Wheaton College planning rock sale

The Geology and Environmental Science Department at Wheaton College this spring will hold its largest-ever sale of rocks, mineral specimens, fossils, maps, geological instruments, designer display pieces and related items.

The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6, in the lower level of the college's Meyer Science Center on the campus, 501 College Ave. Parking will be available at locations around the campus.

Prices will be substantially lower than most rock shops and internet sites, organizers said, and some prices are negotiable. Cash, credit cards and local checks will be accepted.

Some of the offerings include:

• At least three Leitz petrographic microscopes;

• A world-class collection of quartz of all types from Arkansas, Mexico, Brazil, Montana, Georgia, Mexico, Arizona and Russia;

• Pegmatite rocks and minerals from New England, South Dakota, North Carolina and Texas, as well as gem materials from Brazil, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Maine;

• Sulpher and rare minerals from Gulf Coast salt domes;

• Cut stones and crystals from diverse gem materials;

• Mine-associated secondary minerals from Mexico and Colorado;

• Platinum-bearing ores from Montana;

• Gold-bearing ores from South Dakota and Colorado;

• Arkansas phosphates;

• Extremely rare Artsmithite samples;

• Rare Texas Mercury district minerals.

Mineral, fossil and rock collection sets will be available at very low prices or for free to teachers.