John Truax's Photo Gallery
9NJ-9LPOpal SiO2·nH2O , Opal (Var: Precious Opal) SiO2·nH2O
Dimensions: 30 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm
Field of View: 55 mm
It is unfortunate that they use a hammer to open these nearly round opal centered rocks.
This specimen is said to come from Shewa Province, Ethiopia.
A3H-KDEQuartz SiO2 , Quartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO2
Largest Crystal Size: 32 mm
Single quartz crystal found on the tailing piles.
UXG-YD3Copper Cu
Field of View: 3 mm
Copper exposed in a broken piece of basalt, found on the large rock pile where copper included agates are found.
WME-9YNQuartz SiO2 , Quartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO2
Largest Crystal Size: 30 mm
This is a polished slice of a quartz crystal. I obtained a number of single quartz crystals mined by B. Hasler and decided to saw some of them for a look inside, I then polished the faces for a clearer view of the "trapiche" pattern displayed.
MNF-LH2Precious Opal (Var: Opal Matrix) SiO2·nH2O
Dimensions: 26 mm x 26 mm x 6 mm
This is a cut slab of opal matrix, photographed in water. Saw marks are visible on this specimen and air bubbles.
Chimney Rock (2017)
Chimney Rock is now part of a 76 acre SNA (Scientific and Natural Area) managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The area is open year round for hiking, photography and exploration.
AFU-NXGThomsonite-Ca NaCa2[Al5Si5O20]·6H2O
Largest Crystal Size: 20 mm
This 20mm thomsonite nodule has been polished to reveal the colorful crystallization inside. The entire specimen is 73mm.
L3T-1M8Agate (Var: Eye Agate) SiO2
Dimensions: 13 mm x 13 mm x 13 mm
One of the many millions of agate specimens that originated in the Lake Superior region and were then distributed by glaciers. "Lake Superior agates" can be found from Canada all the way down to Kansas where they have been found in the terminal moraines.
WRU-1Q1Chalcedony (Var: Agate) SiO2 , Copper Cu
Dimensions: 03.2 cm x 2 cm
I polished the entire agate with the exception of the "eye". The unpolished area (center of the "eye") is ~0.2 cm.
Mindat.org Photo of the Day - 6th Jun 2013
KKU-NLVPumpellyite-(Mg) (Var: Chlorastrolite) Ca2MgAl2(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)2·H2O
Dimensions: 63 mm x 63 mm
Field of View: 75 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 22 mm
The state gemstone for Michigan, chlorastrolite which translated from Greek means "green star (like) stone" likely because polished specimens can be beautifully chatoyant. This polished chlorastrolite is 2.2 cm the entire piece is 6.3 cm at its greatest width.
