Neptunite with RARE Digenite association (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

When it comes to minerals from the famous California State Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine), everybody is familiar with Benitoite and Neptunite, but this piece has the distinction of featuring DIGENITE crystals!! Yes there are copper sulfides at this mine, the more commonly seen species is Djurleite, but Digenite is exceptionally rare in my experience. I've only seen a few of these in my life. This piece features several fine quality, sharp, lustrous, deep reddish-black prisms of Neptunite measuring up to 1.5 cm long sitting atop a layer of white Natrolite on a thin plate of matrix. Looking closely, you can see some scattered blue Benitoite crystals, but the real treat is when you stumble upon one of the handful of Digenite crystals. They can be overlooked at first, because they are black and almost look Neptunite if you're not paying attention, but they are distinguishable due to their matte luster and compressed trigonal crystal shape. I know there are some of you who are fanatics for material from this now closed locality, so if you've always wanted a piece of Digenite from this mine, do not pass up the chance to get your hands on one now. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011. The piece comes with a label from Mark and Jeannette Rogers of Yucaipa, California.