Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Website : www.trinityminerals.com E-mail : john@trinityminerals.com Click HERE to read about John VEEVAERT and his collection. A note about John Veevaert John has a BS in Geology and an MS in Geomorphology. He has worked for two mineral exploration companies in Alaska and Nevada and also had a career as a geomorphologist with Redwood National Park and the United States Forest Service. He started his mineral dealership in 1995 and today, together with his wife Colleen, operates the various Trinity Mineral Company websites which include: Trinityminerals.com, Tsumeb.com, RareMinerals.com, BenitoiteMine.com, MineralBooks.com, Mineral-Auctions.com and MineralShows.com. The name of his company is derived from where John lives which is in Trinity County, California. John's favorite mineral species is benitoite. A note about John Veevaert's Benitoite Collection All that I collect in the way of minerals are specimens of benitoite from its various known locations and specimens of the various species that are found at the Benitoite Gem Mine. That's it. As a dealer it behooves me to make everything else that passes through my hands available to other collectors. I have been collecting minerals since 1977 and when I started a mineral dealership in 1995 I realized that it was in my best interest to develop a focus for my collection. I chose to focus on benitoite because of its unique characteristics and the interesting geologic setting found in the vicinity of the Benitoite Gem Mine. These are images from a few of the specimens in my collection. It has not been a pocket book friendly experience. It is not easy to locate or inexpensive to obtain outstanding specimens from this interesting locality. Most people probably think that a benitoite is a benitoite and there's no need to look beyond getting one representative sample with crystals of benitoite, neptunite and joaquinite. My collection has specimens which include twins, rare species, rare crystal habits and associations. Most of the specimens in it are small between 2 and 5 cm in size though there are quite a few that exceed 25 cm in dimension. It is my hope that by viewing some of these photos you will gain a better appreciation for the rarer crystal habits that benitoite is found in. BENITOITE & NEPTUNITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This specimen is a small miniature with several very well formed crystals of benitoite including the fine triply terminated crystal which is 1.3 cm across. The largest crystal on the specimen is 1.7 cm across. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A Eight glassy crystals of deep blue and gemmy benitoite on crossite matrix with very rare "a" and "d" faces. The largest crystal is 1.4 cm across. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE & NEPTUNITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This specimen is a thumbnail sized rock consisting of two perfect triply terminated benitoite crystals with a doubly terminated neptunite stuck between the two. The largest benitoite crystal is 1.2 cm across. This rock is the favorite of all the specimens I have due to its exceptional aesthetics. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE, NEPTUNITE & JOAQUINITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a large thumbnail sized specimen of gem quality benitoite with crystals of joaquinite and a single crystal of neptunite. There are large gem sections in both of these crystals the largest of which is 2 cm across at its widest point. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE & NEPTUNITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This specimen is a miniature with scads of rich blue colored crystals of benitoite to 1.6 cm across. The center crystal is exceptional in its form while the crystal directly below (bottom right picture) has at least a 2+ carat gemstone! This one ain't gettin cut! Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE, NEPTUNITE & JOAQUINITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a miniature sized specimen with several lustrous crystals of neptunite to 2.5 cm in length and several crystals of benitoite including the small 0.5 cm crystal with the joaquinite crystals and the 1 cm pure gem crystal perched on a neptunite crystal Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a triply terminated floater. It consists of several intergrown crystals without any contact that I can find anywhere. The crystal is 1.7 cm across. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a 1.65 carat gem crystal of benitoite. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A 0.9 cm twinned crystal of benitoite. The crystal is twinned on the c-axis. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. NEPTUNITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a small cabinet sized specimen of neptunite. There are well over 200 crystals of neptunite on this rock - all in perfect condition and superb luster. The largest crystal in this black forest is 1.6 cm in length. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE, NEPTUNITE & JOAQUINITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A Large cabinet specimen with over 50 crystals of benitoite - several triply termainted and a lustrous, doubly terminated, 4.3 cm crystal of neptunite. The largest benitoite crystal is the flat lying crystal and it is 2.7 cm across! Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. NEPTUNITE & BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A Very attractive cabinet sized specimen of a flat lying 1.5 cm crystal of benitoite between two upright crystals of neptunite. It is not common to get large upright crystals of neptunite like this rock has. This specimen was formely part of the F.John Barlow Collection. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. APATITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This specimen of crossite and Natrolite has numerous prismatic crystals of colorless apatite to 4 mm in length. They are non-reactive under SW UV light. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A San Benito County, California Miniature specimen with a dozen or so crystals with exceptional oscillatory development between c & p faces. Most crystals have a & d faces or at least one or the other. The crystals are gemmy and lustrous. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. JOAQUINITE, NEPTUNITE & BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This cabinet sized specimen is LOADED with joaquinite crystals! Well over 500 of them are generously sprinkled over this rock! There are also over a dozen well terminated neptunite crystals and even a couple of small 3-5 mm benitoite crystals. For reference the field of view of the lower right photo is about 2.5 cm. The whole rock measures 11 cm across. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. NEPTUNITE maclée & BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a cabinet sized specimen of natrolite and crossite hosting crystals of benitoite and neptunite. This is the best legitimate twin of neptunite I have ever encountered. The twin measures 2.3 cm across and is a perfect example of twinning on (301) miller indices. The added attraction are the benitoite crystals which reach up to 1.2 cm across on this specimen Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. JONESITE, NEPTUNITE & JOAQUINITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a specimen which has numerous crystals of jonesite as singles. Associated minerals include neptunite and joaquinite. The crystal pictured here is 3.5 mm which is MONSTEROUS for the species! Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This specimen is a miniature with a cluster of very lustrous crystals of benitoite to 1.7 cm across. What is particular about this specimen is the very thin nature of the crystals and superb luster. Benitoite is typically dull on all but the c and a faces. The center of the crystals are included with silica pseudomorphs after serandite. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE & NEPTUNITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This is a miniature sized specimen over all with a "thicket" of neptunite crystals and one of the most interesting benitoite crystals I have ever seen!The 0.7 cm crystal has a hoppered c face. The crystal is gemmy as seen in the picture but the c-face is inverted which is unique in my experience!I haven't ever seen a crystal like this on well over 5000 benitoite specimens I have handled or viewed. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. NEPTUNITE maclée & BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A 5 x 4.5 x 2 cm specimen with a 1.2 cm twin of neptunite and several crystals of additional neptunite and benitoite. Some joaquinite also. This twin is another perfect example of twinning on (301) miller indices. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A A 0.8 cm triply terminated crystal sets atop crossite and natrolite pedestal. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. BENITOITE Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, U.S.A This thumbnail specimen has a very seldom seen chain of attached benitoite crystals. All of the 6 or 7 crystals comprising this specimen are in perfect condition though a little included with crossite. Collection of John VEEVAERT, Weaverville, California, U.S.A Photo : © John VEEVAERT Photo courtesy of John VEEVAERT This photo is copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent. All photos are copyrighted to John VEEVAERT. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent.