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...I leave two more things for my next post: spectacular Proustites that were found again in Aït Ahmane in the month of April of this year and that are somewhat different from the previous ones being in a matrix of something which looks like Safflorite or Rammelsbergite and also by minor associated Actinolite, and the spectacular Fluor-liddicoatite found in the Sahatany Valley area of Madagascar.
Here are the other "interesting things" that were missing, to which I add one example of the new Bournonites from the Stan Trg mine in Trepča, Kosovo.
Bournonite in Pyrite from the Stan Trg mine, similar to those found in the past, but which have never been frequent in Trepča and of which we had no news after long time.
For a few months there have been seen these specimens of Fluor-Liddicoatite from the Sahatany Valley, in the Province of Antananarivo, Madagascar. This one is from March of this year and apart from the fact that the crystals are very well defined and well finished, the transparency is excellent and their color, as of wine, seems to me different from what is usual there.
In December 2018, extraordinary Proustites appeared in the Bouismas and Aït Ahmane Mines both in the Bou Azzer area, Morocco, reaching up to 7 cm. but in April-May of this year in AÏt Ahmane there has been a new finding of Proustite, this time on a matrix of something that looks like Safflorite or Rammelsbergeite (although it could be anything else)
Delicious, as you can see in this photo of Jeff Scovil
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4904
Location: Barcelona
Posted: Jul 13, 2019 13:31 Post subject: Sainte Marie-aux-Mines Show 2019 - Reviews of the Newspapers
Barcelona 13/07/2018
One of the things that helps to better understand the atmosphere of the Shows are the reviews of the local newspapers. Thanks to the help of Pina and Gérard Schneller we can see the vision of the St. Marie Show of the local newspaper DNA.
This time the quality of the scanner is not the desirable due some technical issues. In case you really want to read well these files you can go to the web page of the DNA and find them there.
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4904
Location: Barcelona
Posted: Jul 13, 2019 14:13 Post subject: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019 - Au Revoir!
Ste. Marie has already finished for me, I hope others are still encouraged and publish more photos about this so hot edition. I remember once more that in the Spanish side there is a lot of information and images (6 pages and over 500 images at this time)
Ste. Marie is like a kind of anchor with the past. Is the third most important Mineral Show in the world and one can find there details as endearing as the ad below that could be placed on one of the billboards of the "Piscine" almost as much as the minerals in the veins of the Vallée of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines!😁
Posted: Jul 21, 2019 02:23 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Hi,
Gachala (Colombia) is not only famous for its emeralds, but also for its pyrites.
Two twinned pyritohedrons (interpenetration) also known as iron cross twin. Twin axis [001].
Seen at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines show (2019).
Posted: Jul 21, 2019 02:47 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Hi,
Wiluite crystallizes in the tetragonal system and occurs in well-formed crystals with good external form. It is isostructural with vesuviante. Formerly, it was regarded as a variety of Vesuvianite (Fabre's specimen).
Wiluite_40172_R.jpg
Mineral:
Wiluite
Locality:
Vilyui River Basin, Vilyuysky, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia
Imilchil never disappoints us and this time what it offers is these presumed Apatite crystals allegedly pseudomorphized and with presumed coatings of a presumed carbonate. All very presumed, the analyzes will say what this new find is that in some cases appears associated with nice Epidote crystals.
Fortunately I covered my backs with all these "presumed"! 🤔
After several analyzes, both the exterior and the interior of this material give the same result: Calcite, so although we can imagine that they could have been replacing "something" there is no analytical evidence to prove it, so we will leave it as Calcite (strange and with two very different generations, but Calcite 😏)
Calcite with Chlorite and Prehnite - Jebel Masker_Imilchil_Morocco.jpg
Posted: Oct 05, 2019 02:13 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Jordi,
Yes, I think also it’s a calcite, with the hexagonal prism terminated by the pinacoid. This habit is called “kanonen spath” in Germany.
This habit is frequent at St Andreasberg. Correct Tobi?
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4904
Location: Barcelona
Posted: Oct 05, 2019 06:05 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Roger Warin wrote:
Jordi,
Yes, I think also it’s a calcite, with the hexagonal prism terminated by the pinacoid. This habit is called “kanonen spath” in Germany.
This habit is frequent at St Andreasberg.
Posted: Oct 06, 2019 03:23 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
SULFOSALT MINERAL SPECIES
Bournonite PbCuSbS3 is a sulfosalt mineral species, thioantimonide of lead and copper.
Bournonite is usually twinned to give some crosses or yet gear wheels.
Pyrargyrite is a sulfosalt mineral consisting of silver sulfoantimonide, Ag3SbS3 known also as dark red silver ore.
Pyrargyrite is isomorphous with the corresponding sulfoarsenide known as proustite or light red silver ore.
The prefix thio-, when applied to a chemical, such as an ion, means that an oxygen atom in the compound has been replaced by a sulfur atom. (Greek root).
The prefix sulfo is similar (latin root).
04-Bournonite-40280_R.jpg
Mineral:
Bournonite
Locality:
Florence Mine, Les Malines mining district, Saint-Laurent-le-Minier, Le Vigan, Gard Department, Occitanie, France
Posted: Oct 06, 2019 06:59 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
TSAVORITE versus EMERALD
Tsavorite is a chromiferous and vanadiferous variety of the grossular garnet of formula Ca3Al2 (SiO4)3.
Like the green emerald, tsavorite is green too, but warmer green, with a touch of yellow. But yet the beautiful emerald sometimes has, at the bottom end, some big flaws. On the one hand it is brittle, but it can be garnished with whitish gardens sometimes too important, altering its hue.
What are the qualities of tsavorite? It is a garnet, so it has about the same hardness as the emerald, but its tenacity is superior. It therefore has excellent mechanical qualities. As for its color? It seduces too. Its slightly gilded green color sometimes has deep and saturated hues. They delight the eye. The color can be "electric". It becomes a real killer. However, its dimensions are often limited. It has other advantages such as clarity and absence of cleavages. Unlike the emerald which does not get smaller in size because of its low tenacity, tsavorite allows this size which is currently very popular in modern jewelry.
Tsavorite also has for it, the spices of novelty and originality. Its gems do not require all the treatments of ordinary emeralds.
Emerald is not relatively uncommon, unlike tsavorite. The jewelery industry is calling for a steady supply of gems. The tsavorite trade can only be successfully supported if constant availability is ensured. This is not the case currently, despite the many qualities of this new gem. The synthesis could remedy this situation.
It's my opinion…
06-Tsavorite_40205-bis_R.jpg
Mineral:
Tsavorite
Locality:
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Posts: 942
Location: Paris Area
Posted: Oct 06, 2019 08:11 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Roger Warin wrote:
TSAVORITE versus EMERALD
Tsavorite is a chromiferous and vanadiferous variety of the grossular garnet of formula Ca3Al2 (SiO4)3.
Like the green emerald, tsavorite is green too, but warmer green, with a touch of yellow. But yet the beautiful emerald sometimes has, at the bottom end, some big flaws. On the one hand it is brittle, but it can be garnished with whitish gardens sometimes too important, altering its hue.
What are the qualities of tsavorite? It is a garnet, so it has about the same hardness as the emerald, but its tenacity is superior. It therefore has excellent mechanical qualities. As for its color? It seduces too. Its slightly gilded green color sometimes has deep and saturated hues. They delight the eye. The color can be "electric". It becomes a real killer. However, its dimensions are often limited. It has other advantages such as clarity and absence of cleavages. Unlike the emerald which does not get smaller in size because of its low tenacity, tsavorite allows this size which is currently very popular in modern jewelry.
Tsavorite also has for it, the spices of novelty and originality. Its gems do not require all the treatments of ordinary emeralds.
Emerald is not relatively uncommon, unlike tsavorite. The jewelery industry is calling for a steady supply of gems. The tsavorite trade can only be successfully supported if constant availability is ensured. This is not the case currently, despite the many qualities of this new gem. The synthesis could remedy this situation.
It's my opinion…
Good reminder Roger.
There has been a long-time debate over Emerald vs.Tsavorite in the colored stones business.
In my opinion Tsavorite is underrated mainly for 2 reasons
1) Rarity - There is only one source of significant production (Tanzania & Kenya). Tsavorite production is erratic and is a tiny fraction of the cumulative emerald production of Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil.
2) Size - Faceted Tsavorite is rarely found above 2ct
Speaking about colors and hues, although Tsavorite often displays a striking warm green color (rough & faceted material), it has a limited range within the green hue spectrum unlike emeralds.
Posted: Mar 22, 2020 21:02 Post subject: Re: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2019
Hello all FMF friends. Sorry for the late post but I'm just getting caught up on everything.
I know that this is a very tough time for many of us. However, in this time of self-isolation to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, we all need to do our part in keeping ourselves safe as well as others.
Therefore, to help the hours, days and weeks pass, we here at BlueCap Productions want to help out as much as possible.
To that end, we've released the entire program of What's Hot In Ste.Marie: 2019 onto YouTube for everyone to enjoy.
Please enjoy the show, spread the word and, most importantly, KEEP SAFE.
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