FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[John S. White]

I blush!

[parfaitelumiere]

think I really would like to collect in 3 ways(maybe these ways can cross,it sould be better!)
I would like to collect thumbnail specimens,aesthetics and perfectly formed,360°nice if possible.
I would like to collect twins,I love twinned crystal,for me it's magic!
I would like to collect color,to create a rainbow of colored specimens,put together,to see how the nature can create lots of wonderfull colored species!
I especially like pyromorphite,azurite...
If possible,I would like to collect colored twinned thumbnails,360° perfect,with associated species,or special shape,or from a rare location,difficult,because of my little purse!
I have found a single pyromorphite crystal from Beaujolais,2cm long,similar to chinese mimetite,really strange,and cute!
It came from a place where there are lots of habitus of pyromorphite,from deep green balls to yellow needles!
On the photo,another shape.

[chris]

Hello,

How about black, grey and silver colored Bulgarian minerals
=> I do agree with you. My own sulfide collection contains several Bulgarian minerals. At your description you can add Elmwood like sphalerite "flower" standing on almost "La Gardette" lustrous quartz. And I'm sure other collectors have even funnier combinations.

Just one little story about these minerals and the new mineral collector's generation. I recently showed the collection to a 14 years old little cousin of mine beginning his own collection. On one shelve, a light green quartz & galena sample from Madan stands beside the famous Sweet Home Rhodo & tetra. When asked which one he liked the must, he didn't choose Sweet Home but the Madan's specimen instead...

[keith]

John
I have to disagree. Minerals DO need tender loving care - they need looking after!!

They may not grow like a bonsai - but.....

None of them like to like to be dropped,
Many don't like to be poked and prodded,
Some bite back back (pectolite for one), s
Some are scared of the light so they like to be kept in the dark (chlorargyrite)
And those black uglies that noone cares for - I always provide a home !!!!

They always seem to like ther photos taken. They light up on the screen - like coming out of the closet - you can then see all the small bits and pieces attahced - and then realise that they are hiding friends (some may even be unknown).

The more interest you show in your minerals the more they reveal to you.

So get a good book - any good mineral book with pics will help !!!

[str4hler]

Yes!
Finally :-)
Someone who understands! Minerals need love....
See here for more:
https://www.thefloaters.org/friends/
(link normalized by FMF)

Cheers! Frank

[Peter]

I see it simply as we have the whole spectrum of interests, knowledge, energy, activity,
among mineral collectors just as any other group of people.

I was always astonished that so many people barely read anything, that is among thousands of Swedish collectors of which only some two dozen for instance subscribe to the MR, similar amount to Mineralienwelt and so on. Some peoples stamina simply do not exceed that of reading a few headlines or a page or two in an evening paper or weekly "sensational news journal". And it is up to them.

I can not expect other people to be as crazy as I am myself. but I highly appreciate those who in one way or another have deep interest in minerals, love them, learn about them, field collect, share experience and knowledge and there are several of those wonderful people on this thread, making a spectrum by their own.

I love the pseudomorph website!!!

[Les Presmyk]

I, too, am astonished when I discover avid mineral collectors who do not subscribe to the MR or any other periodical. I do not think there is any more or less "mineralogical" interest in the hobby than there has ever been. Some of the great mineral collections in this country have been assembled by people who had little or no interest in the science of what they were collecting. Does it diminish their accomplish? I don't believe so because at the same time, there were mineralogists who were doing the science. Besides, if it weren't for the economics driving the mineral hobby, a lot of new minerals would still be undiscovered and undescribed.

For the rest of us who do enjoy reading and learning about the history of the mines or the mineralogy of the deposits, we can do the research and then have it available if someone asks. It is only a loss for those who are not willing or interested in doing their own reading.

These conversations have given me a greater appreciation for those geologists and mineralogists who are willing to impart their knowledge at a level I can understand, at least most of the time. They also make me realize how limited my true mineralogic knowledge is. But, if they want to know how to design and operate a mine, let's talk.

[Gail]

It is finally occuring to people that we are "high end" collectors ( I hate that term, but many have applied it to us. ) AND we study, research, read every publication we can, have a growing library to the point that I haven't room for my paperbacks and hardcover spy novels so am giving them to the kids.
It took a lot of convincing as the general belief is that if people have money, they have no sense.

Wrong.

Jim, in particular, is avid about researching each and every specimen we have. He can talk the talk, walk the walk. And, I am not so lame myself.
And, we are not alone.

It may be that some collectors are not up on all their minerals, but some might know a lot about a FEW of their minerals.

These days when time seems to be a luxury I can see how spending years to study might not be easy, specially if you are working hard to make the money to buy the minerals, or plan trips to collect.

And, the internet makes it so you can get a quick run down on pertinent information on any specimen so not everyone is willing to memorize all details.

Also, minerals are hobbies for many, not their livelihood. They don't always see the need to invest long hours researching but are happy with general knowledge.

( Please do not flame me. thank you. )

[Jon Mommers]

I too have a great passion for minerals and mineralogy (?) and I love my minerals, I also have a soft spot for anyone who appreciates them.

Mineralogy (?) I read as much as I can, as can be attested to by the half dozen partly read/reread text books on my bedroom night table, the hours I spend reading and researching on the internet daily. Books and periodicals scattered through the house.

I know something ( not a lot by professional standards) about minerals, mineralogy and paragenesis, can recognise a few hundred species in their crystallised forms, my biggest problem is that I can not remember names. This is especially embarrassing in conversation about minerals. Just can not seem to hook out the name when I need to.

I just bumble along. I do a few basis tests to help with identifying my unknowns and discuss with a couple of more knowledgeable friends.

I believe that part of the issue with mineral collecting and mineralogy today is that is that the science, the technology that is now applied to mineralogy as in all scientific fields so much more sophisticated today, that it has become very alien to most amateurs. From what I understand of physical mineralogy, as it was taught early last century, would be more practical and understandable.

The gap between professional mineralogists today and keen amateurs is widening exponentially and is at least in part a reflection of the ( technological) pace at which we live today. It is not the professionals fault nor the amateurs, the flaw, if any, lays with our educational systems whether institutional or club based. No one seems to teach the basics anymore. I would recommend Donald Pecks, Mineral Identification, A practical Guide to anyone interested in learning more.

Cheers
Jon Mommers

[Ed Huskinson]

Gee whiz Gail. No one's going to flame you. Holy cow, you guys collect your rocks and you display them and enjoy them (immensely) and you share them with everybody. And I mean everybody: FMF is world wide.

You host gatherings at your home, and you share and share and share, honestly, without flaunting. Your enjoyment is contagious, and your love of your rocks shines right through. We all benefit from the simple pleasures you take in your collection, and I (and everyone else, I guarantee) thank you for the sharing. No worries about flamery, for sure.

So.... how goes the lading? Doing anything unique? It looks like I'll be able to stand a little closer to my 'putadora (it's an inside joke) for the next few days, so will be able to gauge your progress. More photos are called for, I could use a good mineral specimen fix.

More later,

Ed

[John S. White]

Amen plus to what Ed just wrote! Gail, you and Jim are inspirational in so many ways and you are the antithesis to the image of the typical "high end" collector.

And one possible exception to Jon's comment that the gap between professional mineralogists and collectors is widening is that today there are far more professional mineralogists interacting with collectors than ever before. I know of several who routinely do X-ray identifications and analyses for local collectors. They also host club visits to their institutions and participate in field trips, as well as speak at club meetings. This is a great service to serious collectors who actually go out and dig specimens, but it also provides a source of research material for the scientist and many new species have been discovered as a result. In "olden times" it seems that the scientific community was more isolated and as a result collectors were not even tempted to contact them. I may be wrong about this last statement, but it seems to me that this was the case.

[Jon Mommers]

John

I hope that what you say is true. I must admit I would never had had the opportunity in olden times to raise my thoughts with yourself, the tyranny of distance would have just been to great.

My comments are coloured I quess by living in a country larger than mainland USA and a population a little over twenty two million.

[Gail]

I am rather enjoying this discussion, always a pleasure to hear what many of you have to say. And Ed? I put some photos up last night so you could get your "fix" on the preparations for Springfield.

In the MAD group we have members who are of all ranges of involvement in minerals, from scientists to new collectors. We have the abilitiy to tap into all sorts of wonderful information.
Everyone adds to the pool.

What a glorious morning here in Rockwall, time to go do a run. I hope you all have a really incredible day!

[nurbo]

Hi all,
I think this forum does a huge amount to further an interest in the minerological aspect of collecting, my own experience is that since joining FMF Im far more knowledgable about the science of minerals and far more eager to learn more as a result

[Tracy]

Ditto to what Nurbo just wrote.

I would just like to chime in in defense of the alleged "slackers" who do not subscribe to R&M or MR, or who do not assemble a library of the best books out there on minerals. Not everybody learns best through reading textbooks. I certainly don't, rather I learn much more through discussion and "doing" on a more private, one-on-one level (I consider FMF postings as a series of conversations, and as such I enjoy reading them and learn from them). I'm sure there are plenty of others who feel the same and as such might not consider it necessary to subscribe to these journals. Costs and storage limitations frequently come into play as well. Then there are those like parfaitelumiere (and me) who have multiple hobbies - if I were to buy or sign up for every book and magazine applicable to each of my hobbies, I'd quickly go bankrupt and run out of living space.

Borrowing from Peter's posting, let's just recognize and celebrate that everybody is part of a continuum of enthusiasts, each of whom pursues his/her interests using the strategies and to a degree of learning that work best for them - or are most practicable.

- Tracy