Arthur Koch's Photo Gallery

N7Q-MHLAlmandine Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Woodlawn Quarry, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Almandine on Muscovite; crystal 1.5 cm x 1.3 cm; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

Most crystals from the former mine exhibit a modified dodecahedron habit. However, a few show the more classic sharp faces and the dodecahedral shape. The luster of this crystal is also excellent compared to most from the site. Part of my collection.

XVP-07DAlmandine Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Woodlawn Quarry, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Almandine; crystal 2.6 cm x 2.1 cm; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

After being freed from surrounding muscovite that was decaying, this crystal exhibits very interesting growth patterns from the layers of mica it had butted up against. Also a very large garnet for the locale and part of my collection.

7HM-AXQAlmandine Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ , Muscovite KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

Woodlawn Quarry, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Almandine on Muscovite; crystal 2.4 cm x 2.0 cm, matrix 3.7 cm long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

This is another nice matrix garnet, and is also one of the biggest garnets from the site. It's part of my personal collection.

H5K-NMHAlmandine Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ , Muscovite KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

Woodlawn Quarry, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Almandine on Muscovite; crystal 2.9 cm x 2.1 cm, matrix 10.0 cm long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

A piece proudly displayed in my personal collection, this is by far the best recovered from the site (as far as I know). Although not of the best color for garnet, this is the largest crystal I recovered from a place where garnets are considered a rare find in small crystals. Also, the matrix of muscovite is extremely fresh for the location and is a nice silver color. Overall a very asthetic piece that displays beautifully and 3-dimensionally.

RTJ-1C9Schorl NaFe²⁺₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH) , Muscovite KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂ , Quartz SiO₂

Ray Mica Mine, Hurricane Mountain, Burnsville, Yancey County, North Carolina, USA

Schorl on/in Muscovite on Quartz; crystal 2.6 cm x 0.2 cm, matrix 4.6 cm long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

Part of my NC collection, this is a good example of the intergrowth between the schorl tourmaline and muscovite that can be found at the mine and other locales in the North Carolina mountains.

2FG-D2MBeryl Be₃Al₂(Si₆O₁₈) , Muscovite KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂ , Quartz SiO₂

Ray Mica Mine, Hurricane Mountain, Burnsville, Yancey County, North Carolina, USA

Beryl with Musovite in Quartz; crystal 3.4 cm (both parts combine) x 1.7 cm, matrix 6.0 cm long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

A nice but not terminated green beryl crystal with some accessory muscovite. I'm uncertain as to whether these are two separate crystals, or one that broke apart at some point during formation.

C3E-PREPyrite FeS₂

Interstate highway 83 roadcut, Leaders Heights, York County, Pennsylvania, USA

Pyrite; main crystal just over 1/2" x 3/8"; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

Another from my personal collection, this is another pair of penetrators. This is as large as the penetrators typically get. Like a lot of crystals from the site there is a bit of oxidation.

LQD-2G6Pyrite FeS₂

Interstate highway 83 roadcut, Leaders Heights, York County, Pennsylvania, USA

Pyrite on Shale; main crystal just over 5/8" x 1/2", matrix 6" long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

This represents a relatively rare pair of penetrating pyrite crystals from the site. Part of my personal collection, it is the best example I have seen from the roadcut.

WDA-E5YPyrite FeS₂

Interstate highway 83 roadcut, Leaders Heights, York County, Pennsylvania, USA

Pyrite on Shale; crystal 2.5 cm x 1.8 cm, matrix 9.5 cm long; collector/photographer Arthur Koch

Currently in my personal collection, this repaired pyrite crystal represents one of the largest found from the locality (possibly the largest), and the largest on matrix I know of.