This Howlite Update features specimens that are remarkable for the species. Howlite is only known as crystals from this one locality worldwide – Lake Bras D’Or, Iona, Nova Scotia. The specimens in this update are super for the locality and represent selected top pieces collected over a period from 2001 to 2012 – they were acquired as part of the collection of well-known Canadian collector Terry Collett.

This Acanthite Update features excellent specimens of well-crystallized acanthite (pseudomorphs after argentite) from the Imiter Mine, in Ouarzazate Province, Morocco. The finds at Imiter in recent years have placed it among the world’s best ever localities for crystallized acanthite.

This Morocco Update is dedicated to a small group of specimens of the recent blue barite crystals from the Sidi Lahcen Mine, Nador, Morocco. These are beautiful, sharp, highly lustrous crystals of excellent quality.

A small number of excellent French specimens have been added in this France Update, including beautiful groups of sharp hematite crystals from the Brézouard Massif, in the hills adjacent to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. There are also fine specimens of bournonite from Les Malines District, Saint-Laurent-le-Minier, Gard, and a very nice faden quartz from the French Alps.

Beautiful new specimens from Mali, featuring yellow balls of stilbite crystals from Diamonkara, a new find. The Diamonkara workings are in the same general vicinity of the Arrondissement Diako which has produced the now well-known specimens of prehnite and epidote. Also new among these specimens is an exceptionally fine prehnite on epidote.

Beautiful new dioptase specimens from Mindouli, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) – these were mined very recently and arrived in Europe a few days before Sainte-Marie. Sharp, lustrous and of course, wonderful green, these dioptase specimens are now posted under Dioptase – July 2014 Update.

Sharp, lustrous epidote specimens from the relatively new (and apparently depleted) locality, Concession Morgan 3, Coayllo, Cañete Province, Lima Department are now posted on the site under Peruvian Epidote – July 2014 Update. These are great epidotes!

Great specimens in this Mexico Update. Excellent sharp, light green datolite crystals from Charcas, Mexico – these are super! This Mexico update also includes fine danburite crystals and some beautiful amethyst crystal specimens from Piedra Parada.

This Pakistan-Afghanistan Update features selected fine specimens from Pakistan and Afghanistan, including excellent red zircons, a specimen of ilmenite rosettes, a transparent epidote, a beautiful large cluster of aquamarine crystals, a super diopside miniature, elbaite and more.

The specimens in this Gmelinite Update are sharp, brilliantly lustrous crystals of gmelinite after chabazite from the classic locality Pinnacle Rock, Five Islands, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada. These are from some of the top finds at the locality and are super for the species, from any locality. The crystal growth patterns on these are exquisite.

This Magnesiofoitite Tourmaline Update features crystals of magnesiofoitite that are simply amazing for the species. These crystals are from a large collapsed pocket in Tsitondroina Commune, in the Ikalamavony District, Matsiatra Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar. Sharp and lustrous, with somewhat varied crystal habits, these crystals comprise a remarkable find.

This China Update – April 2014 features excellent new chalcopyrite/siderite and tennantite specimens from the Kaiwu Mine (the tennantites have been confirmed by analysis). The update also includes amazing highly distinctive new calcites from Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province (including some unique mushroom-shaped ones). I’ve also included a few other excellent quality calcite specimens from Shimen, […]