Welcome to the Polman Mineral Reverse Auction!

Here is how it works:

Specimens listed on this page will have a starting price and a starting date. If you like the specimen, you may buy it outright at the starting price listed, or wait as the auction progresses. Remember, it is first come first served, so if you want the specimen, you have to email or call immediately. 

Periodically (it could be any number of days), we will reduce the price of that specimen. The new price and date will be listed beneath the starting price. Even if you are on the Polman Minerals email list, you will not be notified of this reduction. The amount of reduction will be totally arbitrary. As the price gets lower and lower, more and more people will want the specimen. Once it reaches a price that you are willing to pay for the specimen, email immediately and purchase it!  Once a specimen has been purchased, it will be marked as sold.

The strategy for a reverse auction is to find a specimen you would like to own, and watch the auction page constantly. We suggest you bookmark the auction page, and check it out at least daily. Remember, there could be many other people watching the same specimen. Only emails or calls made after the new price is posted will qualify. There is no pre-bidding (in other words, no emails saying you will purchase the specimen when it reaches a certain price). 

We guarantee quality specimens will be posted on this page, and the price will be lowered and lowered until they are sold (regardless of the price)! A reverse auction is great way to get quality specimens cheaply, and can be a lot of fun in the process. As always, the customer is responsible for shipping and insurance costs. Let us know if you have any questions or comments about our new Reverse Auction page. 

Let the fun begin!!

For quick email access to purchase a specimen, you may click here.

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-664

RA-664

Name: Dolomite, Calcite
Location: Langban, Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden.
Size: 4 x 4 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a specimen of mostly dolomite from Langban, Sweden.  This specimen contains a crimson colored dolomite, with small amounts of orange/red calcite scattered about.  Langban, Sweden is a classic mineral location, on par with Franklin, New Jersey for the shear number of minerals found there.  This photograph does not show the crimson red dolomite as accurately as it is in person.  The dolomite is deeper crimson red than the photograph depicts. 

Starting Price:  $45.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $42.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $40.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $38.00 (2/6/12)     

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-611 SOLD

RA-611 SOLD

Name: Aragonite
Location: Tornado Peak, Dripping Spring Mountains, Gila County, Arizona.
Size: 5 x 2 x 2-inches
Notes: This is a nice banded aragonite specimen from a new find in the Dripping Spring Mountains in Arizona.  Very similar to the aragonite from the Santa Rita Mountains that I have been selling for years.  Fresh surfaces of this aragonite tend to fluoresce creamy yellow to creamy white, but when weathered, they fluoresce a beautiful orange/yellow color.  This specimen was photographed under shortwave ultraviolet light, but this material will fluoresce just as nicely under longwave or midrange ultraviolet. 

Starting Price:  $45.00 (11/10/11)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (11/14/11)
Reduced Price: $42.00 (11/15/11)
Reduced Price: $40.00 (11/17/11)
Reduced Price: $38.00 (11/22/11)
Reduced Price: $36.00 (11/30/11)
Reduced Price: $34.00 (12/6/11)
Reduced Price: $32.00 (12/12/11)
Reduced Price: $31.00 (12/14/11)
Reduced Price: $30.00 (12/19/11)
Reduced Price: $29.00 (12/21/11)
Reduced Price: $28.00 (12/27/11)
Reduced Price: $26.00 (1/4/12)
Reduced Price: $24.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $22.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $21.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $20.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $19.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $18.00 (2/2/12) SOLD            

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Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-631

RA-631

Name: Calcite, Chalcedony
Location: Toadstool State Park, Sioux County, Nebraska.
Size: 2.5 x 4 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a nice specimen of fluorescent green chalcedony with fluorescing pinkish red calcite from Nebraska.  Most of the specimens you see from this location are “sandwiches”, that is they are thin layers of the chalcedony and calcite which you have to view from the side. This specimen is close to that type, as you have to look from the side, to see the best face. The combination of the green and the pinkish red make for a nice combination. 

Starting Price:  $45.00 (12/6/11)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (12/12/11)
Reduced Price: $41.00 (12/14/11)
Reduced Price: $39.00 (12/19/11)
Reduced Price: $37.00 (12/21/11)
Reduced Price: $36.00 (12/27/11)
Reduced Price: $34.00 (1/4/12)
Reduced Price: $32.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $30.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $29.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $27.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $26.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $25.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $24.00 (2/6/12)      

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Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-671

RA-671

Name: Chalcedony
Location: Beaver Rim Area, Fremont County, Wyoming.
Size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a pretty specimen of green fluorescing chalcedony in a brecciated non-fluorescing matrix. The areas of non-fluorescence within the chalcedony make for an interesting pattern. You don’t see many fluorescent specimens from Wyoming for sale, but here is a pretty one!

Starting Price:  $45.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (2/6/12) 

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-612 SOLD

RA-612 SOLD

Name: Halite
Location: Salton Sea, California.
Size: 9 x 8 x 2.5-inches
Notes: Here is an interesting display size halite specimen from the world famous Salton Sea in California.  This specimen has an original deposit of fluorescent red halite (with manganese as an activator), and then a secondary crystalization of non-fluorescent halite on top.  This gives the specimen a little different look to it than normal halite from this location.  I believe that all the brown halites are older specimens, perhaps collected in the 1960s or so.  I know I had purchased a large supply from Tom Warren many years ago, and his stock I’m sure was collected in the 60s or maybe the 70s.  This specimen came from a dealer stock that I recently purchased.  The dealer was from California, so I think there is a pretty good chance that this specimen originated from the Tom Warren stock.

Starting Price:  $125.00 (11/10/11)
Reduced Price: $122.00 (11/14/11)
Reduced Price: $120.00 (11/15/11)
Reduced Price: $117.00 (11/17/11)
Reduced Price: $112.00 (11/22/11)
Reduced Price: $108.00 (11/30/11)
Reduced Price: $105.00 (12/6/11)
Reduced Price: $101.00 (12/12/11)
Reduced Price: $98.00 (12/14/11)
Reduced Price: $95.00 (12/19/11)
Reduced Price: $93.00 (12/21/11)
Reduced Price: $91.00 (12/27/11)
Reduced Price: $87.00 (1/4/12)
Reduced Price: $84.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $81.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $79.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $75.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $70.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $65.00 (2/2/12) SOLD 

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-656

RA-656

Name: Norbergite, Diopside
Location: Farber Quarry, Franklin, New Jersey.
Size: 7 x 5 x 3-inches
Notes: Here is a nice display size norbergite from the Farber Quarry in Franklin, New Jersey. The specimen has a very rich area of fluorescing yellow norbergite along the center, with some fluorescent pale blue diopside above and below. There is also some minor fluorescent tremolite on the back as well.

Starting Price:  $125.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $122.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $120.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $115.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $110.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $100.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $95.00 (2/6/12) 

White Light

Midrange Ultraviolet

RA-636 SOLD

RA-636 SOLD

Name: Manganocalcite
Location: Herja, Rumania.
Size: 8 x 7 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a very nice large display size manganocalcite from Rumania. The specimen is light pink in white light, and contains many well defined small crystals. The specimen is only 2 inches in thickness, making it a nice plate. Would make a great specimen for the center of a display, or a museum which requires larger specimens. Under midrange ultraviolet, the specimen fluoresces bright red. The specimen will also fluoresce under shortwave ultraviolet, but midrange provides the best response. 

Starting Price:  $265.00 (12/12/11)
Reduced Price: $260.00 (12/14/11)
Reduced Price: $255.00 (12/19/11)
Reduced Price: $250.00 (12/21/11)
Reduced Price: $245.00 (12/27/11)
Reduced Price: $240.00 (1/4/12)
Reduced Price: $235.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $230.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $225.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $220.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $210.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $200.00 (2/2/12) SOLD  

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-657 

RA-657 

Name: Willemite, Calcite
Location: Franklin Mine, Franklin, New Jersey.
Size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 3-inches
Notes: Here is a typical willemite and calcite from the world famous Franklin Mine in New Jersey. This specimen was most likely collected from the Buckwheat dump in the 60s. It has a sprinkling of green fluorescing willemite within a matrix of red fluorescing calcite.

Starting Price:  $45.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $41.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $39.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $37.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $35.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $33.00 (2/6/12)   

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-658

RA-658

Name: Willemite
Location: Franklin Mine, Franklin, New Jersey.
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a very nice display size specimen of willemite from the world famous Franklin Mine in New Jersey. This specimen would be perfect for someone who needs a nice bright green specimen for a case or display. A little different in that this specimen does not have any fluorescent red calcite.

Starting Price:  $100.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $95.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $90.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $85.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $80.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $75.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $70.00 (2/6/12)  

White Light

Longwave Ultraviolet

RA-672

RA-672 

Name: Opal
Location: Manhattan Mine, Knoxville, Napa County, California.
Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 2-inches
Notes: This yellow opal was collected decades ago from a mine now closed.  The opal will fluoresce under shortwave and midrange ultraviolet light, but longwave provides the best response. Yellow opal like this is not common. In some specimens from this mine the opal is gem quality. If you are a California collector, specimens from this mine are a must for your collection.  

Starting Price:  $65.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $63.00 (2/6/12) 

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-673 SOLD 

RA-673 SOLD 

Name: Smithsonite, Willemite
Location: Nellie James Mine, Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona.
Size: 3 x 3 x 2-inches
Notes: Here is a nice rich specimen of fluorescing pinkish red smithsonite from Arizona. This is most likely cadmium smithsonite found in what is called “dry bone” ore. This specimen also has some minor bright green fluorescing willemite on the front, and a substantial amount on the back.

Starting Price:  $45.00 (2/2/12) SOLD

White Light

Longwave Ultraviolet

RA-659

RA-659

Name: Sphalerite
Location: Zinc Corporation of America (ZCA), West Pierrepont, New York.
Size: 3 x 2.5 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Here is a nice medium sized specimen of sphalerite from ZCA in New York. The specimen is fairly rich, with a bright orangey yellow fluorescing sphalerite. The ZCA is closed to collecting now, making specimens from this locality hard to come by. If you are a ZCA collector and don’t have a good sphalerite from this area, now is your chance to get a nice one. The specimen comes with its original Walter R. Kellogg label.

Starting Price:  $50.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $48.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $46.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $44.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $42.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $40.00 (2/2/12) 
Reduced Price: $38.00 (2/6/12) 

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Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-668

RA-668

Name: Hydrozincite, Willemite, Smithsonite, Calcite.
Location: Nellie James Mine, Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona.
Size: 6 x 5 x 2.5-inches
Notes: Here is a nice four color display size specimen from the Nellie James Mine in Arizona. The specimen contains bright sky blue fluorescing hydrozincite, bluish pink smithsonite, green willemite and red calcite. The willemite and calcite are not as bright as the hydrozincite. On the right side of the specimen, what you see as a large patch of a bluish area is really not as bright as that.

Starting Price:  $100.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $90.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $85.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $80.00 (2/6/12)         

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-674

RA-674

Name: Scheelite
Location: Trumbull, Connecticut.
Size: 3 x 2 x .75-inches
Notes: A very nice small and rich specimen of beautiful sky blue fluorescing scheelite from the famous Trumbull Connecticut area.  Collecting at this location is no longer possible. Scheelite is one of the very few minerals that are intrinsically fluorescent.  Pure scheelite (CaWO4) will always fluoresce sky blue.  No impurity or activator is necessary.  As you replace the tungsten with molybdenum, the mineral will begin to fluoresce more of a creamy yellow.  When all the tungsten is replaced by molybdenum, you now have the end member powellite (CaMO4), which as you may have seen, fluoresces bright creamy yellow. 

Starting Price:  $40.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $38.00 (2/6/12) 

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-669

RA-669

Name: Selenite
Location: Red River Floodway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Size: 3.5 x 3 x 3-inches
Notes: Here is a very nice cluster of selenite crystals from a well known locality in Manitoba, Canada. Under shortwave or longwave ultraviolet light, the selenite fluoresces a bright bluish white or creamy white. There is also a long duration phosphorescence as well. The crystals are well formed, making this a great white light specimen as well. 

Starting Price:  $100.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $95.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $90.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $87.00 (2/6/12) 

White Light

Longwave Ultraviolet

RA-675

RA-675

Name: Fluorite
Location: Clay Center, Ohio.
Size: 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Here is a specimen of fluorescing creamy white fluorite with some non fluorescing celestite from Ohio. The fluorite is scattered about the specimen, giving it an unusual pattern. The fluorite is highly phosphorescent as well. 

Starting Price:  $45.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (2/6/12)  

White Light

Shortwave Ultraviolet

RA-676

RA-676

Name: Hyalite Opal
Location: Near Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, North Carolina.
Size: 3.5 x 2.25 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Here is a small cabinet size hyalite opal from North Carolina. Hyalite opal is one of the most brightest fluorescent minerals known. This specimen is very rich, and has a nice look to it. For people who prefer smaller specimens, this is a nice example for sure.

Starting Price:  $40.00 (2/2/12)
Reduced Price: $38.00 (2/6/12)  

White Light

Midrange Ultraviolet

RA-655 SOLD

RA-655 SOLD

Name: Calcite, Apatite
Location: County Road #4, Near Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada.
Size: 4 x 3 x 2-inches
Notes: This is a nice specimen consisting of a salmon pink colored calcite with green apatite crystals. Under midrange ultraviolet the calcite fluoresces a bright red and the apatite fluoresces a grayish blue color (the photograph makes it look a bit more blue than gray blue). The combination is really unique, making these specimens a must have for a fluorescent mineral collection.  Although the calcite and apatite will fluoresce under shortwave ultraviolet, it is best under midrange.

Starting Price:  $45.00 (1/4/12)
Reduced Price: $43.00 (1/10/12)
Reduced Price: $41.00 (1/13/12)
Reduced Price: $39.00 (1/19/12)
Reduced Price: $37.00 (1/23/12)
Reduced Price: $35.00 (1/30/12)
Reduced Price: $33.00 (2/2/12) SOLD