"Connoisseur’s Choice" by Robert Cook
Connoisseur’s Choice
Rocks & Minerals Magazine by Dr. Robert Cook
An Index Prepared by Dakota Matrix Minerals
Mineral collecting is a hobby which can bring satisfaction at any level. A beginner needs only a rock pick and a pair of hiking boots. The amateur “rock hound” might buy a book on mineralogy, such as National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals and collect rocks in the field at a local quarry or road outcrop. A seasoned field collector would examine the rocks and minerals with book in hand and study them to gain a thorough understanding of their chemistry, associations and the geologic environment in which they occur. An advanced field collector may travel afar to old mines after researching a mining district and obtain minerals after digging in the old mine dumps or exploring hazardous underground mine workings. Still some collectors yearn for specimens they cannot field collect. In this case, many mineral collectors purchase specimens at rock shops, at rock shows or online such as this website, dakotamatrix.com. Purchasing minerals to build your collection is rewarding and satisfying. Many mineral dealers sell basic, ordinary or rare minerals to good quality aesthetic specimens. The quality of mineral specimens you purchase depends on your budget and you can easily spend twenty five to tens of thousands of dollars at a mineral show or online. For a hundred to five hundred dollars or more, a collector should be able to purchase a fine quality specimen, a specimen which a connoisseur would purchase. At this level you should expect an undamaged, beautiful specimen with qualities that are well above average for that particular mineral.
Fortunately, Rocks and Minerals magazine published by Taylor & Francis offers a monthly column called “Connoisseur’s Choice”. The column is written by Dr. Robert Cook, a long-time executive editor of Rocks & Minerals magazine and currently professor emeritus at Auburn University. Dr. Cook has chosen minerals with pleasing aesthetics which occur at worldwide localities. The “Connoisseur’s Choice” is not only chosen for the mineral itself but often the locality in which it occurs. The “Connoisseur’s Choice” mineral is in essence the standard by which all other localities are measured. Cook’s choices typically take into account: exceptional quality, color, crystal size, perfection, mineralogical importance, and rarity. In addition the column discusses the mineral’s properties, the geological environment, and a thorough synopsis of all known localities where the mineral is found. Below is an alphabetized index for each Connoisseur’s Choice column. Please contact us for available Rocks and Minerals back-issues at dmmcart@gmail.com. We have a limited supply at low costs.
|
Mineral |
Locality |
Year |
Vol. |
No. |
Author |
|
Acanthite |
Silver King mine, Park City, Utah. |
2004 |
79 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Adamite |
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. |
1999 |
74 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Afghanite |
Sar-e-Sang, Badakhsham Province, Afghanistan. |
2004 |
79 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Almandine |
New York City, New York County, New York State |
2009 |
84 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Analcime |
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada |
2006 |
81 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Anatase |
Hardangervidda, Norway |
2002 |
77 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Anglesite |
Touissit Mine, Oujda, Morocco. |
1999 |
74 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Annabergite |
Kilometer 3 Mine, Laurium District, Greece |
2010 |
85 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Atacamite |
Moonta mine, South Australia, Australia |
2006 |
81 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Aurichalcite |
79 mine, Gila County, Arizona |
2005 |
80 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Autunite |
Daybreak mine, Spokane County, Washington |
2005 |
80 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Azurite |
Tsumeb, Namibia, and Touissit, Oujida, Morocco. |
2002 |
77 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Barite |
Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota. |
1994 |
69 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Benitoite |
San Benito County, California. |
1994 |
69 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Beryl, variety emerald |
Chivor Mine, Chivor, Columbia. |
1993 |
68 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Beryl, Variety Morganite |
San Diego County, California |
2011 |
86 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Bournonite |
Yaogangzian mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China. |
2005 |
80 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Brazilianite |
Corrego Frio, Minas Gerias, Brazil. |
2000 |
75 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Brochantite |
Blanchard mne, Bingham, New Mexico |
2009 |
84 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Brookite |
Dodo Mine, Subpolar Urals, Russia. |
2003 |
78 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Calaverite |
Cripple Creek, Colorado |
2010 |
85 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cassiterite |
Cinovec, Czech Republic |
1997 |
72 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cavansite |
near Wagholi, Poona district, Maharashtra, India. |
1996 |
71 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Celestine |
Maybee quarry, Monroe County, Michigan |
1996 |
71 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cerrusite |
Tsumeb, Namibia |
1997 |
72 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Chalcocite |
Hartford County, Connecticut. |
1995 |
70 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Chalcophyllite |
Wheal Gorland, Gwennap, Cornwall, England |
2009 |
84 |
5 |
by Rob Bowell and Robert B. Cook |
|
Chalcopyrite |
French Creek Iron Mine, Chester County, Pennsylvania |
2008 |
83 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Chondrodite |
Tilly Foster Mine, Brewster Area, Putnam County, New York |
2007 |
82 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Chrysoberyl |
Minas Gerais and Bahia, Brazil, and Takovaya, Russia. |
1999 |
74 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cinnabar |
Cinnabar, near Lovelock, Pershing County, Nevada. |
1996 |
71 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Copper |
Ray mine, Pinal County, Arizona |
1997 |
72 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Covellite |
Summitville, Rio Grande Co., Colorado |
2006 |
81 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Creedite |
Cresson mine, Teller Co., Colorado |
2008 |
83 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Crocoite |
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia |
2007 |
82 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cubanite |
Chibougamuau, Quebec, Canada. |
2000 |
75 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cuprite |
Mashamba West mine, Shaba, Democratic Republic of Congo and Red Dome mine, Queensland, Australia. |
2001 |
76 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Cuprosklowdowskite |
Musonoi, Dem. Rep. Of Congo |
2009 |
84 |
2 |
by Rob Bowell and Robert B. Cook |
|
Danburite |
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. |
2003 |
78 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Datolite |
Dalnegorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia |
2010 |
85 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Demantoid |
Val Malenco, Sondrio, Italy. |
1993 |
68 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Diamond |
Jagersfontein Mine, Free State Province, South Africa |
2000 |
75 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Dioptase |
Tsumeb, Namibia. |
2002 |
77 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Epidote |
Knappenwand, Untersulzbachtal, Salzburg, Austria. |
2002 |
77 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Erythrite |
Bou Azzer, Morocco |
2007 |
82 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Ferberite |
Panasqueira, Portugal |
1998 |
73 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Fluorapatite |
Inna Nala, near Fighar Village, Nagar District, Pakistan. |
1993 |
68 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Fluorapophyllite |
Fluorapophyllite, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. |
1995 |
70 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Fluorite |
Chamonix, Haut-Savoie, France |
1998 |
73 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Galena |
Milliken mine, Reynolds County, Missouri |
1997 |
72 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Gold |
Jamestown, Toulumne County, California. |
1994 |
69 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Hematite |
Cavradi, Switzerland |
1998 |
73 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Hemimorphite pseudomorphs after calcite |
Joplin, Missouri |
1997 |
72 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Inesite |
Wessels Mine, Northwest of Kuruman, Kalahari Manganese District, Cape Province, South Africa |
2011 |
86 |
3 |
by Janet H. Clifford |
|
Kyanite |
Minas Gerais, Brazi; |
2008 |
83 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Lazulite |
Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia. |
2008 |
83 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Linarite |
Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona |
2006 |
81 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Liroconite |
Gwennap, Cornwall, England. |
2001 |
76 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Luanheite |
Elisa Debordos mine, northern Chile |
2002 |
77 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Ludlamite |
Blackbird Mine, Cobalt, Lemhi County, Idaho |
1998 |
73 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Magnetite |
Zinc Corp. of America No. 4, St. Lawrence Co., New York |
2008 |
83 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Malachite |
Shaba Region, Democratic Republic of Congo |
2001 |
76 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Manganite |
Ilfeld, Harz, Germany. |
1999 |
74 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Metatorbernite |
Shaba district, Zaire |
1998 |
73 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Microcline, variety amazonite |
Yucca Hill Prospect, Park County, Colorado. |
1993 |
68 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Millerite |
Millerite, Halls Gap, Lincoln County, Kentucky. |
1995 |
70 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Mimetite |
Tsumeb, Namibia |
2001 |
76 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Molybdenite |
Allies mine, Deepwater, New England region, NSW, Australia |
2007 |
82 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Olivenite |
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia |
2008 |
83 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Orpiment |
Twin Creeks mine, Humboldt County, Nevada. |
2000 |
75 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Parisite |
Parisite, Muzo District, Colombia. |
2000 |
75 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Petzite |
Bald Mountain, Sonora, Tuolumne County, California. |
2004 |
79 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Phenakite |
Mount Antero, Chaffee Co., Colorado |
2009 |
84 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Platinum |
Konder Massif, Khabarovsk Territory, Far Eastern Region, Russia |
2011 |
86 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Polybasite |
Husky mine, Elsa, Yukon Territory, Canada |
2006 |
81 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Powellite |
Pandulena Hill, Nasik, Maharashtra State, India. |
1994 |
69 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Prehnite |
Brandberg, Namibia. |
1999 |
74 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Proustite |
Delores mine, Chanarcillo, Chile |
1996 |
71 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Pyrargyrite |
Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. |
2002 |
77 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Pyrite |
Pyrite, Park City district, Utah. |
1993 |
68 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Pyromorphite |
Bunker Hill mine, Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone County, Idaho |
2001 |
76 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Pyrrhotite |
Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. |
2003 |
78 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Realgar |
Jiepaiyu mine, Shimen, Hunan Province, China. |
2005 |
80 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Rhodochrosite |
Alma, Park County, Colorado. |
1993 |
68 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Rhodonite |
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
2005 |
80 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Rutile |
Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia. |
2003 |
78 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Rutile-included quartz |
Waterbury, Vermont |
1996 |
71 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Scheelite |
Camp Bird mine, Ouray County, Colorado. |
1996 |
71 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Scolecite |
Pune (Poona), Maharashtra, India. |
2004 |
79 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Scorodite |
Hezhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China |
2010 |
85 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Shattuckite |
Kunene dist, Kaokoveld, Namibia |
2009 |
84 |
6 |
by Rob Bowell and Robert B. Cook |
|
Silver |
Uchucchacua, Peru. |
2003 |
78 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Smithsonite |
Tsumeb, Namibia. |
2000 |
75 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Sperrylite |
Talnakh, Noril'sk district, Siberia, Russia. |
2001 |
76 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Spessartine |
Marienfluss, Northern Namibia |
2010 |
85 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Sphalerite |
Eagle Mine, Gilman, Eagle County, Colorado. |
2003 |
78 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Spodumene var. Kunzite |
Nuristan, Afghanistan |
1997 |
72 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Stannite |
Freiberg, Saxony, Germany |
2006 |
81 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Stibnite |
Murray Mine, Elko County, Nevada. |
1999 |
74 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Stolzite |
Ste.-Lucie Mine, Ste.-Leger de Peyre, Lozere, France. |
2004 |
79 |
6 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Sulfur |
Perticara, Italy. |
1995 |
70 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Sylvanite |
Vindicator mine, Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado. |
2005 |
80 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Tennantite |
Tsumeb, Namibia |
2011 |
86 |
4 |
by Paul W. Pohwat |
|
Tetrahedrite |
Cavnic, Romania |
2010 |
85 |
6 |
by Paul W. Pohwat |
|
Uraninite |
Strickland Quarry, Portland Connecticut, and Topsham, Maine. |
2004 |
79 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Uranocircite |
Sao Pedro Mine, Malacacheta district, Minas Gerais, Brazil. |
1994 |
69 |
5 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Uvarovite |
Outokumpu, Finland |
1998 |
73 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Vanadinite |
Mibladen, Morocco. |
1995 |
70 |
1 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Vivianite |
Morococala area, Oruro, Bolivia. |
1994 |
69 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Wavellite |
Mauldin Mountain, Montgomery County, Arkansas |
2011 |
86 |
2 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Witherite |
Fallowfield, Northumberland, England |
2007 |
82 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Wulfenite |
San Francisco Mine, Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico. |
1995 |
70 |
3 |
by Robert B. Cook |
|
Zircon |
Helen Hunt Falls Area, El Paso County, Colorado |
2007 |
82 |
4 |
by Robert B. Cook |
