FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[KDF-TX]

I walked out of my favorite rockshop without asking where this specimen is from. The owner usually doesn't include labels but always knows locality. I'll be back there next year but I'm hoping it's unusual enough that someone could make an educated guess.
calcite on quartz and pyrite
11 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm
It appears to me that much of the pyrite has been replaced by limonite (yellowish brown streak).

[KDF-TX]

Sorry about the quality of the pictures (scanned). When the rain stops and the sun comes out again I can get better ones.

[Les Presmyk]

No, it is not distinctive enough to tell for sure but it could be from Mexico or Peru. It is probably not from Arizona or California and I am almost certain it is not from Chessy, France or Tsumeb, Namibia. I think my comments should point out the importance of getting the information when you acquire the specimen and to deal with people who provide that information without having to go back for it or depend on their memories. I guess I have been doing it all wrong all of these years. I have spent money and lots of time writing or typing labels and now I find out that I should be able to sell minerals without writing labels.

[Les Presmyk]

P.S. No need to apologize for the pictures. I thought they were fine and I really appreciate you taking and sending photos of the front, back and bottom. Not helpful enough but you provided everything necessary to help identify the locality.

[Gail]

Les, please keep your time honoured practices up. I like labels and am put out when none are available.

[KDF-TX]

Thanks Les.
If it makes you feel better I normally don't buy specimens without labels but this one said take me home. :) The rockshop sells mineral specimens as a side. It's the world famous (by word of mouth, not advertised) largest collection of petrifed wood and palm. ; )
I may respectfully ask him about labeling, but I want to stay on his good side as he knows the best collecting spots and is going to take my local club on some hunts.
Can I say who/where Jordi?
Attached pic of petrifed palm, the Texas State Stone.

[Jordi Fabre]

>Can I say who/where Jordi?

It is up you, I don't care about it. The problem is the number of people who are waiting the chance to do publicity of themselves here (you don't see them - our antispam and us manually, we stop them). Again, it is up you.

About your unlabeled specimen, it looks to me like Rumania, maybe Roata Mine, Cavnic, but I can't be sure. If you will be in Tucson and you can bring the specimen there, maybe with the specimen in my hands I can say more.

Jordi

[Les Presmyk]

Most of what I wrote was done tongue-in-cheek. It is a pretty specimen and the petrified wood is especially nice. No need to get on his bad side. I am going through another collection that has labels on about 75% of the pieces and fortunately for the heirs, I know the collection well enough to be able to fill in most of the rest of the blanks but not all.

I just believe that it is every collector's and dealer's obligation to provide all of the locality information possible, without making anything up. Sometimes, too much information can be nearly as bad as not enough but at least with too much, a person can throw away what is not pertinent or accurate.

Years ago I bought two collections, both of which had been catalogued. The first one dated from 1900 and each specimen was numbered and I was given the catalog. The second collection had each of the specimens numbered, even the agate slabs. Unfortunately, the wife or the daughter had thrown away the catalog sometime after he passed away. Very aggravating because what information was on the labels was very detailed.

Other collections are not so well documented and it is especially sad when a lot of the material is obviously locality material.

[Gail]

I wish people would think in terms of minerals being around long after we are gone, and therefore having labels and a good system to store information will be a great help to future collectors or museums.
Ah well, I am preaching to the choir on here.
Time to go write Christmas cards and make some hot chocolate, it is 26 degrees here in Dallas, brrr!

[chris]

Hi,

I agree with Jordi. I would go for Rumania because of the calcite on the quartz. Note that you can find equivalents from Bulgaria too as the paragenesis is the same. But it is hard to be sure as Peru also provided such combinations.

One thing is sure, it is not from Chessy.


Hope this helps.

Christophe

[Les Presmyk]

On a more serious note, it could be from Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico or one of the mines in Zacatecas.

[KDF-TX]

Thanks for the replies everyone. When I get back out there I'll ask him. He always comes right out with localities. Most of the mineral specimens are for the tourists but he also has some collectable stuff.
The amount and quality of the petrified wood and palm is amazing. He's been collecting his whole life and must be near seventy years old. He's a very interesting old gentleman just to talk to.
Jordi, I asked about saying who/where because I understand your position on advertising. The rockshop doesn't have a website and doesn't advertise except for flyers and pens and a writeup in the local chamber of commerce publication. Yet visitors from all over the world have signed the guestbook.
I'm sure anyone, especially the members here would enjoy visiting it if ever in East Texas.
Gail, it snowed last night! Still on the ground this morning. Once evry 10 years...

[John S. White]

More often than once every 10 years. Earlier this year Gail and Jim were scheduled to visit me, but Jim got snowed in Dallas.

[Les Presmyk]

Plan to visit Gilbert, Arizona anytime of the year. I can guarantee you will not be delayed by snow any day of the year.

[KDF-TX]

I'm a few hours south of Dallas near Huntsville. We have ice now and then and snow flurries that melt when they hit the ground but it only stays on the ground every 10 years or so. It's kind of a novelty but I would not want it more often.

[KDF-TX]

Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (separately) said Peru.