Mineral Monday - 05/30/2022

[Douglas Sherman]

A rare specimen of Witherite on fluorite from Cave-in Rock, Illinois. This is a barium carbonite mineral that is poisonous to humans and is used in the manufacture of rat poison.

Citrine, a variety of quartz. The color comes from the presence of iron.

Native Coper from Michigan. The green is oxidized copper.

 

[AlanLichty]

Beautiful specimens - I especially like the Citrine crystals and the interesting contrasts in the native copper specimen.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Another beautiful set Doug. I especially like the second one with its deep colors.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Beautiful, I love the second image. Is the barium carbonite dangerous to handle?

 

[JimFox]

Wow! Better be careful with that first one Doug!

I think that copper is the coolest for me.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Beautiful specimens - I especially like the Citrine crystals and the interesting contrasts in the native copper specimen.

Thanks, Alan.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Another beautiful set Doug. I especially like the second one with its deep colors.

Thanks so much, Jameel.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Beautiful, I love the second image. Is the barium carbonite dangerous to handle?

Thanks, Ben. I'm not sure but I always wash my hands after handling the specimen and I don't handle the Witherite.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Wow! Better be careful with that first one Doug!

I think that copper is the coolest for me.

Thanks, Jim. Copper is my favorite in this group as well.

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Your getting pretty good depth of field in these. What type of lens are you using?

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Beautiful, I love the second image. Is the barium carbonite dangerous to handle?

I just read that as long as you don't ingest it you are fine.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Your getting pretty good depth of field in these. What type of lens are you using?

I am using a Nikon 24-70mm zoom lens set at 50mm and f 16, Kurt.

 

[MonikaC]

More interesting & educational specimens. The copper looks like it had melted on a smooth surface.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

More interesting & educational specimens. The copper looks like it had melted on a smooth surface.

Native copper is typically found in veins, Monika. It is injected into the cracks created when a magma body pushes upward. That is why it is typically flat. This piece has been polished to make it shine.

 

[Joe Colozzo]

more beauties and thank you for sharing Douglas.

 

[DougW]

Nice! Very well done presentation of these minerals.