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Turbo
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 260
Location: Delaware
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 Posted: Jan 29, 2011 12:51 Post subject: Re: Turbo's collection |
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The second addition to my new focus on Mexican "rough" and cut pairs.
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| Fluorapatite, Cerro de Mercado Mine, Victoria de Durango, Cerro de los Remedios, Mun. de Durango, Durango, Mexico. The gem is 23 cts. and measures 20.8x15.3x10.9mm, the crystal is 7cm. |
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Turbo
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 260
Location: Delaware
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| Posted: Jul 09, 2011 12:58 Post subject: Re: Turbo's collection |
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One of my favorites are the massive aragonite aggregates from Morocco. Like those of Spain, they are found embedded in red and white clay formed from the weathering of limestone. The clay influences the color of the crystals which are either red, colorless, or bi-color. I was reading up on the red clay, or "terra rosa" that is apparently found throughout the Mediterranian. Morocco's red clay is used in Marrakesh architecture, explaining why the city is also referred to as the "Red City." I read that terra rosa is also a popular soil for wine production. Perhaps it is also the original source of red clay used for the terra-cotta roof tiles common in Southern Europe.
The aragonite "sputniks" that flood the market are labeled "Tazouta Mine, Sefrou, Sefrou Province, Fès-Boulemane Region, Morocco," but the large stubby aggregates like these seem to always be labeled "Atlas Mountains" with no further specificity. On the map, it appears that Sefrou is in the area Middle Atlas Range, but the material labeled as being from here seem to have larger crystals unlike the irregularly shaped bi-color mounds of smaller crystals. This leads me to believe that the "Atlas Mountains" specimens are from somewhere else in the Atlas Ranges where conditions favor these larger specimens. I'd love to learn more about them since to me they are the most stunning.
| Description: |
Aragonite (CaCO3)
"Atlas Mountains"
roughly 23x13x8cm
Bicolor aragonite mass, white/cream and salmon/pink crystals. Average diameter of a crystal termination is 1.5-2mm. |
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27039 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Aragonite (CaCO3)
"Atlas Mountains"
roughly 15.5x10x4.5cm
Deeper rust colored aragonite mass. Average diameter of crystal termination 1.5-2mm. |
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27055 Time(s) |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5050
Location: Barcelona
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| Posted: Jul 09, 2011 15:33 Post subject: Re: Turbo's collection |
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| Turbo wrote: |
...The aragonite "sputniks" that flood the market are labeled "Tazouta Mine, Sefrou, Sefrou Province, Fès-Boulemane Region, Morocco," but the large stubby aggregates like these seem to always be labeled "Atlas Mountains" with no further specificity
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I'm afraid that the only place for fine aragonite in Morocco is Sefrou and the locality "Atlas Mountain" is just due by the ignorance of the sellers, re-sellers, re-re-resellers, etcetera...
Please compare the photos of Aragonites for "Atlas Mountain" and the Aragonites from Sefrou here -> https://www.mindat.org/photosearch.php?cform_is_valid=1&frm_id=mls&minname=aragonite®ion=morocco&sort=&submit_mls=Search&phototypeo=M&phototype=M&go=1&cf_mls_page=2 as you can see, both looks very similar, if not equal.
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Turbo
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 260
Location: Delaware
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| Posted: Jul 09, 2011 16:09 Post subject: Re: Turbo's collection |
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| Looks like you're right. Thanks!
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5050
Location: Barcelona
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