One more today’s favorite: Quartz "floater" (8.0 cm X 4.0 cm x 4.0 cm) from  Sichuan, China.  Minimal label information, and to may Quartz locales in Sichuan to venture a guess at specific locale

     Today’s favorite is a Superb, Aragonite (10.0 cm X 10.0 cm x 5.0 cm) from  Christiana Mine, Agios Constantinos, Laurion, Spain.  I can’t claim this one it is my spouse Polly’s first mineral purchase and occupies a prominent spot in the display cabinet! Polly depends on me for mineral ID, however, has a great eye for quality!

     One more favorite for today, Stilbite (7.5 cm x 4.0 cm x 3.0 cm) from Kola Peninsula, Russia. The Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia is truely an amazing mineral locality. This large and important region has produced over three hundred different mineral species and is the type locality for over a hundred minerals. The rich bonanza is the result of several unique igneous intrusions that occurred from 3 billion years ago to 360 million years ago.

      Today’s favorite is a Superb, Gemmy, Sherry-colored Topaz crystal cluster (5.5 cm x 2.0 cm x 2.7 cm) collected from Maynard's Mine in Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah.  Acquired from John Holfert, one of the authors of “A Field Guide to Topaz Mountain and Associated Minerals of the Thomas Range, Juab Co. Utah”.
     Warning: Most topaz is light sensitive and can fade in color if exposed to direct sunlight for too long.

      Today’s second favorite is another Superb, Gemmy, Sherry-colored Topaz crystal cluster (6.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.1 cm) collected from Maynard's Mine in Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah.  Acquired from John Holfert, one of the authors of “A Field Guide to Topaz Mountain and Associated Minerals of the Thomas Range, Juab Co. Utah”.
     Warning: Most topaz is light sensitive and can fade in color if exposed to direct sunlight for too long.

     My favorite for today – Another Calcite, Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa. (5.0 x 7.5 x 6.0 centimeters). This is a very attractive miniature of sharp, lustrous Calcite crystals from the famous Linwood Mine, one of the premier Midwest localities for crystallized Calcite associated with Mississippi Valley–type lead‑zinc deposits.  Acquired from Brushy Creek Minerals in 1999.

     Today’s favorite is a Rhodochrosite (6.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 5.0 cm) from Sweet Home Mine, Sweet, Detroit City Claim Block, Mount Bross, Alma Mining District, Park County, Colorado.
     Rhodochrosite is at the top of the list when you think of Colorado minerals. It is the Colorado state mineral. The most beautiful specimens in the world come from the Sweet Home Mine that is located in Alma, Colorado. Now closed, this mine produced large beautiful specimens for about 10 years in the 1990’s. While specimens from the Sweet Home are still available, they are increasingly rare and the price continues to rise.
     Colorado "rhodo" is the bright red, crystal clear variety unlike all but one other Rhodo location in the world. Interestingly, the other location for this sort of clear cherry red crystal is the Pasto Bueno mining district, located in Peru. Like the Sweet Home Mine this district is at timberline, but is a continent away.
      This specimen is part of my spouses small mineral collection - none of mine equal it!

     My favorite for today is - A unique Barite (8.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 3.0 cm) from Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa. The Linwood Mine, located near Buffalo in Scott County, Iowa, is one of the largest underground limestone operations in the United States.