World class Epidotes and associated minerals from one of the most challenging locations for collecting - Green Monster Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
Epidote with Quartz twin from Green Monster Mountain, Alaska
Stunning Tourmalines from Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego Co., California
The case of Tourmalines from Himalaya Mine, California
A statistical graph of Tourmalines from Himalaya Mine, with a cross shaped specimen in the back.
Another beauty from Himalaya Mine.
Superb Fluorite specimens and associated minerals from the Illinois Fluorspar District, Hardin and Pope Counties, Illinois.
A close up of the case, with some unusual shaped dark Fluorites at the rear, and a large Witherite specimen at the (almost) front right.
More from Illinois, I love the purple Fluorite pair at the front left, like a pair of spectacle-rimmed eyes.
The Famous 'Kelly Blue' Smithsonites from the Magdalena District, New Mexico - some of the best specimens around.
Its not all about the Smithsonite - other mineral wonders from the Magdalena Mining District.
The Keweenaw Pennisular, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior - famous for Copper and Silver specimens, including some awesome 'half breeds' of Copper and Silver in one specimen, the amazing Copper in Calcites, and some really attractively coloured Datolite specimens.
A superb Silver specimen from Michigan
Azurite and Malachite specimens from much sought after location of Morenci Mine, Greenlee County, Arizona
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Beautiful Malachite and Azurite specimens from Morenci Mine, Arizona
A case of bright orange Wulfenite specimens from Old Yuma Mine, Pima Co., Arizona.
Beautifully coloured Amazonite and Smoky Quartz specimens from Pike's Peak, Park and Teller Co., Colorado.
Sigh.. definitely one I would love in my collection!! Currently in the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences.
Ray Mine, Pinal Co., Arizona - known from super Copper specimens (central back shelf), Chrysocolla (such as back shelf left hand side), Cuprite (middle shelf centre) and beautiful bright orange Cuprite in Calcites (middle shelf - right hand side).
Several shelves of bright orange red Wulfenites from Red Cloud Mine, La Paz Co., Arizona, regarded by many as the most desirable example of Wulfenite. Crystals range up to about 5cm width.
Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California, producer of the best Benitoite and Neptunite specimens.
Stunning Benitoite specimens - the one on the left is 'the Wreath', the specimen on the cover of the latest Mineralogical record, Jan-Feb 2008, Vol 39, No. 1. It measures 6cm across and is housed in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Tourmalines, Beryl and Spodumene var. Kunzite of the Pegmatite mines of the Peninsular Ranges of Southern California. The first recognised occurrence of the Kunzite variety of Spodumene occurred within a mine in Pala Co., California.
A second case of Tourmaline, Beryls, Spodumene and some wicked Garnets (front right) from the Peninsular Ranges, Southern California.
Just look at the gorgeous colour of these Spessartines on Albite from Little Three Mine, Ramona District, San Diego Co., California.
I have already pictured the 'Alma Queen' Rhodochrosite in the last show report, and this was the very impressive case of specimens from Sweet Home Mine, Colorado.
Mouth watering Rhodochrosite specimens, some with purple Fluorite, white Quartz, and dark Sulphides from Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park Co., Colorado.
The 'Alma Queen' is the specimen with the very large single crystal at the central front.
On to the Tourmalina Queen Mine, Pala, San Diego Co., California - this piece is known as the 'Candelabra', and had a case all to itself...
'The Candelabra' Tourmaline from the Tourmaline Queen Mine. It is approximately 25cm wide, and is currently in the collection of the Smithsonian.
The multi-million dollar case of blue cap Tourmalines from the Tourmaline Queen Mine. This was truly a jaw-dropping case to see so many blue caps together! Stunning.
My favourite from the case, blue cap Tourmaline with Morganite crystals.
Another stunning specimen, Tourmaline with Quartz.
Red Beryl from the Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver Co., Utah and and Topaz from Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah.
Red Beryls from Harris Mine, Violet Claims, Wah Wah Mtns
More Red Beryls
Topaz specimens from Thomas Range, Utah
Case of Amethyst from Denny Mountain, King Co., Washington and Pyrite from Spruce Ridge, King Co., Washington.
So that brings us to the end of the displays of mineral from locations around the USA. There were of course lots of other displays at the show including the competition cases, and informative cases, such as one on the different types of pseudomorphs. The following are just a few of the other exhibits around the show.
Collector Jim Robison had a wonderful display case of Smithsonites from Tsumeb. The variety of size, shape and colour of crystals is just astounding. Smithsonite in its pure state is colourless, so different impurities such as copper, cadmium, cobalt etc are attributed to different colours.
MAD - the Mineralogical Association of Dallas - put together this impressive 'Red, White and Blue' display of minerals from around the world.
Specimens each with their own painting, by mineral artist Gamini Ratnavira.
And to finish, with just a bit of imagination -
Marylin Monroe captured in a fossilised wood slice.
