FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Carles Millan]

[Michael Shaw]

Thank you Carles. I'm not likely to run out of specimens any time soon, but some are not very photogenic :>)

Continuing with Mexico again today.

[Michael Shaw]

More from Mexico.

[Mark Ost]

The calcite with celestine inclusions is remarkable. Is it fluorescent? Thanks for sharing a unique piece. There seems no end to amazing specimens.
Thanks Again. Mark

[Michael Shaw]

Thanks Mark. It's interesting that you should ask about whether the calcite and celestine specimen from the Mojina Mine is fluorescent. The answer is yes and no. The small blue celestine crystals do not fluoresce, and the calcite knobs that host the celestine are not fluorescent, but there is a layer of white calcite just under the calcite knobs that fluoresces bright green under SW. There is also a small amount of brown matrix on the back of the specimen and that fluoresces red. I don't know what the activator might be.

Today, I will continue with Mexico showing a few pieces from arguably Mexico's greatest mine - the Ojuela Mine.

[Michael Shaw]

I am going to finish up Mexico with today's post. The calcite specimens that begin and end this post were once very common at mineral shows. Nowadays, they seem to be few and far between. The images I have shown to date represent about half of the specimens in my collection from this mineral rich country. Maybe I'll resume Mexico at a later time, but I'll probably need to spend some more time behind the camera before then.

It's time to move on, and I suppose there's no better place to start than some of the classic locations in Canada. So, next time I'll begin with Nova Scotia.

Michael

[Michael Shaw]

The Bay of Fundy is well known for having the greatest tidal range in the world. To mineral collectors, however, it is known for a variety of zeolite minerals that occur in the brown basalt cliffs along the bay. While collecting, one has to keep a close watch on the tides to avoid getting cut off from an egress route. Today's selections all originate from this picturesque area.

[Mark Ost]

[Michael Shaw]

In today's post we will journey west from Nova Scotia to the province of Quebec. Canada's largest province in area, Quebec is home to one of the world's most famous and studied mineral deposits - Mont Saint-Hilaire. This locality lies a short distance east of Montreal and has produced 398 recognized species, as well as being the type locality for 58 minerals. For a good overview of the geology and some of the minerals found at this locality refer to the Mineralogical Record, Vol. 21: 284-359.

[Michael Shaw]

A few more from Mont Saint-Hilaire.

[Michael Shaw]

More from MSH.

[Michael Shaw]

Last post for MSH before moving on to other Quebec localities.

[Michael Shaw]

Another well-known mineral producer in Quebec besides Mont Saint-Hilaire is the Jeffrey Mine. This huge open pit asbestos mine has produced over 100 different species, but is probably most noted for vesuvianite and wonderful demantoid and grossular garnets.

[Michael Shaw]

Today, a few specimens from other notable localities around Quebec.

[Don Lum]

Michael, I wish my collection was as well organized as yours. I really enjoy looking at your collection.

Regards,

Don

[Michael Shaw]

Thank you Don. After all, what good is a collection if it is stored away where nobody can see it. This forum provides a wonderful and unique venue for sharing our passion for minerals with fellow collectors.

As far as organization, there are so many ways to organize a collection. In fact, mine is organized in several different ways. Romania, Bulgaria, and the southern Illinois fluorite district, which have been my main areas of focus during the past 20 years are each kept separately. Then there is a cabinet containing part of my collection that is arranged systematically. The rest is contained in drawers, numbered flats, and a display cabinet. The one thing that is consistent is that my entire collection is in a database that I can search to locate a particular piece along with other pertinent information. Some people don't like cataloging their specimens, but I enjoy that part of collecting, especially reading anything about the locations that the minerals are from.

[Michael Shaw]

The last few from Quebec before moving on to Ontario.

[Michael Shaw]

Time to start a new Canadian province - Ontario. Located in east-central Canada, Ontario is Canada's most populous province. Mining has played an important part in economic growth, especially in the northern part of the province. The mines at Sudbury, Cobalt, and Timmons were huge metal producers and became synonymous with nickel, silver, and gold.

In a day when there are fewer and fewer localities open to mineral collectors, Ontario has numerous sites that are still open for free or on a fee basis. Places like Bancroft, Wilberforce, and Thunder Bay are a field collector's paradise.

[Michael Shaw]

A few more from Ontario.

[Michael Shaw]

Today's post will finish up Ontario with a few oddball pieces.

The first specimen is from a location that is not commonly seen, although it is noted in Mindat for producing diopside specimens.

The second specimen once belonged to noted Pennsylvania collector William W. Jefferis, who built a fine private collection from 1837 until his death in 1906. The bulk of his collection was purchased by Andrew Carnegie in 1904 and went to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. This specimen no doubt made its way into the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences collection during his tenure as curator of the William S. Vaux Collection from 1883-1898. Jefferis' Collection number of 3583 dates the piece to the 1860s.

The last specimen in this post definitely takes the blue ribbon for the ugliest specimen in my collection. I like it for two reasons; it's size, and the fact that it was collected by my late father. Also, no post showing Ontario minerals would be complete without including at least one specimen from the Bear Lake diggings.

Michael