an unidentified tan colored material. The specimen is very similar to those recovered at Soda Lake, also in California. Deep Springs Lake is a small lake in the middle of the desert and is a popular swimming hole. The specimen was donated to the California Academy of Sciences in 1962 as part of the John Melhase collection who passed in 1938.
WVH-U0XKinoite Ca2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10] , Prehnite Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 , Calcite CaCO3
Dimensions: 8.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 4.7 cm
Blue colored Kinoite included in white, cleaved Calcite. Botryoidal Prehnite of an unusual, atypical orange color. This color is not an iron oxide coating but can be seen, on broken edges, to be up to 1 mm in thickness below the surface.
KJD-DV1Fluorapophyllite-(K) KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH)·8H2O , Hedenbergite CaFe2+Si2O6
Dimensions: 6.3 cm x 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm
Small, sparkly, clear to white apophyllite crystals perched on the curved terminations of green colored hedenbergite.
PP7-0EJHedenbergite CaFe2+Si2O6 , Fluorapophyllite-(K) KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH)·8H2O
Dimensions: 4.1 cm x 3.6 cm x 1.6 cm
Hedenbergite crystals with a rich green color a bit more vibrant than often seen for the species. The terminations of the crystals are curved with a glossy luster and a slight iridescence. There are micro apophyllite crystals on the surfaces of the terminations.
JVT-3PJCalcite CaCO3
Dimensions: 8.1 mm x 7.2 mm x 2.4 mm
A calcite cleavage which fluoresces orange under SW. Under visible light, the calcite is a light gray and much scuffed. Please note: the fluorescent color is a little more orange than depicted in the photo. Also, the blue veining is not as noticeable.
QJ0-9AGAndradite Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 , Epidote (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) , Calcite CaCO3 , Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 8.4 cm x 5.7 cm x 2.8 cm
Largest Crystal Size: 3.5 mm
Well formed, orange/brown colored andradite crystals with a high glossy luster The crystals are present in a thin layer of massive, white colored Calcite. There is also minor green epidote and smoky quartz. Ex. Steve Pullman obtained by trade with California Academy of Sciences, January, 2006. Collected by William J. Keith, geologist USGS, April, 1996.
T9M-Y5YWollastonite Ca3(Si3O9) , Calcite CaCO3 , Andradite Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
Dimensions: 12.3 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.4 cm
Light gray to white colored Wollastonite with interspersed veins of gray/green colored Calcite and minor orange/brown Andradite. Ex. Steve Pullman obtained by trade with California Academy of Sciences, January, 2006. Collected by William J. Keith, geologist USGS, April, 1996. Fluoresces a light yellow under both LW and SW. Child photo was taken under SW where there is also a small patch of bright green of an unidentified material.
1YC-PR7Cerussite PbCO3 , Paratacamite Cu3(Cu,Zn)(OH)6Cl2
Dimensions: 26 mm x 23 mm x 9 mm
Collected by Steve Pullman
VWK-3M6Marcasite FeS2 , Calcite CaCO3
Dimensions: 19 mm x 27 mm x 22 mm
Collected sometime in the 1960s (wrapped in newspapers from 1967) by a couple from suburban Detroit.
VH9-7QFPyrite FeS2
Dimensions: 31 mm x 23 mm x 22 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1 mm
Self collected in July of 1994. Only Pyrite specimen I have ever seen from the quarry.
