Herkimer diamond is the misnomerous name for double-terminated quartz first discovered in exposed outcrops of dolostone at Little Falls in Herkimer County, New York and the Mohawk River Valley. They became largely recognized after workmen discovered them in large quantities while cutting into the Mohawk River Valley dolostone in the late 1700s. Geologists discovered exposed dolostone in Herkimer County and began mining there. The popularity of mining for double-terminated quartz in the Herkimer County outcroppings is what led to the name, Herkimer diamonds. Currently, Herkimer diamonds can be found in large quantity in at least Herkimer, Fulton, and Montgomery counties.
These quartz crystals, which formed extremely slowly in small pockets or vugs, have 18 facets (6 sides) and two terminations (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Fantastic cluster of equisite brilliant double terminated hexagonal Quartz Crystals (Herkimer Diamonds) on dark matrix. Very difficult to photograph - actually much better in person !!!
Nice cluster of translucent pale green Fluorite crystals with beveled edges.
Fine specimen of the botryoidal form of Hematite (Kidney Ore) with a very nice sheen.
Location of Cumbria, England
Nice specimen of shiny Native Copper from the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Old Copper Complex is a term used for ancient societies known to have been heavily involved in the utilization of copper for weaponry and tools. The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes is one of these. Great Lakes natives of the "Archaic tradition" located 99% pure copper in the area of Lake Superior, both in veins and nuggets in gravel beds. Eventually they learned to hammer the copper and produce a variety of spearpoints, tools and decorative objects. In addition to practical use, the Copper Complex peoples traded copper goods to obtain other exotic materials (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Nice plate of milky light green blades of Barite, with vitreous luster, on matrix.
The name baryte is derived from the Greek word βαρύς (heavy). In commerce, the mineral is sometimes referred to as "barytes." When the International Mineralogical Association formed in 1959 the American spelling "barite" was chosen as the official over the older "baryte". This decision was reversed in 1978 (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Rosette cluster of Selenite with
outer druze of sand.
Pretty plate of pale green Prehnite and cubic crystals of Apophyllite.
Prehnite was first discovered in South Africa by Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn, an early Dutch governor of the Cape of Good Hope colony. Prehnite was the first mineral to be named after a person.
A specimen of the recent find in Hungary of Amethyst with botryoidal- like formation on matrix.
Location of Fujian Province in China (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Very nice specimen of "Cox Comb" silvery Marcasite crystals on Dolomite.
"The most famous habit for marcasite is its "cock's comb" twinned habit. The crystals appear like a roster's head crest, hence the name. The habit is very distinctive and can not be mistaken for any other mineral" (Click here for source of quote).
Huge crystal of glassy Magnesite. Occurence of Magnesite in well formed crystals is extremely rare in general, but this size makes this specimen more so.
Gorgeous plate of cream colored Barite crystals with great luster.
A terrific 3-dimensional specimen, of light golden Pyrite cubes on nicely contrasting matrix. Note the formation in the center with three attached Pyrite cubes, each smaller than the next reaching up from the matrix. I looked at many Navajun specimens at the 2008 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show and this one most caught my eye.
Pyrite from the Navajun Mine in Spain is unique. It is the only known place in the world where pyrite forms in perfect cubic crystal shapes.
Goethite specimens are not generally known for their aesthetics, but this iridescent stalactitic specimen is certainly an exception.
Goethite, named after the German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
is an iron bearing oxide mineral.
Stunning flower-like formation of lustrous gemmy Calcite crystals from a find in China last year.
