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James Catmur
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1461
Location: Cambridge
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 Posted: Jun 07, 2013 04:49 Post subject: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Like Cornwall, a classic location. So let's hope we get lots of good photos from this county. I used to go there as a child, but was too young to collect much.
| Description: |
Apatite, Tourmaline, Quartz
Bovey Tracey, Devon, England, UK
~20cm long
Bovey is a classic location.
In the Sedgwick museum Cambridge. |
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46552 Time(s) |
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Ru Smith
Joined: 13 Oct 2012
Posts: 362
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| Posted: Jun 08, 2013 08:29 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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These small Peak Hill barytes are beautiful.
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Baryte.
Peak Hill, Sidmouth, Devon, England, UK.
Crystals to 25 mm on 4 cm matrix. |
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46696 Time(s) |
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 15, 2013 14:24 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Topaz
| Description: |
Topaz on Quartz
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
10mm crystal
Gemmy topaz crystal to 10mm tall and 6mm across in this view, partially included in a smoky quartz crystal. Interesting etching on the termination. |
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46436 Time(s) |
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ian jones
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 112
Location: london
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2013 02:54 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Two old classics from Devon
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Schorl
Woolley Farm, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor & Teign Valley District, Devon, England, UK
45 mm
A British classic, schorl tourmaline from Woolley Farm.
These tourmalines were collected between about 1810-20 |
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46226 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Fluorite
Bere Alston, Bere Ferrers, Tavistock, Devon, England, UK
Crystals to 20 mm
A fluorite with much history, from an unnamed Bere Alston mine.
This specimen, with crystals to 20mm, was probably collected in the early 1800s. It had been owned by three people who had minerals named after them and was once on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Originally in the collection of Clarence Bement (1846-1923) , for whom bementite is named, his collection, said to be "the finest collection of minerals ever made" was purchased in 1900 by financier J.P. Morgan (beryl var morganite) and donated to the AMNH. There is a black arrow on the underside (painted on all display specimens) to guide staff in what the then curator, Louis Gratacrap, believed was the correct orientation for display.
Traded out of the AMNH, the specimen was subsequently in the collection of Dr Richard Hauck (hauckite).
An identical but larger specimen was included in the partial disposition of the Philadelphia Academy Collection suggesting that they formed part of a single pocket. |
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46266 Time(s) |
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2013 16:08 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Hi Ru,
re: your 'Larger Devon baryte' ( https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=32209#32209 ) - I had a look at 'Minerals of Cornwall and Devon' by P.G.Embrey and R.F.Symes; a B.M.(N.H.) publication. About the quarry at Babbacombe, near Torquay, the only reference I could find was on page 60, which states the quarry '' produced specimens of pink cockscomb baryte that are represented in many old collections.''
Not big yellow/orange tabular crystals like yours!
However, on page 85 there is a photo of large orangey tabular baryte crystals to 5cm, which came from Wheal Mary Ann, Menheniot, Cornwall. I wonder if this is the origin of your specimen...
I must confess minerals from SW England aren't my forte; maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can come in on this ?
Regards, Mike
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2013 17:20 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Topaz again
| Description: |
Topaz on Quartz
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
16mm x 13mm x 7mm (crystal)
Another thumbnail of gemmy colourless topaz crystal on smoky quartz. |
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46136 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Topaz on Quartz
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
crystal 13mm across
the other side |
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46168 Time(s) |
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Ru Smith
Joined: 13 Oct 2012
Posts: 362
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2013 18:31 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Wonderful fluorite story, Ian.
Strange and fascinating topaz, Mike. Did you collect these yourself?
I'll be very interested if anyone has more information on the big golden baryte crystals. Browsing, I see a specimen with fairly similar, but far smaller (3 cm) terminated crystals from Petit Tor, Babbacombe. I am also no expert on minerals from that part of the country.
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 18, 2013 16:56 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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| Thanks Ru, I did collect them, over ten years ago, from a sea-level locality on the island.
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Don Lum
Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2900
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2013 13:02 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Mike,
Great transparency and beautiful and interesting termination on your Topaz on Quartz from Lundy (013).
Don
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2013 15:41 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Thanks Don, it's kind of like some I've seen (IMG_0691.JPG) from Yuno, Shigar Valley, recently... maybe that's why I posted it ;-)
Also, your fine beryl (var emerald) specimen (1-IMG_0756.JPG) from Rist Mine, Hiddenite, Alexander County, North Carolina, USA: reminded me of a beryl (var aquamarine) specimen I have ;-)
| Description: |
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
27mm x 4mm crystal
Undamaged terminated crystal on quartz/feldspar pegmatitic matrix - repaired at the base ! (After getting it home in one piece) -_- |
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45887 Time(s) |
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Don Lum
Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2900
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2013 17:10 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Mike,
In my estimation finding this aquamarine yourself makes it extra special.
Don
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2013 12:12 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Thanks Don and Ru, it is a rather special aquamarine. Of course the photo shows it off well; it doesn't look that good in real life... amazing what a bit of mood lighting can do !
Mike
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ian jones
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 112
Location: london
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| Posted: Jun 22, 2013 03:58 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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The Lundy topaz specimens probably come from a tiny old quarry called VC quarry. My specimenfrom there also has small beryl crystals associated.
Gold from Hope's Nose
| Description: |
Gold
Hope's Nose, Torquay, Devon, UK
Bright dendritic gold, main spray 35mm across, etched from the enclosing calcite |
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45923 Time(s) |
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ian jones
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 112
Location: london
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| Posted: Jul 17, 2013 03:09 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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Devon - something old, something new. A classic "ladies slipper" from the early 1800s and a topaz collected at the end of the 20th C
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Siderite
Virtuous Lady Mine, Buckland Monachorum, Tavistock, Devon, England, UK
Siderite cast after Baryte, 100mm, a form colloquially known as a lady's slipper. Probably collected circa 1832-33. |
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45166 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Topaz
V.C. Quarry, Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
Pale, bluish topaz crystals to 6mm with orthoclase and smoky quartz. Collected 1996. |
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45121 Time(s) |
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Mike Wood
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Posts: 456
Location: Northern England
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| Posted: Aug 01, 2013 12:58 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the regions of the UK - England / Devon |
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More from Lundy.
These three single crystals were found together, loose, in a fist-sized cavity which was full of a white clay-like mineral (kaolinite ?). They were the only objects found in the cavity !
| Description: |
Topaz
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
11mm x 9mm x 7mm
Lustrous, undamaged, transparent colourless topaz crystal. The tiny 'dimples' on some of the termination faces have a square appearance, so it could be the topaz was host to tiny fluorite crystals at one time. Fluorite occurs in the vicinity in small amounts; as it also does at the VC Quarry. |
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44921 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
12mm long x 4mm x 3mm
Very pale colour blue/green, virtually flawless, with complex termination. |
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44948 Time(s) |
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| Description: |
Beryl (var aquamarine)
Lundy Island, Devon, England, UK
10mm x 10mm x 8mm
Another pale blue/green aquamarine crystal, with very different morphology. Quite interesting considering that all three crystals in this post came from the same cavity ! |
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44959 Time(s) |
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