This specimen hosts a large vug filled with spear-shaped deep greenish blue vivianite crystals. The vivianite crystals are dark and look almost black under lesser light, and come to life with more light. They are sharp and lustrous, and the thinnest are translucent, almost transparent. In excellent condition, a couple of incomplete terminations. The vug runs all through the piece from the display side through the back – it is so full of crystals that only a small amount of light comes through. This is an impressive specimen, great for the locality.

A note about vivianite: it is light-sensitive and prolonged exposure to light will darken the crystals. The crystals on this specimen are already dark, nonetheless it would be best to keep it out of bright light.

About Steve Szilard

Steve Szilard is a well-known and highly respected Canadian mineral collector who began collecting in 1982. It may strike a chord with many of you that one of his first two mineral books was the Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Fred Pough – that was certainly true for me too (and my own copy sure looks as well used as it has been!). Steve is a skilled and accomplished field collector, having collected extensively in Ontario, as well as in almost all Canadian provinces and across the United States. Having travelled the world acquiring minerals in many countries, he has also attended many mineral shows – in particular, he has attended the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium for almost 30 years. Steve has a long record of mineral community involvement and contribution, having been with the Walker Mineralogical Club in Toronto since 1985 (and a member of the executive for many of the years since then) – he has also been a member of the Scarborough Gem and Mineral Club, the Kawartha Rock and Fossil Club and the Canadian Micro Mineral Association. As you might expect, given his mineral collecting career, Steve is incredibly knowledgeable about minerals and many mineral-related subjects. He has always been kind and generous with his knowledge. Steve has enjoyed assisting in the activities of a great organization, the Young Toronto Mineralogists Club, including talks, using binocular microscopes, and field trips. It is a pleasure to be able to share his collection with you.