FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Dawn MinetteCooper]

Actually the specimen in my collection of which I am most fond, is the TN Legrandite butterfly that was pictured so often to define our collection. It is small, but has perfect legrandite crystals perched on a touch of matrix to make a perfect specimen.

[Jim]

[jl58]

hello,
one of the most favorite specimens in my collection
Beryl aquamarine, schorl and quartz Taplejung Nepal

[Tobi]

I agree with those who can't pick a single specimen as their favourite. In order to become one of my favourites, a specimen should fulfill two general conditions:

1.) It should be a well-crystallized matrix specimen. A single crystal or an amorphous mineral could never be a favourite to me.

2.) It should have at least a size of 3 cm because i'm not a fan of micromunts (though they often are gorgeous to watch through a binocular microscope.) But a "favourite" must always be a specimen large enough to put it on display.

I would say that these specimens are currently my absolute favourites:

1) Tourmaline, Pederneira Mine/Brazil, 35 x 30 mm
2) Vanadinite, Taouz/Morocco, 55 x 30 mm
3) Calcite, Juchem Quarry/Germany, 110 x 55 mm
4) Calcite, Sweetwater Mine/USA, 95 x 90 mm
5) Apatite, Yates Mine/Canada, 75 x 70 mm
6) Pyrite, Huanzala Mine/Peru, 55 x 40 mm
7) Almandine, Ziller Valley/Austria, 150 x 120 mm
8) Fluorite, Clara Mine/Germany, 90 x 70 mm
9) Calcite, Rammelsbach Quarry/Germany, 140 x 120 mm
10) Quartz, Antananarivo/Madagascar, 160 x 140 mm
11) Fluorite, Erongo/Namibia, 60 x 40 mm
12) Calcite, Landelies Quarry/Belgium, 140 x 110 mm

[vic rzonca]

Beautiful-very aesthetic. Size?

[Jim]

VERY cool, everybody!


Cheers,

[Carles Millan]

[Brooks]

My favorite today is an apophllite on stilbite matrix from Jalgoan, India. Just a wonderful display piece on a Sunnywood base. It measures 14 x 12 x 7 cm.

[jl58]

[Jim]

[Dawn MinetteCooper]

The aquamarine, schorl and quartz is exquisite! I would love to have had it in my collection. Congratulations on a fine piece.

[jl58]

thanks for your comments, another beryl in my favourites
Manakana, N-W Ambatondrazaka MADAGASCAR, height 8,5cm

[Greg Toomey]

This is my favorite piece. It is not my "best" nor my rarest nor my most valuable specimen, but my favorite. It is an azurite nodule from Anhui Province, China, purchased at the 2006 Tucson show. I love the color and it really comes alive in person - not even Jeff Scovil's great photos of it does it justice. It reminds me of deep space. 10.8 cm high x 6.4 cm wide x 6.1 cm deep. The first photo is of the back, the second is of the front.

Greg

[jamesb]

Hi Jl58,
The aquamarine, schorl and quartz, Taplejung Nepal is superb. I love the proportions related to size. It would be proportionally ideal no matter what actual the actual size.

[Carles Millan]