FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

[BlueCapProductions]

Hmmm....maybe a good April Fool's joke??? JA JA JA JA!!!

[BlueCapProductions]

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.

[BlueCapProductions]

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.

[BlueCapProductions]

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.

[BlueCapProductions]

If you've looked at a mineral magazine or mineral book in the last 20+ years, then you've seen this man's photography. Jeff Scovil is one of the best known names in the mineral photography world and has developed an incredibly prolific body of work.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with us from his home office in Phoenix, Arizona to shares stories of his past, what influenced him in the development of his photography career and then, of course, he shares numerous examples of his work that has made him so famous.

So come join us for Episode 32 of Mineral Talks LIVE with Mr. Jeff Scovil.

This episode originally aired on January 27, 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.

[BlueCapProductions]

Welcome to our 33rd episode of Mineral Talks LIVE!!! For this episode we shoot out to Europe again where we meet up with our friend Dr. Federico Pezzotta - Curator of the Natural History Museum in MIlan.

The museum has JUST finished a complete renovation of the mineral display area and Federico takes us on the first outsider's tour of inside the museum. It's a true treat to not only be able to see the wonderful new exhibit but also to be given a private tour from the man who really made this happen. You'll get to hear all the thought that went into this redesign, the inspirations that motivated Federico and, of course, you'll get to see some wonderful pieces.

So sit back, hit play and enjoy the Natural History Museum of Milan as presented by Dr. Federico Pezzotta!!

This episode originally aired on February 3, 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.

[BlueCapProductions]

Diamonds, rubies, sapphires - That Girl. Animals, Nature, goddesses - Is That Girl. If you find a girl to love, Only one girl to love, Then she'll be That Girl too...

Sorry, I just couldn't help it but THIS is what I think of when I think of the creative powerhouse of Paula Crevoshay - our guest for Episode 34 of Mineral Talks LIVE!!!!

Wild and wacky Paula sits down with us live from her beautiful home just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico to talk about her background, her inspirations and her inspiration jewelry work.

Paula shares with us some wonderful examples of her work, in photos and live video, that has made her such an in-demand artist. And, the part we all love the most, because of the interactive nature of these interviews, you will get a true feeling for the bubbling, sparkly personality of Paula Crevoshay.

This is another one of our episodes where the time just flies by but every second is non-stop fun and awe.

This episode originally aired on February 10, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

Gentleman, Miner, Father, Husband, Grandfather, Author, Artist, Award Winner, Television Star. One man is all this and more. The man we happen to be talking about is none other than Joe Dorris.

Joe is the Founder of Pinnacle 5 Minerals, run out of Manitou Springs in the great state of Colorado. Through Pinnacle 5, Joe, and the entire Dorris Family, has brought to the world some of the finest examples in the world of the dynamic-duo mineral punch of Amazonite & Smoky Quartz.

Amazonite & Smoky Quartz specimens, produced from the Smoky Hawk claim in Colorado, are the world's finest examples of these two species growing together. The combination of the near-black to warm brown of the Smoky Quartz combined with the greenish-blue to blue color of the Amazonite are enough to make anyone stop in their tracks and stare. And the variety of each PLUS the other associated minerals makes this a honest-to-God American treasure.

Join us for our 35th episode of Mineral Talks LIVE where we sit down with Joe and learn a little about his background, learn a bit of geology and drool over the main specimens he shares with us LIVE that he, and his family, recovered.

AHHHHHMAZING!!!!

This episode originally aired on February 17, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

If you ever should visit the Art District in the neighborhood of Chelsea on the island of Manhattan in New York City, you might be fortunate enough to run across a gallery called, "Wilensky Exquisite Minerals Gallery." Upon entering there, you will believe that you found The Spot. And you'd be right.

A gallery dedicated to exhibiting mineral specimens in the manner of fine art work? Absolutely. And not just any minerals - these are EXTREMELY fine minerals curated and assembled by Stuart Wilensky - one of the top-end mineral dealers in the world.

In Episode 36 of Mineral Talks LIVE, we meet with with Stuart Wilensky broadcasting LIVE from this very studio. We talk with Stu about his background, his influences and his philosophy on minerals. Then we go on a first-person tour of the gallery with specimens that will blow your mind.

We also take a look at a bunch of new mineral photographs that take these exceptional minerals out of the now-familiar world of black-only backgrounds, and present them in a way you've never seen them before.

And this is the world-exclusive viewing of Wilensky's latest gallery exposition - Contrast.

This is one of those Mineral Talks LIVE episodes that you'll want to watch over and over because there is just SO much going on here.

This episode originally aired on February 24, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

This is Episode 37 of Mineral Talks LIVE. In this episode, we travel all the way to South Africa where we meet up with Dr. Bruce Cairncross - the Professor of Geology at the University of Johannesburg.

Bruce is a PROLIFIC author of books and magazine articles as well as being a well-seasoned global presenter. His main subject of interest? The Minerals of South Africa!!!

Come with us on a fascinating and entertaining visit of some of the most famous mineral localities in South Africa. Locales such as Kalahari manganese field, N'Chwaning, Black Rock, Hotazel and the Wessels Mine. If you have ANY interest in South African minerals, this is like a PhD course in the localities and the minerals.

Grab a coffee, kick back in your favorite chair and enjoy the knowledge from Dr. Bruce Cairncross!!!!

Oh, and hang around to the very end - you'll get to see, and hear, another great talent that Bruce possesses!!!

This episode originally aired on March 3, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

For Episode 38 of Mineral Talks LIVE, we head back to Tucson, Arizona where we get together with thumbnail collector extraordinaire - Dr. Alex Schauss.

In the mineral world, "thumbnails" describes a size category of mineral specimens where the specimen fits within a 1" x 1" x 1" (2.54cm x 2.54cm x 2.54cm) plastic display box called a Perky Box. As a category, thumbnails have been much maligned and dismissed over the years as a lesser quality of mineral collecting but Alex has been one of the recent champions to show the world how this is really a false perception.

The probability of finding a more perfectly developed specimen with little to no damage is exceedingly higher when it comes to thumbnail-size specimens. And Alex shows us EXACTLY what we mean by this statement,

So join us on this fascinating journey into the world of thumbnail minerals by one of the great Ambassadors of this category. Who knows? You too might start looking at thumbnails in a whole new way.

This episode originally aired on March 10, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

In this eye-opening episode we head over to Zurich, Switzerland where we get together with our friend Dr. Andreas Stucki.

Andreas is not only the Owner of Siber+Siber, Switzerland's number one rock shop, but he's also a strahler - one of the famed Swiss rock hunters who LOVE to spend time up in the Alps. What Andreas has to show us and teach us about Swiss minerals is truly a Master Course in this kind of education. The pieces he shares are both beautiful and fascinating in the way they form.

So tune in to our 39th Episode of Mineral Talks LIVE and see for yourself what makes the Swiss strahlers so impassioned.

This episode originally aired on March 17, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

If you've been involved, at any level, in the mineral-collecting world over the past decade, then you've either heard about the Perot Museum or you've already been there a number of times.

The Lyda Hill Gems & Mineral Hall at the Perot Museum was perhaps the first in a new breed of mineral museums in America. These new museums rely on the loaning of specimens from collectors around the world to create their new, ever-changing displays. In return for the generosity of these collectors, the Perot provides an exceptional display environment complete with interactive informational displays to provide more information on each specimen.

The result is a fully-immersive mineral experience for all visitors to the museum. And the woman in charge of this is Kimberly Vager, our guest for Episode 40 of Mineral Talks LIVE.

Join us as Kim takes us on a personal tour of the exhibit gallery at the Perot and shares some of the jaw-dropping specimens on loan to this fabulous museum.

This episode originally aired on March 24, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[BlueCapProductions]

In the gem world, he’s definitely double-oh-one. The CEO of Gem-A with a license to kill with killer gemstones. He’s also the co-host of What’s Hot In Munich where they refer to him as Hart, Alan Hart. And now we’ve got him for a full hour (and then some).

Join us as we go Hart-To-Hart with the man whose knowledge of minerals is only surpassed by his passion for them. You’ll hear some stories of his history at the Natural History Museum of London and then his transition to being the CEO of the oldest gemological educational institution in the world.

This is Alan Hart as you may have never seen him before. And, just to keep you drooling in your seats, you’ll see some of his incredible Instagram posts and you’ll learn why he’s currently the King Of Instagram.

The hour goes by way too quickly but it’ll just keep you coming back for more.

Here’s Alan Hart in Episode 41 of Mineral Talks LIVE!!!

This episode originally aired on March 31, 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 to the world a new venue where the mineral world can re-connect with each other during these difficult times.

[James Catmur]

Great report, but even Alan is not perfect. I watched and I thought at 1:04:00 "that fluorite is from La Collada not from Berbes" (Alan said 'Berbes')! Double checked on Alan's Instagram account and he says 'La Collada' on there.

[Tobi]

[helvatica]

Thank you for this great post
Have a good day!!!