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SOUTHWESTERN U. S. |
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SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS
SAPPHIRES |
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The state of California is home to one
of my favorite sub-gem corundum localities, often referred to as
"Mount San Jacinto". The strange elongated crystals are
usually found in sections, even when encased in host rock (see
second thumbnail below). Two Californian brothers, Ken and
Dana Gochenour, searched out the source and harvested a couple of
dozen outstanding specimens. They are also responsible for the
extensive and striking preparations, sometimes requiring as much as
one hundred hours for a single specimen! |
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Fourteen of these "Cone Heads" are now in our
collection. "The Whale" in the right
center (arguably the finest from the locality) and
the cluster immediately to its left are two of my
favorites (see also right). There was
another fine cluster, but unfortunately it was
stolen from my vehicle in Tucson in 2010 before I
could get it to the hotel. Below are a
few more images of these remarkable rocks - not only
neat mineral specimens, but also superb works of
art! |
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The main crystal
is in "The Whale" is about 7-1/2" long. The Gochenours'
longest is about 9" (center).
The last two thumbnails show one with a flattened hexagonal cross
section, and another twinned crystal. Though I have been
called greedy, there are no plans to deaccession any of these. |
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The same general locality
(also known as Mount Edna) has produced corundum as float or in
decomposed host rock for at least fifty years,
including sections of crystals that may have been up to 24"
long. However, it was Ken and Dana Gochenour who found
complete crystals and displayed them at the Costa Mesa show where
they became an immediate sensation. I met them in Tucson a
couple of years later, and a friendship developed which resulted in
the assemblage you see here.
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I shall soon include
some remarks from their unpublished paper on the site and its
geology with Dana's permission (unfortunately, Ken passed away in
2009). This collection will probably be exhibited at the
Houston, Texas club show in November, 2011. Although the
exact location is proprietary, plans are in the works to visit the
site with Dana and prospect for more in 2012. For now at
least, just about all of these are permanently incarcerated in
private or museum collections. |
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There is another California locality
that produces small, intensely fluorescent rubies... |
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