Bill
and Carol Smith Collection
Bill and Carol Smith are well-known authors and collectors in the Denver area. I have been helping them dispose of portions of their collection for several years. You might find anything here.
Bill and Carol Smith are well-known authors and collectors in the Denver area. I have been helping them dispose of portions of their collection for several years. You might find anything here.
Colorado
I have always specialized in Colorado minerals. Since most mining in the state is long past, many items in this gallery will be recycled from old collections, however, newly discovered specimens will also be featured.
I have always specialized in Colorado minerals. Since most mining in the state is long past, many items in this gallery will be recycled from old collections, however, newly discovered specimens will also be featured.
English
I currently have a wide selection of English minerals from several different collections that I have acquired including fine Cornish chalcocites, Weardale fluorites and an assortment of other minerals. Labeling of English localities seems to be quite inconsistent, so if you see a problem with the locality information please email me and let me know.
I currently have a wide selection of English minerals from several different collections that I have acquired including fine Cornish chalcocites, Weardale fluorites and an assortment of other minerals. Labeling of English localities seems to be quite inconsistent, so if you see a problem with the locality information please email me and let me know.
Black
Cloud Mine
The Black Cloud Mine in Leadville, Colorado was mined almost continuously for the last 30 years, but shut down for good earlier this year. I worked at this mine for about a year and a half and have ever since been interested in the barites, dolomites, sulfides, and oddities from this location.
The Black Cloud Mine in Leadville, Colorado was mined almost continuously for the last 30 years, but shut down for good earlier this year. I worked at this mine for about a year and a half and have ever since been interested in the barites, dolomites, sulfides, and oddities from this location.
Mexican
Silver Minerals
I wasn't going to start with this category, but a good friend convinced me that I should start off with some good black rocks since several of us are hooked on them. With the help of Dennis Beals I have amassed a quite impressive inventory of acanthite, stephanite, pyrargyrite, polybasite and others from Guanajuato, Fresnillo and occasionally more obscure locations.
I wasn't going to start with this category, but a good friend convinced me that I should start off with some good black rocks since several of us are hooked on them. With the help of Dennis Beals I have amassed a quite impressive inventory of acanthite, stephanite, pyrargyrite, polybasite and others from Guanajuato, Fresnillo and occasionally more obscure locations.
Sapphires
I bought this lot of sapphire crystals from a gem dealer who had been hoarding nice crystals for six years. The overall quality is outstanding. I am offering a range of sizes (TN's and miniatures) and colors (yellow, blue and red), and even some unusual growths, twins and clusters. Unless otherwise noted, every specimen is a floater and is essentially damage free. I'm sure you will enjoy the lot.
I bought this lot of sapphire crystals from a gem dealer who had been hoarding nice crystals for six years. The overall quality is outstanding. I am offering a range of sizes (TN's and miniatures) and colors (yellow, blue and red), and even some unusual growths, twins and clusters. Unless otherwise noted, every specimen is a floater and is essentially damage free. I'm sure you will enjoy the lot.
Namibian
Aquamarine
These specimens can now be found in the general gallery
These specimens can now be found in the general gallery
Japan-law
Quartz Twins
For several years I have been working with the operator of the PC Mine in Montana to sell the better Japan-law quartz twins that he recovers. The location has several styles of twins, a few different inclusions (tourmaline and mica), and the occasional gemmy sphalerite crystal. The twins are usually very gemmy and bright, and regularly have a slight smoky tinge. This gallery features twins from this location as well as a few from Peru.
For several years I have been working with the operator of the PC Mine in Montana to sell the better Japan-law quartz twins that he recovers. The location has several styles of twins, a few different inclusions (tourmaline and mica), and the occasional gemmy sphalerite crystal. The twins are usually very gemmy and bright, and regularly have a slight smoky tinge. This gallery features twins from this location as well as a few from Peru.
Inyoite
- Argentina
This lot was collected a couple years ago by a geologist friend while checking the site for mining potential. Some of the crystals are, to the best of my knowledge, among the largest ever found for the species. Although a similar occurrence in California has produced similar crystals, they are almost always completely replaced by meyerhofferite, while these range from complete replacement to gemmy crystals with only a few included meyerhofferite needles. The only other association is an occasional fuzzy white coating of ulexite.
This lot was collected a couple years ago by a geologist friend while checking the site for mining potential. Some of the crystals are, to the best of my knowledge, among the largest ever found for the species. Although a similar occurrence in California has produced similar crystals, they are almost always completely replaced by meyerhofferite, while these range from complete replacement to gemmy crystals with only a few included meyerhofferite needles. The only other association is an occasional fuzzy white coating of ulexite.
Copper
- New Mexico
These copper specimens were found by Stan Esbenshade during a collecting trip in June 2001. Stan and his partners have a collecting contract at the Chino Mine and this was the first major find of mineral specimens from that association. The discovery was of a single copper boulder composed of coarse complex crystals cemented by a frothy copper matrix that had to be broken apart to get to the specimens within. Nothing like it has been found since, and it is likely a unique find.
These copper specimens were found by Stan Esbenshade during a collecting trip in June 2001. Stan and his partners have a collecting contract at the Chino Mine and this was the first major find of mineral specimens from that association. The discovery was of a single copper boulder composed of coarse complex crystals cemented by a frothy copper matrix that had to be broken apart to get to the specimens within. Nothing like it has been found since, and it is likely a unique find.
New
"New" galleries for each month. As we update the site new items will be added to the current month's "new" gallery unless they justify a separate new gallery.
"New" galleries for each month. As we update the site new items will be added to the current month's "new" gallery unless they justify a separate new gallery.
More
New
"More new" galleries for each month. As we update the site new items will be added to the current month's "more new" gallery unless they justify a separate new gallery.
"More new" galleries for each month. As we update the site new items will be added to the current month's "more new" gallery unless they justify a separate new gallery.