Rick Kennedy's Photo Gallery

A4P-UATBenitoite BaTi(Si₃O₉) , Neptunite KNa₂Li(Fe²⁺)₂Ti₂[Si₄O₁₂]₂ , Joaquinite Group, Natrolite Na₂Al₂Si₃O₁₀·2H₂O

California State Gem Mine, Santa Rita Peak, San Benito County, California, USA

Benitoite, Neptunite and Joaquinite, 3.3 X 3.0cm. A fantastic, undamaged 1.7cm Benitoite with well formed Joaquinite crystals and some small Neptunite crystals.

NY8-6G0Caledonite Pb₅Cu₂(SO₄)₃(CO₃)(OH)₆ , Leadhillite Pb₄(CO₃)₂(SO₄)(OH)₂

Reward Mine, Reward, Russ Mining District, Inyo Mts, Inyo County, California, USA

Close up view is around 3.0 X 3.0cm, specimen is 6.0 X 3.5cm. Nice vug filled with both Caledonite and Leadhillite crystals.

VY6-NV9Caledonite Pb₅Cu₂(SO₄)₃(CO₃)(OH)₆

Reward Mine, Reward, Russ Mining District, Inyo Mts, Inyo County, California, USA

Check this out, Caledonite after Galena! 2.0 X 1.8cm. I've never seen this before, but it appears to be a true pseudomorph.

YL6-J5RLeadhillite Pb₄(CO₃)₂(SO₄)(OH)₂ , Caledonite Pb₅Cu₂(SO₄)₃(CO₃)(OH)₆ , Quartz SiO₂

Reward Mine, Reward, Russ Mining District, Inyo Mts, Inyo County, California, USA

Specimen size 5.0 X 2.0cm, Leadhillite crystals with Caledonite, the best formed Leadhillite crystals I have ever found! Rediscovered this going through material I collected about three years ago.

4WN-RR1Benitoite BaTi(Si₃O₉)

California State Gem Mine, Santa Rita Peak, San Benito County, California, USA

Benitoite specimen, 6.3 X 3.7cm with crystals up to 1.5cm across.

This was found by a member of the Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society on a trip I led to the Benitoite Gem Mine in March 2007.

I etched the specimen for the owner and later he requested a trade for some facet rough I had so he could make a piece of jewelry for his wife. I was thrilled for the opportunity to obtain this specimen which in my opinion is the finest I have seen come out since the mine was sold to David Schreiner in 2005. It now resides in my personal collection.