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The idea for this website came to me when I was pondering a way to exihibit my mineral specimens to friends and others. Initially I had thought to create a lame blog site with equally lame pictures containing a brief description of where each specimen was found. While looking at a number of mineral themed websites, I decided to nix the lame picture idea and figure out a way to take more elaborate and interesting photos. I discovered a website that described appropriate cameras for mineral photography as well as numerous photographic tips. There are two categories of mineral photography - macro and micro focus. Since my specimens are not museum quality, I decided to go with macrofocus (microscopic photography) to bring out the quality that was there. All pictures on this site were taken with a Sony Cybershot Karl Zeiss. The camera has a microscope mode that allows it to focus as near as 1 cm from the object. The pictures were cropped and touched up using Dell Picture Studio. The minerals were taken primarily from the tailing piles at the listed mines though some were extracted from mine shafts. All of the mines are located in the Mojave Desert. All of the mines are abandoned. Although I have no dilemma of conscience with trespassing, no trespassing occurred during the collection of any specimens. The bulk of the jasper, chalcedony, & agate were found on the open desert floor (Mojave Desert) near Broadwell Lake in between the Cady and Bristol Mountain ranges. For those of you who know sweet nothing about minerals but find my pictures intriguing and want to know more concerning each mineral, I have provided some information beneath. All the information is taken either from my brain or the Smithsonian Handbook: Rocks and Minerals. Both surpass reliable. Group: Carbonate Azurite Cu3+2(CO3)2(OH)2 Group: Carbonate Streak: pale blue Smithsonite ZnCO3 Group: Carbonate Streak: white Other Information: Forms in oxidized copper-zinc deposits. It is associated with malachite, azurite, pyromorphite, cerussite, and hemimorphite. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid.
Group: Carbonate Linarite PbCu+2(SO4)(OH)2 Group: Sulfate Chrysocolla (CuSiO3) Group: Silicate Color: green and blue Dioptase Cu6[Si6O18] Ÿ 6H2O Group: Silicate Color: emerald to deep bluish green Brochantite Cu4+2(SO4)(OH)6 Group: Sulfate Streak: pale green Color: emerald green-to blackish green
Hemimorphite Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O Group: Silicate Streak: colorless Color: white, colorless, blue, greenish, gray, yellow, or brown Other Information: Forms where zinc veins have been altered by oxidation. Quartz (SiO2) Group: Oxides Streak: colorless to white Color: white, gray, red, purple, pink, yellow, green, brown, or black Other Information: This mineral occurs commonly in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, and can be frequently found in mineral veins with metal ores. It is the source of a wide variety of semi-precious gemstones (e.g., amethyst). Chalcedony (SiO2) Group: Oxide Streak: white to colorless Color: red, yellow, blue, green, brown, black or white Other Information: A microcrystalline variety of quartz. It forms in cavities in rocks of different types, especially lavas. It develops at relatively low temperatures, as a precipitate from silica-rich solutions. It can also be formed as a dehydration product of opal. Its high specific gravity distinguishes it from opal. Jasper (SiO2) – Species of Chalcedony Group: Oxide Streak: white to colorless Color: red, yellow, blue, green, brown, black or white Other Information: Jasper is a microcrystalline variety of quartz. Agate (SiO2) – Species of Chalcedony Group: Oxide Streak: white to colorless Color: red, yellow, blue, green, brown, black or white Other Information: Agate is a microcrystalline variety of quartz. It can be distinguished from other forms of chalcedony by its concentric bands of different colors. Opal (SiO2,nH2O) Group: Oxide Streak: white Color: red, blue, yellow, green, gray, black, orange Other Information: Forms at low temperatures from silica-rich water, especially around Limonite FeO(OH).nH2O Group: Hydroxide Streak: yellow-brown Color: yellow, brownish yellow, brown Other Information: Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of iron deposits. Limonite also occurs by precipitation in the sea, fresh water, and bogs. It gives off water when it is heated. Epidote Ca2(Fe+3Al)3(SiO4)3OH Group: Silicate Streak: colorless or grayish Color: yellowish green to green, brownish green to greenish black Other Information: Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of iron deposits. Limonite also occurs by precipitation in the sea, fresh water, and bogs. It gives off water when it is heated. Garnet Fe3+2Al2(SiO4)3 Group: Silicate Streak: white Color: green, yellowish green, yellow, brown, red, orange, reddish brown, white, pink, gray or black Other Information: Forms in regionally and contact metamorphic calcerous rock. Frequently used in jewelry. Hematite (Fe2O3) Group: Oxide Streak: brownish-red Color: brown, bright red, blood red, steel-gray, iron-black Other Information: Occurs as a hydrothermal and replacement mineral. It also forms in igneous rocks as an accessory mineral. Pyrite (FeS2) Cubic habit Group: Sulfide Streak: greenish-black Color: pale yellow Other Information: Its common name is “fool’s gold”. Pyrite is a common accessory mineral in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Fine crystals occur with sphalerite, and other sulfides in hydrothermal veins. It gives off a spark when struck with a hard metal object. Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Group: Silicate Streak: white Color: dark green, white, gray or brown Other Information: Easily scratched and feels greasy. Baby powder is made from it. Muscovite Mica KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2 Group: Silicate Streak: colorless Color: colorless to white, may have a tinge of other colors |