Frank and Wendy Melanson are long-time members of the mineral communtiy. They were Canada’s prolific dealers in international minerals, under the dealership name Hawthorneden, for over 40 years – travelling the globe for minerals, and setting up at shows across North America and abroad. From extensive in-country travels, Frank brought back superb specimens that their business placed into museums and collections worldwide.

I’ve added a new lot of specimens from finds in 2013-14 – I’ve been assembling this group of top-calibre pieces for a few years, and they are now online in the new Egypt Update. These are excellent goethite pseudomorphs after marcasite from the White Desert, north of Farafra Oasis.

I’ve posted an update of excellent specimens from all over the US, including many contemporary classics. From platinum, gold, silver and copper to Franklin willemite, Kelly smithsonite, Maine elbaite and so many more.

I’ve posted great new specimens in this Brazil Update, including beautiful ludlamite, aquamarine, tourmaline, fluorapatite and more.

I’ve posted excellent new specimens in this Indonesia Update, including beautiful top calibre “grape amethyst” and chalcedony.

I’ve posted excellent new specimens in this Europe Update with many classics, including superb Alpine smoky quartz, pyromorphite from several localities, fluorite, hematite, specimens from the German silver mines and more.

From a recent visit, I’ve posted some of my favourite specimens from the fabulous Mineralogy Museum at L’École des Mines de Paris.

Tinkie was Executive Supervisor at McDougall Minerals. She was also our family Golden Retriever and her story is happy – she adored life in the woods and enjoyed every day up here. She and Rudy were great companions, leading to lots of good laughs around here.

I’ve added beautiful specimens of stilbite and analcime from Five Islands, Nova Scotia, Canada.

I’ve added super new quartz specimens from McKay Head, Nova Scotia, Canada.

I’ve posted beautiful new chabazites from Wasson’s Bluff, Nova Scotia, Canada.

I’ve added new mesolite on laumontite from Stronach Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada.