Tucson 2008 Theme: “Minerals of the U.S.A.”

Home Grown Minerals

At the upcoming 54th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February we will revisit the great mineral localities found with the U.S. borders. Highlighted in “Minerals of the U.S.A.” will be some of the great finds, as well as the people involved with the mining. The main display cases will be filled with some of the classic specimens found right here at home.

Augmenting the display will be the release of a hard-cover book, American Mineral Treasures (ISBN: 978-0-979099-8-2), which “will describe the history and collecting adventures at more than 40 top U.S. mineral specimen-producing localities and will illustrate with superb, full-color photographs our remarkable American mineral heritage.” [back to top]

We picked up this calendar at the Denver show in September.

Pala’s Featured Mineral Specimen: Dioptase and Quartz

This month we feature an exquisite dioptase and quartz specimen from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia. A delightfully sparkly piece with a larger version of drusy quartz coating the surface; individual crystals measuring about 3 to 4 mm. The little quartz crystals overlay a thin layer of dioptase, which can be seen from the back.

Lights on out front, showing the character of the quartz crystals. Specimen is 11 x 8 x 0.6  cm. Price upon request. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

At first glance the clear quartz crystals seem to have a soft green background, but when you use transmitted light the piece glows vivid green. The dioptase-laden back side brings out a different character when backlit, as seen below. The morphology of the underside seems to be a cast of some sort, creating the undulating surface.

Lights on from the back, showing the neon green of the dioptase layer. Specimen is 11 x 8 x 0.6  cm. Price upon request. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

Interested? Email us, or give us a call. [back to top]

Pala District Pegmatite Opens Wide

Oceanview Mine Strikes It Big

Pala International’s Jason Stephenson went up to the nearby Pala Mining District on Oct 13 to visit some of the local mines and talk with a few miners who are still actively hunting for gems and minerals.

Jason was invited by Roland Reed, who owns and operates the Elizabeth R mine. Roland’s mining operations began in 1973 and he has definitely put in a lot of underground square footage. It was reported by Sinkankas (1997) that Roland had single-handedly driven more than 300 meters of tunnel, which led to a few significant finds of morganite-bearing pockets. The productive years were 1974–1975 and 1982, producing about 100 kg. of morganite specimens with crystals up to 13 cm. across. Roland struck another rich pocket zone in 1992 that produced the finest morganite specimens in Southern California, according to Sinkankas (1997). This treasure had a large cleavelandite base, about 50 cm. across, with seven large morganite crystals up to 15 cm. mixed with some smaller ones. The morganites were euhedral and glassy with some pale aquamarine cores, similar in color scheme to the aquamarine cluster pictured below (Fisher 2002).

The loot. Minerals recently pulled out of the 49er pocket, mostly blue and pink beryl crystals and matrix specimens. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

Then, in 2000, the Oceanview mine, which was originally above the Elizabeth R, was sold to Jeff Swanger. Jeff took over mining operations below the Elizabeth R and carried the original name with him. The new Oceanview tunnel started and Jeff and crew began their search for the pegmatite. Jeff’s mining operations crew consists of Phil Osborn, Steve Carter, Mark Baker, and Peter Renwick. Jeff knew that there had been significant finds of morganite-bearing pockets in the same pegmatite just above in the Elizabeth R mine, so the chances of hitting mineral-rich pockets were promising. A 400-foot main tunnel had been established with several branches leading up to intersect the pegmatite. After several years of tunneling to reach the rich zone of the pegmatite, the workings have yielded a few mineral-rich zones with a variety of minerals from feldspars, quartzes, tourmalines, spudomenes, and beryls, along with some rare ones.

With a bubble on top. View of the glassy termination where the bubble can be seen. (Photo: Jason Stephenson).

Bicolor beryl on matrix. Half morganite, half aquamarine, with a bubble in the glassy top, seen on the left of the crystal. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

The pocket close up reveals clay-laden crystal points and a glassy morganite crystal face, seen just left of center. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

The most recent and notable find was made on September 22, 2007. This underground surprise coincided with Jeff’s birthday and has been named the 49er pocket for one—maybe two—obvious reasons. This most recent discovery has yielded a beautiful selection of beryls, gemmy quartz, intricate aquamarine clusters on matrix, tabular morganinte crystals, and a complex dodecahedral-like beryl crystal with pink in the middle and a blue rind. The ultimate specimen was a bicolor (half morganite, half aquamarine) hexagonal crystal with a bubble showing through a glassy termination on top of a clevelandite/quartz matrix. Some large quartz clusters were also removed from the pocket intact, weighing several hundred pounds, as shown in the photo at the top of this article.

Dodecahedral-like beryl. This jewel has a complex termination with glassy faces on a clevelandite matrix. Also noteworthy is the pink core and blue rind. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

Aquamarine cluster. A beautiful network of tabular crystals with a glacier-like feel. (Photo: Jason Stephenson)

Bill Larson and son Carl went up to the Oceanview on November 23 to see for themselves this exciting new discovery. Amazingly Jeff and crew were still digging out the same mineral-rich pocket zone. This long pocket had continued to produce a variety of berlys, smoky quartz on feldspar, large citrine clusters, and dark purple tourmaline crystals.

Manhandling. Carl Larson and his father Bill get palsy-walsy with a specimen in the Oceanview mine. (Photo: Phil Osborn)

Information on gem tours and digging is available through the The Oceanview Gem Mine. [back to top]

Italian Gemological Review

Pala's gems shower the cover

The growth of Palagems.com has created increased traffic through our web pages. The brilliant and vivid pictures seem to attract gem and mineral enthusiasts, from the novice collector to the scientific researcher. These advanced studies into physical and chemical analyses of unique minerals and gems produce important findings (and accompanying graphs and tables) relating to the composition and the elements that produce unique and electrifying colors. The authors also look for appealing images to complement their rigorous studies. Hard work on the scientific side seems to be well balanced when you can show a beautiful picture of a gem that is born of these unique geological and chemical conditions.

The shower of gems shown on the cover Italian Gemological Review are all from the new find of copper-bearing tourmalines from Mozambique. The crystal shown is a liddacotite tourmaline (12 cm., Shatany Valley, Madagascar; from Tiziano Bonisoli), exhibiting the full range of colors. The faceted stone photos were taken individually by Pala’s Wimon Manorotkul and assembled with the specimen photo (photographer unknown) by the good fellows at the Rivista Gemmologica Italiana. We wanted to share this cover as a well-designed incorporation of gems and minerals. See more about the publication here. [back to top]

— End December Newsletter • Published 11/30/07 —

What’s Hot in Tucson DVD

Hosted by David Wilber

Here’s how we’ve been talking about this program:

• First-of-its-kind live-action DVD program dedicated to providing the mineral enthusiast a recap of the hottest specimens at 2007’s Tucson show
• Many behind-the-scenes segments that show mineral specimens you wouldn’t normally see there
• Hosted by long-time friend and mineral collecting pioneer David Wilber
• Features many of the top dealers in the industry including Pala International
• Perfect for preparing the viewer for the 2008 show
• Two weeks of Tucson compressed into one 2-hour show
• Retails for $24.95 but all friends of Pala International can use a special link that will automatically give visitors a 10% discount

Interested? Use the following link to receive a discount for being part of Pala’s network of friends and associates: What’s Hot in Tucson 2007. [back to top]

Pala’s Featured Mineral Specimen: Malachite Pseudomorph

In this edition of Mineral News we feature a velvety malachite after azurite specimen with a big bladey crystal and intricate secondary clusters. This material has reportedly been pulled out of the ground in the last year. This piece is said to be one of the best specimens from the new discovery in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The quality of the new find has been compared to the material found in Arizona, from the Tiger Mine, and Namibia from the Tsumeb Mine. The true classification of this deposit is still being qualified amongst the great finds in Arizona and Namibia, but the specimens are definitely a refreshing sight. The malachite takes on a velvet luster and has a sheen that moves like a chatoyant gem.

Malachite pseudo after azurite, 8.3 x 7.6 x 2.8 cm. This specimen has been sold. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

This new find of malachite pseudomorphs from Mexico seemed to be the only new find that was producing any noteworthy specimens at the show last month in Denver.

Visit our mineral search for a selection of malachites from around the world. [back to top]

Green Crystals in 2500-Year-Old Tomb

Well preserved tomb also yields gold foil and jade pendant

Chinese archeologists discovered several pieces of an unidentified green crystal growing on bones in a 2,500-year-old tomb in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Previous discoveries of white crystal formations in tombs were determined to be crystallized amino acids.

The tomb is believed to date back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which spanned roughly 500 years beginning in 770 B.C.E. The coffins and contents were extremely well preserved. The main coffin, which weighed over a ton, included “a round, exquisitely made piece of gold foil as well as a jade pendant in the shape of a dragon,” according to the article.

Bone blossom. “Diamond” shaped crystals grow from the remains found in a 2,500-year-old tomb. (Photo: China Internet Information Center)

Dragon pendant. This jade artifact, along with a round gold foil, was found in what is called “the largest group of coffins ever discovered in a single tomb in China.” (Photo: China Internet Information Center)

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Fine Minerals of China by Dr. Guanghua Liu

A Review

In our premier issue of Mineral News last year, we mentioned a new book by Dr. Guanghua Liu, Fine Minerals of China. At last month’s show in Denver we finally laid our hands on it—and it was worth the wait. Fine Mineral of China encapsulates the diverse and widespread mineral deposits of China into a well-categorized encyclopedia of data.

Part One includes historical discussions of China’s physical and political geography, and the fluctuations in mining technology. The book also describes the geologic history and follows the major tectonic events that created some of today’s large ore deposits. The history of mining is traced back over two millennia, and up through the modern age of the mineral specimen business.

Guanghua Liu’s book takes notice of the differences between the Western type of scientific collecting and the Chinese search for the artistry in nature’s sculptures. The Chinese seem to value aesthetic form and suggestive imagery while the West places value on crystal perfection, minimal human intervention, and precise locality.

Pyromorphite with cerusite, 3.5 x 2.7 mm., from the Daoping mine in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo: Jeff Scovil, page 78)

The core of the book—Part Two—focuses on 45 of China’s greatest mineral localities with detailed maps and vivid photos. Sections are broken down by province and deposits within the provinces are described by location, general interest, mining history, accessibility, and major collectible minerals. Part Three entails data compilation with tables by mineral locality, species, and an interesting record of meteorite falls dating back to 2133 B.C.E.

A mountain of minerals. Mount Huang, Anhui Province (page 26).

Fluorite on scheelite, 0.6 cm. high, Xuebaoding Mountain, Sichuan Province. (Photo: Jeff Scovil, page 295)

Fine Minerals of China is available through The Mineralogical Record. [back to top]

— End October Newsletter • Published 10/2/07 —

“Flashes of Colour: Legendary Wines and Gemstones”

A Follow-up Report

Last month, Bill Larson attended “Flashes of Colour: Stones and Wines of Legend,” an exhibition in Dijon, France, featuring Pala International gems and mineral specimens.

The show is produced in partnership with the French National Museum of Natural History and the Interprofessional Bureau for Burgundy Wines, as well as the Jules Guyot Institute (a winemaking school) and the UNESCO Chair of Wines and Culture (a cultural and scientific networking body).

“Travel addicted gemologist” Vincent Pardieu, whose photographs have graced our newsletters, read about the show in Le Règne Minéral, and had the following to say in relation to gemstones and wine.

It seems that you will be soon “chevalier de l’ordre Tastevin.” That’s great and as grandson [of] a French wine maker (you know now the origin of my given name) I wanted to congratulate you about it! I found the idea of that expo great as regarding colored gemstone marketing. I feel that the gem trade could learn a lot from what was done in the wine trade: In both cases these are products from the ground, there are multiple small producers, and there are treatments—“sugar diffusion” for Champagne and “heat treatment” for Cognac, Armagnac and even Porto wine. Anyway, they were able to find ways to protect their names and give their product some quality image.

The show continues through December 9, 2007. Read more here (in French).

Color in different forms. This exhibit compares the color in wine and gemstones. The custom-made flasks (top) allow the color of these classic reds from Burgundy to be appreciated without oxidation. The large tourmaline at lower right is from Pala, California, and was mined shortly before it was gifted to National Museum of Natural History in 1904. (Photo: Bill Larson)

These rough and cut rubies and spinels help set off some of the fine red wines. At left is an antique necklace encrusted with rubies. (Photo: Bill Larson)

Profound. Bill loved the sense implied by a cursory English translation of this placard. It actually means Ruby: deep red. (Photo: Bill Larson)

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Pala’s Sphere of Interest

This sphalerite sphere glows with enchantment

This mineral oddity captured Bill Larson’s esoteric eye at last month’s Sainte-Marie show—although even the layman can appreciate its subtle beauty. In transmitted light we see a rich amber–honey color with only a few inclusions. Overhead light reveals the metallic luster in a silvery skin.

Sphalerite sphere. From Spain; diameter 51 mm; weight 1,395 carats. Price upon request. (Photo: Wimon Manorotkul)

The stone is from the famous Las Manforas Mine, at Aliva, in the Picos de Europa Mountains located in the southwest of Cantabria province, on the coast of northern central Spain. Indeed, the name of the province itself is thought to mean place of the “people who live in the rocks” (Wikipedia). [back to top]

Stephen Smale Shows Off New Acquisitions

By Bill Larson

Renowned UC Berkeley mathematician and world class mineral collector Steve Smale held one of his “mineral parties” in July. His purpose? Fun and sharing his new acquisitions. This year’s main attraction was the display of much of his famous Chinese mineral collection.

Afternoon showing. Steve Smale (center, in green shirt) showing the crowd his new world-wide acquisitions, one by one from a dozen or so flats—all new since Tucson, and each one a jewel for any collector’s taste. (Photo: Bill Larson)

Many members from the Crystal Gazers club in San Francisco were in attendance, including Jack Halpern, Jon and Nancy Sigerman and their son Max, Paul Geffner, Caroline Manchester, and Si and Ann Frazier. Many out-of-town guests also came from Dallas, including Jim and Gail Spann and Rob Lavinsky; from the Denver area, Dave Bunk, Steve Behling, and Richard Jackson; from Tucson, Ken Roberts; and from Southern California, Wayne and Dona Leicht, and Jeanne Larson and myself. Clara Smale had set up the usual beautiful buffet with a large poached salmon being a hit, along with a fine selection of many California wines. An animated, exciting time was had by all who attended.

Smale is the author of The Smale Collection: Beauty in Natural Crystals. [back to top]

China cabinet. A small case housing some of the Smale China collection. This case has a gem topaz on matrix that anyone would envy, and several wonderful pyromorphites. (Photo: Bill Larson)

Mineralogical Publications from Canada

Our friend George Harlow, of the American Museum of Natural History, sent us information on publications being offered by the Mineralogical Association of Canada.

An example of what’s offered: Geology of Gem Deposits, edited by Lee A. Groat, of the University of British Columbia. The book covers the major gemstone species, as well as colored gemstones of Canada. It’s the thirty-seventh “short course” volume in a series that includes the topics of infrared spectroscopy, melt and fluid inclusions, and older classics. [back to top]

— End August Newsletter • Published 8/1/07 —