The information provided within this Forum about localities is only given to allow reference to them. Any visit to any of the localities requires you to obtain full permission and relevant information prior to your visit. FMF is strictly against any illicit activities related to collecting minerals.
One of the most critical parts of our hobby are the books and publications that do an excellent job in helping to keep us all informed. In Episode 25 of Mineral Talks LIVE, we sit down with one of those publishers for a enlightening and entertaining talk on books, magazines and all things publishing.
Join us as we talk story with Gloria Staebler straight out of Denver, Colorado. The list of books published by Gloria reads like a Greatest Hits of the Mineral World List. American Mineral Treasures. The Jim and Dawn Minette Collection. Collecting Arizona. The Smale Collection. And their upcoming releases The Smale Collection II and Dreher Masterworks. And this isn’t even talking about their extraordinary series of 21 Mineral Monographs.
Our conversation explores the history of Lithographie, the science of color printing and we even go in-depth on their latest release, the fabulous book, The Pinch Collection at the Canadian Museum of Nature (We open our brand new copy, for the first time, on camera to get our immediate reaction).
If you’re a mineral lover, there’s certainly something here for you!!!
This episode originally aired on November 18, 2020.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
Posted: Jan 01, 2021 15:03 Post subject: Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 26 - Dr. Frank Keutsch; Prof. Chemistry. Harvard University,
Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 26 - Dr. Frank Keutsch; Prof. Chemistry. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
So, you may ask, why is a chemist on this episode of Mineral Talks LIVE. Well, when it comes to Dr. Frank Keutsch, after a few mixtures talking with him, it becomes quite clear.
Frank is a Stratographic Chemist who studies Bio-Mineralization at Harvard University. His work explores the potential effects of using minerals in the stratosphere to help control global warming. Not only that, on the side, Frank also enjoys describing new minerals in his spare time and has, to date, identified 25-30 new minerals mainly from specimens he personally purchases on eBay!!
An absolute lover of, “black uglies” Frank lives by the motto, “Oxygen turns good minerals bad” and after watching this episode, you’ll begin to understand why.
Join us now for a thrilling and captivating talk with Dr. Frank Keutsch.
This episode originally aired on November 25, 2020.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
Posted: Jan 01, 2021 15:04 Post subject: Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 27 - Tom Gressman/Christi Cramer; The Mineralogical Record
Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 27 - Tom Gressman & Christi Cramer; The Mineralogical Record, Tucson, Arizona, USA
If you are serious about mineral collecting then The Mineralogical Record is certainly one of the mineral magazines you've either heard about or to which you subscribe. While it has always maintained a delicate balance between scientific journal and glossy, consumer magazine, the quality of the articles, and the images within those articles, consistently defines The Mineralogical Record as the premiere magazine for collector-quality minerals.
In this episode of Mineral Talks LIVE, we sit down with two of The Mineralogical Record's key staffers who you can never fail to miss at the mineral shows around the world - Tom Gressman and Christi Cramer. Tom and Christi talk with us about the history of The Mineralogical Record, some of their recent publications and almost give us a hint of things to come.
For ANYONE interested in fine minerals, and the stories that go with them, you're going to want to tune in to this episode!
This episode originally aired on December 2, 2020.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
Posted: Jan 01, 2021 15:11 Post subject: Happy 2021!!!
Hi all you FMFers, we're wishing you all a Happy New Year from the middle of the Pacific.
We're looking forward to all the wonderful possibilities of 2021 and hope that we get to see some of you at some of the upcoming mineral shows this year.
I did a double post this morning after realizing that I forgot to post last week's Mineral Talks LIVE episode with Dr. Frank Keutsch - Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University.
So now you'll have this episode along with the episode with Tom Gressman and Christi Cramer, from The Mineralogical Record, that we just released today.
We hope you enjoy the episodes and remember turn back in to Mineral Talks LIVE this Wednesday, January 6th, as we return to the airwaves for Season 2. Our guest? Ugh...yeah, Raquel and Eloise have DEMANDED that this Wednesday's guest is that Swoboda guy from BlueCap Productions. And I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what they're going to be asking me. Nevertheless, it should be fun and we hope to see you there!!!
We believe that the best way to start off a day is to look at something beautiful. And if it’s beauty you want, this episode is an EXCELLENT example of beauty in the mineral world. Not only for the man we interview - for as you get to know him, you WILL see the true beauty of his soul - but for his collection of outstanding mineral specimens.
This is Episode 28 of Mineral Talks LIVE and for this episode we head back to Europe and go directly into the vault of my dear friend Fabian Wildfang. Fabian’s collection is housed in a vault in the charming German town of Müllheim only about an hour and half car ride from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in France - home of one of the Big Four mineral shows of the world.
Fabian is truly a mild-mannered collector who has slowly acquired a Super collection of worldwide minerals. Although no Kryptonite crystals will be found in his collection, you WILL get weak in the knees when Fabian starts to share some of his stories and specimens with us as we tour his vault.
This is one of the finest collections of world-wide minerals in all of Europe and you may want to bookmark this video to come back to it, faster than a speeding bullet, time and time again.
This episode originally aired on December 9, 2020.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
We believe that the best way to start off a day is to look at something beautiful. And if it’s beauty you want, this episode is an EXCELLENT example of beauty in the mineral world. Not only for the man we interview - for as you get to know him, you WILL see the true beauty of his soul - but for his collection of outstanding mineral specimens.
This is Episode 28 of Mineral Talks LIVE and for this episode we head back to Europe and go directly into the vault of my dear friend Fabian Wildfang. Fabian’s collection is housed in a vault in the charming German town of Müllheim only about an hour and half car ride from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in France - home of one of the Big Four mineral shows of the world.
Fabian is truly a mild-mannered collector who has slowly acquired a Super collection of worldwide minerals. Although no Kryptonite crystals will be found in his collection, you WILL get weak in the knees when Fabian starts to share some of his stories and specimens with us as we tour his vault.
This is one of the finest collections of world-wide minerals in all of Europe and you may want to bookmark this video to come back to it, faster than a speeding bullet, time and time again.
I saw this video some days ago and I can highly recommend it! I don't know Fabian in person, but I really enjoyed not only the presentation of his SUPERB COLLECTION but also the interview. Really cool fellow and - as Bryan already said - one of the best private collections in Europe, a highly entertaining video!
In this, our final episode of Season One of Mineral Talks LIVE, we take a holiday visit out to Barcelona, Spain to visit with mineral dealer Jordi Fabre.
In the years that we've interviewed Jordi for the various What's Hot... programs, he has always combined wonderful specimens with a keen desire to teach our audience more about the mineral world. I don't think there would be a single person in the mineral world who would think twice if we started calling Jordi, "Seńor Professor!" After watching this episode, we're sure you'll agree.
In Episode 29 of Mineral Talks LIVE, Jordi shares with us some of his incredible specimens, that he has become so well known for, along with his humor and passion to teach. We also get a glimpse into what he's been doing, during this pandemic lock-down, to help bring a taste of the cancelled mineral shows to the public. This episode shows us why Jordi is one of the true gems of the mineral world.
This episode originally aired on December 16, 2020.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
Posted: Jan 16, 2021 09:52 Post subject: Re: Mineral Talks LIVE
What a nice episode! Thanks Raquel, Merci Eloďse, Thanks Bryan and Gracias Jordi.
Jordi, I really appreciate the way you see a mineral collection. As a modest collector, I’m sometimes afraid to talk about it because I own different specimens, from different size, from different locations, from different qualities. I was happy to discover that from your point of view the main reason to buy or to interchange a specimen is how much you love it. Thank you for the FMF forum. I know you’ve spent a lot of time, energy and money to build such a great web site.
Thank you Raquel, Eloďse and Bryan for the opportunities given to us to meet and to know so many interesting people sharing their passion and knowledge.
Hope to see you in a near future somewhere in the world and simply keep you great sense of humor.
Keep all the minerals friends and their families safe.
As we say here in my valley, “Ciao, bonne!” (could be translated as “receive my best regards, be well and look forward seeing you in great shape again”).
Posted: Feb 25, 2021 13:35 Post subject: Mineral Talks LIVE - Apologies!!! I've been lack!
My deepest apologies for being so far behind in posting the latest Mineral Talks LIVE episodes here.
For our Second Season, we've already done 7 new interviews - four of which are now online.
In order of appearances, here are the interviews:
Episode 30 - Bryan Swoboda; BlueCap Productions *
Episode 31 - Dr. Gene Meieran; Private Collector *
Episode 32 - Jeff Scovil; Master Photographer *
Episode 33 - Dr. Federico Pezzotta; Curator - Natural History Museum of Milan *
Episode 34 - Paula Crevoshay; Crevoshay Jewelry
Episode 35 - Joe Dorris; Founder - Pinnacle 5 Minerals
Episode 36 - Stuart Wilensky; Founder - Wilensky Exquisite Minerals Gallery
* Currently available online
Between now and the weekend, I'll post the four interviews that are currently online and then I'll get back to my once a week post for the other interviews as they become available. _________________ Bryan Swoboda
President, BlueCap Productions
Posted: Feb 25, 2021 13:39 Post subject: Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 30 - Bryan Swoboda; Founder, BlueCap Productions Hawai'i, USA
Bryan Swoboda - he's the Founder of BlueCap Productions and one-third of the Mineral Talks LIVE team. Join us as we return from the holidays and dive straight into the first episode in Season Two of Mineral Talks LIVE!!!
In Episode 30 of the Mineral Talks LIVE series, we shoot back to Honolulu, Hawai'i and sit down with Bryan as we learn the story of his life and how BlueCap Productions got started. We look back to the early days of the company, all the people who came together to help build BlueCap and what might come in the future.
We hope you enjoy this episode with Bryan Swoboda of BlueCap Productions and stay tuned to the very end when Bryan presents a heart-felt message to the rest of the mineral world.
This episode originally aired on January 6, 2021.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.
Posted: Feb 25, 2021 13:40 Post subject: Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 31 - Dr. Gene Meieran - Private Collector, Oregon, USA
Mineral Talks LIVE - Episode 31 - Dr. Gene Meieran - Private Collector/Intel Fellow, Oregon, USA
Gene Meieran. He’s a scientist, a prolific collector and a very generous exhibitor who loves to share his passion of minerals AND science with the world. If you’ve been to the TGMS Show in Tucson or the Munich Show in recent years, chances are you’ve seen many of the specimens in his collection.
Gene is known world-wide as one of the top collectors of Beryls, Tourmalines, Kongsberg silvers and more. Join us for this fun romp with Gene as we sit down and talk to this incredibly influential man as he tells us about his collection and the stories behind some of his wonderful pieces.
This episode originally aired on January 13, 2021.
Mineral Talks LIVE is a joint-venture effort put on by BlueCap Productions, the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University and the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). This series was created as a response to the COVID-19 situation that has been greatly affecting the mineral world by isolating and separating us. Our goal is to bring a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.
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