Staff Picks

This amazing specimen of Vesuvianite was collected in the now closed Jeffery Mine in Asbestos, Québec, Canada. The specimen is made up of a combination of green and mauve vesuvianite crystals also named violet manganoan vesuvianite. It is a large specimen in good condition. A great addition to any collection!

Vesuvianite was first discovered on Mount Vesuvius in Italy in the 18th century, hence its name. It typically occurs as a green, brown, yellow, or blue-green crystal, and is often found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. The alternate name, Idocrase, is from the Greek eidos “form”, and krasis “mixture”, because Vesuvianite often appears to combine the crystal forms of other minerals. It is used as a gemstone.

Name: Vesuvianite Crystal 
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions: 37x27x21 mm / 1.5x1.1x0.8 inches 
Weight: 24.35 grams / 0.8 ounces 
Origin: Mined in Jeffery Mine,  Asbestos, Québec, Canada

This is a rare and fantastic 40 gram Libyan Desert Glass from Kuffra, Libya, with dimensions of 57x39x26 mm. 

Although its exact origin is still debated, the leading theory suggests it was formed by a high-energy event, such as a meteoric impact or airburst, that melted the desert sand directly where it lay, without being ejected into the atmosphere and re-entering. This results in different physical characteristics compared to tektites​. Libyan Desert Glass is found specifically in the Great Sand Sea of the Eastern Sahara, within a more localized area spanning parts of western Egypt and eastern Libya.

Stilbite is a zeolite mineral appreciated for its delicate crystal formations and pastel hues, ranging from colorless to white, yellow, pink, and peach.  It forms distinctive tabular crystals with a bowtie or butterfly shape and exhibits a vitreous to pearly luster. Commonly found in cavities in volcanic rocks, stilbite is associated with other zeolite minerals. It is valued for its aesthetic appeal and is believed by some to have calming energy, supporting spiritual growth and emotional healing.

Name: Stilbite Crystals
Specimen Size:  Large Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions:  165x140x102mm / 6.5x5.5x4 inches
Weight: 1.17 KG /  2 Lbs 9 Ounces
Origin: Mined in Jalgaon, India

This is a superb whole specimen of the famous Northwest Africa 2965 meteorite weighing 45.89 grams and measuring 45x38x32 mm. This is a beautiful specimen from the Thomas Phillips Meteorite Collection.

This North West Africa was classified originally as an Enstatite EL6/7, then later as an EL3 and finally an EL-Melt Rock meteorite which was found along with the rest of the total mass of more than 100 Kilograms in the Algerian Desert in August 2005.  This is one of the oldest meteorites on our planet in terms of terrestrial age and has been referred to as a fossil meteorite. 

This Enstatite chondrite shock Level is minimal and weathering varies from 2 to 5. This piece displays extremely well and if cut would show a completely recrystallized enstatite chondrite with polygonal to irregular grain outlines. The grain size varies from 0.02 to 0.7 mm. Round, curved, blocky objects contain coarser-grained orthopyroxene than in the matrix. No relict chondrules were observed.

This hard to acquire piece displays very well with its prehistoric look.  This rare and quality specimen would make an amazing addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with specimen card.

Here is a truly amazing Selenite sphere from Morocco. The sphere comes from a large selenite mass of satin spar, and is partially clear (the rest is translucent), with a lovely chatoyancy.

Selenite, also known as Gypsum, is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. It is a major rock forming mineral that produces massive beds, usually from precipitation out of highly saline waters. Since it forms easily from saline water, gypsum can have many inclusions of other minerals and even trapped bubbles of air and water.

Gypsum has several variety names that are widely used in the mineral trade. "Selenite" is the colorless and transparent variety that shows a pearl like luster and has been described as having a moon like glow. The word selenite comes from the Greek for Moon and means moon rock. Another variety is a compact fibrous aggregate called "satin spar" . This variety has a very satin like look that gives a play of light up and down the fibrous crystals. A fine grained massive material is called "alabaster" and is an ornamental stone used in fine carvings for centuries, even eons.

Selenite is believed to be a calming stone that instills deep peace and is excellent for meditation.  Selenite has an ethereal quality and is said to inhabit the place between light and matter.  Although an ancient stone, it is still one of the most powerful crystals.

It is thought that Selenite can be used to form a protective grid around a house, creating a safe and quiet space that does not allow outside influences in.  A large piece of Selenite placed in the house ensures a peaceful atmosphere.

Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.

Name: Selenite Satin Spar Sphere
Dimensions: 122 mm - 4.8 inches
Weight: 2.133 kg - 4lbs 11.2oz
Origin: Midelt, Morocco

Okenite is a silicate mineral that is usually associated with zeolites. It most commonly is found as small white "cotton ball" formations within basalt geodes. These formations are clusters of straight, radiating, fibrous crystals that are both bendable and fragile.

Calcite is found throughout the world in sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Some geologists consider it to be a "ubiquitous mineral" - one that is found everywhere. Calcite is the principal constituent of limestone and marble.

Quartz crystals are among the most abundant and well-known minerals on Earth. It belongs to the hexagonal crystal system, and typically forms six-sided prismatic crystals with a pointed termination. Its crystals can be colorless or exhibit a wide range of colors. The color variations are often due to the presence of impurities or trace elements during the crystal's formation. Quartz is transparent to translucent. 

Prehnite can form prismatic, tabular, or pyramidal crystals, but usually occurs in botryoidal, reniform, stalactitic, granular, or compact habits.  It is usually green in colour, but may be white, colourless, yellow, or gray.  It has a colourless streak.  Prehnite is transparent to translucent, with a vitreous to pearly luster.  Prehnite forms in cavities in basaltic lavas.

Name: Okenite, Calcite, Quartz and Prehnite Geode
Specimen Size:  Large Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions: 120.7x88.9x76.2 mm / 4.75x3.5x3 inches
Weight: 796 Grams / 28.1 ounces
Origin: Mined in Dindoshi, India

This is a nice end cut of the Northwest Africa 978 meteorite. This is another of the great and rare meteorites from the Sahara. It is classified as a Stone, Chondrite Rumurutiite, (R3.8). This meteorite was found in 2001 in many fragments and small individuals, very fresh but sandblasted, for a low TKW of 722 grams. The Shock stage is registered at 3 and the Weathering grade at 2.

It is one of the rarest meteorite types with only 9 Rumuruti 3.8 type meteorites known,  most being found in Antarctica. This unique group of chondrites has basically no FeNi-metal in comparison to other chondrite groups. The R chondrites also have the highest 17O value of any other solar system material. This piece weighs 5.02 grams an measures 31x18x8mm. Note the flat edge of this piece is crusted, it is not a cut surface.

This hard to acquire piece displays very well with its diamond lap finish.  This high quality specimen would make an amazing addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a ELKK Meteorites and a Canagem Collection specimen cards.

This is a superb looking Arroyo Aguiar meteorite full slice weighing 11.69 grams and measuring 51x40x3 mm. This H5 chondrite classified meteorite fell in the summer of 1950.  The total weight of the single stone is 7.45 Kg.

The meteorite was seen to fall by a rancher who found it soon after.  It had penetrated some 50 cm into the soil.  The meteorite fell near the railway Station Arroyo Aguiar, La Capital Depart­ment, Santa Fe Province, Argentina.

Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.  Will come with a Canagem Collection and a Naturalia specimen card.

This is a superb looking Dhofar 221 classified meteorite weighing 66.8 grams. Its dimensions are 61x43x17 mm. This L5 classified meteorite was found in Zufar, Oman in 2000 and is 1 of 3003 approved meteorites classified as such. The total weight of the 100's of pieces recovered is recorded as a low 3.54 kg and the meteorite has a shock stage of 3 and weathering grade of 3.

This piece displays extremely well because of its beautiful crust, superb shape and is a good size. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

Here we have for you a superb looking Dhofar 020 classified meteorite weighing 73.5 grams. Its dimensions are 46x33x43 mm.  Found 10 March 2000 in Dhofar, Oman, in the Arabian Peninsula this H4/5 classified chondrite has a TKW of 256 Kg with a shock stage of S4 and weathering grade of W3 by the Russian Academy of Sciences, USSR.

The following is an excerpt from Mark Bostick's review of this meteorite:  "Dhofar 020 is a ordinary stone chondrite meteorite. The meteorite is high in free metal and therefore falls in the H class. S4 tells it is highly shocked. Slices of the meteorite, show veins of the cosmic impact created mineral Ringwoodite, although fractures in the stone tend to hide this some. It almost appears to me to have splinted upon impact. The meteorite falls in 4-5 petrology class, a reference to how metamorphed the meteorite is from its original state. This is judged by studying a thin section of the meteorite, most visually at the chondrules, a feature unique to stone meteorite. In a thin section under polarized light, pyroxene chondrules seem more common then their olivine pair. Still some regions in the meteorite show scattered patches of bright olivine inclusions. These are fairly rare, at least on my thin section, and most of the meteorite's olivine and pyroxene, some of the easier things to see in a thin section, appear to have went through a metamorphism, and have "melted" into the matrix and are at times undistinguishable."

This piece displays extremely well showing a beautiful crust, superb shape and good size. Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection. Comes with a Canagem Collection specimen card.

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.

The crystal face has been left raw on this piece to show the red and green olivine crystals which are showcased beautifully against the surrounding black lava crust. 

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

Name: Red Olivine Crystal Bomb
Specimen Size:  Large Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions: 102x67x38 mm / 4.0x2.6x1.5 Inches
Weight: 409.8 Grams / 14.5 Ounces
Details: Volcanic activity Mortlake, Victoria, Australia

Here we have for you a nice looking end cut of a Sahara Desert NWA unclassified meteorite weighing 164.9 grams. Its dimensions are 70x51x23mm. This never classified North West Africa stone was found in the Sahara desert around 2000.

It's a good quality cut NWA meteorite specimens showing interesting internal structure (L5?) and somewhat attractive with a mottled interior with chondrules and metallic flakes. Some weathering shows the meteorite's time spent aging in the desert. Displays nicely with a ground and rough polished without a mirror finish.

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