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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Jul 18, 2016 23:39 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hello Tobi
Thank you for the unabated enthusiasm of your comments.
I look forward to meeting you at the mim whenever you want. You will see that in person the minerals are more stunning than their pictures:-)
And Lebanon, as I was telling Chris, is less wild than it sounds like: it is worth a visit, all the more as it is very accessible and you don't even need a visa to get there.
Bis bald!
Salim
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 185
Location: Dallas
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Posted: Dec 25, 2016 11:45 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Beyond stunning specimens in size, quality and aesthetics!
Congrats. Salim
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Peter Lemkin
Joined: 18 Nov 2016
Posts: 398
Location: Prague
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Posted: Dec 26, 2016 12:12 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Salim, Hello. Bonjour, أحر التحيات! I'm new to this forum, but not new to minerals nor collecting them. I started my collection 60 years ago at age six, and have been to many of the best mineral museums worldwide, and seen some of the better private collections – but I am just stunned by what you have managed to amass in your stunning collection! - and in such a relatively short span of time. Many of the rarer species would be unbelievable if they were one cm or so, but often are 'cabinet' sized! Amazing! Some, I've never before seen in aesthetic crystals – and you have them often in amazingly aesthetic ones. The list of specimens I fell in love with is too long to list – I'll just have to come and see them in person. You'll know me by the whimpering noises while transfixed before some of the pieces I've seen in the pictures. I'm very glad you are working on a book of photos of the collection – I'll certainly buy a copy. Please include the chemical formulae, as so many are quite rare. I have the references to find the formulae, but prefer not to have to sit with two books open at the same time. I was very interested in your statement about your fascination with minerals, as it exactly parallels mine – from the thoughts about the number of atoms aligned to the macroscopic manifestation of the molecular and atomic level arrangements of things on this Earth and in the Universe. [These and surely other mineral species exist on many planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other cooler bodies in the Universe]. Your collection of Earthly minerals is breathtakingly 'celestial', and I can tell you my heart was pounding while looking at some of the specimens. I have duly downgraded my own collection after seeing yours ;-) Making it a public museum is a wonderful idea (and a secret dream I had for my own collection), and I think Beirut is just a fine place for it. Your taste in minerals, your obvious skills in seeking out rare and almost impossible to find species and specimens, your wonderful displays – everything is just superlative; and I can't find the adjectives in English or French that would do it justice. Wonderful! Formidable! Bravo! وإنجاز رائع! شكرا جزيلا! Peter
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Dec 27, 2016 00:12 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hello Peter
And thank you for your flattering comments!
You'd be surprised: Beirut is much more accessible than people think (no visa, less than 4 hours away from major European cities), so don't hesitate to plan a trip there. And please let me know when you plan to do so because I'd be honored to be there to tour you through the collection.
We've also added a room with the best-of of the Lebanese fish fossils...
Salim
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Dec 27, 2016 00:13 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Thank you Jim.
Awaiting your visit to Beirut!
Happy new year
Salim
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bob kerr
Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 537
Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Dec 29, 2016 14:55 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Salim - as-salamu alaykum.
I have watched with awe as this thread grew over the last few years and have not responded since others have pretty much expressed similar feelings – specifically, the size of these exquisite specimens is beyond imagination. Many of us were unaware that there existed specimens of this size and quality.
Please forgive me if I am asking something that is out of bounds, but from what I’ve read, this is your personal, private collection – is this correct? Was there outside funding for the building design/construction and ongoing upkeep and security costs?
And – is “MIM” an acronym? If so for what?
So, some of my favorites (so far at least):
- That blindingly lustrous Denton mine galena on purple fluorite (#1464)
- A 5.2cm red spinel – WOW! (#1021)
- That reticulated Tsumeb cerussite “snowflake” – who ever heard of a 24cm snowflake? (#1082)
- Red – not pink – fluorite on smokey quartz (#123)
- That perfect gem of a Mont Blanc gwindel – can they get any better? (#412)
- The Touissit cerussite (#709) looks like an alien space ship (ala War of the Worlds)
- The color contrast on that English mimetite on plumbogummite is something to behold (#710)
- The euclase (#731) is too good to be true
- The jewel anglesite (#874) – a perfect gem
- The depth of purple in that Panasqueira fluorapatite (#1533) is truly remarkable
- 9.3 cm gemmy emerald hexagonal crystal – What?? (#1675)
And finally:
- ALL of the others!!
And one final question:
- Concerning specimen #1712 which is labeled as “Descloizite with Wulfenite” from Iran – I bought one of these when they came out and it was labeled as “Cerussite, Willemite and others after Decloisite with Mimetite, Wulfenite” (although the dealer was not sure about the accuracy of this) – that is, the descloizite has been replaced by numerous other species. Is your label more accurate as to how best to describe these specimens?
I hope you continue to update this thread – it is a true pleasure to view this
.
Best regards,
Bob Kerr
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4896
Location: Barcelona
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Posted: Dec 30, 2016 03:03 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Well, also in this same thread! ;-) -> THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE COLLECTION (Salim's text with a lot of explanations)
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
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Posted: Dec 30, 2016 06:04 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Ooops, the many high quality photos of high quality minerals in this thread must have distracted me from reading ;-)
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bob kerr
Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 537
Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Jan 02, 2017 22:46 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Thanks for pointing out where, in the deluge of info, that my questions were addressed. for those who also did not read everything and are curious about "MIM":
"MIM, is the 24th letter of the Arabic alphabet. The Arabic MIM is also the equivalent of the letter M of the Latin alphabet, and in Arabic it is the first letter of the words for “museum”, “minerals” and “mines” (and it also works in English and in French). In addition, MIM is easy to pronounce in all languages."
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Jan 03, 2017 01:28 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hello Bob
Thank you for your flattering comments. Indeed, this is my personal collection which I have made publicly available. I have entirely financed this project which cost obviously an eye, which is why I am still working in my software company to keep on financing it :-)
Apart from what my late grandmother used to say (as quoted in the text kindly highlighted by Jordi), I also mused over Tutankhamen's experience (no less!): When he died, he was buried with his jewels, clothes, arms, etc. He obviously disappeared, while his stuff remained in the grave and ended up in museums. I've just tried to skip one step and put everything in a museum before I get myself transformed one day into a mineral...
As regards the minerals, If I dare say: "you ain't seen nothin' yet !". My suggestion: make it to Beirut (it's far easier than you think, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It will be my pleasure to tour you through the museum. For instance, the spinel you mention is still there but has been somewhat superseded by a 8.7 cm perfectly twinned deep red spinel form Vietnam... You know, as I was telling Tobi, I'm shortsighted, which is why I tend to collect big crystals :-)
Hoping to see you soon in Beirut!
Salim
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
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Posted: Jan 03, 2017 03:37 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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bob kerr wrote: | "[...]the equivalent of the letter M of the Latin alphabet, and in Arabic it is the first letter of the words for “museum”, “minerals” and “mines” (and it also works in English and in French) " | Also in German ;-)
MIM Museum wrote: | You know, as I was telling Tobi, I'm shortsighted, which is why I tend to collect big crystals | :-) :-) :-)
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Peter
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 346
Location: Sweden / Luxembourg
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Posted: Jan 03, 2017 13:37 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone
3 years and soon 3 months have passed since the opening of the MIM Museum.
I am very grateful to have had the chance to attend. I would HIGHLY recommend the most serious collectors NOT TO MISS this museum. I would equally recommend anyone reading this to fly to Beirut and spend a couple of days to visit museum and the city, called "the Pearl of the Orient" in Sweden and I believe elsewhere since centuries.
Just looking at the previous page, many specimens are so good that you may not have expected such to exist. Rare, large, well crystallized and stunning.
Who likes white and black minerals? I do. Look at that Madagascar Phenacite! 20 cm!!! Yes, at Tangen Quarry at Kragerö there were several non-gem ones this size frozen in quartz, but this, a gem pocket, perfectly developed one...
I myself in my more modest collection do have a Tangen, and I have 5 cm gem crystal from Myanmar that I am pleased with, and from other locations, a killer thumbnail gem gem incredible lustrous one, the best from the Urals, the type locality, my most precious one, and the San Miguel do Piracicaba, and large Urals 6 cm in diameter in sludge.... but this none like this, not baseball bat but on its way. Larger would not be too big, but 20 cm is more than enough!
Several black beauties, Gadolinite, the best in the world were found in this Norwegian pegmatite. If you visit today, the chances you will find a small crystal is slim. What a beauty!
I understand from Salim that many new specimens have been acquired since the opening, well, already then many were not out yet. It seems as another trip to the south shall be taken when safety concerns and weather align.
I wish everyone a wonderful year and hopefully rich in mineralogical experiences!
I wish Salim and MIM Museum a continued growth of extraordinary, rare, unique mineral specimens for us to drool over on site or via media.
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Jan 04, 2017 01:22 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hello Peter
All the best to you and your family for 2017, and we hope to see you again in Beirut soon: 370 new rocks have been added since you made us the honor of a visit in 2013...
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Tomasz Praszkier
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
Posts: 93
Location: Warszawa
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Posted: Jan 04, 2017 07:37 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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I am proud that several of my rocks ended up in the MIM Museum! Only one note, Anglesite #1090 is fake, they were chemically colored unfortunately.
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Jamison Brizendine
Joined: 27 Feb 2014
Posts: 128
Location: Northeast Ohio
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Posted: Jan 20, 2017 17:00 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Salim,
I want to say thank you for sharing these wonderful specimens on the Mineral Forum and providing excellent photographs of them. I wish other museums would follow the MIM’s example by doing this, as it gives the public a chance to see their specimens without them having to physically visit the museum. It is nearly impossible for me to just pick out a few favorites.
I did want to comment on two specimens, #799 and #800:
In 2006, Ricardo Prato (Pregi Gemme) had unveiled several outstanding fluorite specimens from Chumar Bakhoor. From what I had read these specimens were quite the talk of the show and many mineral blogs had at least three or four pictures of these fabulous fluorites.
These fluorites specimens were later featured in the Mineralogical Record (Appiani, 2007). Figures 3 and 5 in this article featured MIM specimen #799, describing it as:
Fluorite on matrix, 12 cm specimen, with a crystal 9 cm on an edge, from the 2006 find at Chumar Bakhoor, near the Hunza River Valley, Pakistan. This is the largest crystal found in the pocket.
MIM specimen #800 was described as:
16-cm specimen with transparent pink crystals up to 5 cm on an edge; from the 2006 find at Chumar Bakhoor, near the Hunza River Valley, Pakistan.
I had always wondered what happened to these fabulous specimens and I am glad the MIM was not only able to pick one, but two fabulous examples from this find. Well done!
References Cited:
Appiani, R., 2006, Pink fluorite from an exceptional find at Chumar Bakhoor: The Mineralogical Record, v. 38 (2), p. 95-100.
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Jan 21, 2017 07:14 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hello Jamison
Thank you for your kind mail.
There are actually 3 fluorites from this find in the collection:
#799 and #800 indeed, but also #781 boasting a 7 cm octahedron that was trimmed down from a larger specimen.
I battled to get these rocks and was silly to let one smaller specimen go (on the grounds that one crystal had a nick - I was too demanding then:-)
I purchased these specimen as follows:
- #781 from Daniel Trinchillo/Marcus Budil in December 2006 - they got it from Riccardo Prato
- #799 and #800 from Frédéric Escaut in September 2007 - he got them from Riccardo Prato as well.
Later in 2012 I purchased from Marcus Budil #1359 which comes from a nearby pocket I think, and boasts a 10.4 cm well-known twin.
They all await your visit to Beirut!
Salim
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Peter
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 346
Location: Sweden / Luxembourg
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Posted: Jan 22, 2017 18:01 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Happy New Year
to Salim, MIM Museum, Caroline and co-workers.
To have acquired several of the finest Chumar Bakhoor Fluorites is quite fantastic!
It will be a great and pleasant surprise to view additional great specimens.
I was greatly honored to be invited by Salim to the inauguration, as perhaps the only private collector who did not sell any specimen to MIM.
Best regards from a fresh Luxembourg (-8)
Peter
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
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Posted: Jun 18, 2017 01:17 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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Hi Salim,
nearly one year since your last mineral updates here, any new specimens? I'd be glad to hear some news from Lebanon ... :-)
Regards
Tobi
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MIM Museum
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Beirut
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Posted: Sep 22, 2017 08:12 Post subject: Re: The MIM Museum in Beirut, Lebanon |
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A batch of some minerals from Mim.
Mineral: | Topaz on Quartz |
Locality: | Gaoligong Mountains, Nujiang Valley, Nujiang Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China | |
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Dimensions: | 6.0 x 10.0 x 10.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 6.5 cm Sharp-edged, transparent, champagne-colored crystal on a quartz matrix MIM number: 300 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22470 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Arsenopyrite on Ferberite |
Locality: | Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China | |
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Dimensions: | 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 8.4 cm Brilliant, silvery, polysynthetic prism in the shape of a triangle on a black gangue of ferberite MIM number 301 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22513 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Calcite |
Locality: | Nanjing Prefecture, Jiangsu Province, China | |
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Dimensions: | 7.0x 7.0 x 16.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 12.6 cm Single crystal in the form of hexagonal quartz with internal cleavage, pointy termination and a small cleavage point on the terminal face MIM number 302 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22425 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Quartz (variety prase) |
Locality: | Second Sovetskii Mine, Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia | |
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Dimensions: | 28.5x 18.5 x 10.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 9.0 cm Group of greenish crystals, paramorphism in beta quartz MIM number: 303 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22474 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Pyrrhotite with Quartz |
Locality: | Nikolaevski Mine, Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Far-Eastern Region, Russia | |
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Dimensions: | 13.0 x 8.0 x 10.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 8.0 cm Brilliant crystals stacked in a barrel shape on small white quartz needles MIM number: 304 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22469 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Scheelite on Cassiterite with Muscovite and Beryl (variety goshenite) |
Locality: | Mount Xuebaoding, Pingwu, Mianyang Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China | |
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Dimensions: | 7.0 x 6.5 x 4.5 cm |
Description: |
Zinyang Mine, Sìchuan Province, China Main crystal size: 3.5 cm Orange crystal on twinned cassiterite, the latter on a bed of mica with very pale blue goshenite MIM number: 305 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22512 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Vanadinite with Baryte |
Locality: | Mibladen (Mibladen mining district), Midelt, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco | |
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Dimensions: | 27.0 x 20.0 x 12.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 2.8 cm Large block covered with large, lustrous red-brown crystals, some of which have developed on cream-colored ridges of barytine. MIM number: 306 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22463 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Scapolite (Group) |
Locality: | Morogoro Region, Tanzania | |
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Dimensions: | 4.5 x 4.0 x 4.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 5.4 cm Fairly transparent, yellow crystal with a partially terminated upper portion MIM number: 308 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22502 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Pyromorphite |
Locality: | Daoping Mine, Gongcheng, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China | |
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Dimensions: | 10.5 x 9.0 x 5.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 0.9 cm Tufts of small, pointed crystals in a bright, pistachio green color MIM number: 309 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22448 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Stibnite |
Locality: | Xikuangshan Sb deposit, Lengshuijiang, Loudi Prefecture, Hunan Province, China | |
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Dimensions: | 24.0x 12.5 x 17.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 14.5 cm Bush of perfect, shiny, entangled crystals MIM number: 310 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22450 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Gypsum on Dolomite |
Locality: | Bou Bekker, Touissit District, Jerada Province, Oriental Region, Morocco | |
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Dimensions: | 17.5x 16.0 x 11.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 10.0 cm Translucent, pearly sheaves in the shape of a ram's horn on a matrix of Dolomite MIM number: 311 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22459 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Copper |
Locality: | Phoenix Mine, Phoenix, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA | |
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Dimensions: | 10.5 x 10.5 x 19.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 2.0 cm Slender sheaf of sharp-edged crystals with twinned crystals MIM number: 312 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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22428 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Corundum (variety sapphire) |
Locality: | Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | |
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Dimensions: | 9.5 x 4.5 x 4.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 9.1 cm Double terminated, barrel-shaped crystal, not curved and very sharp-edged, translucent with a blue center and yellow towards the edges. MIM number: 313 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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22421 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Hornblende |
Locality: | Kolonne, Embilipitiya, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | |
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Dimensions: | 11.5 x 9.0 x 9.5 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 10.6 cm Large, lustrous black prism with a well terminated summit and a lateral twinned crystal MIM number: 314 Photographer: AINU / Alessandro Clemenza |
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Viewed: |
22446 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cryolite with Siderite |
Locality: | Ivigtut deposit, Ivittuut, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland | |
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Dimensions: | 10.0x 7.0 x 8.0 cm |
Description: |
Main crystal size: 2.1 cm Block of colorless, transparent, parallel crystals partially covered with a crust of siderite that gives the ensemble the aspect of parquet; a few sulfides at the base MIM number: 316 Photographer: AINU / Augustin de Valence |
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Viewed: |
22484 Time(s) |
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