Top 100 minerals every collector should own
This is just our opinion -but for those of you who collect generally (as opposed to those with specialist collecting habits) the following list contains what we feel are our current top 100 minerals that a worldwide collector could and should be able to acquire. It excludes those which are too rare, too obscure or too, shall we say, "esoteric"; it is a subjective guide to the most desirable AND OBTAINABLE specimens you could get for your collection. Some of these may still prove rather elusive or dear, others are inexpensive and plentiful (Spanish Pyrite, Celestine from Madagascar) but still worthy of a place in any collection.
Perhaps you disagree with us and want to suggest something important we left off - contact us, we'll be updating this list once a year to give the annual rundown of our 100 top minerals!
The list is in alphabetical order, and you can use this list to search the site for minerals we have on offer. We'll be adding some more pages to this site shortly to give more information about some of these specific minerals, some history, and some reasons why we feel they deserve a place on this list - check back soon!
The List
Adamite - Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico [Search]
Aegerine - Mt. Zomba, Malawi [Search]
Almandine - Wrangell area, Alaska, USA [Search]
Anatase - Norway [Search]
Apophyllite Series - Maharashtra State, India [Search]
Arsenopyrite - Panasqueira Mine, Portugal [Search]
Arsenopyrite - Yaogangxian Mine, China [Search]
Azurite - Tsumeb Mine, Namibia [Search]
Azurite/Malachite - Bisbee, Arizona, USA [Search]
Azurite/Malachite - Liu Feng Shan Mine, Anhui Province, China
Barite - Frizington, Cumbria, UK [Search]
Barite - Meikle Mine, Elko, Nevada, USA
Benitoite - Benitoite Gem Mine, California, USA [Search]
Beryl - Northern Areas, Pakistan [Search]
Beryl (var. "aquamarine") - Erongo Region, Namibia [Search]
Beryl - Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan, China [Search]
Beryl (var. "emerald") - Boyaca, Colombia [Search]
Beryl (var. "heliodor") - Volodarsk-Volynsk, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine [Search]
Bournonite - Yaogangxian Mine, China [Search]
Calcite - Northern England [Search]
Calcite - Elmwood Mine, Tennessee, USA [Search]
Calcite - China [Search]
Cassiterite - China [Search]
Cavansite - Wagholi Quarries, Maharashtra, India
Celestine - Sakoany, Madagascar [Search]
Cerussite - Namibia [Search]
Cinnabar - China [Search]
Copper- Keeweenaw, Michigan, USA [Search]
Corundum (var. "ruby"), Afghanistan [Search]
Corundum (var. "ruby"), Vietnam [Search]
Corundum (var. "sapphire"), Sri Lanka [Search]
Crocoite - Dundas, Tasmania, Australia [Search]
Cuprite - Dem. Republic of Congo [Search]
Dioptase - Tsumeb Mine, Namibia [Search]
Elbaite (var. "cuprian Elbaite"), Pederneira Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil [Search]
Elbaite, Afghanistan [Search]
Epidote, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, USA [Search]
Ferro-axinite - Puyva Deposit, Subpolar Urals, Russia [Search]
Fluorapatite - Cerro Mercado, Mexico [Search]
Fluorite - North Pennine Ore Field, England, UK [Search]
Fluorite - Illinois-Kentucky, USA [Search]
Fluorite - China [Search]
Fluorite - Asturias, Spain
Forsterite (var. "peridot") - Sapat Valley, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan [Search]
Galena - Bulgaria [Search]
Galena - Tri-state area, USA [Search]
Gold - Eagle's Nest Mine, California, USA [Search]
Gold - Round Mountain, Nevada, USA [Search]
Gold (nuggets) - Australia [Search]
Grossular (var. "hessonite") - Jeffrey Quarry, Canada [Search]
Gypsum - Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico [Search]
Hematite - Cumbria, England, UK [Search]
Heulandite - Maharashtra State, India [Search]
Hübnerite - Pasto Bueno, Peru [Search]
Lazulite - Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada [Search]
Malachite - Dem. Rep. of Congo [Search]
Microcline (amazonite) - Colorado, USA
Neptunite - Benitoite Gem Mine, California, USA [Search]
Okenite - Maharashtra State, India [Search]
Opal - Australia [Search]
Orpiment - Twin Creeks Mine, Nevada, USA [Search]
Pezzottaite - Madagascar [Search]
Platinum - Russia [Search]
Poldervaartite - Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa [Search]
Proustite - Chanarcillo, Chile [Search]
Pryrargyrite - Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [Search]
Pyrite - Navajun, La Rioja, Spain [Search]
Pyrite - Huanzala, Peru [Search]
Pyromorphite - Daoping Pb-Zn Mine, Gongcheng County, Guangxi, China [Search]
Pyromorphite - Bunker Hill Mine, Idaho, USA [Search]
Pyrrhotite - Dal'negorsk, Russia [Search]
Quartz - Herkimer County, New York, USA [Search]
Quartz - Arkansas, USA [Search]
Quartz (var. "amethyst") - Uruguay [Search] and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil [Search]
Quartz (var. "amethyst") - Las Vigas de Ramirez, Veracruz, Mexico
Quartz (Japan-law twin) - King County, Washington, USA [Search] and Peru [Search]
Quartz (var. "rose quartz") - Minas Gerais, Brazil [Search]
Quartz (scepter) - King County, Washington, USA [Search]
Quartz (var. "smoky quartz") - Alps (Switzerland and France) [Search]
Quartz-Hematite - China [Search]
Rhodochrosite - Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Colorado, USA
Rutile - Ibitiara, Bahia, Brazil [Search]
Scheelite - Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan, China [Search]
Silver - Kongsberg Mine, Norway [Search]
Smithsonite - Tsumeb Mine & Berg Aukas, Namibia [Search]
Sodalite - Afghanistan [Search]
Sphalerite - Bulgaria [Search]
Sphalerite - Elmwood Mine, Tennessee [Search]
Spinel (ruby spinel) and Corundum (ruby) - Mogok, Myanmar (Burma) [Search]
Spodumene (var. "kunzite") - Afghanistan [Search]
Staurolite - Kola Peninsula, Russia [Search]
Stephanite - Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico [Search]
Stibnite - China [Search]
Stilbite - Maharashtra State, India [Search]
Topaz - Thomas Range, Utah, USA [Search]
Topaz (imperial) - Ouro Preto, Brazil [Search]
Topaz - Pakistan [Search]
Vanadinite, Morocco [Search]
Variscite - Utah, USA [Search]
Vesuvianite - Jeffrey Quarry, Canada [Search]
Vesuvianite - China [Search]
Vivianite - Morococala, Bolivia [Search]
Wulfenite - Red Cloud Mine, Arizona, USA [Search]
Zoisite (var. "tanzanite") - Arusha, Tanzania [Search]