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MAY 2005 OFFER SHEET
We recently picked up four large matrix pieces of vanadinite, our
November 2001 featured mineral. Each is on a thick matrix, more than 6" across,
4" high, and 2" thick, with hundreds of drusy crystals almost completely
covering the surface, for $48.
We still have a good selection of the other rare phosphate minerals from the
Yukon, and we’ve put together a two-page write-up with information on these five
minerals, to send with any of the following:
Lazulite [MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2] is the most beautiful and desirable of the
rare phosphates found here. The MR says: “No other locality in the world has
produced specimens of comparable quality and quantity.” The Yukon government
proclaimed it the “official gemstone of the Yukon” in February 1976. Our pieces
are on matrix up to about 3" by 1½”, each with a number of lush, intensely
beautiful dark blue crystals about ⅛” to ¼” across for $24, and $30.
Gormanite [Fe2+3Al4(PO4)4(OH)6⋅ 2H2O] is one of the minerals first
discovered at Big Fish River. It forms as flattened, blue, radial sprays on
fracture surfaces and as radial aggregates of blue-green crystals. Again our
pieces are on matrix up to about 3" by 1½”, for $24, and $30.
Next is Wardite [NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4⋅2H2O], of which the MR says: “No other
locality has produced such an abundance of fine specimens.” Wardite forms here
as colorless to white, pale yellow to brown crystals with a pronounced
pseudo-octahedral habit. Our specimens are on matrix up to about 3" by 1½”, for
$24, $30, and $36, according to quality.
“The discovery of Arrojadite [KNa4Ca(Fe2+Mn2+)14Al(PO4)12(OH,F)] in the
Yukon is significant because it marks the first time this species has ever been
found outside a granite pegmatite environment, and it represents the second
known occurrence of individual, euhedral crystals,” says the MR. We have pieces
on matrix up to about 1½” by 1½”, with clusters of very small, olive-green
arrojadite crystals for $30, and $40.
Finally, we obtained a few pieces of Whitlockite [Ca9Mg(PO3OH)(PO4)6] as
flat, translucent white crystals on matrix on matrix up to about 2" by 1" for
$24, and a couple of pieces twice that size for $48.
We got a great price on a large lot of Brazilian amethyst in Tucson, and
we’re slowly unpacking the boxes– there are some real beauties here of the
mineral we featured in December 1996. These have large crystals and intense
color, on the basalt matrix common to Brazil. Specimens are about 4" by 3" for
$30, with smaller pieces for $16, $20, and $24, and larger display pieces up to
about 7" by 4" for $40, $50, and $60.
New lots of previously featured minerals we’ve recently received include
Apatite, from Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada, featured in October 1998. These
are translucent green crystals with natural terminations of a melted appearance
on a matrix of white fluorescent calcite. We have crystals up to 1" on small
matrix for $12, and Deluxe-size pieces for $22.50, along with bigger, very high
quality specimens for $75, $100, and $120.
Moldavite, our December 2001 featured stone (we had to say stone rather
than mineral, as moldavite is the most beautiful kind of tektite, natural glass
produced by a meteorite fall in southern Germany, the force of which melted
surface rock and flung it into the atmosphere [and some scientists believe, into
space], before falling to Earth in the Czech Republic. These are pieces of very
pure natural glass, bottle-green in color, with neat shapes showing the pitting
and grooving caused by ablation as they fell through the atmosphere. The
write-up explains in detail how these formed. We have exceptional pieces from ¾”
by ¾” up to about 1¼” by ¾” for $24, $28, $32, $36, $40, and $48, depending on
size.
More of the Dendrites in silty limestone, from Germany, that look like
bushes and tree branches in stone, cut slabs about 3" by 3" for $8, $10, and $12
Other new finds we have recently received are Prehnite, from a new find
in Mali, Africa. Specimens consist of a thick botryoidal coating of very pretty,
light green prehnite, about 3½” by 2" for $36 and $48 by size and quality, with
the very best for $80.
Also, Microcline variety Amazonite from a new find in Ethiopia (boy we
would love to be able to get enough specimens to feature both these new finds,
but it’s highly unlikely)! These are well-formed, light greenish-blue crystals
with no matrix, up to about 1½” by 1" for $16, $24, and $30, with matrix pieces
up to about 4" by 4" covered in crystals for $120, and the best for $300.
From Baja California, Mexico, we obtained a small lot of Almandine
garnets, our March 1997 featured mineral (they were from Wrangell, Alaska) as
large single crystals of brownish-red color, no matrix, about 1" to 2" in
diameter for $8, $12, $14, $16, $18, $20, $22.
And from Bou Azzir, Morocco, very beautiful crystals of Erythrite with
deep magenta color, as subparallel groups of thin crystals on matrix from 1¾” by
1¾” to 2" by 2" for $14, $16, $18, $20, and $24, and large matrix pieces up to
3" by 4" for $30, $36, and $60.
With few exceptions, we don’t see many minerals from European localities
offered, so we are happy when we get a chance to pick up a few, including the
following rare minerals. These are not highly attractive specimens, more of
interest because of their rarity and/or crystal forms– you’ll need your 10x
loupe to really appreciate these. All come mounted in plastic specimen boxes
used by many European collectors, so they display nicely:
Vantasselite [Al4(PO4)3(OH)3⋅9H2O], another rare phosphate, from its type
locality in Belgium, as very small sprays of radiating light blue crystals on
matrix, pieces about 1" by 1" for $22 and about 2" by 1" for $32.
Very rare and extremely small crystals of Turquoise
[Cu2+Al6(PO4)4(OH)8⋅4H2O], another phosphate that is not so rare in its massive,
gemstone form, but is quite rare as crystals as these are. You’ll need your 10x
loupe to see these 1mm crystals well, on 2" by 1" matrix, for $20.
From the famous Laurium Mine in Greece, we have a few specimens of
Annabergite Ni3(AsO4)2⋅8H2O], which coincidentally forms a series with
erythrite that we’re also offering. These are very small but very pretty
crystals of a malachite-green color on matrix about 1" by 1" for $16.
Also from Laurium, again very pretty but very small, is the Cuprian variety
of Adamite, tiny translucent green crystals on brown matrix– cuprian adamite
doesn’t fluoresce. We have specimens with lots of little crystals on 1" by 1"
matrix for $8, with larger matrix pieces for $16 and $26.
Manadonite [Li2Al4((Si4AlB)O10)(OH)8, an analog of amesite, from its type
locality in Madagascar, as brownish globules on matrix up to about 2" by 1" for
$32.
We also got a small lot of Variscite, our April 2000 featured mineral,
from Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah. These are much larger than what we sent Club
members that month, nodules that have been cut open with the interior surface
coated rather than polished, which is much more cost effective, to highlight the
creamy green color characteristic of this rare phosphate. We have pieces from
about 3½” by 3" to 4½ by 3½” for $30 and $36 by size.
The Chrysocolla with Drusy Quartz, our April 1999 featured mineral, we
offered last year was so popular that we obtained another lot. Our April 1999
pieces were from the Ray Mine, Pinal County, Arizona, a huge copper mine that is
not currently producing any chrysocolla; these specimens are from Ludwig, Lyon
County, Nevada. These bright blue specimens, about 2" by 2" in size are offered
for $8 and $10, with larger pieces from 2" by 3" for $16 and up to 4" by 4" and
bigger for $24.
Highly fluorescent fluorite from the Rogerley Mine, England, our March
2002 featured mineral. These are so sensitive that the UV rays in sunlight will
turn the corners of the crystals blue! We have Deluxe-size specimens for $22.50,
and bigger/better crystallized pieces for $25, $35, $40, $60, $75
VESUVIANITE, OUR MARCH 2000 FEATURED MINERAL We mentioned a couple of
months ago that the Jeffrey Mine in Quebec, Canada, is closing, so these
vesuvianites will soon become a thing of the past. We picked up a lot of sharp
green crystals with good terminations, about 1" high and more, mounted on
plastic stands so they display well, for $15, $20, $25, $30, $35, $40 and $50
for the biggest and best.
From Australia comes “Rain Forest Jasper,” a pretty name for a pretty
green rhyolite with brown and clear zones of chalcedony throughout, many of
which fluoresce bright green under shortwave UV light. The fluorescence is
caused by a few parts per million on uranium in the stone, which will also
register on a Geiger counter, so use common sense when deciding to order one. We
have 1½” spheres for $12, 2" spheres for $16, and 2" by 1½” eggs for $18.
Another unusual stone from Australia is called “Tiger Iron”, because it’s
a combination of gray hematite, red jasper, and yellow tigereye. We have 1½”
spheres for $12, 1¾” by 1¼” eggs for $12, and 2" by 1½” eggs for $16; larger,
heavier 3" spheres for $84; bigger, for $100 and $180. (Call or E-mail about big
spheres.)
“Printstone” is an Australian stone consisting of mineral-stained silt,
with shades of creamy pink and earthy red, and streaks of dark brown running
throughout. We have it in 2" by 1½” eggs for $16; and 3" spheres for $60, and
bigger spheres for $96 and $120. (Call or E-mail about big spheres.)
And the best for last: “Peanutwood” is a brown petrified wood with a
difference: each piece has openings made my marine borer worms, naturally filled
in by white silt of some kind! So unusual that Rock & Gem magazine did an
article about it– we’ll try to find it and make copies to go with the eggs we
have, a little pricier because of their rarity. We have 2" by 1½” eggs for $30,
and about 2¼” by 1½” for $36.
We also have a few minerals from Russia we weren’t able to get onto last month’s
Offer Sheet, including: Grossular garnets, small peachy-colored crystals
on matrix from the Bazhenovskoe deposit, Ural Regions, Russia. We have matrix
pieces up to 2" by 2" with lots of very small crystals for $15, $20, $25
Titanite from the Polar Urals. Sprays of sharp gray crystals jutting up
from matrix about 2" by 2" for $20, $25, $30, $40, and $45. The gem variety of
titanite is known as sphene.
Ferro-axinite from Dalnegorsk, Russia. We have small, dark brown crystals
in clusters about 1" by 1" for $6, and slightly bigger for $12, $15, $20, $25,
and $30.
Lorenzenite [Na2Ti2Si2O9] as sharp black orthorhombic crystals frozen in
matrix, from the mineral-rich frozen tundra of the Kola Peninsula, Russia, as ½”
long crystals on matrix for $6
Epidote as small sprays of lovely green color, similar to the color and
translucense of moldavite, on matrix with pretty, clear needle quartz. We have
pieces on matrix about 2" by 1½” to 3" by 2" for $20, $25, $28, $40, and $50.
And Rutile [TiO2] as small grey crystals with metallic luster on matrix from
Azerbaijan. We have matrix pieces up to about 2½” by 2" with lots of sharp
crystals about 1/16" to 1/8" for $40.
Also, smoky quartz crystals with small anatase crystals on them, from the
Polar Urals. We have crystals about from about 2" long and ¾” wide to 3" by 1½”
for $15, $18, $20, $22, $25, and $35. Each has many minute anatase crystals on
it.
Eudialyte, our April 2001 featured mineral, from Kipawa Complex,
Villedieu Township, Quebec, Canada. Mining was underway when we featured this
pretty pinkish-red granular mineral, but has since ceased, so supplies will
dwindle as the years pass. We picked up a small lot of pieces about 2" by 2" for
$12.
Cavansite, our April 1996 featured mineral, from Pune, India. These
are bright blue balls of radiating crystals about ½” wide on matrix up to about
2" by 2", for $22.50–3 left.
Apophyllite, our June 1996 featured mineral, also from India, as gemmy,
translucent, pale green crystals about 1" long with white stilbite or heulandite
crystals on matrix up to 2" by 3" for $22.50– 2 left.
Pyrite from Navajun, La Rioja, Spain, our March 1996 featured mineral
(our first month). We picked up some graduated sets of the near perfect cubes,
as follows: 15 graduated cubes from 1/16" to 3/4" for $60; 17 graduated cubes
from 1/16" to 1" for $90; or 20 graduated cubes from 1/16" to 1¼" for $150. Lay
these in a row and they make quite an amazing display!
Quartz, variety rock crystal, our December 1998 featured mineral, from
Minas Gerais, Brazil. We picked out a new lot of pretty polished mostly-clear
quartz crystals, with their bottoms cut flat, so they will sit perfectly on the
rotating LED light stands we offer for $29.95. We have crystals up to 4" high
and 1¾” across for $24, with taller crystals for $26, $28, and $30, and larger
crystals for $50, $60, $75, and $90.
Instant collection! A flat with 54 different minerals and rocks,
everything from opal to tinchalconite, to epidote to rose quartz, all nicely
mounted in 1" by 1" boxes. Each flat is slightly different, with specimens
mostly from the western U.S. augmented by world localities, for $78.
SPECIAL PACKAGE PRICE ON JUNIOR-SIZE SPECIMENS. Buy any 12 for $5 each and get
two free; buy any 24 for $4 each and get four free; Buy 36 for $3 each and get 6
free. We have these available: azurite, vivanite, kyanite, dravite, biotite,
rhodochrosite, sulfur, amethyst “Cactus” quartz, cinnabar, aragonite, peridot,
chalcopyrite, pyrite, glendonite, tourmaline, rhodonite, scepter quartz,
fluorapatite, magnetite, colemanite, aurichalcite, grossular, conichalcite,
cobaltoan dolomite, pyromorphite, actinolite, eudialyte, malachite, barite,
vanadinite, dioptase, trona, gypsum, topaz, dolomite, celestite, jarosite,
hemimorphite, spinel, tektite. Please indicate a couple of extra choices, so we
can substitute in case we run short of any.
In the April newsletter, we gave a brief history of the specimens we picked out
from the Don Boydston collection, and we are happy to make these available to
you. We are going to make a separate list of these, and send it only to those
who request the list– please E-mail us, write us, or call us on our Club
member’s toll-free number, 1-800-941-5594 to request it. Many of the specimens
come with their original label, some showing what Mr. Boydston originally paid
for them– you may be shocked by how little some then sold for! Of course,
everything was a lot less expensive in the 1940's-1960's, but the way many of
the pieces have grown in value may encourage you to look at your collection as
an investment as well as a hobby.
✂----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As always, U.S. shipping is included, satisfaction is guaranteed, anything
ordered will be shipped with your next mineral specimen, and we’ll send the
corresponding write-ups for minerals previously featured in the Club. Not
responsible for typographical errors! E-mail, fax or call us at 1-800-941-5594
to order or mail in this form:
Quantity Item Price Each Amount
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Subtotal _______
Cal. residents, please add 7.25% sales tax _______
Total _______
Name:__________________________
□ Bill me □ Check enclosed □ Charge it to the credit card you have on file
Richard & Cheryl Sittinger, Mineral of the Month Club, 1770 Orville Avenue,
Cambria, CA 93428
1-800-941-5594, Richard@Mineralofthemonthclub.org, www.mineralofthemonthclub.org,
Fax: 805.927.2224
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