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Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42
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 Posted: Nov 27, 2012 13:44 Post subject: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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I thought this could be of interest to many of you, though some of you have already read the conference and trip report on Mindat. Or even have been on the trip.
The trip was parted into three sections. First the pre-conference trip, which was a kind of sightseeing and visiting different mineral localities. The second was the conference itself in Midelt and the third was the post-conference field trip.
We started off from Marrakech on the 2th of November, through High Atlas to Ouarzazate. From Ouarzazate to the Bou Azer area. From there we visited Jebel Issimmour a fossil locality, to Mcissi and then Erg Chebbi dunes. From Erg Chebbi to the famous mines of Taouz, then to Jorf and Hameda Quarry, which is known for Fluorite.
Then travelling to Midelt through Goulmima and Rich. When reaching Midelt we checked in to Taddart Hotel where we stayed for the rest of our days. Different speaches where held and we visited the museum/shop nearby. We where visiting the mines of Mibladen, Aouli snd a Sidi Ayed.
A great trip in all ways. Perfectly organized by Tomasz Praszkier and his crue. Thanks Tom!
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| Then we sat off from Marrakech. |
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| Marie Huizing and Gerhard Brandstetter |
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| The locals where selling minerals everywhere. Lots of fake! |
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| Our buses. 9 buses filled up with mineral lovers. |
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| On our way to Tizi´n Tichka. 2260 m above see level |
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| Selling carpets in all sizes and colours |
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| And at least: Bou Azer Center. Here we where divided into 4 groups for visiting Aghbar, Oumlil, Agoudal and Ait Ahmane |
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| Tom telling us about the mining area and the surrounding mines |
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| Then off to Agoudal, famous for cobaltoan calcites, erythrites and roselite-beta |
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Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Nov 27, 2012 14:20 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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More pictures
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| Oumlil East Quarry, famaous for Karibibite and Scorodite |
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| Stayin in the Kasbah Meteorite Hotel. Some of us where staying in Berber tents |
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| Roselite found by myself at Ait Ahmane |
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| Jolyon Ralph or is it..... |
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| Some of the Scandinaviens. Olav Revheim, Hjordis Aga, Susanne E. Stenquis |
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| Thor Sørli and Roger Lang |
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| Taouz, famous for Vanadinite and Cerussite |
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| A small minishow in Yassmina hotel. Nice Cobaltoan Calcite! |
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| David Joyce at the top of the dunes! |
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| Peter Lyckberg and his wife Nadezda on camels. Nice people! |
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| Visiting a fossil factory in Erfoud |
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| There where Fluorite and Barytes everywhere. Plenty of hydrothermal veins in the area |
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Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Nov 27, 2012 14:53 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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| The opening of the Conference |
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| The geology and workings in the Mibladen area. |
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| People looking for minerals in the hotel shop |
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| A nice Fluorite group. Iam not sure of the locality. |
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| One of the Moroccan dealers: Mohamed Laaroussi |
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| Celestine from the Imilchil area. |
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| We had lunsj in Mibladen. Great tent, food and drinks. |
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| Washing hands before eating is importent! |
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| Who knows: Maybe future mineral dealers! |
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| Lots of tea drinking in Morocco! And some prefer coffee too |
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| The locals had prepered a great party for us in one of the Mibladen mines |
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| Tomasz with dealer friends |
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| The HongKong group enjoys too |
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Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Nov 27, 2012 15:28 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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| Myself with one of the miners in the Lidal mine. Looking for Cerussite |
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| Miners trying to sell some of their minerals |
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| Many small pits in the ACF workings |
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| 10 meters strait down. Then a small and narrow shaft. The seeking for Vanadinites is not everybody. |
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| On our way to Aouli. Photostop! |
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| Aouli. The mines where shut down in the 70´ties |
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| Then further on to Sidi Ayed. About 20 km from the village of Aouli |
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| Sidi Ayed. One of the mine entrences. There where lots of veins and small mines in the area. All over you could fine Azurite and Malachite. Also yellow Fluorite which Sidi Ayed is famous for. |
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| The weather was cold with heavy wind and rain. |
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| The last evening with great food and drinks. |
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| And there it was. The 2nd International Mindat.org conference had come to its end. A really great trip. Thanks to everybody who attends the conference. The next conference will be in Madagascar 2014. Are you coming? |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5025
Location: Barcelona
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| Posted: Nov 27, 2012 16:25 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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Nice reportage Jan, I really enjoyed it.
Some feelings (from you or from some other Mindater attending that trip) about the country, the Moroccan people and the deals? Everything is different there, right?
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Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Nov 28, 2012 06:45 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
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I would say that Morocco was very nice to visit. The people where friendly, nice and helpfull. The food is excellent. If you want beer and wine you can get that in some hotels in the cities. In the countryside you have to drink juice, water and other things. By the way: They had some wonderful orangejuice. The best I have ever tasted.
The roads are ok. In the wintertime it can be heavy rainfalls. So if travelling in the mountains and if you want access to roads leading to the mountains, the roads can be washed away. In the dry season you can almost drive everywhere. Some difficulties driving at night. Lots of people are moving outside, walking along roads. Bad light can make it a little bit dangerous.
Coming to the mineralogical side, there is people wanting to sell minerals everywhere. Most of them have specimens which is heavely damage, and of no interest to the collector. If you ask for better quality, many will show you better things. But to really see great specimens you have to established a relationship with a dealer/dealers. Building up confidens and knowing the way of doing buisness is of cause an advantage.
If you want to by nice things cheap, forget it! The Moroccan dealers are very well known of our prices. Bying several specimens is cheaper than buying one single specimen. But in my opinion many of the Europeen dealers have often better or even cheaper mineral specimens than the Moroccans.
Great specimens are always expencive wherever you buy them. Dealers are very well awere of that. So it is a matter of what you want.
Anyone else who have some thoughts about handling minerals in Morocco?
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