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catwithrocks.bsky.social
CatWithRocks
@catwithrocks.bsky.social
560 followers 120 following 89 posts
Lapidary Artist. Geologist. Cat Online.
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catwithrocks.bsky.social
For this #MineralMonday I have a little fella! The weird "navel mine" crystal is Whitmoreite, an iron phosphate! This specimen comes from New Hampshire.
A mineral specimen of Whitmoreite under a microscope. The Whitmoreite is the brown and yellow crystal in the center. It is made up of a brown sphere with yellow needles extending from the sphere. It's shape resembles a navel mine. The rest of the rock is made up of pale green Ludlamite. This specimen is from Grafton County, New Hampshire.
February 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
This specimen in particular also has a mineral known as Zinkenite which forms these metallic, acicular crystals.
I've circled the Arsenopyrite in red and the Zinkenite in blue.
An alternate view of today's specimen showing a wider range. Several dark metallic crystals of Arsenopyrite can be seen with thin metallic needles of Zinkenite on the clear Calcite matrix. An alternate view of today's specimen showing a wider range with digitally added lines to differentiate minerals. Several dark metallic crystals of Arsenopyrite (circled in red) can be seen with thin metallic needles of Zinkenite (circled in blue) on the clear Calcite matrix.
January 26, 2026 at 3:12 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
This #MineralMonday I got a lovely little crystal of Arsenopyrite from New Jersey! It has got such an interesting crystal habit in my opinion!
Photograph of a mineral specimen taken with a microscope. The image is focused on a dark metallic, tabular crystal of Arsenopyrite on a matrix of clear and white calcite. This specimen is from Sussex County, New Jersey, USA.
January 26, 2026 at 2:57 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I have used this image as my banner, but never showed it off properly. So for this #MineralMonday, I proudly present this spectacular specimen of Malachite!
Mineral specimen of rich, crystalline Malachite with a green-blue color on the face of a light grey rock.
January 19, 2026 at 3:34 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Today is going to be a micro #MineralMonday! I have some stunning orange Montgomeryite crystals on fuzzy white balls of Englishite!
A microscope photos of a mineral specimen. The orange transparent prismatic crystals are Montgomeryite and the fuzzy white spheres with small acicular crystals are Englishite. This specimen is from Custer County, South Dakota.
January 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Psst... Hey...
It's the first #MineralMonday of 2026! Today I have a specimen of Staurolite showing off it's classic twinning!
A mineral specimen of several long, dark brown Staurolite crystals in a white matrix. Some of the Staurolite crystals exhibit penetration twinning at 60 degree angle.
January 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Got a spicy specimen this #MineralMonday ! The tabular green crystal is Zeunerite which is altering to Metazeunerite. Zeunerite contains copper, uranium, and arsenic so it is both radioactive and toxic!
Mineral specimen of Zeunerite and Metazeunerite which are the tabular green crystals on the brown matrix. This specimen was collected from Majuba Hill, Pershing Co., Nevada, USA. Zeunerite alters to Metazeunerite through the process of dehydration. Although there is no major visual difference between these minerals, the alteration happens in the chemical structure at the molecular level.
December 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I was able to get some holiday polishing done. This is Teepee Canyon Agate from South Dakota!
A cut and polished mineral specimen. The exposed face shows an agate with red, orange, black and clear banding. The agate is in a oblong chert nodule, and was photographed in natural lighting. This specimen was self-collected in 2024.
December 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I had a tough time deciding on what specimen to choose for today from the Christmas Mine, so as an extra little treat have a tiny Dioptase.
A micromounted mineral specimen of transparent green crystals of Dioptase on what is most likely clear to white Apophyllite(?). This specimen is also from the Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona
December 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
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This festive #MineralMonday is brought to you by Kinoite and Apophyllite. This sample is from the Christmas Mine in Gila Co., Arizona. A fitting specimen for the holiday season!
A mounted mineral specimen from Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona. The specimen has sharp, deep blue crystals of Kinoite and clear crystals of Apophyllite. The Apophyllite is transparent making it difficult to see many of the crystals. The crystals are on a buff colored sandstone.
December 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
This #MineralMonday we got one of my personal favorite minerals Boleite! It's a fun little halide with lead, silver, and copper and forms nice deep blue cubes.
Several dark blue cubes of the mineral Boleite on matrix. This specimen comes from it's type locality of the Boleo District, Santa Rosalia, Baja California, Mexico. Boleite gets its name from the Boleo District.
December 16, 2025 at 1:31 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Happy #MineralMonday y'all! Today I got a piece of Wavellite from Arkansas. It is sadly not lime flavored...
Acicular crystals of light green wavellite forming intergrown balls on a dark grey matrix. The balls to wavellite resemble limes.
December 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
It's #MineralMonday and today I got the winner of the first ever #OreCup, Native Copper!
A specimen of metallic crystalline native copper with elongated, intergrown crystals .
December 2, 2025 at 2:06 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
A last minute #MineralMonday for y'all! Some gorgeous cacoxenite from Alabama.
Golden yellow needles of cacoxenite forming little spikey balls. The specimen is from Calhoun County, Alabama.
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I am going to try my hand at #artfight this year! Expect some silly little drawings

#teamcrystal #artfight2025
July 1, 2025 at 9:44 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Quote post with a picture you took in a National Park

#NationalParkService America's best idea

I have been to many and hope I can go to many more in the future!

Badlands NP
Grand Teton NP
Death Valley NP
Wind Cave NP
Sunset over the Badlands Grand Tetons A wetter than normal Badwater Basin with Telescope Peak in poking its head out. Death Valley NP. Boxwork in Wind Cave
February 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Be blessed with smol garnet
Two very small garnets in a mica schist. The length of the largest garnet is 3 mm and the small garnet is 2 mm.
February 1, 2025 at 1:35 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
In my latest lapidary adventures, I polished this lovely Botswana Agate. There will be more to come.
#lapidary
A blue and white Botswana Agate with a face polish.
December 29, 2024 at 10:03 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Been awhile but it's been nice cutting a few cabochons
#lapidary
On the left is a Montana moss agate with a pale blue color and dark dendritic inclusions. It is cut into a egg shaped cabochon. On the right is a Texas "Pom Pom" agate with orange and red plumes. It is cut into a teardrop shaped cabochon.
December 29, 2024 at 12:02 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Little chonk of Vanadinite for today :)
Red-orange hexagonal vanadinite crystals Red-Orange hexagonal Vanadinite crystals with tag that reads: "VANADINITE Pb5(VO4)3Cl BOU AZZER MINE, MIBLADEN, MOROCCO"
December 1, 2024 at 5:33 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I've been playing around with my cheap digital microscope setup. Here is a sample of gormanite, which is a splintery green phosphate mineral.
Green gormanite crystals on brown siderite crystals. Specimen from Rapid Creek, Yukon. Green gormanite crystals on brown siderite crystals. Specimen from Rapid Creek, Yukon.
November 25, 2024 at 2:32 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
I've recently developed a love for Strengite. Here's a close up of some beautiful lilac colored crystals.
Lilac colored Strengite from Polk Co., AK, USA
November 9, 2024 at 2:45 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Here is a neat piece of Ferroan Dolomite. It's just a goofy little guy :)
Rust colored iron-bearing dolomite from Arizona.
October 24, 2024 at 2:56 AM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
Howdy everyone! Thank you for the large number of you who decided to follow! I am a fluffy thing that collects weird little rocks and dabbles in lapidary work. To start things off, here's some Tuperssuatsiaite in Natrolite from the Aris Quarries in Namibia.
Light brown Tuperssuatsiaite crystals in clear Natrolite Light brown Tuperssuatsiaite crystals in clear Natrolite Light brown Tuperssuatsiaite crystals in clear Natrolite
October 18, 2024 at 12:54 PM
catwithrocks.bsky.social
It has been a long and tough competition this year, and both rhodochrosite and kyanite are deserving of the crown. However, my vote is for my favorite mineral rhodochrosite. I am rooting for you #teammeatrock ! #MinCup24
Rhodochrosite pendant, which I cut and wrapped. From Argentina.
October 1, 2024 at 1:59 PM