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Featured Galleries Mineral Specimens   Uncut Diamond Crystals Gem Minerals Connoisseur Minerals     Pedigreed Minerals Customer Favorites My Best Minerals Quartz Crystals Gold, Silver, Copper Classic Localities	Mineral of the Week #55102, Malachite, Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Warren District, Arizona (SOLD)	Online order form Visit our other galleries with the links below: New Listings1A New Listings1B New Listings2 New Listings3 New Listings4 Featured Galleries My Best Minerals Classic Minerals Gem Minerals Natural Diamonds Historic & Pedigreed Crystal Oddities Overlooked Treasures Large Decorator-Sized Books & Magazines Mineral/Locality-Index Boxed Sets Gift Ideas Locality Galleries New England States New York & New Jersey Mid-Atlantic States Midwest States Arizona & New Mexico Rocky Mountain States Western States Canada Mexico Brazil & South America Britain & North Atlantic Europe Russia & former USSR India,_Pakistan_&_Afghanistan China, Japan & Pacific Rim Africa Tsumeb Mine, Namibia Minerals from Type Localities Mineral Categories Apatite & Phosphates Barite, Celestine & Sulfates Calcite Azurite, Malachite & Carbonates Fluorite & Halides Garnets Gold, Silver & Elements Magnetite, Hematite & Oxides Quartz Silicates Galena, Pyrite & Sulfides/Sulfosalts Tourmalines Zeolites and Associated Wulfenite & Molbdates, Arsenates, Vanadates Fluorescent Minerals Laguna Agates Liddicoatite Tourmaline Tanzanite Pseudomorphs Diamond Crystals Diamonds $1-$199 Diamonds $200-$399 Diamonds $400-$999 Diamonds $1000+ Diamonds under 1 carat Diamonds 1-2 carats Diamonds 2-5 carats Diamonds over 5 carats Diamond Crystal Clusters Gem-grade Diamonds Diamonds for Jewelry Sorted Lists of all Minerals on this site Sorted by Price Sorted by Size Sorted by Species Sorted by Number Best Minerals Minerals $100-$199 Minerals $200-$399 Minerals $400-$999 Minerals $1000 and up
Information Purchasing Information Feedback Your Comments Frequently Asked Questions Returning Items for Refund Damaged Packages Shipping Costs Quantity Discounts Security Sell Your Rock & Mineral Collection. Why should I sign your Guestbook? Quick Reference for Mineral Species, Formula, Class, and Type Locality List of Water Soluble Mineral Species Mineral List Available Upon Request.	News and Comments This week a mineral collector from eastern Europe sent photographs to me via email requesting identification of mineral species. When I responded that I could not identify the mineral species based solely on photographs, the collector went ballistic with the foulest curses against me and the entire geological community. So much for giving a courtesy reply to every inquiry... You cannot identify minerals based on photographs, unless it is a unique mineral with a rare habit that is not found in any other mineral, like sixling-twinned reticulated cerussite crystals. Before I pronounce an identification of species, I check ALL of these characteristics: Hardness Color Opacity-Translucency-Transparency Cleavage Streak Specific Gravity Internal color of a freshly-exposed surface At the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium this year George Robinson, curator of the A.E. Seaman Museum at Michigan Tech lampooned over-reliance on microprobe and X-ray when he offered advice on identifying various minerals from the iron mining district of Michigan. He said he routinely uses his "electron microprobe streak plate" for determining some species, like differentitating between goethite and hematite. The foolishness of identifying minerals based on photographs can be found on the discussion boards of Mindat.org. Collectors submit photographs, then anyone with a keyboard submits their ideas of what the mineral species might be. One classic example was Glenn Rhein's find on his property in Warwick, New York in the Reading Prong geologic formation. Mindat contributors offered all kinds of proposals for identification of the species. Unfortunately few were aware of the mineralogy of the Reading Prong and many of their answers were far off the mark. Please do not email me photographs for identification. However, if you send me the descriptive characteristics of the seven attributes listed above AND you describe the geologic setting of the find, I will do my best to respond with identification. John H. Betts 5/22/2012 Click here to read past news and commentaries...
Click here to see other comments about this site by customers. Also add your feedback...	Customer Comments: "Hey John, I just wanted to comment on the efficiency of your site and the exquisite variety of minerals and their righteous prices. I have purchased a few of your minerals and they never disappoint me. Also, ordering these minerals is not even a slightly tedious task....right to the point, no hesitation for extra personal information." Ryan "John, I received my Descloizite yesterday in the mail and was very pleased. It look's even better under a loop. Thank again for your consistent great service, it is rare these day's. Also, thank you for the lower priced items for the income challenged among us. Bring more back from Tucson show. Don't hesitate to buy from John. He is top's in his field for quality and service." E. Myhro See more comments...
About the Owner Background Information Why I Collect Minerals Contact Information Mineral Show Schedule Links   See me next at: East Coast Gem and Mineral Show	Pledge to My Customers: Customer satisfaction is my primary goal. I pledge: New minerals will be added to this site every week. All minerals offered will be naturally crystallized specimens - no fakes, no dyes,  no irradiation, no crystals glued on matrix. Only the exact item pictured on the site will be shipped - no substitutes. Photographs will accurately represent each item - no exaggeration, enhancement or retouching flaws. Mineral species and localities will be accurately listed on labels with each specimen. All items will be shipped via US Postal Service, usually the next business day after the order is finalized. Each mineral will be individually wrapped and carefully packaged to prevent damage during shipping. All historic labeling, if available, will be included with each mineral. Returns are gladly accepted. No questions asked, no explanation necessary. All customer information will be kept confidential and never shared or sold. I will continue to freely share my knowledge with others and contribute to the study and appreciation of minerals. All mineral specimens have a lifetime guarantee: if the mineral specimen is ever tested, and I incorrectly identified the mineral species, I will refund the cost of the original purchase & shipping, the cost return shipping and the cost of the test.  John H. Betts, owner Mineral dealer since 1989
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48,733 mineral specimens sold, shipped in 16,561 packages to 47 countries.

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John Betts - Fine Minerals, New York, NY  212-678-1942
a division of allminerals.com, dealer of Fine Minerals and Natural Crystal Clusters since 1989.
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