Bob Griffis' Photo Gallery

8XX-76PFluorite CaF₂

Montgomery Pass, Buena Vista Mining District, Mineral County, Nevada, USA

Dimensions: 24 mm x 24 mm x 21 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 15 mm

A cluster of sharp, lustrous, translucent pale-grey cubes of Fluorite, the largest of which is 15 x 14 x 13 mm, which are partly coated with an opaque tan material, and accented with yellow-tan plates of what is likely Barite. The Fluorite is bright purple under UV. This is a choice thumbnail from an obscure Nevada locality. Found in 2016 by well-known field collector Chris Lehmann.

JKV-JWGArsenopyrite FeAsS

Concepción del Oro, Concepción del Oro Municipality, Zacatecas, Mexico

Dimensions: 47 mm x 37 mm x 33 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 19 mm

A dazzling cluster of brilliant brassy Arsenopyrite crystals to 19 mm, that are superb by any standard for the species. Crystals are of the classic monoclinic prismatic form with distinct striations. The specimen is lustrous, with the many faces really reflecting the light. This is old, classic material, seldom seen in such quality. It was held back by Ed Swoboda for nearly 20 years, when I purchased it in the early 1990s for my personal collection. This is an outstanding example of the species. ex. Ed Swoboda specimen.

U7T-WL8Siderite FeCO₃

Antler Mine, Pine Peak, Hualapai Mining District, Hualapai Mountains, Mohave County, Arizona, USA

Dimensions: 51 mm x 29 mm x 24 mm

3VR-8ALPyrite FeS₂

Oppu Mine, Nishimeya-mura, Nakatsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Dimensions: 175 mm x 110 mm x 83 mm

N5M-XQ5Hematite Fe₂O₃ , Calcite CaCO₃

Shattuck Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA

Dimensions: 49 mm x 36 mm x 33 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 4 mm

Lustrous, battleship grey Hematite in aggregates of spheroids to 4 mm almost completely cover this specimen. It is nicely accented with pinkish Calcite.

XTL-9EXHematite Fe₂O₃ , Quartz SiO₂

Big Bertha Mine, Middle Camp-Oro Fino Mining District, Dome Rock Mountains, La Paz County, Arizona, USA

Dimensions: 37 mm x 18 mm x 17 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 13 mm

Lustrous, mirror-bright black blades of Hematite to 1.3 cm are nicely accented by white micaceous Sericite and a single, clear, very sharp Quartz crystal to 9 x 3 mm

XN6-ARTFluorite CaF₂ , Baryte BaSO₄

Moffat Tunnel, Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USA

Dimensions: 146 mm x 130 mm x 70 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 4 mm

Lustrous, gemmy, lilac-purple Fluorite cubes to 4 mm partly cover several intersecting sprays of flattened, elongated, tabular, white Barite epimorphs after Laumontite(?). The contrasting colors make for a very aesthetic specimen. The perceived color of these Fluorites varies depending on the color temperature of the lighting, and these photos are a bit more violet than they appear under daylight. They are not strongly fluorescent under UV lighting. This piece is very aesthetic, displays well from all sides, and is a top example of specimens from this limited discovery.

X35-FYUMagnetite Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄ , Quartz (Var: Chalcedony) SiO₂

Iron Springs Mining District, Iron County, Utah, USA

Dimensions: 76 mm x 47 mm x 33 mm

This very unique specimen has metallic-dark-gray octahedrons of Magnetite coated with a thin layer of Quartz (var. Chalcedony) which act as the backdrop for rosettes to 10 mm of cream-colored Chalcedony. This is an exceptionally aesthetic specimen. It is free of damage, and out of several hundred of these I have never seen another like it.

6Q3-TP6Magnetite Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄ , Fluorapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃F

Iron Springs Mining District, Iron County, Utah, USA

Dimensions: 67 mm x 35 mm x 34 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 14 mm

A cluster of sharp, lustrous, metallic-dark-gray, intergrown octahedrons of Magnetite to 14 mm totally cover a matrix of solid Magnetite, accented with traces of lemon-yellow apatite. A lustrous, well-terminated, lemon-yellow crystal of Fluorapatite to 12 mm long is nestled near the center of the specimen. The luster of the Magnetite is brighter than typical for this locality. As the apatite forms first, and is later engulfed by the Magnetite, causing considerable stresses, finding intact Fluorapatites is not common. Except along the margins, this specimen is quite free of damage, and is an excellent example from this classic Utah locality.

GD2-5DYFluorite CaF₂

Afton Canyon deposit, Afton Canyon, Afton, Cady Mountains, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Dimensions: 57 mm x 46 mm x 37 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 17 mm

A very unique, stalactitic knob of lustrous, translucent, medium-green, intergrown octahedrons of Fluorite to 17 mm. These Fluorites are preferentially coated on the front with thin-films of light-colored, fine-grained Fluorite, and on the reverse with a thicker coater of the same fine-grained Fluorite. California is not known for producing Fluorite, and there are only two localities that produce green (and octahedral!) Fluorites - this locality and the Felix prospect in Azusa; both of these localities are now closed to collecting. It is free of damage. Strongly fluorescent in LW, and less so in SW, which is uncommon.