FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

[David Von Bargen]

Nice specimens, but 1050 sure doesn't look like an emerald.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Ed Huskinson]

Hi everybody!!

Wow. Holy cow! I'm having trouble typing because as each picture unfolded while I scrolled down, my heart rate increased and my blood pressure soared.

So many of these are minerals from localities unknown or little known to me. It just got better and better.

Then my computer went crazy and I looked down and realized that I had drooled all over my keyboard and shorted the thing out. So now I have to go over to Staples to buy another Logitech wireless keyboard.

Thanks Jordi, for this. I've added the site to my favorites under FMF, and plan to visit it often.

Stunning, just stunning.

Muchissimas gracias!!!

Ed

[jimB]

Hi Jordi,
What a wonderful exhibit of minerals. That surely must be the worlds best ajoite in quartz considering the size and perfection. I loved the Brazilian morganite and thought tie "angels wing" selenite and sulphur unbelieveable. I would love to see the collection in person.

[jimB]

now that the rest of the pics opened I have to say..... which morganite!

[Antonio Alcaide]

After having translated the text that Jordi Fabre, who trusted me for that work without any doubts although my English is quite poor, I have been able to stop and contemplate the most unbelievable pictures of minerals I remember.

First of all: the size. You usually see elegant, perfect, exquisite pieces, but finding that in 50 or 60 cm sizes is simply unimaginable. Moreover, the search of aethstetics, the combinations, the geometry, the feeling of having got –I can’t imagine what price paid for-the best piece of every type locality or every locality in general.

When you see those specimens it seems that the pieces the rest of mankind has –even if you couldn’t buy them-, those coming from shows or internet had been left in the sourrondings of a quarry. Someone has arrived first and you must be content with the remains. When you arrive you discover someone has been there in advance leaving you only poor quality stuff. It is similar to Blefescu, the country near to Liliput, where everything was giant. I feel like Gulliver in front of this collection, well, I almost feel as if I were from Liliput.

However my envy is well-meaning. I am going to suggest my son studying a degree in nuclear physics-I’m joking, I’m sure Dr. Giazotto is a rich heir. Only this way I can understand such a great investment-. Because I suppose those pieces worth what they worth.: 32 cm aquamarine. In addition, I have heard the statement that an 1 cm cuprite worths “x” –nice size for a cuprite- but another 6 or 7 cm cuprite doesn’t worth 6 or 7 times more, but 70, so rare that cuprite would be. In this collection we can see unreal cuprites, unbeliavable morganites...

In my opinion the best place for such a collection is a museum. It would be World Heritage as the city of Florence. It is the palpable proof of the treasures –geological ones- the planet houses. Jordi Fabre tells us there are other similar collections. Okay. I drink a toast to the initiative to share those minerals with the rest of men and woman. I would feel generous as well if I had a treasure like that. They feel the need to show their specimens who actually enjoy their pieces. We will include the collection as one “monument” of Florence. Thank to Dr. Giazotto, Mr. Pratesi and Jordi Fabre. To those because of their providing a public location for these wonders. To Jordi because of his giving this on-line field for us to know them.

Greetings

[Jordi Fabre]

Good news for all those wishing to visit this extraordinary collection. The President of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Dr. Giovanni Pratesi, informed to me in Munich 2012 that they have reached an agreement with Dr. Adalberto Giazotto to extend the exposure until at least 2015.

No one should miss it!

[Tobi]

Hi folks,

I think you all know the collection of Adalberto Giazotto, one of the world's best and most precious mineral collections. I just found a virtual walk through this collection which is exhibited in Florence. It is made by Federico Barlocher who put two parts of his walk on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-lF3tA_IKU (Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF2jPl4_rWs (Part 2)

If you set the video on 720p and take 25 minutes of your time you will receive an impression of how stunning and mindblowing this incredible collection of the world's best minerals is. I've seen some photo reports before, but this was the first time that i saw a video of this superb specimens glowing in the light. And though this clip in its 720p quality may not nearly be as great as a real walk through this collection, it left me speechless for a moment. Every mineral collection, mineral show or mineral museum I've ever seen becomes so small after I watched Federico's clips ... wow!

Have fun!
Tobi

[Jordi Fabre]

[Mark Ost]

Spectacular setting and collection. What a fine place to find a treasure. Bella Italia.

[Tobi]