FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Elise]

I posted a little review of this book on the private forum of the British Gemmological Association (Gem-A) and thought I might share it here also ( I see that Peter Lyckberg is acknowledged in the front):

My copy of Dr. Schmetzer's "Russian Alexandrites" was waiting for me when I arrived home from work today. After reading through parts of it and skimming others, I already would highly recommend to others. It is a marvelous publication with quite a team of contributing authors. Along with the in-depth look into this gem mineral (in particular Russian, but also in general), the extensive bibliography makes it a definitive reference source ( I especially appreciate the contrasting colored ink used for citations and notes which are at the bottom of each page). I can't believe the asking price was held so low. Along with his research results, and of course gemmological descriptions, the book is filled with wonderful photographs both historical and contemporary, crystal drawings and artwork by the author, photomicrographs, maps and an appendix with tables covering such topics as localities in the Urals, morphology, name transcriptions, a timetable and did I already say a lengthy reference list? I don't know where else anyone would find such a wealth of information on this one gem between just two book boards!

Sincerest congratulations Karl!

Best wishes to all,
Elise

PS: The Brazil book described below just received a glowing extensive review by Thomas Moore in the latest Mineralogical Record, 41, 5. I won't hesitate to recommend that they review "Russian Alexandrites" as it reaches well beyond the world of cut gems and would be of interest to mineral collectors as well.

(earlier post with publisher link where greater content description can be found)

I hadn't seen these two new books mentioned in past MailTalk so I thought I would post a note:

First Dr. Schmetzer's new book "Russian Alexandrites":
https://www.schweizerbart.de/publications/detail/isbn/9783510652624
(link normalized by FMF)

I don't have it in-hand yet, but am very much looking forward to receiving my copy as I have heard so much about it.

The second I just recently got from Gloria at Lithographie: "Minerals and Precious Stones of Brazil" by Carlos Cornejo and Andrea Bartorelli. As of a couple weeks ago I don't believe there is a European distributor yet, but along with Dr. Schmetzer's book, this one on Brazil would be of great interest to gemmologists. It is packed with information, including historical photographs and over 1,000 other images and in-depth text on history, mineralogy, mining, people etc. It is beautifully rendered and well-researched judging from the parts I've had time to read since getting home with it.

[Luiz Menezes]

About the book "Minerals and Precious Stones of Brazil", the whole English edition was bought by Frank Melanson (Hawthorneden), and we has agreed with Lapis to be his distributor in Germany.

I promised Jordi to write a review for the Forum about this book (to which I am one of the main contributors, having written most of the 100-pages long chapter about Tourmalines); I have returned from Denver one week ago and I will post this review here on the next few days.

[Tenney Naumer]

I am so glad you have posted about the Brazilian book. I live in Bahia and just ordered it from São Paulo -- can't wait to start turning its pages!

[Jordi Fabre]