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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Apr 28, 2020 15:21 Post subject: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Hello Everyone!
Being stuck at home I have been acquiring specimens like crazy so I decided to create a post showcasing my most Recent, Best, Mineral Discoveries!
I created this post with the intent for others to share their experience as well, so please feel free to share your favorite, most recent, mineral find(s).
My List Includes (3) different minerals:
1. Cobaltoan Smithsonite and Cerussite (Tsumeb, Namibia)
2. Yellow Garnet (Vera Cruz, Mexico)
3. Grape & Olive Agate and Chalcedony (Indonesia)
1. Cobaltoan Smithsonite and Cerussite --> Definitely the premier specimen of this group and probably also most of my collection! The color is as good as it gets as well as the clarity! Crystals are very sharp and in perfect condition. The cerussite crystal is complex and very interesting despite being somewhat damaged. All perfectly displayed atop a dark crystalline matrix.
2. Yellow Garnet --> A fantastic find as I haven't seen a lot of solid yellow colored garnets which such great clarity and structure! An orthorhombic structure is perfectly represented by the garnets in the specimen!
3. Grape and olive agate with chalcedony --> Another amazing addition, this specimen exhibits beautifully and looks more like a modern work of art than a natural crystal! The inclusion of both Grape & Olive colored Agate is rare and well displayed. Crystals are exhibited on a very thin plate of Chalcedony embedded Matrix.
Mineral: | Cobaltoan Smithsonite and Cerussite |
Locality: | Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia | |
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Dimensions: | 7.6 x 6 x 5.1 cm |
Description: |
Image of the full specimen |
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18476 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Garnet |
Locality: | Plan de Gallos, Piedra Parada (Las Vigas), Municipio Tatatila, Veracruz (Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), Mexico | |
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Dimensions: | 6.5 x 3.25 x 3.25 cm |
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18461 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Quartz (variety amethyst) |
Locality: | Mamuju area, Sulawesi Barat Province, Indonesia | |
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Dimensions: | 11 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm |
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18472 Time(s) |
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_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4109
Location: Germany
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Chris Rayburn
Joined: 07 Oct 2013
Posts: 66
Location: Arvada, Colorado
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 07:33 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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I did some physical distancing in the eastern Utah desert last week and collected this celestine cluster in red jasper, with associated calcite. 8 cm x 15 cm; the celestine cluster is 4 cm x 5 cm.
Mineral: | Celestine with Calcite on Quartz (jasper variety) |
Locality: | Utah, USA | |
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Dimensions: | 8 cm x 15 cm. Celestine cluster: 4 cm x 5 cm. |
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18328 Time(s) |
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Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 08:45 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Chris, Nice find.
For everyone's info, there is an article on these celestine and calcite geodes in Rocks and Minerals vol 90 #4 ( (July - August 2015) by Daniel Kile et al.
The very last posting in the Utah section of "a mineralogical trip thru the states of the USA" on this website, shows another example. BOB
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James Catmur
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Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1347
Location: Cambridge
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 10:44 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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In Collection of Michael Shaw Michael Shaw wrote: | I don't have nearly enough space to have everything on display, so many specimens reside in flats. I hadn't seen this piece in quite a long while and it even surprised me when I opened the box :>)
Hope you are well.
Michael |
I spent time yesterday opening draws and finding treasure. Long forgotten specimens, or ones I recalled but yesterday I spotted features I had never noticed.
A La Collada fluorite from 1974 that had the remains of the calcite it had grown on on the rear. A Montejo de la Sierra Kyanite specimen I had not seen for ages as I thought it was in another draw. An Emilio Fluorite specimen I had forgotten I owned, A Basque haematite from La Arboleda. (I was going through draws of Spanish material)
I must do more of this
James
Locality: | Spain | |
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18285 Time(s) |
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James Catmur
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1347
Location: Cambridge
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 13:50 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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I also found a few old-time specimens that have BMNH labels with them or Arthur Russell labels, and I had forgotten them too! If you want to see more drawers let me know
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 13:56 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Thank you! I feel very lucky indeed to have acquired such a rare specimen.
Tobi, do you mind elaborating as to why you're not a fan of the agates from that region?
In general I'm typically not much of a fan of grape agates but the reason I chose to add this one to my collection is not because of the quality, but the form and color which I found to be fairly unique. I may be wrong because I don't look for grape agate often, but I must say when viewed in person I think the appearance of this piece is rather impressive; plus it also cost next to nothing to obtain which didn't hurt. The pic also doesn't do the specimen much justice which is too bad.
_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Apr 29, 2020 14:01 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Very neat Spain based Fluorite Specimens! Fluorite is a personal all time favorite, Thanks for sharing
_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: May 07, 2020 11:32 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month - Blue Topaz on Cleavelandite |
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I will continue to update this thread with my favorite newest mineral acquisitions!
Early this week I discovered the most significant addition I would add to my collection for the year! Topaz has always been my favorite gem stone & while I have added several lovely champagne colored topaz over the years, it is the blue colored stones that I have been searching for carefully.
I would say this newest addition to my collection is probably now the most valuable & rare specimen I possess!
The blue topaz is completely pristine with absolutely no damage & is exhibited on a very well formed & transparent matrix made of albite var cleavalendite blades. This matrix itself is a big part of what drew me to this piece as it's extremely rare to find blue topaz on such a fine matrix base.
The crystals themselves are perfect & many are doubly terminated as well as include interesting inclusions. The crystals are very large reaching up to 3 cm in length!
Mineral: | Topaz on Albite (variety cleavelandite) |
Locality: | Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
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Dimensions: | (5.1 x 3.3 x 2.7 cm) |
Description: |
Blue Topaz on Albite var Cleavelandite |
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17642 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Topaz on Albite (variety cleavelandite) |
Locality: | Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
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Dimensions: | (5.1 x 3.3 x 2.7 cm) |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17628 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Topaz on Albite (variety cleavelandite) |
Locality: | Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
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Dimensions: | (5.1 x 3.3 x 2.7 cm) |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17656 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Topaz on Albite (variety cleavelandite) |
Locality: | Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
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Dimensions: | (5.1 x 3.3 x 2.7 cm) |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17620 Time(s) |
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_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: May 07, 2020 22:35 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month - Cassiterite pseudomorph a/f Orthoclase |
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Another unique addition to my showcase collection that was discovered this week!
This fantastic cassiterite pseudomorph a/f orthoclase exhibits very sharp carlsbad twinned crystals in perfect condition! The specimen is a completely solid cassiterite pseudomorph & is quite heavy for it's small size!
This is one of the rarely seen specimens that was originally found c.1828 in the famous Wheal Coates Mine, UK.
Although this specimen may seem relatively dull, it's historical value, at nearly 200 yrs old, & extreme rarity makes it a thing of beauty!
Mineral: | Cassiterite after Orthoclase |
Locality: | Wheal Coates, Saint Agnes, Saint Agnes District, Cornwall, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | (2.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm) |
Description: |
Carslbad Twinned Crystals |
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Viewed: |
17555 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite after Orthoclase |
Locality: | Wheal Coates, Saint Agnes, Saint Agnes District, Cornwall, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | (2.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm) |
Description: |
Carlsbad twinned crystals |
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Viewed: |
17535 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite after Orthoclase |
Locality: | Wheal Coates, Saint Agnes, Saint Agnes District, Cornwall, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | (2.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm) |
Description: |
Carlsbad twinned crystals |
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Viewed: |
17537 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Cassiterite after Orthoclase |
Locality: | Wheal Coates, Saint Agnes, Saint Agnes District, Cornwall, England / United Kingdom | |
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Dimensions: | (2.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm) |
Description: |
Carlsbad twinned crystals |
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Viewed: |
17540 Time(s) |
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_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
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Posted: May 07, 2020 23:18 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Well that is an interesting specimen, but with a specimen like that, the original label may be more important than the specimen itself. Please post a photo of the original label.
Without an original label, the specimen itself, to me, is diminished.......... Bob
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Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4109
Location: Germany
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Posted: May 08, 2020 03:33 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Conor Quinlan wrote: | Tobi, do you mind elaborating as to why you're not a fan of the agates from that region? | I think it's just a matter of personal taste and aesthetics. I do like some botryoidal minerals very much when they have a good colour, like Kelly Mine smithsonite or yellow Mexican mimetite or rhodochrosite from several localities where it appears as a crust, but I don't like it when they are just tiny spherules that have all the same size. And the colour, pale lavender and pale green, not that aesthetic to me ...
... but that Virgem da Lapa topaz is awesome, what a stuning little treasure!!! :-)
Regards
Tobi
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Tobi
Site Admin
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Posts: 4109
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Posted: May 08, 2020 03:35 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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James Catmur wrote: | I spent time yesterday opening draws and finding treasure [...]
I must do more of this | Yes, you must! Lovely drawer, how about showing more of them? :-)
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Bob Morgan
Joined: 18 Jan 2018
Posts: 228
Location: Savannah, Georgia
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Posted: May 08, 2020 09:54 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Being interested in odd crystals, I was delighted to run across this quartz with the oddest termination. Instead of rhombohedral 'r' and ';z' pyramidal faces, there are three large heavily striated faces making the termination. They appear to be bipyramidal 's' faces.
This is really strange maybe even unique! I examined it to see if it had been cut into that pattern. The striations are definitely natural.
Another crystal had a couple of similarly striated 's' faces in a Dauphene twin relationship.
I bought them in 2004 from a dealer in the back corner of a trailer behind one of the motels on I-10 in Tucson, and haven't seen him again.
He said it was from Tamil Nadu in southern India, the Karum Mine, but there is nothing similar to it pictured on mindat.
I had completely forgotten about them and delighted in their rediscovery.
Mineral: | Quartz |
Locality: | Tamil Nadu, India | |
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Dimensions: | 1.8x1.8x1.8x5.9 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17386 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Quartz |
Locality: | Tamil Nadu, India | |
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Dimensions: | 1,8x1.8x1.8x5.9 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17362 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Quartz |
Locality: | Tamil Nadu, India | |
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Dimensions: | 1,8x1.8x1.8x5.9 cm |
Description: |
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Viewed: |
17352 Time(s) |
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: May 08, 2020 14:15 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Unfortunately it doesn’t have it, obviously that would prove it’s authenticity but this comes from the well known mineral dealers & auctioneers Jasun & Mandy McAvoy. I am fairly confident of its association with the original find if they state it’s from that local.
However, I do agree that the piece would show off so much better w/ a 1828 label. I will follow up with the McAvoy’s about any potential proof
_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: May 08, 2020 14:24 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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....also I believe the overall appearance and 100% complete transformation to cassiterite are fairly consistent with the finds of 1828 from the U.K. but this certainly is not an area I’m highly acquainted with to say for sure.
I plan to ask more than a few other collectors I know during the 2021 Tucson Show, assuming covid-19 has passed. One of the reasons I’m so grateful to be from Tucson!
Can almost always find someone who has the expertise to find out or know for sure where a mineral comes from
_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
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Posted: May 08, 2020 15:14 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Conor, Like it or not, when dealing with truly classic specimens, the original label usually is as important as the specimen. The labels substantiate the provenance of the specimens, making them attractive for acquisition by both hi end dealers and collectors willing to pay substantial premiums for these examples.
Whether mined hundreds of years ago from long extinct classic localities, or formerly in the collections of important people like Philip Rashleigh or Washington Roebling etc, classic mineral specimens are usually not as aesthetically great as those collected more recently. So the label of original provenance is the true value of many of these examples, including even those mineral specimens that are relatively unique from long extinct mining localities.
For me, most important truly "classic" specimens with no original label for provenance = no premium for the "classic" specimen = no consideration for purchase, even from an ethical dealer.
You just can't go around saying "this fabulous specimen was mined 200 years ago, or formerly in the collection of Washington Roebling, but I don't have a label".
My opinion, Bob
As an addendum, this topic of the importance of original labels with truly classic specimens should make for some good discussions on another thread.
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Michael Shaw
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Conor Quinlan
Joined: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 24
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: May 09, 2020 09:22 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Bob, that's certainly disturbing to hear, but I get what your saying & will be making a more serious inquiry rearding the cassiterite's legitimacy today.
This is my 1st "historical" specimen so some of this is pretty new to me. I mean, I knew the piece would be significantly less valuable w/o the label, but didn't imagine it would literally make or break the historical value, I am particularly surprised to hear that a high-end mineral dealer's reputability does little to sway public opinion when it comes to these matters, but I suppose it makes sense.
Thanks for sharing your opinion! If the label is as important as you say then it looks like I may be returning this one :/
_________________ Sincerely,
Conor Quinlan | (Tucson, AZ)
(+20-Yrs) of Mineral Hunting Experience
Tucson Mineral Show Fanatic Since (1999) |
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Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
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Posted: May 09, 2020 13:11 Post subject: Re: Best Finds of the Month! |
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Conor,
Several additional points on labels. Did your specimen come with any label or was it totally without a label? In general, labeling all specimens is very important.
It is important to differentiate just any so called "classic" specimen from a truly "historically important classic specimen". The labels are really really important with truly important classic specimens as museums might be interested in these. The label has to be original, as anyone can make a modern label fudging the provenance of the specimen. Specimens from important historic localities or from important collectors collections should always come with the important original labels.
If you are to keep your examples for a number of years, then try to sell any of them with no labels, they would have neither much historic value or, if they weren't particularly aesthetic by modern standards, they might not have much modern collector value.
Proper original (!) labels for specimens of historic value are important. Bob
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