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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 17:50 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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behind the scenes.
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Jeff explaining some of the process of analyzing minerals. |
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Learning about the great programs and equipment used at the Museum. |
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Mike Wise, Jeff Post and Jim Spann |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:25 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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I sent a request to Jeff Post about the Herderite that Knut had mentioned in an earlier post, this is what Jeff sent to me in response:
Gail, we have not analyzed this specimen; the label is based on the information provided by the dealer from whom we acquired the specimen. I agree that it is more likely hydroxyl-herderite but a detailed chemical analysis will be needed to confirm that. As you probably are aware, F and OH are not simple to determine accurately.
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Thanks to Jeff for getting back so quickly on that.
Speaking of Jeff....
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hmm, what's in here I wonder???? |
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drawers full of all sorts of specimens. |
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The many long halls of drawers filled with wonderful rocks. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:29 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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more neat things to look at.
We made it back to the blue room, it is called so simply because the carpet is that colour.
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Paul Pohwat doing inventory. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:33 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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and...
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:38 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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more shots..
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I am just a little crazy about Stibiconite. Two side by side..see photo below. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:43 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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so a few more.
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Jim and Paul checking out the great Ilfeld Manganites. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:49 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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Some really spectacular pieces are waiting for a move to be viewed by the public...so it was a treat to see them now.
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Oh my, one of my passions is "kidney Ore" hematite such as this. |
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viewing pieces in the blue room drawers. |
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a drawer in the blue room. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 21:56 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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I was taking photos and having a good time chatting.
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Enjoying some good and fun conversation. Mike kicking back for a minute. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:01 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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So, we were looking through some drawers in the gem area.....
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Um, sure....yes, it IS a nice necklace! goodness. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:05 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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more sparkly things...
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Don't wake me from this dream... |
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Ethiopian Opal. This had fire like nothing I have seen before. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:12 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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and
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Okay, so Jeff starts to open this and my heart starts beating fast. What this does to a woman is amazing!!!! |
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And here it is, oh my, you had to wear your hair up to show the clasp area, just spectacular! |
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No, Jim is NOT giving this to me even though our anniversary was two days later! |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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simonoff
Joined: 16 Feb 2009
Posts: 161


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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:38 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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Wow, those back room photos of the blue room and the halls of drawers left my mouth hanging open. I had nooooo idea!
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:48 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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moving on..
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The box a necklace came in that was presented to Napoleon Bonaparte's wife. |
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Diamond tiara anybody? This photo does not do this justice. |
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carved slice of emerald in a necklace surrounded by diamonds. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 17, 2009 22:54 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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Back into the blue room and mineral hall.
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A fabulous Ilfeld manganite! |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Mar 18, 2009 08:47 Post subject: Re: The Smithsonian Mineral Visit with Behind the Scenes fun. |
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For some of the photos I posted without lots of detail, it is because I don't remember all the details after spending two days looking at minerals there. I do know the carved emerald slice was once a decoration sewn on fabric, it has a small hollowed area where it could be attached. Later, it was made into that necklace with the diamonds. I don't recall hearing the name of who last owned it. We were just amazed at the fine detail of the carving patterns and the shape of the actual emerald crystal was still noticeable, even with diamonds at the edge.
I try to take my photos with the name of the mineral, as well as location, below as one cannot retain all that without doing so. If anyone has a particular photo they want explained in more detail, let me know...otherwise it is a daunting task and I cannot possibly write huge amounts on each photo....after all, this is a lure to get all of you to actually just go there!
So bear with me, I will try harder.
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Back again to this Millerite, it is just a wonderful display specimen, catching lots of attention from the throngs. |
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The lighting above this Azurite was out, so it was not as well lit as it should have been. |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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