Mineral of the Month Club Month Day, Year Richard here from Mineral of the Month Club with information on our September 2011 featured mineral, Anhydrite from the Naica Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico. Hope you're doing well! We're sending you this Email in advance of the Labor Day holiday next weekend, when we're having a two-day open house at our home in Cambria (Friday and Saturday September 2 and 3 if you're able to come by--Email me if you need details on it.) The following Saturday Cheryl and I leave for our two week trip to Colorado for the Denver Gem & Mineral Show. You can see details on the Denver show in our September newsletter by clicking here: September 2011 Newsletter  I'm in hog heaven as I look over the amazing anhydrites. Why? The light sky-blue color, the somewhat fan-shaped aggregates--the photos below will give you an idea of anhydrite's beauty! Particularly are the larger Group 4 pieces just breathtaking beautiful! These are also amazing because of their rarity, and the fact that, in the last few years, the Naica Mine has become world famous for its "Cave of the Giant Crystals," where the world's largest freestanding crystals are found! The anhydrite write-up has a special section on the discovery of these astonishing crystals, which are of the selenite variety of gypsum. If you decide to order an anhydrite sepcimen this month, or something from the attached Offer sheet, we'll send you the write-up on anhydrite so you can read up on it. As you'll read in the write-up, these marvelous anhydrite specimens were collected in the last couple of years, from a large pocket that the mining company subsequently destroyed. As you examine your piece, try to imagine the excitement of standing in a cavern lined with such extraordinary crystals, and the excitement and wonder of the first miners who were privileged to find them! Of course, as you'll read in the write-up, the selenite crystals are too enomous to even consider moving them to a museum for public viewing. We did obtain a small lot of long, thin selenite crystals from near Naica if you'd like to order one as a "souvenir," to remind you of this stupendous discovery. Click here to view the August 2011 Offer sheet: September 2011 Offer Sheet This is the second time we have featured this amazing anhydrite, the first being way back in June 1998, when Bill Clinton was president, Seinfeld aired its final episode, the first Harry Potter book was released, and the Chicago Bulls dynasty broke up. Does it seem like a long time ago to you like it does to me? This was one of the easier Email to put together, at the only difference in the anhydrite specimens is the size. All have good light blue color (sometimes anhydrite can be more gray than blue) and an eye-pleasing overall form, with well defined faces and terminations, as you can see from the photos. The photos were not easy, though, as it is hard for the camera to capture the true intensity of the pale sky-blue color. We have the Gold-level specimens available for $26.50 if you'd like one. They are nice specimens about 2.5" by 1.75" to 3" by 2". Group 1 Anhydrite specimens are larger, about 3.5" to 4" tall and 1.25" to 2" wide. They are priced by overall form and the intensity of the color and available for $35, $40, $45, $50, $55, $60, $65, and $70. We have about 40 of these available. Group 2 Anhydrite specimens are the larger sprays, about 5" to 5.5" tall and 3" to 3.5" wide, and are available for $90, $100, $110, $120, $130, $140, and $150. There are priced by size, beauty of overall form, and intensity of color. We have about 18 of these. Group 3 Anhydrite specimens are larger, and instead of somewhat fan-shaped sprays, they consist of long thin anhydrite crystals and sprays on a bed of massive anhydrite crystals, as seen in the photo below. These are the most amazing and rarest specimens, for those looking for something really special. We have about 16 of these. In size, they are about 6" to 7" tall and about 4" to 5.5" wide. These are available for $150 and $160. Group 4 Anhydrite are the biggest and best specimens, slightly larger than the Group 3 pieces. They are available for $200, $250, $325, and $450. We can send you photos if you're interested in one of these incredible pieces. (And we snapped up one large piece that had been earmarked for a museum curator! This piece would sell for more than $2000, and we may hang onto it for a while as an investment.) Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to order an anhydrite, and/or something from the Offer sheet. (Let me know if you want a photo of one of the more expensive pieces.) And please let me know if you want to pass this month, so I know you received this Email OK. Thanks so much for being a Club member and for giving us the joy of sending these marvelous minerals to you! Richard Mineral of the Month Club 1770 Orville Ave Cambria, CA 93428 1-800-941-5594 Richard@mineralofthemonthclub.org www.mineralofthemonthclub.org