#rare minerals

Benitoite crystal from the Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito County, California.  While this one is “stony” as opposed to “gemmy,” it’s an extremely sharp and well shaped trigonal crystal measuring .9 cm along the edges.  Shown under white light and short wave ultraviolet light.  Benitoite is a rare barium titanium silicate mineral and is widely considered to be one of the rarest gems/minerals in the world.  It is the state gemstone of California, where it was first discovered in 1907.