Within the Bancroft Area, the Tory Hill vein-dikes have produced superb specimens of many minerals, including titanite, fluorapatite, fluoro-richterite and ferri-fluoro-katophotrite. Many now grace museums and private collections around the world. This article is an introduction to these exceptional occurrences and the adventures of collecting there.

I’ve posted new worldwide mineral specimens from the Gerald Panneton collection. This update features spectacular pieces, some of which are right up with the best I’ve offered on the website.

I’ve posted a small number of excellent new specimens in this Pakistan-Afghanistan Update. This group includes colourful brucites from Killa Saifullah, a superb matrix diopside from Sar-e Sang, twinned titanite from Alchuri, topaz from Shigar, and one of my favourite zircon specimens, from Astor Valley.

This Morocco Update includes excellent specimens of several minerals, including blue barite from the Sidi Lahcen Mine, fluorapatite from Imilchil, fluorite from Sidi Ayed and Tounfit, cobaltoan dolomite from the Agoudal Mine, and more.