Matthew Kimball's Photo Gallery

Nice View

Route 11 road cuts, Salem, New London County, Connecticut, USA

A panoramic view from the top of one of the road cuts. Photo taken August 2014 by Daniel Kimball.

XXP-FVPQuartz (Var: Sceptre Quartz) SiO₂

Aggregate Industries Quarry, Wrentham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA

Dimensions: 2.5 cm x 1.6 cm x 1.6 cm
Largest Crystal Size: 2.2 cm

One of a number of little scepters collected in November 2014 on a Boston Mineral Club field trip. Like all the other scepters I found, the main crystal is sharp and transparent, while the stem is composed of a crude, pale amethyst crystal.

266-P57Quartz (Var: Sceptre Quartz) SiO₂

Aggregate Industries Quarry, Wrentham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA

Dimensions: 3.0 cm x 1.7 cm x 1.1 cm
Largest Crystal Size: 2.0 cm

A nice little specimen consisting of a sharp, doubly terminated quartz crystal on a crude amethyst stem. Field collected November 2014 with the Boston Mineral Club.

Y43-4HGQuartz (Var: Smoky Quartz) SiO₂ , Albite Na(AlSi₃O₈)

Middle Moat Mountain locality, Hale's Location, Carroll County, New Hampshire, USA

Dimensions: 7.3 cm x 5.6 cm x 4.4 cm

An nice specimen consisting of two smoky quartz crystals perched on pegmatite matrix. Some feathery crystals of albite are also present. Surprisingly, this specimen was found right on the surface of the tailings pile at the locality. Collected by Amy L. Kimball.

7R1-G7UMicrocline (Var: Amazonite) K(AlSi₃O₈)

Hewitt Gem Quarry, Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA

Dimensions: 8.5 cm x 6.1 cm x 6.2 cm

A well formed and largely complete crystal of pale green amazonite. Collected from the base of the back wall of the quarry pit during a Boston mineral Club field trip in October 2014.

V88-XVKTopaz Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂

South Percy Peak locality, Stratford, Coos County, New Hampshire, USA

Dimensions: 22 mm x 11 mm x 11 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 22 mm

A loose, terminated, gem topaz crystal from a classic East Coast Locality. I Purchased this specimen from Dondero's Rock Shop in North Conway, NH, while on a mineral collecting vacation in the White Mountains.

32M-QUTQuartz (Var: Amethyst) SiO₂

Diamond Hill, Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island, USA

Dimensions: 38 mm x 27 mm x 22 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 32 mm

I obtained this specimen at the 2014 Western Massachusetts Mineral Show. The termination is chipped, the color is rather pale, there are a few contact marks on one of the faces, and it has a number of internal fractures, but it's still a nice little amethyst scepter from a classic East Coast mineral locality. Contrary to popular belief, excavations at this locality continued long after the original discovery back in the 80's, the last one being back in 2012. I believe that this specimen came from one of the more recent excavations.

NDD-A5TGrossular Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Sneech Pond copper mines, Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA

Small grossular garnets with an unidentified green mineral in matrix. The specimen was collected from a small, unnamed copper prospect located along the gas pipeline near the main copper mine. Larger crystal in center measures roughly 3mm in diameter. Specimen cleaned with Super Iron Out.

Pocket in Quartz Vein

Quartz Crystal prospect, Holbrook, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA

View of a small pocket in a quartz vein running through a bedrock exposure. The pocket was weathered out and contained nothing interesting, but it's a good sign! Note 3lb. crack hammer for scale. Photo taken spring 2013.

Flooded Quarry Pit

Turner Mine, Marlow, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA

Close up view of the back wall of the flooded quarry pit. Drill marks are visible in the left half of the picture. Photo taken on a trip with the Boston Mineral Club in the summer of 2013.