Benitoite with Joaquinite - California State Gem Mine, California, USA

Benitoite with Joaquinite

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Benitoite is one of the rarest gem species on the planet. It is also the state gemstone of California as a bonus. ALL the best specimens come from (or rather, came from) a small area of land in far northern California, a unique geological formation of rock from the depths of the earth's mantle that somehow got pushed into the mountains as they rose and brought up to where we can get at it. No other deposit of similar style or nature has been found, it remains unique. Benitoite is a rare titanium containing mineral, which many people are not aware of, and yet somehow it is both blue and gemmy! This display sized specimen hosts a huge, fat, thick crystal, measuring 2.5 cm across and over 1.3 cm thick, that is translucent to transparent and does have some value of gem rough within (especially considering the cut gems trade at 5-10k per carat or more). Not only is the large crystal translucent and thick, but the crystals behind it are also somewhat gemmy. The large crystal is proudly presented up on the matrix, front and center. No repairs or restorations. Other smaller crystals abound on the specimen, as a bonus. And a final bonus is the rich cluster of 1-2 mm joaquinite crystals hiding behind the large benitoite. Specimens of this caliber are few and far between and will never get more common, so we buy them up in old collections as we can.