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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 08:14 Post subject: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Dear All,
By opening this thread, I just intend to bring images of minerals from the different parts of Iran. The idea is to show Iranian specimens (old and new) with locality information and general questions/discussion. Anyone who wishes to join can post his own images following FMF forum rules. Hope I opened in right place.
_________________ Vachik Hairapetian |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4902
Location: Barcelona
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 08:23 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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vhairap wrote: | ...By opening this thread, I just intend to bring images of minerals from the different parts of Iran...
...Hope I opened in right place... |
Perfect vhairap, we anxiously await your news! ;-)
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Pierre Joubert
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1605
Location: Western Cape
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 09:52 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Looking forward to this one Vachik.
_________________ Pierre Joubert
'The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace. ' |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:24 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Minerals from Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran
I know that epidote specimens from the locale now can be found in the collections worldwide. I want to share the following information on the history of collecting and mineralogy of the locale.
In recent years Iranian pistacite skarn specimens yielding gorgeous gemmy epidote crystals in greenish back color were offered in the mineral markets, worldwide. It is still a matter of debate when and who first found these epidotes. Considering the first miniature sized piece in my collection, purchased from a souvenir shop at Esfahan, autumn 1994, a few earliest specimens must be found earlier probably by locals. Since then a few specimens were fashioned in the Munich mineral show (2001) by German dealers. However, all these were erroneously labeled as from Afghanistan, and then Kuhaye Zagros (Zagros Mountains, SW Iran) and precise locality information was unknown to the collectors for years. However in 2006, it was finally revealed that the Khowrin Mount, close to Kohandan village, 15 km east of Tafresh town (see map) is the source locale. The locale is mineralogically investigated and appeared to be more diversified than earlier thought. There was a hardly accessible, rather small pocket, in 50 m below the summit (3300 m height) from which most specimens of epidote crystals had been collected. The pocket was reported to be almost exhausted by me in 2006. The collected specimens yielded tabular crystals of variable sizes (up to ca. 3 cm) that elongated along [010] making flattened form. Associated minerals are acicular quartz, large rhombohedrons of calcite and garnet (var. andradite).
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Map of epidote locale at the Khowrin Mount, central Iran |
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40647 Time(s) |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:28 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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An aesthetic and large cabinet specimen of gemmy deep green epidote crystals
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 16 cm in height, and crystals up to 1.5 cm |
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40636 Time(s) |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:33 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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A very superb and museum quality specimen, covered with numerous dark green crystals.
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 19.5 x 15.4 x 11.5 cm |
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40620 Time(s) |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:39 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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A cabinet sized sample of Epidote crystals on an Epidote matrix with quartz.
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Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 15 x 8 x 5.5 cm |
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40592 Time(s) |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:42 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Large-cabinet specimen of highly lustrous, well formed-tabular to bladed epidote crystals.
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 20.2 x 14 x 7 cm
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:46 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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A nice tower of gemmy deep green epidote crystals.
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran Largest crystal: 1.2 cm. Height: 13.8 cm |
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40508 Time(s) |
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supertxango
Joined: 15 Jul 2012
Posts: 135
Location: Madrid
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Posted: Jun 10, 2013 12:49 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Hi Vachik,
Interesting post, amazing description and gorgeous epidote specimens. Please tell us more about Iran, an unknown mineralogical country for me.
Thank you very much!
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 01:29 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Further specimens ...
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran Largest crystal: 1.2 cm. Height: 8 cm |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 10 x 7 x 6 cm. Length of shiny crystal edge on the right side is 1 cm. |
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40377 Time(s) |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 12 x 8 x 5 cm |
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Epidote, Quartz Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran The largest crystal on top is 1.3cm in length. |
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Epidote, Quartz Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran Largest upright crystal with an edge length of 1.2 cm. Size: 5 x 5 x 2.5 cm. |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran The crystal is 2.7 cm in length. |
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Epidote Minerals from Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 10.4 cm in width |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 13.6 x 8.2 x 5.6 cm |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 5.1 cm in length, crystals up to 1 cm. |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran 12.5 x 11 x 5.2 cm |
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Epidote Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran The length of largest crystal in upper left is 1cm. |
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Antonio Alcaide
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Aug 2009
Posts: 314
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 03:38 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Thand you very much, Vhairap, for sharing your knowledge about Iran and your stunning epidote specimens. I guess the development of this thread will bring us more lovely surprises.
Regards
_________________ Life is the shortest crystal |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 05:48 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Minerals from Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran
Located in South Khorasan province, about 180 km SSW of Birjand city. Iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposit, consisting of specularite-rich veins with copper, gold and silver ores, hosted in Jurassic shale and sandstone in the core of an anticline. The deposit was explored in 1969-1972 and has been mined since 1972. The minerals of the mine were not displayed for more than three decades. Recently, it produced very fine and aesthetic specimens, particularly of calcite, hemimorphite, quartz, chalcopyrite, atacamite, malachite, chrysocolla and small wulfentite crystals.
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Calcite, Quartz and Dolomite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 12.7 x 8 x 10.7 cm |
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40286 Time(s) |
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Calcite, Quartz, and Dolomite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Magnified view - 12.7 x 8 x 10.7 cmcm |
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40263 Time(s) |
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Calcite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 20.5 x 15 x 5.3 cm |
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Calcite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Magnified view - 20.5 x 15 x 5.3 cm |
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Chalcopyrite, Quartz, Calcite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 15.1 cm in width |
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Chalcopyrite, Quartz, Calcite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Magnified view-15.1 cm in width |
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Quartz Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran The specimen is 25.5 cm in width and the largest raised crystal (left) is 12 cm in height |
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40231 Time(s) |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 05:52 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Antonio Alcaide wrote: | Thand you very much, Vhairap, for sharing your knowledge about Iran and your stunning epidote specimens. I guess the development of this thread will bring us more lovely surprises.
Regards |
Thanks Antonio for good words. Yes, here are lost to be added. Hope you like them.
Regards
Vachik
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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 409
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 06:13 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Maybe the most known stone from Iran:
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Turquoise Mashhad County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran 5 x 4 x 1 cm
Piece polished on one side. Nice soft greenish-blue colour. Bought personally in a lapidary shop in Mashhad in 1972 |
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Turquoise Mashhad County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran 5 x 4 x 1 cm
Fresh fracture |
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 06:26 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Further specimens ...
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Quartz Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 13 x 12 x 6 cm |
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Chalcopyrite, Quartz Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Field of view: 3.3 cm |
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Calcite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Field of view: 12.5 cm |
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Hemimorphite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 15 x 11 x 8.2 cm |
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Hemimorphite, Coronadite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 12 x 11 x 3-7 cm |
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Hemimorphite, Coronadite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Magnified view-12 x 11 x 3-7 cm |
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Hemimorphite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran 17 x 12.5 x 11 cm |
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Hemimorphite Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran Magnified view - field of view: 10 cm |
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4112
Location: Germany
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 07:16 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Hi Vachik,
thank you very much for showing those spectacular specimens! I don't know much about Iranian minerals and there are not many on the market, but i suppose that this large country has a lot of beautiful minerals. I really enjoyed your first pictures and i hope there are a lot more to come!
Cheers!
Tobi
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 11, 2013 08:02 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Thanks Tobi - there are many to come. I will add them gradually. Hope you like them too.
regards,
Vachik
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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Posted: Jun 13, 2013 17:40 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Beautiful and large specimens, and excellent photography Vachik !
Sincerely, Mike
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vhairap
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37
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Posted: Jun 14, 2013 08:15 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through Iran |
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Thanks Mike. I will upload much more images soon.
Cheers,
Vachik
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