Crystals & Minerals

Pseudomorphs are mineral specimens that have the external shape of one mineral but are composed of another.  The pseudomorph goethite after marcasite forms when marcasite is exposed to oxidizing conditions and starts to oxidize and break down. As the marcasite breaks down, goethite replaces it in the crystal structure, preserving the shape of the original marcasite crystal. The resulting specimen appears as a marcasite crystal, but is actually composed of goethite.

The Farafra Oasis, in the White Desert, has been known for a number of years to deliver incredible pseudomorph specimens. The pseudomorphs occur within the Cretaceous Khoman Chalk, from which the White Desert derives its name.

This specimen is remarkable for its relatively sharp and bladed marcasite crystal form.  It is in excellent condition.  

Name: Goethite After Marcasite Pseudomorph
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized Specimen
Dimensions:  36x33x27 mm / 1.4x1.3x1.1 inches
Weight: 42 grams / 1.5 ounces 
Origin: White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Egypt

An olivine volcanic bomb is a type of volcanic rock that contains olivine crystals and has been ejected during a volcanic eruption. Olivine is a mineral that is commonly found in the Earth's mantle and is one of the first minerals to crystallize as magma cools.

Volcanic bombs are large clots of lava that are ejected from a volcano during an explosive eruption. They can vary in size, and their shapes are often streamlined due to their molten nature as they are thrown through the air. When these volcanic bombs contain olivine crystals, they are referred to as olivine volcanic bombs.

This beautiful slice is completely surrounded by a lava crust and has been polished on both sides. 

Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Name: Olivine Volcanic Bomb Slice  
Specimen Size:  Cabinet-Sized  
Dimensions: 62x44x12 mm / 2.4x1.7x0.5 Inches  
Weight:  58.6 Grams / 2.1 Ounces  
Details: Volcanic activity Mortlake, Victoria, Australia  

Grossular garnets are a variety of garnet known for their diverse range of colors, transparency, and wide occurrence across different geological settings. The grossular garnet specimens from Lake Jaco, Chihuahua, Mexico are renowned for their classic crystal shape and attractive yellow-green coloration.  These particular clusters are beautiful and intricate formations.

Garnets are believed to have properties associated with vitality, courage, and creativity. They are thought to bring balance and stability.

Name: Grossular Garnet Crystal Cluster
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions: 44x36x32 mm / 1.7x1.4x1.3 inches 
Weight:   53.8 grams / 1.9 Ounces
Origin: Lake Jaco, Mexico

Grossular garnets are a variety of garnet known for their diverse range of colors, transparency, and wide occurrence across different geological settings. The grossular garnet specimens from Lake Jaco, Chihuahua, Mexico are renowned for their classic crystal shape and attractive yellow-green coloration.

Garnets are believed to have properties associated with vitality, courage, and creativity. They are thought to bring balance and stability.

Name: Grossular Garnet Crystal
Specimen Size:  Thumbnail-Sized
Dimensions: 27x24x19 mm / 1.1x0.9x0.7 inches 
Weight:  22.5 grams / 0.8 Ounces
Origin: Lake Jaco, Chihuahua, Mexico

Named for Ernst Ludwig, an Austrian Professor of Chemistry at the University of Vienna in Austria who was the first to analyze the type material. Ludwigite is a somewhat uncommon, but widespread mineral that can be found in Romania, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, Russia, Iran, the United States, Canada, and North Korea, among others. Typically, Ludwigite occurs in magnesian iron skarn and in contact metamorphic deposits. It is likely that Ludwigite is weakly ferromagnetic, a naturally permanent magnet.

In this specimen, multiple layers of compact black fans and patches of Ludwigite in a greenish white matrix, possibly another borate mineral.  This specimen from the Mountain Lake Mine is an interesting addition to any mineral collection.

Name: Ludwigite
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions:  49x49x45 mm / 1.9x1.9x1.8 inches
Weight:  171 Grams / 6.0 ounces
Origin:  Mined in Mountain Lake Mine (Jack Mine), Great Western Mine Group, Brighton, Big Cottonwood Mining District, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

This is a fantastic crystallized chalcopyrite matrix core sample.   The specimen is rounded with brassy chalcopyrite, pyrite and grossular crystals.  The Grasberg mine has the single largest known gold reserve and the second largest copper reserves in the world. It is located 96km north of Timika, at Tembagapura in Irian Jaya – the most easterly of Indonesia’s provinces – on the western half of the island of New Guinea.  The mine stands at the collision of the Indo-Australian and the Pacific tectonic plates.

The Grasberg minerals district includes open-pit and underground mines.  The mining of the final phase of the Grasberg open pit was completed in 2019 and the mine transitioned from open-pit mining to large-scale underground mining. 

A mine core sample is a cylindrical piece of rock, often several inches in diameter, extracted from the earth by a drilling rig to explore for pyrite deposits. These samples are used to physically examine the rock's geology, identify different mineral types like pyrite, and measure their abundance and distribution. Core samples are critical for determining the economic viability of a mine and are analyzed using methods such as visual inspection, microscopic examination, and chemical techniques.

This top specimen is in perfect condition. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.

Name: Chalcopyrite, Pyrite and Grossular Core Sample
Specimen Size:  Cabinet-Size
Dimensions: 67x33x21 mm / 2.6x1.3x0.8 inches
Weight: 81 Grams / 2.8 oz
Origin: Mined in Grasberg Open Pit Copper Mine, Tembagapura, Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Peruvian pyrite is famous worldwide for its well-formed, highly lustrous crystals. The country is one of the top sources for high-quality pyrite specimens, particularly from the Huanzala Mine in the Áncash Region and the Quiruvilca Mine in La Libertad. These locations produce stunning pyritohedral crystals, often found in association with quartz, sphalerite, and galena.   The entire top of the specimen is covered with many sharp brassy pyrite crystals with some smaller white quartz crystals.

The term “pyritohedral” refers to a specific crystal habit that pyrite (and occasionally other minerals) can form. In this structure, the crystal takes on a polyhedral shape with 12 faces. However, unlike a perfectly symmetrical shape with identical pentagonal faces, natural pyritohedral crystals often exhibit slight irregularities or distortions in their faces.

Pyrite is known as a stone of protection, abundance, and confidence.  It is believed to shield against negative energy and promote mental clarity and willpower. 

This great Peruvian specimen is in very good condition.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.

Name: Pyrite Cluster 
Specimen Size:  Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions: 75x55x44 mm / 3.0x2.1x1.7 inches 
Weight: 267 Grams / 9.4 oz 
Origin: Mined in Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad, Peru

Cubic and crystallized pyrite matrix with some calcite zones. This top Peruvian specimen, in a spectacular sculpted shape, is in very good condition. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.

Name: Pyrite with Calcite Crystal Cluster
Specimen Size:  Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions:  93x65x48 mm / 3.7x2.5x1.9 inches
Weight: 366 Grams / 12.9 oz
Origin: Mined in Peru

Sulfohalite is a rare sodium sulfate mineral containing chlorine, fluorine, sulfur, and sodium, and is highly sought after by mineral collectors at Searles Lake, California. It is known for forming small, often transparent to translucent, yellow-green octahedral or dodecahedral crystals, often appearing as two pyramids stacked base-to-base. 

Searles Lake, located east of Trona in San Bernardino County, California, is the type locality for sulfohalite, where it was first described by Hidden and MacKintosh in 1888. It is found within the evaporite sediments of the Searles Lake basin.  While sometimes found in abundance, it can be rare and hard to find in other years, making it a prized specimen during collection events. Usually colorless, gray, or greenish-yellow, often with a greenish-brown tint.  Typically occurs as yellow-greenish octahedral crystals.  Crystals are generally small (thumbnail or micro size). 

Name: Sulfohalite Crystal
Specimen Size:  Thumbnail-Sized
Dimensions: 34x34x35 mm / 1.3x1.3x1.4 inches  (incl box) 
Weight: 10.7 Grams / 0.4 ounces (incl box) 
Origin: Searls Lake, Trona, California

This is a 45.4 gram lot of beautiful tumbled Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan.  There are 5 pieces that range in size from approximately 21-33x12-19 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.

Lapis lazuli is a vivid blue metamorphic rock and a gemstone that has been prized for its intense color and historical significance for thousands of years.  It's composed of lazurite (for the blue color), calcite, sodalite, and pyrite. It is the presence of pyrite that causes the gold-colored flecks or veins in the stone.  It has a moderate hardness, typically ranging from 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale.  High-quality lapis lazuli has been historically sourced from mines in Afghanistan; however, other deposits are found in countries such as Russia, Chile, Italy, and the United States.

Lapis lazuli is believed to promote self-awareness and mental clarity.