FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Michael Shaw]

Although I try to collect specimens that would be classified as small cabinet size, with 6 x 9 cm being ideal, I am not opposed to adding a nice thumbnail specimen to the collection now and then. So, today's offering consists of three of my favorite T/Ns. It just so happens all 3 are from Mexico.

[Jordi Fabre]

Great Silver Michael, congratulations.

[James Catmur]

Fantastic photos, keep on adding more please

James

[Michael Shaw]

Thank you for the encouraging words Jordi and James. Here are a few more pieces from my collection. I have an affinity for lead minerals.

Michael

[Susan Robinson]

Fabulous collection! What a shame that the famous Russell, MA, almandine locality became "lost." It produced some great crystals! Your specimen is among them for sure.

[trtlman]

[John S. White]

Wonderful specimens, Michael, and very fine photographs. Please keep them coming.

[Michael Shaw]

Thank you Susan and John. Certainly this is quite a compliment coming from two people that have had the pleasure of handling and working with many, many fine mineral specimens.

Since I grew up in Massachusetts and started my collecting there, the Russell almandine is one of my most treasured pieces. These were found around 1885, and one of the fellows that collected them was a farmer from Tyringham, Mass. who seldom traveled out of state. He reportedly had a barrel full of these garnets and traded them with collectors all over. Through these trades, he was able to build a fine worldwide collection, which he donated to the Berkshire Museum around 1901. For a little more history on the location you can go to the Lithographie monograph on garnets and read Russ Behnke's comments, pg. 28.
Michael

[Michael Shaw]

In 1966 I spent a week exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We collected at as many mine sites as time would allow and I developed a great appreciation for UP minerals. Here are a few from my collection.

[Michael Shaw]

The southern Illinois fluorspar district has held a special place in my collection ever since I acquired my first specimen from there nearly 50 years ago. The following are a few of my favorite pieces from the district.

[supertxango]

Superb collection Michael. Thank you very much for showing in FMF and for the great explanation about minerals and mining areas.

Regards from Spain !

[Michael Shaw]

I will continue with a few more from the southern Illinois fluorspar district.

[Tobi]

A very impressive collection, Michael - and really good photos! Please keep them coming!

[Elise]

[Michael Shaw]

Thanks Elise and Tobi. Elise, thanks for the link to your nice copper included calcite. I suppose I would have seen it sooner or later. It's nice to revive that thread. I agree, when you really start examining these closely, there are some really neat features that are hard to capture in a photo. Perhaps an expert on the area is aware of some different forms, but all of the pieces I have seen from Michigan's UP are complex scalenohedrons. On the specimen I showed there are several smaller crystals at the bottom and in front of the main crystal and they are indeed doubly terminated.