Simone Matthews

Stibnite is a lustrous grey metalloid which commonly occurs in small deposits in hydrothermal veins. It forms in long prismatic crystals, but can also form in blades. The largest deposits of Stibnite come from China, with smaller deposits in Japan, Peru, Mexico, Romania, USA and Alaska. The chemical composition of Stibnite is Antimony Sulfide (Sb2S3).

Calcite is a common mineral found on every continent and in almost every colour.  The most beautiful golden specimens of Calcite come from Mexico and the USA, with stunning Calcite/Cavansite deposits found in India. The chemical composition of Calcite is Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), containing impurities such as iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc or cobalt, giving the

Vera Cruz Amethyst is so named as it originates from the Los Vigas Mine, in Vera Cruz, Mexico.  The crystal is now quite rare, as the mine was shut down many years ago. Amethyst is quartz (SiO2) with aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) impurities, giving quartz its vibrant purple/violet colour. Formed in silica rich liquids

Sugilite, pronounced Soo-gi (as in give) lite, is quite a rare mineral found primarily in South Africa, with smaller deposits found in Canada, Japan and Australia.  It is a rather new mineral, found in 1944 in Japan by Kenichi Sugi (after whom it is named) and then becoming a global favourite in the late seventies

During the growth phases of a crystal over thousands/millions of years, fluid may become trapped inside the crystal – creating a fluid bubble.  These crystals are often referred to as enhydros. The fluid bubble is made up of the fluid that surrounded the crystal at the time it became trapped, thus if could me a