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These inclusions are not Halloysite or any other mineral. Unfortunately just plain included clay, altered by acid cleaning and/or deliberate treatment.

This quartz specimen is most likely from somewhere in the departamento de Santander.
Peñas Blancas produces Muzo habit crystals.

I absolutely disagree that mineral prices went up in line with inflation. Apart from the lowest quality stuff (which in many cases has even become cheaper), this is by far not the case.

Due to bett ...

I was going through some of the Tucson photos from last year and found the attached. This was taken in Scott Rudolf's room at the Westward Look. Scott is among the top end of the top end collector ...

I would like to request that the site monitors make two clarifications or corrections:

1 - Hemant Merchant (Mineral Decor) has added proper signage to those "loop fluorites" in his room ...

I'm surprised fluorite fake loops are still sold.

https://www.mindat.org/mesg-563562.html

So are the Colombian "mango quartzes", or the Moroccan (and quite a few German) wire silvers.. ...

Hemant Merchant can always be depended on to provide new and unique Indian minerals - this year is no exception.

He had a handful of "loop fluorites" available (a connected string of botr ...

You might want to read this discussion and see what was said

https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=64166#64166

Quartz – Halloysite, according to the latest information I fo ...

I think and experience has shown that it is possible to have nice specimens at 200$ and under.

1. for that do not look at gem minerals

2. you can easily find small cabinet, miniature and thumbna ...

Like all the MIM minerals they are suberb, but what else do you expect. Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting. The more money the better the specimen - the simplicity of economics ...

Without doubt a nice piece, but all specimens from this find went (unfortunately???) to the lab and were submitted to chemical treatment, supposedly for stabilizing and preserve them from decomposin ...

Thank you both! Your comments are much appreciated.

Gerard, this one is for you then :) Also up there as one of my favorites, along with the previously posted rhodo. This was my first four figure s ...

"All is well that ends well...." Very strange how 'they finally saw the light' and not surprising that it was for the wrong reasons; but, "All is well that ends well...."

Part o ...

I can only give a visitor opinion.
I do not regret the change, especially when it comes to welcoming visitors.
In the past, in the '60s, it was simpler. I parked my car in front of the Theater stair ...

Part of the truth and a forgotten story is, that the local authorities obstructed and harassed the former decade-long private show promoter in just about any possible way over years, and from year to ...

Author	Message
Topic: Collection of Philippe Durand
minsur Replies: 360 Views: 450281	Forum: Collection photos and Collector's page Posted: Apr 08, 2023 14:27 Subject: Re: Collection of Philippe Durand
minsur Replies: 360 Views: 450281	These inclusions are not Halloysite or any other mineral. Unfortunately just plain included clay, altered by acid cleaning and/or deliberate treatment.
Topic: Collection of Tobi
minsur Replies: 1278 Views: 1970605	Forum: Collection photos and Collector's page Posted: Apr 07, 2023 15:26 Subject: Re: Collection of Tobi
minsur Replies: 1278 Views: 1970605	This quartz specimen is most likely from somewhere in the departamento de Santander. Peñas Blancas produces Muzo habit crystals.
Topic: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Forum: News about Shows Posted: Feb 18, 2023 17:50 Subject: Re: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	I absolutely disagree that mineral prices went up in line with inflation. Apart from the lowest quality stuff (which in many cases has even become cheaper), this is by far not the case. Due to bett ...
Topic: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Forum: News about Shows Posted: Jan 29, 2023 08:18 Subject: Re: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	I was going through some of the Tucson photos from last year and found the attached. This was taken in Scott Rudolf's room at the Westward Look. Scott is among the top end of the top end collector ...
Topic: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Forum: News about Shows Posted: Jan 28, 2023 18:35 Subject: Re: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	I would like to request that the site monitors make two clarifications or corrections: 1 - Hemant Merchant (Mineral Decor) has added proper signage to those "loop fluorites" in his room ...
Topic: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Forum: News about Shows Posted: Jan 26, 2023 17:31 Subject: Re: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	I'm surprised fluorite fake loops are still sold. https://www.mindat.org/mesg-563562.html So are the Colombian "mango quartzes", or the Moroccan (and quite a few German) wire silvers.. ...
Topic: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Forum: News about Shows Posted: Jan 26, 2023 08:40 Subject: Re: Tucson Shows 2023 - let the fun begin
minsur Replies: 77 Views: 86818	Hemant Merchant can always be depended on to provide new and unique Indian minerals - this year is no exception. He had a handful of "loop fluorites" available (a connected string of botr ...
Topic: Collection from Dany Mabillard
minsur Replies: 224 Views: 209792	Forum: Collection photos and Collector's page Posted: Nov 07, 2022 11:35 Subject: Re: Collection from Dany Mabillard
minsur Replies: 224 Views: 209792	You might want to read this discussion and see what was said https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=64166#64166 Quartz – Halloysite, according to the latest information I fo ...
Topic: Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting
minsur Replies: 24 Views: 31322	Forum: Off-Topic and Introductions Posted: Nov 05, 2022 06:44 Subject: Re: Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting
minsur Replies: 24 Views: 31322	I think and experience has shown that it is possible to have nice specimens at 200$ and under. 1. for that do not look at gem minerals 2. you can easily find small cabinet, miniature and thumbna ...
Topic: Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting
minsur Replies: 24 Views: 31322	Forum: Off-Topic and Introductions Posted: Oct 29, 2022 17:22 Subject: Re: Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting
minsur Replies: 24 Views: 31322	Like all the MIM minerals they are suberb, but what else do you expect. Money talks, especially in the hobby of mineral collecting. The more money the better the specimen - the simplicity of economics ...
Topic: Silvia's Collection
minsur Replies: 230 Views: 343545	Forum: Women's Private Collections Posted: Sep 02, 2022 18:22 Subject: Re: Silvia's Collection
minsur Replies: 230 Views: 343545	Without doubt a nice piece, but all specimens from this find went (unfortunately???) to the lab and were submitted to chemical treatment, supposedly for stabilizing and preserve them from decomposin ...
Topic: The Tama Higuchi Collection
minsur Replies: 18 Views: 35954	Forum: Women's Private Collections Posted: Aug 11, 2022 17:12 Subject: Re: The Tama Higuchi Collection
minsur Replies: 18 Views: 35954	Thank you both! Your comments are much appreciated. Gerard, this one is for you then :) Also up there as one of my favorites, along with the previously posted rhodo. This was my first four figure s ...
Topic: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	Forum: Mineral Shows Posted: Jul 29, 2022 08:05 Subject: Re: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	"All is well that ends well...." Very strange how 'they finally saw the light' and not surprising that it was for the wrong reasons; but, "All is well that ends well...." Part o ...
Topic: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	Forum: Mineral Shows Posted: Jul 29, 2022 07:51 Subject: Re: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	I can only give a visitor opinion. I do not regret the change, especially when it comes to welcoming visitors. In the past, in the '60s, it was simpler. I parked my car in front of the Theater stair ...
Topic: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	Forum: Mineral Shows Posted: Jul 28, 2022 17:14 Subject: Re: The historic Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show
minsur Replies: 50 Views: 103994	Part of the truth and a forgotten story is, that the local authorities obstructed and harassed the former decade-long private show promoter in just about any possible way over years, and from year to ...