Description: Up for bid is a set of 3 Benitoite specimens from Different Locations in California. This set illustrates the radical differences between these three locations. Specimen 27044 is from the California State Gem Mine in San Benito County, California. This has been called the Dallas Gem Mine, Benitoite Mine, and Benitoite Gem Mine over the years. 99.9% of the Benitoite specimens available are from this location. Specimen 27054 is from the Mina Numero Uno Claim. This claim is located 7.8 km northwest of the California State Gem Mine and the specimens look very different. All of the California State Gem Mine Benitoites are encased in Natrolite and must be etched out. However these Mina Numero Uno specimens form along narrow, randomly oriented fractures less than 1 mm wide. These fractures typically contain no gangue minerals. This specimen was collected by Charles Trantham on 4/26/2017. I have been collecting fluorescent minerals for over 20 years and had never seen any Benitoite from this location before. Specimen 26992 is from the Junnila Mine. This Mine is located 7 km northwest of the California State Gem Mine and the Benitoite specimens look very different! All of the California State Gem Mine Benitoites are encased in Natrolite and must be etched out. However the Benitoite-bearing veins at the Junnila claim are filled with a calcium rich mineral assemblage consisting mostly of Thomsonite, Pectolite, Calcite, and Stevensite. One of these minerals fluoresces Dim Magenta under SW UV, and another mineral fluoresces Bright Green under SW and MW UV. I will need to do some more research to determine what exactly is fluorescing. This specimen was collected by Charles Trantham and Al McGuiness 1982. This is the first time I have ever seen or heard of a three color Benitoite specimen! The following article has some great information about Benitoite from these locations: Benitoite from the New Idria District, San Benito County, California. By Brendan M. Laurs, William R. Rohtert, and Michael Gray Published in Gems and Gemology Fall 1997 If purchased individually, total price of these 3 specimens would be $70. I am starting the bidding at $50. Specimens range in size from 1.4 to 1.8", and total weight for the 3 specimens is 1.3 oz. Below is a detailed description of each specimen. Sale Price: $25. Ref Num: 26992. Description: Benitoite (FL Blue-White SW, MW, Red LW), Unknown (FL Green SW, MW), Albite (FL Dim Magenta SW). Size: 1.4" x 1" x 0.7", 0.6oz. Location: Junnila Mine. City: Clear Creak District. County: San Benito County. State: CA. Country: USA. Sale Price: $20. Ref Num: 27044. Description: Benitoite (FL Blue-White SW, MW, Red LW). Size: 1.8" x 1.1" x 0.5", 0.5oz. Location: California State Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine; Benitoite Mine; Benitoite Gem Mine; Gem Mine). City: . County: San Benito County. State: CA. Country: USA. Sale Price: $25. Ref Num: 27054. Description: Benitoite (FL Blue-White SW, MW, Red LW). Size: 1.6" x 0.6" x 0.37", 0.2oz. Location: Mina Numero Uno. City: Picacho Peak. County: San Benito County. State: CA. Country: USA. Description: Set of 3 Benitoites from Different Locations Location: , , San Benito County, CA, USA Size: 1.4 to 1.8" x " x " Weight: 1.3 oz Contact me if you have any questions. Be sure to check out my eBay store: Jim's Obscure Stuff for more fluorescent minerals and other unusual items. Domestic Shipping For domestic shipping I generally use Fed Exp Ground for heavier and more expensive items, and US Postal Service Priority Mail for lighter and less expensive items. Both services have door to door tracking and full insurance. If you have a shipping preference please let me know. If the shipping service I use costs less than eBay charges, I will refund any excess. I only charge actual shipping costs with no extra charges for packing or shipping materials and will gladly combine shipments. If the combined shipping doesn’t work for some reason, I will refund any excess shipping. International Shipping I use US Postal Service Priority mail for all international shipments. Please note that due to a lack of international flights, many overseas shipments are going by boat instead of air. This can add a month or more to delivery times. Purchase at your own risk.
Price: 50 USD
Location: Woodland Hills, California
End Time: 2024-09-12T00:00:00.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
