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Featured Galleries   Uncut Diamond Crystals Mineral Specimens Gem Minerals Connoisseur Minerals     Pedigreed Minerals Customer Favorites My Best Minerals Quartz Crystals Gold, Silver, Copper Classic Localities	Mineral of the Week #61493, Grossular Garnet with Calcite, Handan, China (c) $650	Online order form Visit our other galleries with the links below: New Listings1A New Listings1B New Listins2 New Listings3 New Listings4 Featured Galleries My Best Minerals Classic Minerals Gem Minerals Natural Diamonds Historic & Pedigreed Crystal Oddities Overlooked Treasures Large Decorator-Sized Books & Magazines Mineral/Locality-Index Boxed Sets Gift Ideas Locality Galleries New England States New York & New Jersey Mid-Atlantic States Midwest States Arizona & New Mexico Rocky Mountain States Western States Canada Mexico Brazil & South America Britain & North Atlantic Europe Russia & former USSR India,_Pakistan_&_Afghanistan China, Japan & Pacific Rim Africa Tsumeb Mine, Namibia Minerals from Type Localities Mineral Categories Apatite & Phosphates Barite, Celestine & Sulfates Calcite Azurite, Malachite & Carbonates Fluorite & Halides Garnets Gold, Silver & Elements Magnetite, Hematite & Oxides Quartz Silicates Galena, Pyrite & Sulfides/Sulfosalts Tourmalines Zeolites and Associated Wulfenite & Molbdates, Arsenates, Vanadates Fluorescent Minerals Laguna Agates Liddicoatite Tourmaline Tanzanite Pseudomorphs Diamond Crystals Diamonds $1-$199 Diamonds $200-$399 Diamonds $400-$999 Diamonds $1000+ Diamonds under 1 carat Diamonds 1-2 carats Diamonds 2-5 carats Diamonds over 5 carats Diamond Crystal Clusters Gem-grade Diamonds Diamonds for Jewelry Sawn slices of zoned diamonds Sorted Lists of all Minerals on this site Sorted by Price Sorted by Size Sorted by Species Sorted by Number Best Minerals Minerals $100-$199 Minerals $200-$399 Minerals $400-$999 Minerals $1000 and up
Information Purchasing Information Feedback Your Comments Frequently Asked Questions Returning Items for Refund Damaged Packages Shipping Costs Quantity Discounts Security Sell Your Rock & Mineral Collection. Why should I sign your Guestbook? Quick Reference for Mineral Species, Formula, Class, and Type Locality List of Water Soluble Mineral Species Mineral List Available Upon Request Contact	News and Comments A few years ago I sold a few of my best mineral specimens to a high-end mineral dealer that paid good prices for them. I always wondered what happened to them. Through the power of Google, I found one (based on a tip from a friend). I was stunned to see what happened to the specimen. It was barely recongizable. The dealer that bought it AGGRESSIVELY trimmed, sculpted, enhanced the specimen. Originally it was a cavity in brown matrix lined by lustrous crystals. In my opinion the surrounding matrix provided mineralogical background to the mineral by indicating the paragenisis - the order of mineralization. But the dealer removed all matrix completely. All that was left was a concave formation of crystals. It looked unnatural. It is sad that dealers of high-end minerals bastardize specimens for the sake of aesthetics. I feel sorry for the collectors that buy these unnatural mineral specimens. The collectors probably do not know better, but certainly the dealer does. Was the trimming really neccessary? Did it increase the value that much? Was it worth losing the scientific context of the mineralization? Clearly I think not, which is probably why I do not strive for dealing in the high-end mineral market. John Betts, 4/15/2014 Click here to read past news and commentaries...
Click here to see other comments about this site by customers. Also add your feedback...	Customer Comments: "I think it’s your combination of photographic artistic background and mineral knowledge that cause me to like the things you offer far more than anyone else I see offering minerals. I’d guess that 95+% of my mineral money goes to you, and mainly because of aesthetics, quality, and honesty. That last one is what caused me to be interested in you in the first place. It was so refreshing to have someone tell me about any flaws, the actual size of the largest crystal (have to guess for almost everyone else), etc. I said (and still say) “there’s a man who is doing his best to make sure I know what I’m buying – how refreshing." Don R. "The Samarskite-(Y) specimen arrived in good shape today. You did an outstanding job of packing it. I surely wish others would be as careful as you are. That and the high quality for reasonable cost are why you are still in business, though." Bob M. "I spent a couple of evenings searching for these gifts and you have, far and away, the most professionally presented, easy to use web site." Gerard  M. "It was great to finally meet you today at the Springfield Show. I have been following and doing some minor purchasing from your site for years. I'm not a major collector by any means, but when I buy online, you and only one other are the dealers I trust (Geologic Desires). You actually price specimens at Earthly rates :). Thanks for the fair prices, keen insight and the time you took with me today. I will enjoy my pink elbaite for years to come and it will help brighten up my black ugly collection. Also, I purchased your dravite-uvite from Powers Farm (#44538) a while back and it's uniqueness, quality and historical value are tops. It's still my favorite specimen for these reasons. Hope your trip back to NYC wasn't too hectic." Sincerely, Bryan M. See more comments...
About the Owner Background Information Why I Collect Minerals Contact Information Mineral Show Schedule Links   See me next at: Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, April 24-27, 2014	Pledge to My Customers: Customer satisfaction is my primary goal. I pledge: New minerals will be added to this site every week. All minerals offered will be naturally crystallized specimens - no fakes, no dyes,  no irradiation, no crystals glued on matrix. Only the exact item pictured on the site will be shipped - no substitutes. Photographs will accurately represent each item - no exaggeration, enhancement or retouching flaws. Mineral species and localities will be accurately listed on labels with each specimen. All items will be shipped via US Postal Service, usually the next business day after the order is finalized. Each mineral will be individually wrapped and carefully packaged to prevent damage during shipping. All historic labeling, if available, will be included with each mineral. Returns are gladly accepted. No questions asked, no explanation necessary. All customer information will be kept confidential and never shared or sold. I will continue to freely share my knowledge with others and contribute to the study and appreciation of minerals. All mineral specimens have a lifetime guarantee: if the mineral specimen is ever tested, and I incorrectly identified the mineral species, I will refund the cost of the original purchase & shipping, the cost return shipping and the cost of the test.  John H. Betts, owner Mineral dealer since 1989
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since this site opened in 1997.

54,815 mineral specimens sold, shipped in 18,637 packages to 47 countries.

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John Betts - Fine Minerals, New York, NY
a division of allminerals.com, dealer of Fine Minerals and Natural Crystal Clusters since 1989.
Internet sales only - No showroom

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