FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[FBEC]

Hi everybody

On https://www.geoforum.fr (link normalized by FMF), I have post a new subject in order to know what are the top contemporary minerals and localities in France.

When I say TOP, I means, minerals beautifull or rarely enough to find an interest to world comunity.

When I say CONTEMPORARY, I say minerals that are extracted curently. I am not speaking abour old museum specimens from closed mines or locality empty now.

The problem about this subject on geoforum is that most of us are french, so it is difficult to find objectivity.

So what is you opinion about actual french minerals if your are note french ? What could be intererested for you if you find some french minerals on a mineral show ?

Thanks

Frederic

[Jordi Fabre]

My private and personal top ten (in random order):

Stolzite from Sainte Lucie Mine, St. Léger-de-Peyre, Lozère
Pyromorphite from Mine des Farges, Ussel, Corrèze
Quartz from Sigoyer, Haute Provence
Prehnite from La Combe de la Selle, St. Christophe-en-Oisans
Pink octahedral Fluorite from Pointe Kurtz, Les Droites, etcetera...Mont Blanc, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie
Yellow Fluorite from Pivoul, Lozère
Allanite-(La) from Trimouns Mine, Luzenac, Ariège
Deep blue Fluorite from Le Beix Mine, Lastic, Herment, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne
Gwindel smoky Quartz from glacier d'Argentière, Mont Blanc, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie
Chalcostibite and Zinkenite from Saint-Pons, Alpes de Haute Provence

[FBEC]

Thanks Jordi / Gracias Jordi

[Jesse Fisher]

Bonjour Frederic,
Being a fluorite collector, I am always looking for French fluorite. France, like England has many wonderful localities, such as Le Beix, Puy-Saint-Gulmier, Le Burc, Fontsante, Mont Blanc, etc. Unlike England, there appears to be sufficient interest on the part of French collectors to insure that little French fluorite (or fluorine) leaves the country, making it hard to find at shows here in the US. I think that most of these locations are now closed, so perhaps do not qualify "contemporary" as you mean it, but fluorite from these mines are always high on my list of desirable specimens.

I think I have found most of my good specimens at either Munich or Ste. Marie. Below is a photo of a nice piece from la Mine du Burc that I got at Munich last fall.

Cheers,
Jesse

[FBEC]

Thanks Jess

[Tobi]

Hi Frederic,

i'm also a fluorite fan and i agree with Jesse: The blue ones from Le Burg are an all-time favourite. Also the pink ones from Mont Blanc.

Cheers!

[Jesse Fisher]

Though seemingly quite rare, the most fantastic French blue I've seen are the ones from Puy-Saint-Gulmier. I do not own one, but here's a photo of one that a local collector was showing off at the Ste. Marie show a few years back. Size was around 15 cm.

[arturo shaw]

Jesse

I do not want to think about the price of that beauty considering that even you didn't buy it.

Silly me here collecting rocks when things like that do exist. :-(

Thank you for the picture

Greetings

Arturo Shaw

[Jesse Fisher]

The price was not a consideration as it was not for sale! Had it been, I'm not sure if I could have afforded it, so I was saved the anguish. Still, one must have dreams!

[jamesb]

I like it !

[Tobi]

I don't like it ... i LOVE it! An incredible specimen, pure eye candy.

[FBEC]

Hi

Thanks for your opinion. That is right that we have, I should say we had great flurorine. Right now becaise of mining closing, it is more difficult.

If you like French fluorine, go to
https://www.geoforum.fr/index.php?showtopic=5362
(link normalized by FMF)

It is a discussion about Central Massive fluorines

Any other french minerals opinions ?

Frederic

[Tobi]

There are also other great French fluorites from localities which are not that famous as Le Burg or Mont Blanc. I really like the ones from Valzergues in southern France, a mine that produced some giant clusters of beautiful fluorite in yellow, orange and brown. And the yellow ones from Lozère (also southern France) are another example of absolutely beautiful fluorite from France.

[chris]

Bonjour Frédéric,

I agree with all the minerals listed above. You could add St Pierre de Mésage to the list as the small iron mine there also produced recently worldclass specimens of green siderite crystals some of them up to 15 cm on edge (an beyond).

For me the most spectacular French specimens currently found remain smoky quartz & pink fluorite from the Mont Blanc's area.

Christophe