FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[vic rzonca]

Here are a few images of a recent prehnite and babingtonite find at the Holyoke Trapps, in Western Massachusetts. The conditions for collecting were harrowing and not recommended. Images of cleaned specimens will follow. Several hundred pounds were retrieved. Much cleaning to be done.

[vic rzonca]

Large, ugly,compound, double terminated calcite. 18 cm.

[Pete Modreski]

Very neat, great babingtonite! Thanks for sharing those pictures, "hot out of the rock".

[Peter Megaw]

Vic, resets the bar on the state mineral of Massachusetts!

[Peter]

Congratulations and many thanks for your dedication preserving minerals. Through history the great majority of specimens have likely been blasted to shards, crushed, melted in mines, road works, tunnel, airport, house, dam building and other projects.

These are great not only for Massachusetts!
Good luck for further exploration and rescue missions.
Peter

[vic rzonca]

Thanks to the three Pete's, for their positive comments. Nothing comes easy, and it could only be done with strong team members, and all respect goes to them. We are humbled by natures glory and rejoice in it.

[Mike Wood]

Excellent material Vic. Very well done and thanks for sharing. Sounds like a gnarly collecting trip using ropes and climbing gear - respect ! Almost makes me want to take up rope-access work again...

Actually I would abseil down cliffs to collect minerals, but the UK is a small place and there's too many folk about. Nothing would be more embarrasing than some kind concerned person calling the rescue service saying there was someone stuck on a cliff...
Keep up the good work, regards, Mike.