Neptunite with Benitoite and Joaquinite-(Ce) (classic material)

Item Description

One of the most recognizable and iconic associations in the mineral world is Benitoite with Neptunite. These two minerals are in my mind similar to Tanzanite or Cavansite, where the best and essentially only specimens of real important come from a single world locality, in this case, the famous California State Gem Mine in San Benito County, California. The best of these specimens are not only world-class, but they are certainly the best examples of these two species together ever found (there are a couple other places in San Benito County where the two minerals are found together, but not anywhere close to the quality or quantity of those from the Gem Mine). This piece features many excellent, highly lustrous, sharp, prismatic, dark reddish-black crystals of Neptunite measuring up to 2.3 cm long, associated with a few little well-formed, gemmy, medium blue colored trigonal crystals of Benitoite measuring up to 4 mm across with a bit of white massive Natrolite on blue-grey Crossite matrix. I even found a few tiny orange-brown colored crystals of Joaquinite-(Ce) when I looked at the piece with a loupe! Very good condition, but I can see some tiny imperfections, so the piece is not 100% damage-free, but it's still a very nice specimen of this classic material. For reference, this locality is completely defunct, and now belongs to the state of California, so there will never be any more pieces of this material mined from this great locale again. Priced at $1,500.