[Rockhounds] How San Benito County, California, became ground zero for a rare gemstone

[Andrew Turner]

Typically, when mineral collectors discuss something being "rare," they are referring to the mineral only being found in very few locations or being found in several locations but not being very common at any of them.

In both instances, benitoite would be considered rare.  It is only found really at 3 locations, the Benitoite Mine, an adjacent mine (where it is very rare), and an abstract locality in Japan where it is very small.  Even at the Benitoite Mine it is rather difficult to find (I've collected at the mine) and the mine is small.  So, yes, many mineral collectors have a specimen from there, but it is essentially a one locality mineral which makes it rare.   This isn't much different than red beryl which is found in 3 locations in the Thomas Range, 2-3 locations in the Wah Wah Mountains to the south, and an abstract NM location.  Taaffeite would fall into the other category, it is found in several locations but exceedingly rare to find at any of them.  In all those cases, it is different than something like Okanoganite or Tiptopite which are not only one locality minerals, but they are exceptionally rare even at that one location.

Oftentimes, collectors also call something rare if it is a fairly common mineral but phenomenal specimens are only found in 1-2 locations.  I have heard adamite from the Ojuela Mine referred to as being rare.  Adamite is found in many arsenic bearing lead and silver deposits, but the specimens from Ojuela are probably the best in the world.  Only other place that is even close to that quality is Gold Hill, UT.  So, yes, you can collect adamite everywhere, but nothing of the quality of the Mexican pieces.

Andrew Turner
Salt Lake City, UT



________________________________
From: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> on behalf of Herwig Pelckmans <herwig.pelckmans at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 8:20 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] How San Benito County, California, became ground zero for a rare gemstone

Talking about exaggerated ... benitoite being one of the rarest minerals on
earth?
Most mineral collectors have at least one specimen in their collections, so
I would not call that rare!

On the other hand, it was neat to see that old newspaper clip advertising
the newly found gemstone!
Cheers, Herwig

Op di 20 jul. 2021 om 05:00 schreef Paul <etchplain at att.net>:

> How San Benito County became ground zero for a rare gemstone
> Published 07/17/2021 BenitoLink Reporter, Robert Eliason
>
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbenitolink.com%2Fhow-san-benito-county-became-ground-zero-for-a-rare-gemstone%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C51f6213deabf41618af308d94b2d7898%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637623480937397284%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=7iekO30h9pIT%2BMG1C3Fy3nhOdaVTjr1XUGzUn7dEJ0M%3D&reserved=0
>
> A chance discovery in 1907 yielded a unique precious mineral;
> now the public can go look for samples on Saturdays.
>
>
> Yours,
>
> Paul H.
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