I’ve posted the second in a series of updates with superb specimens from John White’s collection.

I’ve posted the first in a series of updates with superb specimens from John White’s collection. These wonderful high-quality specimens from John’s collection are from a wide range of localities (classic to contemporary) and include a variety of minerals.

The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium is one of the best mineral events of the year. Here’s my report from RMS 2019, with lots of great mineral photos.

I’ve posted a small number of excellent new specimens in this Pakistan-Afghanistan Update. This group includes colourful brucites from Killa Saifullah, a superb matrix diopside from Sar-e Sang, twinned titanite from Alchuri, topaz from Shigar, and one of my favourite zircon specimens, from Astor Valley.

I’ve just added a post with my report from the Tucson shows, 2018. Some new finds and lots of excellent new mineral specimens!

I’ve posted a number of beautiful elbaite crystals from Afghanistan and Pakistan in this Tourmaline Update. Several of the tourmalines from Stak Nala were very recently collected – I acquired them from a family that is mining the specimens.

I’ve posted some wonderful new zircon crystals in this Pakistan Red Zircon Update. These are from a new find of red zircons from the Astor Valley, in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

I’ve added beautiful elbaite tourmaline specimens in this Stak Nala Tourmaline Update – I’ve also included a great lepidolite. The elbaites are highly aesthetic, in combination with albite, and there is some good colour zoning among these pieces. I was fortunate to acquire these from a member of the family that mines them.

The annual mineral show at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is so different from all others. Sure, we all love the large exciting mineral-filled halls and general mineral mayhem of the large shows, and the hotel shows in Tucson and Denver. But Ste Marie’s character and charm, from the theatre and the tent-lined streets within the show, to the town and the countryside beyond, make this an experience not to be missed.

This Pakistan-Afghanistan Update features a small number of excellent specimens, from tourmalines and a gorgeous cabinet specimen of spessartine garnet, to some much more unusual specimens, including scapolite and pseudomorphs from Sar-e-Sang.

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.