FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

Very nice, Louis!

[Louis Friend]

Dear Tobias:

Many thanks for your encouraging words. The pyrite was taken in a light tent – actually a cardboard box with three of the sides removed and covered in a cotton sheet to diffuse the light. The cardboard box looks a bit like the “skeletal galena” from Bulgaria. I am working on a light box with a removable top. Minerals that look like mirrors – pyrite etc can be photographed inside the box in diffuse lighting to reduce reflections and the lid can be removed to take photograph of minerals that need lighting to bring out some features of the mineral. Sounds confusing but when I have it all assembled I will post it as another DIY project.

Kind regards

Louis

[Louis Friend]

PYRITE

The piece consists of several large and very lustrous pyrite crystals (pyritohedra) to just over 5cm with complex and striated faces. The largest crystal has clusters of smaller pyrite crystals growing out of two of its faces.

[Louis Friend]

SKUTTERUDITE ON SKUTTERUDITE

The piece consists of large, sharp and extremely lustrous skutterudite crystals on a matrix of massive skutterudite. The largest skutterudite crystal is just over 2.5cm. Included are photographs of the stand and label. Regrettably the photographs do not show just how lustrous the crystals are – mirror like in fact!

[Louis Friend]

SCHEELITE ON MUSCOVITE


I have just “unboxed” the specimen, and though I have yet to make an Acrylic stand I thought I would post a few photos. The piece consists of a large, sharp and extremely lustrous Scheelite crystal on a matrix of Muscovite and minor Albite. The Scheelite is about 5cm wide and has the most amazing colour – bright orange, which I think my camera captured. Over the next few months, I will be focusing on more Scheelite and Cassiterite specimens from Mt Xuebaoding. I would not be surprised to see this locality becoming a “classic” for future mineral collectors.

[Tobi]

WONDERFUL Chinese classic!

[Louis Friend]

CASSITERITE ON MUSCOVITE

This specimen was unboxed the other day. I cleaned it in a solution of ascorbic acid with a few other added ingredients to remove all the yellow stains. This led to a great improvement in appearance, but the piece was very attractive prior to cleaning – well in my opinion. It consists of a magmatic rock as matrix covered with copious books of mica. The top and bottom of the specimen comprises highly lustrous and very complex crystals of Cassiterite. The largest Cassiterite crystal is about 1.8cm. The cleaning process really gives a “shine” to the Cassiterite crystals and if there is sufficient interest, I might include some information on the cleaning and preparation of minerals.

Also included is a photo of the stand. The stand comprises a rear “saddle” and two front supports, which enables the piece to stand high with no fear of forward or rear movement.

[Carles Millan]

[Louis Friend]

[Louis Friend]

Not exactly a mineral but I have tried to be an artist, so the first picture is of one of my Peruvian Orpiments.

[Louis Friend]

Not exactly a mineral, but a photo of an “idealized” Cassiterite crystal. If you find it useful please feel free to use it!! I will soon be rendering an actual photo as a line drawing but including “colours” as if it were a picture painted in oil. This way everyone can then call themselves an artist. :)

[Louis Friend]

Scheelite on Muscovite

In my opinion these Scheelite on Muscovite combos are some of the most attractive and highly displayable specimens to come out of China. This particular piece features seven main Scheelite crystals. The Scheelite crystals are sharp, highly lustrous and gemmy with a beautiful orange colour. The largest Scheelite crystal is about 2.5cm long.

Also included is a photo of the stand and its label.

[Tobi]

[GneissWare]

[Tobi]

[Josele]

[Louis Friend]

[Louis Friend]

[Louis Friend]

Beryl var. Aquamarine with Cassiterite, Muscovite

This is in my opinion a superb combination piece from this noted locality, soon to be classic, if not so already. It consists of three gemmy and glassy tabular pale blue transparent crystals of beryl, the prominent one measuring 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm in size, set on a muscovite matrix with lustrous black cassiterite crystals. This is a very three dimensional specimen and I hope I have captured its best view – a truly inspiring piece!

[Louis Friend]

AQUAMARINE WITH MUSCOVITE FROM CHUMAR BAKHOOR

This pegmatite deposit is justly famous for outstanding aquamarine specimens. The cabinet piece shown here is beautiful. Gorgeous gem quality transparent blue and sharply terminated prismatic aquamarine crystals set perfectly amongst a matrix of silvery crystallized muscovite. The longest Aquamarine crystal is about 5 x 1 cm and the largest 4 x 2 cm. The specimen is composed of several groups of Aquamarines, but those on the top are the most prominent.

However, the specimen did not always look so as the fourth photo and the one supplied by the seller reveals. The muscovite had prominent iron staining and the Aquamarines had a frosted look. On closer inspection with a 25X loupe, this frosting was attributable to some other mineral adhering to the surface of the crystal faces. It took 14 days of soaking in one of my cleaning solutions followed by some “specimen enhancement” (Dental tools & Dremel tools) to bring out the true beauty of the piece.