John Betts' Photo Gallery
6QH-4Y3Galena PbS , Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 16 cm x 11 cm x 6.5 cm
Large gray metallic galena crystals up to 20 mm across with transparent colorless quartz crystals up to 24 mm long. The galena crystals exhibit hoppered growth, skeletal crystals with rounded edges that make them look like they melted.
Note the many small cavities visible throughout the galena.
Size overall: 16x11x6.5 cm
5X0-CVMGalena PbS
Solution cavity in galena that was exposed when a galena crystal cleaved. The undercut and irregular shape of the cavity is evidence that the cavity was caused by natural dissolution of the galena, not by man-made microabrasive blasting.
Field of view approximately 6 mm.
TUC-X84Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 33 mm x 18 mm x 17 mm
Doubly-terminated transparent colorless quartz crystal with flat basal pinacoid termination face (rare) on one end that has complex crystallization patterns on the surface. Many smaller quartz crystals are scattered around the sides.
33x18x17 mm
Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 1st Dec 2010
RMK-561Quartz SiO2
6.4cm long pseudomorph after epidote.
29H-GWDTourmaline A(D3)G6(Si6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Slices are 4 cm.
[Originally uploaded as liddicoatite. May be fluor-liddicoatite, liddicoatite, elbaite or other species. Single xl XRD and WDS analysis are needed to confirm which species that are present in the slices].
05G-NYUDiamond C
Dimensions: 7 mm x 7 mm x 5 mm
Overall size of mineral specimen: 7x7x5mm
1.88 carat brown octahedral crystal.
L2R-RTWQuartz SiO2
Dimensions: 15 mm x 10 mm x 9 mm
Classic Babel-Quartz specimen, a variety of quartz so named because the crystal formed in layers resembling the ancient Tower of Babel. Overall size: 15x10x9 mm Ex Ex. John A. Manley ca. 1890s
XCC-84XSkutterudite CoAs3
Dimensions: 8 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm
Heavy mass of solid skutterudite with low-relief crystals on the surfaces that were open to cavities allowing for uninterrupted growth. Overall size of mineral specimen: 8x5x3 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-5 mm.
709-KV9Copper Cu
Dimensions: 9 cm x 5 cm x 1.5 cm
Sculptural formation of native copper crystals that formed inside a thin fracture that restricted growth to a narrow width. The crystals are sharp and well defined, exhibiting spinel-law twinning. No damage. Overall size of mineral specimen: 9x5x1.5 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-4 mm.
GM7-XK2Celestine SrSO4
Dimensions: 9 cm x 7 cm x 4 cm
Medium blue crystals of translucent celestine (celestite) in complex cluster on limestone matrix. The celestine crystals are lustrous and have asymmetric beveled terminations and have partial coating of strontianite microcrystals. Good color, no damage. Overall size of mineral specimen: 9x7x4 cm. Size of individual crystals: 2-24 mm.
R96-98UFerberite FeWO4 , Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 11 cm x 5.5 cm x 3 cm
Largest Crystal Size: 8 cm
Lustrous complex crystal of black ferberite slender grouping of transparent quartz crystals. All surfaces are clean and lustrous, though the ferberite has two small contacts on one edge. Very aesthetic formation from the classic mine known for ferberite.
1X4-M06Fluorite CaF2
Dimensions: 8 cm x 4.5 cm x 4 cm
Thin plate of greenish matrix completely overgrown on all sides with gray-pink fluorite crystals up to 10 mm with scattered overgrowth of thin, rhombic crystals of colorless calcite up to 12 mm. No damage. Overall size of mineral specimen: 8x4.5x4 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-12 mm.
AK2-YNYHemimorphite Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O
Dimensions: 9.5 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm
Lustrous crystals of almost colorless hemimorphite crystals with areas of brown internal inclusions. Has copy of old label from the University of Chicago indicating it was acquired in 1963. Large crystals of this classic occurrence with small bruises. Ex. Unversity of Chicago collection. Overall size of mineral specimen: 9.5x5x4 cm. Size of individual crystals: 5-10 mm.
L71-ADQMalachite Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Dimensions: 8 cm x 4.5 cm x 3 cm
Brain-like formation of deep green malachite crystals in botryoidal formations. The surface is completely coated with sparkling malachite microcrystals. There is a partial (surface) crack on the left. Size of individual crystals: .5 mm.
VUY-N3HPyrophyllite Al2Si4O10(OH)2 , Iridescent coating
Dimensions: 7 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm
Radiating sprays of brown pyrophyllite crystals completely overgrown with iridescent hematite, variety turgite. The hematite is very colorful ranging from violet to green to blue. No damage. Overall size of mineral specimen: 7x4x3 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-4 mm.
F4V-CHMQuartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO2
Dimensions: 4.5 cm x 3 cm x 2.5 cm
Translucent crystals of purple amethyst quartz with patches of brassy metallic pyrite microcrystals overgrown on the amethyst. The amethyst crystals have circular goethite inclusions in the surface. Scattered edge chipping visible under magnification. Old collection #469. Overall size of mineral specimen: 4.5x3x2.5 cm. Size of individual crystals: .5-25 mm.
6MJ-YFGGold Au , Pyrite FeS2 , Quartz SiO2
Dimensions: 7 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm
Gray quartz matrix with brassy pyrite crystals up to 2 mm and yellow blebs of gold. The gold is visible on several sides of the specimen. Overall size of mineral specimen: 7x4x4 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-2 mm.
1PA-M3FSphalerite ZnS , Fluorite CaF2 , Pyrite FeS2
Dimensions: 12 cm x 8 cm x 6 cm
Large crystals of dark sphalerite up to 4 cm with transparent green octahedral fluorite crystals up to 15 mm with minor pyrite crystals up to 1 mm. The sphalerite crystals all show complex twinning following the Spinel-law. Ex. Dr. E. Sensel collection #RBL9; ex. Scott Williams in 1971. Overall size of mineral specimen: 12x8x6 cm. Size of individual crystals: 1-40 mm.
6CM-D05Fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F
Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 3 cm x 2.5 cm
Terminated crystal of blue fluorapatite with pyramidal termination. Though there are natural crystal imperfections, the crystal faces are lustrous. Ex. J. Cilen (1916-1997) #10474. Overall size of mineral specimen: 3.5x3x2.5 cm. Size of individual crystals: 3.5 cm.
