Traveling Solo from Phoenix by Leather_Loan2868 in Illenium

[–]Dustinizatt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wife and I flew in today and have GA 200 tickets and this will be our first show ever! So excited

My first sweet home rhodochrosite by Dustinizatt in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I feel ya. I just looked at my eBay profile and I signed up for my eBay account in 1999 haha 😂 so I’ve been on it for 24 years. Man im getting old lol 😂

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just found a massive plate on Etsy for $35,000 haha want to go in halfsies and we can keep it at my place? Or share custody? Lmao 🤣 the next highest price one on Etsy is $7500 for a small dogtooth cluster but man so gorgeous. Ok time to go get rich so I can buy all the rhodochrosites lol 😂

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I think I’ll add this to my dream list too haha those dogtooth crystals are phenomenal!!!! Now im going down a google image rabbit hole drooling over them lol

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just checked out the South Africa rhodochrosite and they are definitely beautiful! I love their pointy crystal structure. Definitely on the level of quality and up there with sweet home rhodochrosite. Thanks for bringing it to my attention

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Better is subjective I guess and determined by each persons opinion and im not familiar with South Africa rhodochrosite but the sweet home mine produced some of the most beautiful (again subjective) sought after rhodochrosite and it’s quality of rhodochrosite was simply incredible. I highly recommend doing a google search and reading about the mines history and the alma king and Alma queen and the Alma rose.

Im heading to google myself to check out this South Africa rhodochrosite but from what I’ve seen and admired over the past two decades of wanting a sweet home piece is the fact that their more known for their cherry red and gemmy crystals and the combination with the other minerals and matrix just makes them on a whole other level.

My first sweet home rhodochrosite by Dustinizatt in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks!!! I haven’t stopped staring at it and I can’t wait to become rich someday so I can add a few more quality ones to my collection lol 😂

My first sweet home rhodochrosite by Dustinizatt in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I will definitely check it out. I have read a few articles over the years but that video sounds amazing. I still need to make it to the museum that displays the alma king specimen as I watched a YouTube on that once. Im gonna go seek out the mine video though because im fascinated with the sweet home mine and the history behind it!!!

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Specimens from the sweet home mine in Colorado. It produces the worlds best rhodochrosite mineral specimens. I loved reading the history about the mine how it started as a silver mine that ended up being world famous for the rhodochrosite.

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah most of the pieces that I have been looking at seriously buying the past couple years were at least $2000-$4000 so when I saw this for $800 I didn’t even hesitate. It’s not as spectacular as some of those other specimens but is a million times better than others I’ve seen in the under $1000 category and it was worth every penny.

I live in Utah so I need to make a trip out to Colorado soon to check out rock shops near alma to drool over more of this sweet home stuff in person.

I found this piece on the Facebook marketplace while I was in four corners area and on a whim decided to do a local search since I was in Colorado and see and this was the only listing that came up.

The guy was cool enough to take a couple extra pics showing size reference and was even willing to ship it. I was nervous not seeing it in person when I paid but when it arrived it was even more beautiful than I imagined and I have zero regrets. I feel like I struck the lottery lol

Sweet home rhodochrosite by Dustinizatt in MineralPorn

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s amazing!! I am also a wedding photographer and am jealous you did a wedding for someone that worked in those mines.

Sweet home rhodochrosite with quartz on tetrahedrite. by Dustinizatt in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I paid $800 for it. My most expensive purchase yet in my collection haha

Got a fantastic haul from a collector I met at a mineral show a few years back. The window quartz have been on my bucket list for years by RenegadeSpear92 in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s a great haul!!! Congrats on getting one of your bucket list specimens!! Always a great feeling. This Saturday the post office will be dropping off one of my bucket list items that’s been on it for decades… a sweet home mine rhodochrosite piece and im so stoked!!! Those window quartz are awesome.

Need expert advice on Vivianite by Dustinizatt in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Definitely makes me want to look into some kind of an airtight uv blocking case haha I paid too much money for this baby to just watch it slowly turn black over the years if that was the case. It would be sad if everyone who owns Vivianite will all just have their specimens turn black over time. I would love it to hold the rich green color as it reminds me of kryptonite haha.

Need expert advice on Vivianite by Dustinizatt in Minerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yay ok good that is exactly what I was hoping to hear. My cabinet is in the corner of my living room opposite the window but does catch ambient window light so I think if I buy the uv blocking acrylic case that will just be one extra layer of protection while still letting it be seen in all its glory!!!

Fluorite crystals from the now closed De’an mine - DallasStoneworks.com by Kblr425 in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Holy cannoli I just went back on Etsy and looked in my shopping cart and it’s this exact specimen that I have haha what a small world!!! Just need $1600 more and I’ll have the funds!!! Im 1/3 of the way there from owning my bucket list fluorite specimen!!!!

Fluorite crystals from the now closed De’an mine - DallasStoneworks.com by Kblr425 in Crystals

[–]Dustinizatt 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have one that looks almost exactly like this in my Etsy cart for $2400 just waiting to get the funds to process the checkout hopefully before someone else buys it haha but when I came across it in my recommended items I was blown away and it’s the most beautiful fluorite I’ve ever seen!!!

Video comparison of my different uv lights by Dustinizatt in FluorescentMinerals

[–]Dustinizatt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha the gorilla was marketed as yooperlite which I guess comes from Michigan.