FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Luiz Menezes]

Hi Tobias:

The cluster of clear quartz crystals is a great one, very aesthetic.

Luiz

[Tobi]

If so many of you like that specimen*, here - as promised - some more shots of it.
________
* Quartz cluster from Jinkouhe, Ebian Co., Leshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Height 90 mm.

[Carles Millan]

[Pete Richards]

[Tobi]

Pete, thanks for your interest and effort. The only problem concerning a further investigation of the specimen: It was recently acquired by Andreas Gerstenberg from Berlin (for he is more interested in rare German localities than i), so the photo i posted in this thread is the only thing that i have left of that calcite. But Andreas is also a member of FMF, so maybe he reads this or you can contact him via this forum.

Carles, thanks for commenting my photos. Indeed it is very tricky to take photos of such clear crystals - except for José Miguel, who does it as if it was the easiest thing to do :-) But according to your own photographing skills i don't think you're unable to do so. You usually make really good mineral photos, so you won't fail with such specimens if you try it out.

Here are some additional photos of the other clear Chinese quartz specimen that was already posted above (Quartz on hematite, Jinlong hill, Longchuan, Heyuan, Guangdong, China. 100 x 90 x 55 mm).

[Carles Millan]

[Tobi]

Taking photos of minerals is tricky in general, not only when handling clear crystals. But the latter can really be frustrating ;-)

Here's another specimen from my collection: Garnet var. Hessonite from Kunar Valley, Nuristan, Afghanistan. Overall size 120 x 90 x 50 mm, the largest crystals are slightly smaller than 20 mm.

[José Miguel]

Tobias, very nice again the second pic of the cluster of Jinkouhe.
To take photos to the transparency is... not only tricky, it is impossible!
We take a photo to the background, not to the crystal. The crystal appears because of the obstacles, because of the opacity of the crystal. It neccessary to choose very well this background and these obstacles, and, of course, the light!.

[Tobi]

This specimen is from a classic German locality which is famous to all calcite collectors: Holzen quarry near Arnsberg, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The specimen features several water-clear calcite crystals up to 25 mm on a large rock coated by dolomite. A vug on the specimen features the largest calcite crystal which is grown as an interesting kind of twin i've not seen before. The specimen measures 170 x 130 x 100 mm.

[Tobi]

Some closer photos of the clear calcite crystals on dolomite (largest calcites have a size of 15 mm).

[Tobi]

Finally some pictures of the odd twinned calcite (size 25 mm) inside the vug.
(See previous page of this thread for overall pictures and general information about this specimen).

[Andreas Gerstenberg]

Cool Holzen calcite!

@Pete: matches quite well.

Cheers
Andreas

[Tobi]

Thank you, Andreas!

This time i want to add a picture of the specimen label. It was made by the previous owner (and miner) of the specimen, Ingo Löffler. The label looks old at first sight, but is computer-made. Nevertheless i think it is a good example for a label which looks nostalgic and reminiscent of the beautiful old labels that mineral collectors used to write in the past.

The label says: Calcit, Stbr. (Steinbruch) "Calcit" Holzen, Sauerland, NRW, Deutschland.
(Calcite, "Calcite quarry" Holzen, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.)

Measures 65 x 55 mm.

[Tobi]

A better picture of a specimen that i posted before: Conichalcite from Gold Hill, Tooele County, Utah, USA. Size of the specimen is 120 x 90 x 80 mm. The detailed picture of the bright green conichalcite has a 30 mm field of view.

[Tobi]

Another clear quartz specimen, this time not from China but from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Height of the crystal cluster 140 mm.