Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5789
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 11:06 Post subject: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
Jim and I were in England to visit family and to bring my Mother's ashes last week. My Dad was along and he told us to take a day and go do the Museum without him. He sat by the sea side with family instead.
So, we had contacted Alan Hart, Mike Rumsey and Jolyon Ralph too.
Jim and I managed to take a train, then the tube, into S. Kensington and NOT get lost!
All the photos are without measurements, but most are held in hand to give you a perspective. I cannot recall all details, I took hundreds of photos, so I will need some help as we were there for the whole day and got to see behind the scenes as well as in the drawers of the, normally, locked cabinets.
As usual, I will add as I find the time.
So....let the visit begin!
Cheers. Gail _________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so...
Joined: 02 Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Location: Boskoop, The Netherlands
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 11:37 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
Yes, it is magnificent indeed. I see that Mr. Darwin is still sitting on his chair! I was there in May. And of course I went to the (massive) mineral hall. It was beautiful, I especialy liked that very big stibnite. When I came out I lived to tell the tail and said to myself: This is something I should never forget!
Mark _________________ "Still looking for the philosopher's stone" => Dutch proverb
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5789
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 11:39 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
HART - Great cluster of baryte on dolomite from Goose Green mine, Cumbria. This specimen has sat in the British Minerals Wall case since the 1950's and is out for a clean, remedial conservation and preparate for Munich. Its a fine piece, with lovely zoning.
DSC_0029_2.JPG
Description:
lovely Baryte
Viewed:
29023 Time(s)
DSC_0030_2.jpg
Description:
Viewed:
29032 Time(s)
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so...
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5789
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 11:54 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
Maxilos wrote:
Yes, it is magnificent indeed. I see that Mr. Darwin is still sitting on his chair! I was there in May. And of course I went to the (massive) mineral hall. It was beautiful, I especialy liked that very big stibnite. When I came out I lived to tell the tail and said to myself: This is something I should never forget!
Mark
Mark, am glad you went too. It is an incredible adventure. We were totally into the drawers and back room so didn't get to see the stibnite. Next time! _________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so...
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5789
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 11:59 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
I will sit with Jim and go back and add commentary. Perhaps Alan and Jolyon can help with identification too. _________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so...
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5789
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 12:28 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
Montanpark wrote:
Hey Gail, nice trip!
I always wanted to go there. DSC_0047_2.JPG looks like a Johanngeorgenstadt Mimetite?
cheers
Roger
It is a mimetite, but after looking at over 1,000 minerals that day...I cannot remember all details. _________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so...
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 12:37 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
Hi All
It was a pleasure to have you round, luckily you also came when we had some pretty neat stuff out being made ready for the Munich show. The Copper is from Relistian mine, Cornwall; It is indeed a Johanngeorgenstadt mimetite; a stunning libethenite from Wheal Phoenix. Ill try and post details as they come through. Oh, the tourmaline 'spray' came to the Museum in 1810 from a Colonel Symes who was given it by the King of Ava (now Burma) - remarkably similar to those more recent specimens (which are smaller) from Vietnam, and as 'Ava' incorporated much more of the region it may be likely they are the same. The specimen was noted by Sowerby to be the most 'famous specimen known in the world', and value at 500 guineas in 1810.....expensive!
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 372
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posted: Oct 06, 2011 15:48 Post subject: Re: A trip to London and the museum. Sept 2011. Gail and Jim Spann
The copper is good enough to be from Arizona but I suspected it was probably from England. Also, 500 guineas in 1810 was the equivalent of about $10,000 at that time, I believe. Very expensive!
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