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Alice Harrison | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> "For the beauty of the earth...." tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

"For the beauty of the earth...."

That's what this stuff is... The beauty of the earth. I had a small rock and mineral collection my grandmother sent when I was a kid. She had a rock shop in her home at 1 Tucson Terrace just off the highway as you come into Tucson, AZ. (See below for story about my grandmother, Ann Rutledge's part in the starting of the very first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 1955. Where it speaks of "the motels", it should be capitalized. Motel was the people's last name.) I'm just now finding time in my life to take it up as a hobby. I love learning about it and photographing the specimens is fitting in with another of my newly found hobbies. If anyone has any info on any of these or has any questions, feel free to leave comments. I've just started collecting, so I don't have much yet. I've purchased some on eBay. What you see here is what I have so far. I'll keep adding. Specimens in picture 3 were purchased from scepterguy on eBay (store name is Cascade Scepters and can be found at cascadescepters.com) Just click on the pictures to see them better. Specimens 4 through 26g were an old collection purchased from treasurechest565 on eBay. They are fabulous! Enjoy the eye candy!
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1. The four boxes up front are an old educational set for showing Luster, Hardness, Clevage, etc.
1. The four boxes up front are an old educational set for showing Luster, Hardness, Clevage, etc.		 2. Barite. Palos Verdes CA. Bought from very nice dealers, John and Gloria Cornish of John Cornish Minerals, Port Angleles, WA.
2. Barite. Palos Verdes CA. Bought from very nice dealers, John and Gloria Cornish of John Cornish Minerals, Port Angleles, WA.		 2a. Calcite w/ Calcite aft Aragonite pseudomorph Snohomish Co. WA Also from John Cornish. Click this pic to read more about him.
2a. Calcite w/ Calcite aft Aragonite pseudomorph Snohomish Co. WA Also from John Cornish. Click this pic to read more about him.		 3. From scepterguy on eBay. Wonderful dealer with wonderful stuff.
3. From scepterguy on eBay. Wonderful dealer with wonderful stuff.
3a. Creedite. Mina Navidad, Rodeo Durango, Mexico.
3a. Creedite. Mina Navidad, Rodeo Durango, Mexico.		 3b. Vanadite and Barite, Acif Mine, Mibladen, Morocco.
3b. Vanadite and Barite, Acif Mine, Mibladen, Morocco.		 4. One of my best purchases. The next 39 pics are all specimens from treasurechest565 on eBay. They also sent freebies.
4. One of my best purchases. The next 39 pics are all specimens from treasurechest565 on eBay. They also sent freebies.		 4a. Pyromorphite. Idaho.
4a. Pyromorphite. Idaho.
4b. Macro view of Pyromorphite.
4b. Macro view of Pyromorphite.		 4c. Blue Hemimorphite (Botryoidal) 79 Mine, Hayden, Arizona.
4c. Blue Hemimorphite (Botryoidal) 79 Mine, Hayden, Arizona.		 4d. Sulfur Cystals. Mexico
4d. Sulfur Cystals. Mexico		 4e. Malachite. Miami, AZ.
4e. Malachite. Miami, AZ.
4f. Clinozoisite Prismatic xx. Nightengale District, Pershing Co., Nevada
4f. Clinozoisite Prismatic xx. Nightengale District, Pershing Co., Nevada		 5. Same collection.They're from Michigan. Datolite, Thomsonite, Halfbreed, Petoskey stone, Lk. Sup. Agate and shot copper.
5. Same collection.They're from Michigan. Datolite, Thomsonite, Halfbreed, Petoskey stone, Lk. Sup. Agate and "shot copper."		 6. Datolite Cabuchons. Also some out of the shot copper on pg. 1.
6. Datolite Cabuchons. Also some out of the "shot copper" on pg. 1.		 7. Was told by an expert, that this is most likely shot copper in Amygdeloid matrix. Lake Superior, Mich.
7. Was told by an expert, that this is most likely "shot copper" in Amygdeloid matrix. Lake Superior, Mich.
8. Datolite. It's beautiful. From Keweenaw area, Michigan.
8. Datolite. It's beautiful. From Keweenaw area, Michigan.		 8a. Thomsonite. Very unusual. Read all about it: http://www.thomsonite.com/thomsonite.htm
8a. Thomsonite. Very unusual. Read all about it: http://www.thomsonite.com/thomsonite.htm		 8b. Lake Superior Agate. Who owned this great collection before me, and did they mine them themselves?
8b. Lake Superior Agate. Who owned this great collection before me, and did they mine them themselves?		 8c. According to my expert, Mr. Bielman, this is not float but sand pocket spider copper. Keweenaw Peninsula.
8c. According to my expert, Mr. Bielman, this is not "float" but sand pocket "spider" copper. Keweenaw Peninsula.
8d. Halfbreed with datolite. Silver and copper together.
8d. Halfbreed with datolite. Silver and copper together.		 8e. Same Halfbreed, but I took silver polish to it.
8e. Same Halfbreed, but I took silver polish to it.		 9. Celestite lustrous xls with Sulphur. Floristella Mine - Sicily
9. Celestite lustrous xls with Sulphur. Floristella Mine - Sicily		 9a. Other side of celestite.
9a. Other side of celestite.
10. Wulfenite. Mexico. Amazes me how this stuff is formed.
10. Wulfenite. Mexico. Amazes me how this stuff is formed.		 10a. Phantom calcite xls. on large Danburite xl. Mexico
10a. Phantom calcite xls. on large Danburite xl. Mexico		 10b. Sphalerite xls. on Dolomite. Pincher, Oklahoma.
10b. Sphalerite xls. on Dolomite. Pincher, Oklahoma.		 12. Wulfenite & Mimetite on Barite, Rowley Mine, near Theba, Maricopa Co. AZ
12. Wulfenite & Mimetite on Barite, Rowley Mine, near Theba, Maricopa Co. AZ
13. Yummy Wulfenite ! And Mimitite.
13. Yummy Wulfenite ! And Mimitite.		 13a. Epidote. Zacatecas, Mexico.
13a. Epidote. Zacatecas, Mexico.		 13b. Epidote. Guadalope Island. Baja, CA. Mex.
13b. Epidote. Guadalope Island. Baja, CA. Mex.		 14. Prehnite. Prospect Park, New Jersey.
14. Prehnite. Prospect Park, New Jersey.
15. Amianth on Gneiss. That's German for Byssolite. Switzerland. Looks like a hairy rock.
15. Amianth on Gneiss. That's German for Byssolite. Switzerland. Looks like a hairy rock.		 15a. Tag says Hubnerite xls. Adams Mine, Silverton, Colo. (Heubnerite?)
15a. Tag says Hubnerite xls. Adams Mine, Silverton, Colo. (Heubnerite?)		 16. Prehnite. Patterson, New Jersey.
16. Prehnite. Patterson, New Jersey.		 17. Prehnite up close.
17. Prehnite up close.
18. Azurite Crystals. From Miami, AZ.
18. Azurite Crystals. From Miami, AZ.		 26. Part of same collection. Rhodochrosite on Qrtz xls. American Tunnel, Silverton, Colo. Camera can't pick up all the sparkles.
26. Part of same collection. Rhodochrosite on Qrtz xls. American Tunnel, Silverton, Colo. Camera can't pick up all the sparkles.		 26a. Rhodocrosite macro.
26a. Rhodocrosite macro.		 26b. Golden Barite, Eagle Mine, Gilmer, Colorado.
26b. Golden Barite, Eagle Mine, Gilmer, Colorado.
26c. Adamite w/ Calcite xls. Mexico
26c. Adamite w/ Calcite xls. Mexico		 26d. Dogtooth Calcite xls. Monore, Michigan.
26d. Dogtooth Calcite xls. Monore, Michigan.		 26e. Brookite on Smokey Quartz. Arkansas.
26e. Brookite on Smokey Quartz. Arkansas.		 26f. Barite. Magma Mine, Superior, AZ.
26f. Barite. Magma Mine, Superior, AZ.
26g. Datolite, Thomsonite, Superior Agate, Petoskey Stone, Shot copper, and sand pocket spider copper. All from Michigan.
26g. Datolite, Thomsonite, Superior Agate, Petoskey Stone, Shot copper, and sand pocket "spider" copper. All from Michigan.		 27. These are coming from maine_magic on eBay. Another generous dealer who is sending along some freebies.
27. These are coming from maine_magic on eBay. Another generous dealer who is sending along some freebies.		 28. Also from maine_magic. The owl is made out of stone.
28. Also from maine_magic. The owl is made out of stone.		 29. From only1gizmo on eBay. Got these for grandson's B-day. The dealer was fabulous and sent freebies.
29. From only1gizmo on eBay. Got these for grandson's B-day. The dealer was fabulous and sent freebies.
30. Other half from only1gizmo on eBay. She boxed and labeled everything beautifully. Grandson loved it.
30. Other half from only1gizmo on eBay. She boxed and labeled everything beautifully. Grandson loved it.		 31. OK. It's a Red Top Agate, not an Ellensburg Blue.
31. OK. It's a Red Top Agate, not an Ellensburg Blue.		 33. From miner1640 on ebay. These are huge specimens. GREAT SELLERS! They included a freebie and they packed it all real well.
33. From miner1640 on ebay. These are huge specimens. GREAT SELLERS! They included a freebie and they packed it all real well.		 34. Green Apophyllite. Beautiful specimen (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
34. Green Apophyllite. Beautiful specimen (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
35. Prehnite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
35. Prehnite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.		 35a. Cavansite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
35a. Cavansite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.		 35b. Cavansite crystals
35b. Cavansite crystals		 36. Scolecite from miner1640 on ebay.
36. Scolecite from miner1640 on ebay.
37. Stilbite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
37. Stilbite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.		 37a. Okenite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
37a. Okenite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.		 37b. Okenite
37b. Okenite		 37c. Heulandite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
37c. Heulandite (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
37d. Hullendite crystals
37d. Hullendite crystals		 37e. Chalcedony (India) from miner1640 on ebay.
37e. Chalcedony (India) from miner1640 on ebay.		 38. The flower shaped disk in the middle of the picture is fool's gold. I've seen it called miner's dollar and sunflower pyrite.
38. The flower shaped disk in the middle of the picture is fool's gold. I've seen it called miner's dollar and sunflower pyrite.		 39. Most of this from miner1640 on ebay. Great stuff.
39. Most of this from miner1640 on ebay. Great stuff.
40. Fabulous Septarian Nodule slab came from fantastic Utah seller, cantim. Click 'n learn!
40. Fabulous Septarian Nodule slab came from fantastic Utah seller, cantim. Click 'n learn!		 41. Utah Septarian Nodule slab came from ebay seller, slynninwy567. Great seller, she sent a fantastic freebie!
41. Utah Septarian Nodule slab came from ebay seller, slynninwy567. Great seller, she sent a fantastic freebie!		 41a. Septarian Nodules again.
41a. Septarian Nodules again.		 41b. Bought from annab.mom on eBay. 4 inches. Very nice. Very expensive thanks to 15 competing bidders. I gotta get a job.
41b. Bought from annab.mom on eBay. 4 inches. Very nice. Very expensive thanks to 15 competing bidders. I gotta get a job.
41c. Not mine. Wonderful Huge Septarion Nodule sold by reltucdog on ebay. See their description by clicking this picture!
41c. Not mine. Wonderful Huge Septarion Nodule sold by reltucdog on ebay. See their description by clicking this picture!		 42. Great purchase. Coming from jonf1 on ebay. Very old educational set by A. E. Foote. See next picture...
42. Great purchase. Coming from jonf1 on ebay. Very old educational set by A. E. Foote. See next picture...		 43. Click on the picture and then the link l put in the comment section below the pic.
43. Click on the picture and then the link l put in the comment section below the pic.		 44. Probably a hundrend years old or more. This is an A. E. Foote collection. Complete!
44. Probably a hundrend years old or more. This is an A. E. Foote collection. Complete!
45. This coming from jonf1 , also. How's this for float copper Tom? From Michigan.
45. This coming from jonf1 , also. How's this for "float copper" Tom? From Michigan.		 47. Dinosaur Poop (Coprolite) - from supremetroll on ebay. Wonderful ebayer. He sent 5 freebies!
47. Dinosaur Poop (Coprolite) - from supremetroll on ebay. Wonderful ebayer. He sent 5 freebies!		 47a Amethyst from all over.
47a Amethyst from all over.		 48. Fast shipper, supremetroll on ebay sent 4 pieces of this Esmerelda Green Calcite + a piece of orange calcite, all freebies!
48. Fast shipper, supremetroll on ebay sent 4 pieces of this Esmerelda Green Calcite + a piece of orange calcite, all freebies!
49. Anyone know what this is? It's very metalic and very heavy. About 3 inches long.
49. Anyone know what this is? It's very metalic and very heavy. About 3 inches long.		 50. Here's the other side. ???
50. Here's the other side. ???		 51. Can anyone tell me what this is? Check next few pictures. Told you I was new at this.
51. Can anyone tell me what this is? Check next few pictures. Told you I was new at this.		 52. Is it wood opal? Looks to me like bark on the outside.
52. Is it wood opal? Looks to me like bark on the outside.
53. Underside. Lots of clear red there.
53. Underside. Lots of clear red there.		 54. So. Is it wood opal? Is there other stuff here, too? Jasper? Petrified wood? Anyone?
54. So. Is it wood opal? Is there other stuff here, too? Jasper? Petrified wood? Anyone?		 55. Some of these were already broken, but the seller just threw them all, big and small into a box and sent them. What a shame.
55. Some of these were already broken, but the seller just threw them all, big and small into a box and sent them. What a shame.		 56. Man-made Beauty. Silicon carbide. About 9 x 6 inches.
56. Man-made Beauty. Silicon carbide. About 9 x 6 inches.
57. Again, up close and personal. Pretty stuff.
57. Again, up close and personal. Pretty stuff.		 58. Silicon Carbide - Up close and personal !
58. Silicon Carbide - Up close and personal !		 59. The big chuncky stuff.
59. The big chuncky stuff.		 60. This lot came from my kind cousin, Bevan in Montana. Garnets, one in matrix, emeralds, rubies, and perodots.
60. This lot came from my kind cousin, Bevan in Montana. Garnets, one in matrix, emeralds, rubies, and perodots.
61. Sunflower Pyrite. Purchased from maine_magic on eBay.
61. Sunflower Pyrite. Purchased from maine_magic on eBay.		 62. Druze on Chrysocolla. AZ Ann Rutledge specimen.
62. Druze on Chrysocolla. AZ Ann Rutledge specimen.		 63. All sorts of copper.
63. All sorts of copper.		 64. Selenite
64. Selenite
65. Frost cystals. Cool.
65. Frost cystals. Cool.		 Helen Irby >> << Collection
<<  Helen Irby >> << Collection >> 		Ann Rutledge (Grandma's) Minerals
<< Ann Rutledge (Grandma's) Minerals >> 		Gold Panning book by my Aunt , Diane Bain.
Gold Panning book by my Aunt , Diane Bain.
Latest purchase. From chipeta1 on eBay. I love buying these old collections. Check out his store on ebay. Great stuff.
Latest purchase. From chipeta1 on eBay. I love buying these old collections. Check out his store on ebay. Great stuff.		 I get these old collections and look up every specimen I'm not familiar with.
I get these old collections and look up every specimen I'm not familiar with.		 When I get time, I'll try to photograph some of these individually.
When I get time, I'll try to photograph some of these individually.		 Chinese Writing Stones. Found by my family and I. A great haul. Eastern Washinton
Chinese Writing Stones. Found by my family and I. A great haul. Eastern Washinton
Also called Porphyry. An expert told me they are microlites of plagioclase in basalt.
Also called Porphyry. An expert told me they are microlites of plagioclase in basalt.		 Anyone out there know how to tumble or polish these???
Anyone out there know how to tumble or polish these???		 If you look Online you can see some great jewelry made from this.
If you look Online you can see some great jewelry made from this.		 This and the collection in next pic came from rooster5rocks on eBay, He sent lots of freebies and great specimens.
This and the collection in next pic came from rooster5rocks on eBay, He sent lots of freebies and great specimens.
Rooster5rocks puts these great collections together. These two collections are going to a couple of young rockhounds I know.
Rooster5rocks puts these great collections together. These two collections are going to a couple of young rockhounds I know.		 4 starter collections for 4 great kids. All this + gobs of freebies from goldman627 on ebay.
4 starter collections for 4 great kids. All this + gobs of freebies from goldman627 on ebay.		 Fantastic dealer, goldman627, on ebay, sent great stuff for the kids, including freebies.
Fantastic dealer, goldman627, on ebay, sent great stuff for the kids, including freebies.		 Some of the freebies from goldman627.
Some of the freebies from goldman627.
also_from_goldman627_click_to_see_up_close
<< also_from_goldman627_click_to_see_up_close >>
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comment | share
Guest 01-May-2010 03:49
Nice Collection! Even bigger than the one I had about 10 years ago. I like the Mining Scenes, that Goldman627 does a Great job.LOL Thanks for the Pics. and the Posting for me.:)
Alice Harrison10-Jul-2009 18:08
JOHN,
Thanks for your comments. I hope your family finds time to at least look at some of their treasure's through some kind of micro lens. As if they aren't beautiful enough through the naked eye, but some are just incredible if you can see them through a macro setting on our camera or some other magnifying device. Glad you enjoyed these and good luck with your collecting.
John Wells 09-Jul-2009 23:49
It is wonderful to see your enthusiasm and awe for these treasures of nature. Our family feels the same way about what we have collected. We don't have the time yet to photo ours and post on the web, thanks for sharing yours.
Alice Harrison06-May-2009 21:08
Page 9 - NEWEST FINDS AS OF 5/5/09: Chinese Writing Stones found by my family and me in Eastern Washington.
John Bogert 28-Apr-2009 10:35
Nice Pictures! I'm a Rockhound in Washington State.The ones you asked if they were petrified wood or opal are opalized wood or wood opal we have some in Eastern Washington that is Precious Wood Opal and has fire.I find petrified wood at a river and almost always has the wood grain all the way through.Sometimes it has Amber in or on it or agate.
Sincerely,John
Alice Harrison04-Sep-2008 07:21
Chris,
Thanks for your comments. I took it to a local show, here, and several dealers thought it was a meteorite. But a few said they didn't think so because of the white quartz-like layer on the back. Do some meteorites have this? See #50.
Christopher 01-Sep-2008 20:50
#49 appears to be a small meteorite. Have it checked.
Alice Harrison11-Aug-2008 05:48
Frank, Thanks for your comments. That find of your mother's near Casper would get anyone hooked on the hobby. Your collection must be huge if you've been collecting since you were 10 years old. I envy you. And how nice that you can share the hobby with a spouse. My husband says, "why buy when you have all those out in the driveway?" Glad you enjoyed the pics. I really am a newbie, so feel free to critique.
Frank Foster 10-Aug-2008 22:38
Dear Ms Harrison: I have enjoyed your gallery of rocks and minerals. I have been collectiong since I was 10 years old and was really hooked when my faterr took me back to Wyoming in 1962. I was born in Cheyenne Wyoming and now reside in Georgia near Atlanta. My Dad got tired and pulled between to road cuts between Casper and Sundance to take a nap. During his nap time, my mother found a big fairly flat chunk of red sandstone, turned it over and there were fossil selenite crystals of flowers on the back. I have rock collecting fever bad. I even met my wife in Geology 101 at college. I reckon she showed me her rock pile and I showed her mine and we have been together for 35 years now. I even went on a field trip yesterday to Lower Ablabam to collect petrified wood and other fossils. Thank you so much for sharing your photograghs. Very Nice !!!!!
mart senior01-Mar-2008 10:01
very interesting ,great hobby must be enjoyable.
mart senior01-Mar-2008 09:57
you have photographed this gallery very well,,,v
The Third Side15-Nov-2007 02:40
Nice collection and some beautiful photos too.
Alice Harrison28-Aug-2007 22:42
This link will take you to an article about my grandmother, Ann Rutlege and her part in the creation of the very first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show back in 1955. Just click link and scroll to bottom of page, to "Rags to Riches", next to last article.
http://www.amfed.org/news/n2002_02.htm
My Aunt Sally Franklin started the Rock Shop with my Grandmother and used to make some of the gifts they sold.
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