Category: Minerals

Native Copper (Michigan)

1/2/2023

Native copper from the Allie Gale collection
Locality: Phoenix Mine, Keweenaw Co., Michigan
Dimensions: ~ 5 cm

Click on images to enlarge.

Calcite (Bulgaria)

12/24/2022

Calcite #090
Locality: Madan Krushev dol Mine, Bulgaria
Dimensions: 7.5 x 3.5 x 3.3 cm

Microcline

12/6/2022

Microcline (Feldspar) #092
Locality: Jefferson County, Colorado
Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.8 x 3.5 cm

Cinnabar

11/4/2022

Cinnabar #073
Locality: Durango, Mexico
Dimensions: 13.6 x 9.3 x 1 cm

Pyrophyllite

11/3/2022

Pyrophyllite #188
Locality: Mariposa County, California
Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.8 x 2.5 cm

Collected in the 1940s.

Rutile with hematite

11/1/2022

Rutile with hematite #193
Locality: Brazil
Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 4 mm

Kakortokite

8/6/2022

Kakortokite #398
Eudialyte and arfvedsonite in nepheline.
Locality: Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland
Dimensions: approx. 4 cm

Wavellite

7/13/2022

Wavellite #085
Locality: Mauldin Mountain Quarries, Arkansas
Dimensions: 11.5 x 6.5 x 6 cm

Last summer (2022) I heard about a location in Oklahoma where people could dig for "hourglass selenite"-- selenite with sand and silt inclusions. After doing some research, I discovered the place wasn't too far of a drive from where I live in Texas.

The salt flats are only open April through part of October, with the other months closed to protect migratory birds at the adjacent wildlife refuge, but crystal digging is free (with some stipulations) and I'm always eager for a geology trip.

Driving onto the salt plains, areas were marked off where digging was allowed that season. These areas get changed periodically to protect the land. The entire salt flat area felt eerily like a giant beach with no ocean; considering this was underwater at one point, I suppose it was fitting.

Digging was easy, but dirty and addictive. I had convinced my mom to come with me for this adventure (we camped at the nearby state park the night before) and, although neither of us found any exceptionally large crystals, we both found several nice ones.