rocks, minerals, gemstones
The ROCKS, MINERALS & OTHER SPECIMENS listed below are specialty items such as Ulexite, Carborundum, Aragonite Star and Moqui Marbles.


ULEXITE ("TV ROCK") is a mineral of borax whose structure is parallel making it a natural "fiber optic" transmitter. As a result, when you place a piece of ulexite over a written page, the letters and words will be "lifted" or "projected" to the surface of the rock and appear much like a picture on a TV screen.
While there are several grades of ulexite available on the market, we currently offer GRADE A material because of its clarity. Our specimens are irregular in size and shape. Specimen measurements are commonly based on the length of the longest side of the piece. The accompanying photo illustrates the variation.

Product
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Item # Item Description Price
S403
Ulexite comes in different grades: All of our samples are Grade "A". These specimens are clear with only an occasional inclusion. Small pieces are approximately 1.0", medium pieces are between 1.25" - 1.5" and large samples are greater than 1.5" in size.
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MOQUI MARBLES Some of the best areas for collecting Moqui Marbles have been closed to collecting since they were included in a new National Monument. Consequently, supplies of these unique geological specimens are becoming relatively scarce. Fortunately, we were able to purchase several pounds of legally acquired Moquis. Once these are gone we may not be able to get more. If you have been thinking about buying a Moqui, now is a good time.

Product
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Item # Item Description Price
S440S
Small Moqui Marbles - These unique "marbles" were formed millions of years ago when a nucleus of sand was coated by a layer of hematite. These dark gray/black marbles are approximately 0.75" in diameter. Shapes vary from round to elliptical.
S440M
Medium Moqui Marbles - Same as above but approximately 1.0" in diameter.
S440L
Large Moqui Marbles - Same as above but approximately 1.5" in diameter.

For additional information about Moqui Marbles check our Moqui Marble page.


OTHER INTERESTING SPECIMENS

Product
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Item # Item Description Price
RI016c
Apache Tears in Perlite Matrix - Apache tears are an opaque form of Obsidian with a legend behind them.

During a battle between the U.S. Cavalry and a small band of Apaches on a mountain near Superior, AZ, the Indians found themselves trapped on the edge of a sheer precipice several hundred feet high. Faced with defeat and capture at the hands of their enemies or death, they chose the latter and leaped from the cliff, dying on the rocks below. The great spirit looked down on their grieving loved ones and turned their tears into opaque, black stones so that all who see the stones will remember the lost warriors.
$12.00 each

RI016b
Apache Tears - No Perlite Matrix - These tears (opaque black Obsidian) are larger specimens than the RI016c above and come from the same deposit but are NOT in a Perlite Matrix.
$4.00 each

S410
Archean Butterstone - This rock is from the Greenstone Belt of Southern Africa. It formed during the Archean Period (>2.5 billion years old), with early life (micro fossils) forming in the shallow sea. Each piece is about 1.25" x 1.25".
The environment and conditions were conducive for the serpentinization (green color) of the sediments that had become hard over time, creating Stromatolites of blue green algae found in the fine laminations of the Butterstone.
$10.00

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M071b

M071c
Aragonite Star - Aragonite star crystals are carbonate gemstones that are light brownish-orange in color. They are found around natural hot springs; forming as entwined branch-like crystals.

We offer two sizes of Aragonite Star:
  • M071b about 0.75"
  • M071c about 1.25"

S460
Carborundum Crystal - Carborundum is a beautiful man-made silicon carbide decorative specimen displaying a wide spectrum of colors from dark violet to light blue/azure, brown, red to orange and yellow.
It forms as a result of the synthesis of quartz sand (SiO2) and carbon (C) in the absence of oxygen at the high temperature of 2,200 degrees Celsius. Under these conditions quartz is transformed into a gaseous phase and penetrates the insoluble carbon. This reaction results in the crystallization of a very hard material (9 in Mohs scale), resistant to chemical and mechanical agents.
Carborundum is used in industry for the manufacture of cutting and abrasive materials. Specimen is about 2" in size.
$4.00

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M200
Copper - Native - These specimens of native copper (shown on the right in the photo) are "hackley" (having sharp, jagged edges) and have inclusions. They are from the Caledonia Mine in Ontonagon, Michigan.

Available in two sizes:
  • SM200b - Small is 1.0" to 1.25".
  • SM200c - Medium is 1.25" to 1.75".

M201
Copper - Nugget - These beautiful, naturally occurring copper nuggets (shown on the left in the photo) are tumbled specimens with a few inclusions. They come from the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan.

Available in two sizes:
  • SM201b - Small is 1.0" to 1.25".
  • SM201c - Medium is 1.25" to 1.75".

M220b

M220c

M220d
Desert Rose - It is an intricate rose-like formation of crystal clusters of gypsum (selenite), barite, or even chalcedony, that typically include abundant sand grains.
Desert Rose specimens are commonly formed in wet sands with an inflow of water containing dissolved minerals, with the process of evaporation occurring at the same time, typically in arid deserts around the world.

We offer three sizes of Desert Rose:
  • M220b about 0.75" - 1.25"; 5 pk
  • M220c about 1.25" - 1.75"; 5 pk
  • M220d about 2.50"; 1 ea

M339
Hematite - Botryoidal - This hematite mineral occurs in botryoidal habit (crystal pattern like a bunch of grapes) due to being formed in an environment containing a "seed" nuclei of material, such as sand or dust. It is an iron oxide with the chemical formula of Fe2O3. These specimens are from Morocco and are about 2" x 2" in size.
$12.00

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M410
Lodestone - Specimen shown is covered with iron filings to illustrate the magnetism. Not just "magnetic" like some minerals but a true magnet with definite polarity. The only true magnet in nature.

Available in three sizes (1 each):
  • M410b - Small is 0.75" to 1.25".
  • M410c - Medium is 1.25" to 1.50".
  • M410d - Large is 2.0" to 2.5".

S455
Purpurite (Heterosite) - [(Mn, Fe) PO4] is the manganese and iron end-member of a beautiful and rare phosphate. It occurs as massive purple and rose colored pieces, which is the result of time and alteration from primary phosphates originally crystallized in a granitic pegmatite.
These specimens also contain other phosphates, as well as feldspar, mica or quartz as accents. Specimens are from the Crystal Mountain District, Larimer County, Colorado.

Available in two sizes:
  • S455b - Small is 1.0" to 1.25".
  • S455c - Medium is 1.5" to 2.0".

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S409
Salt Snowball - These are seeded man-made spectacular crystals from Death Valley salts and minerals.
Geological events resulted in the evaporation of an inland sea whereby these crystals were formed from ancient seawater salt & minerals. Sodium chloride (table salt) makes up the majority of the salts along with minerals of calcite, gypsum & borax.
$4.00

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S470
Zebra Marble - Zebra Marble comes from Utah, and as the name implies, is a combination of black and white stripes. This rock is 3 to 5-1/2 on Moh's hardness scale, making it an excellent choice for carving, knapping, and cutting. Specimen is approximately 1.5" to 2.5" in size.
$4.00 each

S450

S451
Fulgurite - The name for these natural rarities - Fulgurite - is derived from the Latin fulgur meaning "lightning". They are the result of lightning striking the Earth's surface melting the soil, sand or rock where the right combination of soil composition, strike intensity and strike duration occur. Fulgurites are often hollow. This void is created by the expansion and escape of gas and moisture that result from the explosive fusion during the strike.

We offer two types of Colorado fulgurites:
  • S450 - Smooth texture from the eastern plains of Colorado; about 0.75" to 1.75" in length.
  • S451 - Rocky texture from Boulder Canyon in Colorado; about 0.60" to 1.0" in length.

S452
Fulgurite - These fulgurites are the result of lightning striking to form sand glass from the white sugary Florida beach sands. They are white to off-white in color and have very nice hollow tubular features.

We offer four sizes of the Florida fulgurites:
  • S452a - is about 1.0" to 2.0" length.
  • S452b - is about 3.0" length, thin diameter ~1/4".
  • S452c - is about 2.5" to 4.0" length, diameter ~1/2".
  • S452d - is 4.0"+ length, diameter ~1/2".

S453
Fulgurite - These fulgurites from the Sahara desert in Algeria are light to medium gray colored hollow glass tubes formed during lightning strikes.

We offer just one size range of the Sahara Desert fulgurites:
  • S453a - is about 1.25" to 2.0" length..

F395
Petrified Wood - These are pieces of genuine petrified wood. Petrified wood is actually considered to be a fossil. It forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay by oxygen and organisms. Then, groundwater rich in dissolved solids flows through the sediment replacing the original plant material with silica, calcite, pyrite or another inorganic material such as opal. The result is a fossil of the original woody material that often exhibits preserved details of the bark, wood and cellular structures. Order by size:

small average about 1.0"
medium average about 1.5"
large average about 3.0"

bag of 10 pieces average size is about 1" x 1"
Small - $3.00

Med - $4.00

Large - $10.00

10-Pack - $18.00
F396
Petrified Wood with Quartz Crystals - Interesting and unique specimens. Petrified wood is actually considered to be a fossil. The organic matter in the original tree was completely replaced by minerals. This type of fossilization is known as permineralization. The term, "to petrify", literally means, "turn to stone." Petrified wood, then, is wood that has turned to stone. These specimens have a crystalized core of tiny quartz crystals.

Available in two sizes:
  • F396S - Small is 1.0" to 1.25".
  • F396M - Medium is 1.5" to 2.0".

S411

S412
Pipestone - Pipestone (Catlinite) is the sacred red clay stone that American Indians use for making prayer and ceremonial pipes. Our pipestone is of excellent quality. We price our pipestone by the piece and try to offer a nice assortment to better suit your specific need. See Pipestone page for available piece sizes and prices plus history and geological information about the famous, historical Minnesota deposit. If you need additional information, please e-mail or call us.
$5.00
to
$150.00
S413

S414
Steatite - In its natural state, Steatite is a gray colored metamorphic rock composed primarily of the mineral talc. It is very soft and can be carved and transformed into a beautiful, lustrous, deep black colored pipe or effigy. For the experienced stone carver, it provides a beautiful contrast to the traditional red pipestone. See Steatite page for available piece sizes and prices. If you need additional information, please e-mail or call us.
$5.00
to
$100.00