Geological George - Education and Activities , educationGeological George - Education and Activities , educationhttps://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/educationMon, 27 Apr 2026 20:50:54 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[ lodolite calcite crystals with fluorite from Guizhou, China]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/Amazing-lodolite-calcite-crystals-with-fluorite-from-ChinaLearn about a mine direct mineral specimen. This amazing lodolite calcite crystals with fluorite from Guizhou, China]]>

Take a look at an unusual combination of crystals and minerals

This is one of the items we have up on the Thursday thread but wanted to talk about it as these are really interesting.
These came from Guizhou, in China, an area they were mining fluorite. These specimens do have some fluorite, however the defining feature is these amazing included calcite crystals. I haven't been able to determine what the inclusions are yet but they give the calcite a really cool lodolite effect. The matrix is a basalt with quartz veins. Vugs have a fine quartz Druze with scattered, mostly small, clear or green fluorite cubes. The calcite occurs as a secondary growth with crystals sitting on either the quartz/fluorite or directly on fractured basalt.

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]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:06:28 +1100<![CDATA[Aegirine]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/aegirineA quick chat about Aegirine, felsdapr and amphibole minerals]]>

Aegirine and feldspar - a brief chat about a cool amphibole

Quick video about an aegirine shipment we just got in, answering a few questions about this amazing amphibole

]]>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:53:20 +1000<![CDATA[Natural fracture?]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/natural-fractureGeorge investigates and unusual fracter in a jasper crystal sphere. Geologist at work!]]>

Wait, is this rock broken or what?

Nate came accross something weird in the spheres. Let's take a look ans see if this is a natural break and heal, or a load of glue!

]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:50:20 +1000<![CDATA[Cobaltian Caclite]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/cobaltian-cacliteA short video about cobaltian calcite to add to a crystal and mineral education series ]]>

A short video about cobaltian calcite to add to a crystal and mineral education series

]]>Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:32:58 +1000<![CDATA[Red Rock Gorge]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/red-rock-gorgeA brief look at the geology at Red Rock Gorge in Sundown national park, Queensland Australia]]>

Geology of Red Rock Gorge, Queensland

On our travels we came across this wonderful piece of landscape where they used to mine tin. This is at Sundown NP, near Girraween NP and the track is a definite 4WD only experience! 

]]>Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:59:52 +1100<![CDATA[Citrine]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/citrineWe're noticing that a lot of the terms for the different Citrine products/stones are being used interchangably, so we'd thought we would clarify how * ]]>

How *we* use the term

We're noticing that a lot of the terms for the different Citrine products/stones are being used interchangably, so we'd thought we would clarify how *we* are using the terms. Many of these are trade names as opposed to geological names, so there is some inconsistency in the market.
Citrine means yellow quartz. Because this can cover several chemically different stones, we'll be using their trade names to differentiate them.

#1 Traditional Citrine: This is an amethyst (iron) based Citrine, which occurs when amethyst reaches about 350 degrees. This can occur naturally, and *some* ametrines are evidence of this. These are mostly created in a kiln, but this replicates a cultural practice that has gone back thousands of years using firepits. This is what has been know as Citrine until quite recently.

#2 'Natural' Citrine: Aluminum based (smokey quartz). When this hit the market most people started referring to Traditional Citrine as fake, despite TC being processed that way for a very long time. Some Natural Citrine is irritated to enhance the colour, but as this replicates how Natural Citrine is created by nature it is very, very difficult to tell.

#3 Smokey Citrine: Aluminum based (smokey quartz) is Natural Citrine with more of the smokey black visible. This too can be enhanced, but again not easy to know if it has. We've seen stuff that has been processed, and stuff we 100% know hasn't and visually they are very similar.

#4&5 Lemon Quartz. Aluminum based (smokey quartz) We're using this term to refer to smokey citrine that has been processed by heating in kilns (#5) to drop the smokey out. This produces a very yellow and slightly green color and we watched them do it in China.

Other people may use these terms differently- we've seen all sorts- but hopefully this clarifies how *we* will be using them.
]]>Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:15:14 +1000<![CDATA[Pyrite]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/pyrite]]>

Quick video on Pyrite


]]>Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:40:41 +1000<![CDATA[Trilobites]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/trilobites]]>

A quick video about trilobites

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