Display Shelf Rock Find

[lee]

This afternoon, I was looking over my rock displays and came across a great discovery. As some of you know, I really like double terminated crystals. For this reason, I was very happy to discover one of my specimens had a small, but perfect double perched on a bed of small quartz crystals. Boy is it nice when you can go rock hunting in your own home and find a nice crystal that you did not know you had. Below is a picture of this beauty. Has anyone else found in their collection, or in an outside surplus rock pipe, a surprise specimen that can be elevated in your display?

[ncbbqnut]

Lee,

This is a great thread to start. I collected a specimen at the old Tungsten Reef Mine in Cochise Co., Arizona in 1973 that had a tabular Epidote crystal with some quartz in a copper ore matrix. I had noticed, at the time, an area of micro crystals that I assumed were stained quartz druse. Recently, I pulled these old boxed specimens out to measure them for my mineral database. I closely examined this specimen with my 10X loupe. Those micro crystals were not quartz, but what resembled terminated Vanadinite crystals.

I was able to locate several references about the history and minerals of the Tungsten Reef Mine, and those crystals turned out to be Stolzite. Stolzite crystals are usually a few millimeters in size, and the color, crystal structure, mineral associates, and locality all point toward this being the species.

As you said, it is very rewarding to find something new in your collection that you never knew you had. It's a great feeling!

Here is a photo of the specimen. The Stolzite crystals are to the right of the broken tabular Epidote crystal.





I have not attempted to photograph the micro crystals, but it is on my list of things to do.

Peace,

Dennis

[carnelianpete]

I go to my flats in the garage every so often and have come up with a few surprises every once in a while. You just never know what you may have over looked in the rush to clean and put away the days finds. I posted this find once before. It came from a box in the basement. I know it is a UNS piece but don't know when it was found.




Nice pic and love the DT.

Pete

[Ryan]

Strange enough, Lee, you post prompted me to look over a few of my rocks and behold, I find a small green gemmy xl on a kyanite specimin of mine. I have no idea what it is. Looks like a greenish garnet but Im thinking more along the lines of olivine. Im posting a pic in the Identify thread.

[hydrogeologist]

Ryan: it's more than likely apatite. It's one of those commonly overlooked associated minerals.

[writerman2255]

I love these stories! Thanks for posting. Love and Light, Tom.