FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Michael Shaw]

A few more vanadinite specimens will finish up Morocco.

[Roger Warin]

Hi Michael,
I do not know if this is the collector or the photographer who chooses specimens ...
Still, the result is fabulous.
There are many good photographers on the forum, and some are exceptional.
Roger.

[Greg Lilly]

Great specimens and photos Michael,
thank you!
Greg

[Michael Shaw]

Thanks Roger and Greg - I'm glad you like them. Since the collector and photographer are the same person, Roger, I'll take that as a double compliment :>)

The following image is a teaser for the next country I will show.
Michael

[Michael Shaw]

About 60 million years ago the subcontinent of India began to collide with the Asian continent. This resulted in the subduction of the India beneath the Eurasian plate creating the world's highest mountain ranges. It is an area of majestic beauty, ongoing geologic processes, and numerous mineral-laden pegmatites. In the next several posts I have chosen to show some of the specimens I have been able to acquire due to the efforts of brave Pakistani miners and mineral dealers adventurous enough to travel there.
Michael

[Michael Shaw]

Continuing with minerals from Pakistan.

[Michael Shaw]

Continuing with specimens from Pakistan - a few thumbnail sized pieces.

[Michael Shaw]

Continuing with specimens from Pakistan.

[Michael Shaw]

It's been over a week since my last posting, but it was a week filled with minerals, mountains, and rain. Lots of rain. My wife and I attended the Denver Mineral Show last week, but in spite of the rain and devastating flooding in and around the Denver area, we had a enjoyable time looking at many wonderful mineral specimens and visiting with friends. I will continue showing specimens from Pakistan, and end today with a little schorl specimen that we found at the show. Dudley Blauwet, that adventurous soul and proprietor of Mt. Minerals International, always has a good selection of minerals from Pakistan, and this show was no exception. The schorl is a bit unusual because of the steep pyramidal terminations, and because of this, they have been dubbed schorl "bullets."

[Michael Shaw]

Continuing with specimens from Pakistan.

[Mike Wood]

Michael, your Pakistani specimens are really nice. Wonderful photographs.
Thanks
Mike

[Michael Shaw]

Thanks Mike. Glad you are enjoying them. Here are a few epidotes from several different localities.

[Roger Warin]

Very fine as ever.
Roger.

[Michael Shaw]

Thank you Roger.

[Pierre Joubert]

Hi Michael, as always very nice specimens. I particularly like the red garnets and find the termination of the Schorl very unusual. Excuse me asking, but are you sure it is Schorl? If you put a strong light behind it, does it show any colour?

[Michael Shaw]

Hello Pierre,

Yes, the terminations are pretty unusual for schorl. I have an elbaite from Brazil that has similar steep pyramidal terminations, but I'm pretty certain that these are schorl. They are completely opaque black, even at their thinnest point. The dealer told me he acquired these on his last trip there and that he had not seen similar specimens previously. I would love to know what conditions caused these unusual terminations.

Michael

[Jordi Fabre]

[Roger Warin]

Michael,
It is difficult to determine. The material deposition is kinetically controlled, fast or slow. The temperature, the concentration of ions at the local level, the presence of foreign ligands in competition, etc. are factors that control crystallization.
A simple example, look at the difference or a equant or skeletal quartz crystal.
Roger.

[John S. White]

I was fortunate to have acquired this pair about 12 years ago. The locality given was Laila Base Camp, Dazu, Skardu, Pakistan. Jeff Scovil photo.

[Pierre Joubert]

I think John's description 'pencil habit' is very apt. Surely this is a seperate variety, something like foitite? Congratulations with your fine specimen Michael.