BENITOITE GEM MINE - by Herb Yeates


	Benitoite, the state gemstone of California, is a rare silicate of barium and titanium known only from a few small localities. The principal and type locality is the Benitoite Gem Mine, located within the Clear Creek Management Area of central California. The mine is currently open for fee collecting by advance reservation. These photos were taken during a special trip organized by the Bay Area Mineralogists, and included the 'Cash and Treasures' crew from the Travel Channel.	Still dark, just after 6 a.m. on a cold December morning, Cash & Treasures crew sets up initial shots.


	Heading out into the sunrise and towards the Benitoite Gem Mine.

	Our 'benitoite convoy' gains altitude as the sun finally comes up.



	Passing through the old mercury mining town of New Idria, we encounter several classic "welcome" signs.


	Kirsten Gum, host of 'Cash and Treasures', with web author.


	Camera crew gets to ride outside in the cold.


	Arriving at the Benitoite Gem mine, collectors get ready in the parking lot area.


	Mine owner, Dave Schreiner (right), with Kirsten during location shooting.


	BAM officer and advanced collector Rick Kennedy, a.k.a. 'The Benitoite Bear', with an outstanding single 1 cm+ crystal of benitoite.


	Fresnoite claim owner Liza Junilla (left) and other collectors warming up around a midday fire during collecting break .

	*click this image for larger view
	View of the Benitoite Gem Mine's lower slopes from parking lot.


	View of middle slopes of the Benitoite Gem Mine's collecting area looking towards parking lot.


	Collectors ready for lunch amidst a surprise snow shower.


	Kirsten keeps working, here filmed screening for gem-grade benitoite fragments.


	Benitoite Gem Mine looking from upper collecting slopes towards parking lot.


	THE BENITOITE GEM MINE AT NIGHT..
	*click this image for larger view
	A large (~1 m) boulder with benitoite. Left, white light. Right, as seen under shortwave ultraviolet light.


	*click this image for larger view
	A very large (>1 m) split boulder with significant benitoite. Left, white light. Right, as seen under shortwave ultraviolet light.


	Close-up view of a cluster of benitoite crystals fluorescing under shortwave ultraviolet light. Field width 3 cm.




	Collectors taking a well earned rest break. The hunt for benitoite by ultraviolet goes on long into this cold December night.

	FOR MORE INFORMATION..

	Link to The Benitoite Gem Mine. Original paper describing benitoite as a new gem mineral (Louderback, 1907). Link to Bay Area Mineralogists Link to 'Cash & Treasures' from The Travel Channel. Link to superfluorescence - more fluorescent mineral photographs.

	All content © Herb Yeates 2007 < Luminous Minerals home