A gorgeous specimen of amethyst in oriented overgrowth over a calcite crystal. This oriented overgrowth creates “stripes” down the centre of each calcite face. Because some specimens of this kind of overgrowth have black goethite among their stripes, they gained the name “skunks”, and the term has been more generally used for specimens exhibiting this […]

This is a wonderful specimen from the John S. White quartz collection – it is a cluster of sharp, lustrous amethyst crystals that is crystallized all around, and a number of the crystals are doubly-terminated. They are a beautiful intense purple under the pyramidal faces, with lighter colour under the prism faces. In excellent condition, […]

This is a superb Mt. Ida quartz specimen. It is a tower of sharp, lustrous crystals, complete all around. Most of the crystals on this specimen are water-clear, and there is some internal rainbow colour. In excellent condition, no damage. I would display this specimen supported a bit to stand as in the first photo, […]

A large doubly-terminated smoky quartz from Brazil, with zones of beautiful internal salmon colour. This crystal had skeletal phases of growth, some of which are at the crystal’s surface, but some of which are trapped under full, complete faces. The internal colour is associated with inclusions (a clay mineral, muscovite  and hematite) from this earlier […]

This is a beauty! A group of quartz crystals with vibrant red hematite inclusions – red phantoms. I’ve never seen anything like it from Atitokan (but am assured the locality is correct). The quartz crystals are in excellent condition (one at the outer periphery is incomplete). From the Pete Richards collection, this is one of […]

Beautiful sharp, bladed crystals of manganite from Steep Rock. These are brilliantly lustrous and are super under magnification. A saw cut at the base, stands perfectly for display as photographed. From the Pete Richards collection, very nice manganite crystals! About Pete Richards (click here) About the Mines of Atikokan, Ontario Located in northwestern Ontario, the […]

This slender specimen hosts great sharp, lustrous bladed manganite crystals. In excellent condition. Displays beautifully, supported to stand as photographed. From the Pete Richards collection, he obtained it from Mine Geologist Ray Bernatchez in July, 1980. A fine display specimen of Atikokan manganite! About Pete Richards (click here) About the Mines of Atikokan, Ontario Located […]

Brilliant bladed manganite crystals clustered together – these are sharp with top lustre, and look great up close, particularly with a bit of magnification. In excellent condition and stands perfectly for display as photographed. From the Pete Richards collection, acquired in November, 2008. These are beautiful manganite crystals. About Pete Richards (click here) About the […]

A great botryoidal goethite from the Steep Rock Mine. Bright lustre, nice form, in excellent condition. Stands perfectly for display as photographed. From the Pete Richards collection, he collected it in August, 1981. A really good Atikokan goethite! About Pete Richards (click here) About the Mines of Atikokan, Ontario Located in northwestern Ontario, the large […]

This piece features a standing plate of silver ramsdellite crystals, standing up off the matrix. This plate is crystallized all around, with the best density of sharpest and brightest crystals on the front (first photo), but there are ramsdellite crystals on the back and and the left edge as well. The ramsdellite crystals are sharp […]

Brilliant blank manganite crystals with clear quartz crystals from Atikokan. In excellent condition. From the Pete Richards collection, personally collected by him in 1982. Stands for display as photographed. A nice Canadian manganite. About Pete Richards (click here) About the Mines of Atikokan, Ontario Located in northwestern Ontario, the large mines at Atikokan were once […]

A mounded grouping of splendent black manganite crystals from Atikokan. These are sharp, lustrous crystals. In excellent condition. From the Pete Richards collection, personally collected by him in 1981. Very fine manganite crystals from these amazing old mines. About Pete Richards (click here) About the Mines of Atikokan, Ontario Located in northwestern Ontario, the large […]