FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

In our observations, we didn't observe a specific pattern in the fluorescence under UV at different wavelengths.

I rarely recommend those quick test to identify species that forms series. It is un ...

Following this little game. I changed slightly the calculations: I introduced a different, more actualized set of thermodynamic data, and also introduced sulfur species and copper mobile complexes.
...

I have a 11cm high broken azurite which shows internal growth of botryoidal malachite.

The rough chemistry requires 2 portions of solid azurite and one portion of liquid water to yield three portio ...

What courses would you recommend for someone who wishes to be a mineralogist? What universities would be good to attend?
That question is pretty much ambiguous. What do you mean with the term "m ...

Thank you Alfredo!. I feel good so far, but after the covid situation and all, that site pollution is the least of my problems, I am afraid!.

Anyway, it is a reasonable concern; so, during our stu ...

Very interesting article, and interesting crystals. Thank you!

As for Alkali Lake in Oregon, how can one trust anything from a known toxic waste disposal site? (See "Alkali Lake Chemical Wast ...

The Imini mine is a famous locality for its manganese minerals, specially pyrolusite and manganite. But not all and always.
Here is a curious and big specimen from Imini mine (as far as we know) tha ...

Well, these analyses tell nothing apart of the elements in the analyzed point of the sample. In fact, one of them is very close to the composition of sterling silver!

A point element analysis of a ...

I always find interesting such 'detective' problems. When Jordi sent me the samples, the impression at hand was non-natural. The analyses showed copper-silver alloys with phase segregation and copper ...

A note on concepts for the gen pub here:

A same mineral could be biogenic or not. For example, sulfur, pyrite or even galena could be biogenic or the product of geochemical processes without direct ...

I think it is my post is relevant here, obviously. The admins are those that ultimately should decide if it is relevant here or not. If they decide it is not relevant, they should erase it and probabl ...

Recently, we published the complete description of a new mineral found in the sediments of the Alkali lake (Oregon, USA).

The extraordinary crystals of what in a first view were identified as form ...

We keep studying the gold from Guelmim. The associated minerals tell us a history that, I hope, will be consistent with the geochemical context.
The gold is associated to a series of minerals, possi ...

Recently, my dear friend Jordi Fabre sent me a couple of samples from a new, really interesting find: native gold from a unknown deposit (as far as I know) in the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun in Morocc ...

Completing this thread on this interesting mine. Beautiful johnbaumite specimens. In those crystals it is notorious that johnbaumite is the arsenic analog of hydroxylapatite.
A shout-out to Ed Richar ...

Author	Message
Topic: Helvine with Quartz or Garnet?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 17 Views: 4271	Forum: What is it? - Where is it from? Posted: Jan 29, 2025 22:18 Subject: Re: Helvine with Quartz or Garnet?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 17 Views: 4271	In our observations, we didn't observe a specific pattern in the fluorescence under UV at different wavelengths. I rarely recommend those quick test to identify species that forms series. It is un ...
Topic: Pseudomorph chemistry - (40)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 28 Views: 45855	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Aug 30, 2022 18:43 Subject: Re: Pseudomorph chemistry - (40)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 28 Views: 45855	Following this little game. I changed slightly the calculations: I introduced a different, more actualized set of thermodynamic data, and also introduced sulfur species and copper mobile complexes. ...
Topic: Pseudomorph chemistry - (40)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 28 Views: 45855	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Aug 30, 2022 12:22 Subject: Re: Pseudomorph chemistry - (40)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 28 Views: 45855	I have a 11cm high broken azurite which shows internal growth of botryoidal malachite. The rough chemistry requires 2 portions of solid azurite and one portion of liquid water to yield three portio ...
Topic: Mineralogist curricula
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 5 Views: 5492	Forum: Off-Topic and Introductions Posted: Mar 20, 2022 05:59 Subject: Re: Mineralogist curricula
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 5 Views: 5492	What courses would you recommend for someone who wishes to be a mineralogist? What universities would be good to attend? That question is pretty much ambiguous. What do you mean with the term "m ...
Topic: Formicaite. Beta-formicaite & alpha-Ca-formate. Mineral or not? - (39)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 19122	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Mar 19, 2022 16:32 Subject: Re: Formicaite. Beta-formicaite & alpha-Ca-formate. Mineral or not? – (39)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 19122	Thank you Alfredo!. I feel good so far, but after the covid situation and all, that site pollution is the least of my problems, I am afraid!. Anyway, it is a reasonable concern; so, during our stu ...
Topic: Formicaite. Beta-formicaite & alpha-Ca-formate. Mineral or not? - (39)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 19122	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Mar 19, 2022 14:36 Subject: Re: Formicaite. Beta-formicaite & alpha-Ca-formate. Mineral or not? – (39)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 19122	Very interesting article, and interesting crystals. Thank you! As for Alkali Lake in Oregon, how can one trust anything from a known toxic waste disposal site? (See "Alkali Lake Chemical Wast ...
Topic: Goethite from Imini mine (Morocco)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 0 Views: 24252	Forum: Incorrect classification and fakes Posted: Mar 13, 2022 14:57 Subject: Goethite from Imini mine (Morocco)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 0 Views: 24252	The Imini mine is a famous locality for its manganese minerals, specially pyrolusite and manganite. But not all and always. Here is a curious and big specimen from Imini mine (as far as we know) tha ...
Topic: Alleged 'silvers' from Udokan?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 13 Views: 16766	Forum: Off-Topic and Introductions Posted: Jan 28, 2022 19:56 Subject: Re: Alleged 'silvers' from Udokan?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 13 Views: 16766	Well, these analyses tell nothing apart of the elements in the analyzed point of the sample. In fact, one of them is very close to the composition of sterling silver! A point element analysis of a ...
Topic: Alleged 'silvers' from Udokan?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 13 Views: 16766	Forum: Off-Topic and Introductions Posted: Oct 13, 2021 15:33 Subject: Re: Alleged 'silvers' from Udokan?
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 13 Views: 16766	I always find interesting such 'detective' problems. When Jordi sent me the samples, the impression at hand was non-natural. The analyses showed copper-silver alloys with phase segregation and copper ...
Topic: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	Forum: Minerals and Mineralogy Posted: May 06, 2021 09:55 Subject: Re: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	A note on concepts for the gen pub here: A same mineral could be biogenic or not. For example, sulfur, pyrite or even galena could be biogenic or the product of geochemical processes without direct ...
Topic: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	Forum: Minerals and Mineralogy Posted: May 02, 2021 05:17 Subject: Re: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	I think it is my post is relevant here, obviously. The admins are those that ultimately should decide if it is relevant here or not. If they decide it is not relevant, they should erase it and probabl ...
Topic: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	Forum: Minerals and Mineralogy Posted: May 01, 2021 15:56 Subject: A new mineral: alpha-calcium formate
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 9 Views: 12148	Recently, we published the complete description of a new mineral found in the sediments of the Alkali lake (Oregon, USA). The extraordinary crystals of what in a first view were identified as form ...
Topic: The native gold from Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco - (35)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 25805	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Feb 17, 2021 19:21 Subject: Re: The native gold from Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco - (35)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 25805	We keep studying the gold from Guelmim. The associated minerals tell us a history that, I hope, will be consistent with the geochemical context. The gold is associated to a series of minerals, possi ...
Topic: The native gold from Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco - (35)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 25805	Forum: Featured Columns of FMF Posted: Dec 29, 2020 06:08 Subject: The native gold from Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco - (35)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 8 Views: 25805	Recently, my dear friend Jordi Fabre sent me a couple of samples from a new, really interesting find: native gold from a unknown deposit (as far as I know) in the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun in Morocc ...
Topic: On the mineralogy of Shijiangshan, Ulanhad League, Inner Mongolia A.R. (China)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 15 Views: 45958	Forum: Mines and Mineral Localities Posted: May 27, 2018 19:33 Subject: Re: On the mineralogy of Shijiangshan, Ulanhad League, Inner Mongolia A.R. (China)
Cesar M. Salvan Replies: 15 Views: 45958	Completing this thread on this interesting mine. Beautiful johnbaumite specimens. In those crystals it is notorious that johnbaumite is the arsenic analog of hydroxylapatite. A shout-out to Ed Richar ...