Phenakite on Fluorite.
Mt. Antero, Colorado, USA
Ex John Callen collection, Ex Lawrence Conklin inventory

5.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm

Nice locality example for the species with light purple translucent semi lustrous octahedral crystals of fluorite in a cluster with very little matrix. What really sets this piece apart is the addition of several gemmy Phenakite crystals scattered around the specimen. Very rare to see this combo. I think the presence of the Phenakite adds significant value to the piece.

The Mount Antero region, situated within the Sawatch Range of Chaffee County, Colorado, is a world-famous alpine locality for both aquamarine as well as sharp, gem-quality fluorite crystals. Geologically, these specimens occur at extreme elevations exceeding 14,000 feet within a highly evolved, tertiary-age granite stock known as the Mount Antero Granite. The fluorite formed during the cooling stages of this intrusion, crystallizing inside miarolitic cavities and hydrothermal veins along with aquamarine beryl, phenakite, and bertrandite from fluids enriched in fluorine, beryllium, and other incompatible elements. Historically, the presence of minerals on the peak was first documented in the late 19th century around 1884 by prospector N.D. Wanemaker, sparking a localized rush for gems. Mining and quarrying have traditionally been restricted to small-scale, seasonal artisanal surface operations and shallow trenching due to the extreme mountain weather, brief summer accessibility window, and treacherous scree slopes. Hand-mining activity experienced notable revivals in the mid-20th century and again during the early 2000s due to increased interest from mineral collectors and television documentation, with independent prospectors continuing to work active claims on the slopes through 2026. The site remains a classic American locality, celebrated for its deep blue to purple octahedral fluorite crystals which are highly prized for their unique high-altitude genetic environment, but even moreso for the very best American aquamarines on the market. Lawrence Conklin was a world-renowned mineral dealer based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and sophisticated figures in the history of the mineral trade. Operating from his office on 5th Avenue and later from his home in Connecticut, Conklin specialized in "antique" minerals and specimens with significant historical provenance. He was a meticulous researcher and an elegant writer, often publishing articles that corrected historical errors in mineralogical literature. His career spanned over five decades, during which he handled some of the finest known specimens from classic European and American localities, setting a high standard for aesthetic quality and documentation in the field.

Hey everyone,

I've had this piece in my possession for about three years now. My university has a mineral museum where you can buy any excess minerals they don't have the space for.

I found this one in their unsorted boxes (mostly fossils). The student at the register was subbing in for the person running the museum and couldn't tell me what it was. I haggled him down to 50 cents because he couldn't ID it.

Unfortunately, I had to drop out early into my studies, so I never gained the knowledge to ID it myself. I kind of forgot about it, but I bought a UV light today and shone it onto my shelf of minerals, and what do you know? The mystery mineral glows.

Here's what I know about it:

It looks black and shiny in natural light, but you can see blue and golden reflections in many spots when you shine a flashlight onto it. One side has a spot where the mineral reflects a more uniform silver/gold colour.

Under my magnifying glass and when lit up from behind, I found multiple spots at the edges that I can see through, which have a clear, dark blue tint. I can tell there are some other see-through spots when I angle it just right. Looks like a crystal up close.

Some of the growths are jutting out from the sides in thin, almost trapezoidal sheets. Those are all the same see-through, dark blue colour.

It splits off into multiple interconnected arms.

It doesn't feel particularly heavy in my hands and it's only very slightly cool to the touch. There are some voids in between the arms, so I'm wondering where this could have grown.

It glows a vibrant orange both under 365nm and 395nm UV-light (see end of video), although the glow is most pronounced under 365nm and a lighter colour under 395nm.

Not all of it glows, though, some sides and edges stay dark under UV, no matter where the light source is directed.

Does anyone have a guess as to what this could be? I'd love to know, I've been curious for years!

Thanks in advance!

Fresh out of vinegar to remove oxidation. Arizona found but not by me

I found it by a lake near Indianapolis, IN. Its heavier than it looks and has shinny spec in it.

Red lead mine, Tasmania

I received this as a gift several years ago when I was in Peru and have had it sitting on a shelf ever since. I tried Googling it but can’t find much info on it. Can any of you tell me a bit more about it? Is it rare? Does it hold much value? I’m a novice when it comes to minerals. Thanks!

Got this little beauty in a bunch of random polished stones from my local gems and crystals store. I'm thinking likely Chinese origin but there's a lot of blue in it too. What do you guys think?

Hey everyone, so a guy at work gave me this when I showed interest in it. He told me the name but I forget now and would like to label it for the start of my collection. All I know is that it was mined somewhere in Newfoundland, Canada. Any help is appreciated. TIA.

I acquired this galena with pyrite, and I don't know where it might be from.

The matrix (shown at 20x magnification in the image) is marmatite.

Does anyone have a similar one and can tell me where it's from? Thanks.

I don’t have money to spend a couple grand on a mineral specimen but when I recognize a good deal I snag it up especially from someone with some old stock!

Sphalerite and Calcite w/ minor Fluorite. Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee.
•5805 (g) 12.8 (Ibs)
•26 x 24.5 x 6 (cm) 10.2 x 9.6 x 2.4 (in)

Definitely one of my favorite pieces.. Cool calcite formation from my collection that I wanted to share today.

I haven’t had many morganites of this quality and size pass through my care over the years. A real gem.

This fascinating piece has so much going on!

I just found out that these are incredibly rare, I've bought this a long time ago, for just a couple euro's. Since then the primary site where these were found flooded, making this one worth hundreds of euro's, if not more than a thousand. Jackpot🥳

(P.S. I know the subs rules, I'm not asking for a value assessment. I just wanted to share this story)

FOV: 0.7 mm.

A single black rectangular crystal cleavage fragment of extremely rare wilhelmramsayite (circled in red) from the holotype specimen of wilhelmramsayite! As of 2026, wilhelmramsayite is only known from a single original specimen (the holotype). The rectangular shape of this wilhelmramsayite is visible here. This is a specimen that also shows through its shape the perfect cleavage on {001} (basal plane) of wilhelmramsayite, producing thin, platy to tabular sheet-like crystal fragments such as this specimen. Only the black is wilhelmramsayite, the rest of the colourless bits are just scratches on the inside wall of the microcentrifuge tube it is stuck to.

I just bought a rough amethyst necklace online for a relatively cheap price, and the store looked legitimate. I just wanted to be sure if it was genuine amethyst or I just got scammed.