FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Samuel]

The specimen featured below is very interesting and combines both good looks with technical interest. It reminds me of a mineralogical “Bulgarian fruit cake” being composed of Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite, Galena and Quartz. It hails from Deveti Septemvri Mine, Mogila Deposit, Madan Ore Field, Sth Rhodope Mts, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria. It is very three dimensional and I will post more photos when I get them. It is 12 x 9 x 8 cm. I have included a few macro inserts to show just how lovely the crystals are. Look at those Galena with the surface dimples and “hoppered” faces

[Samuel]

This is another one of my Ferberites from Yaogangxian. Again a cluster of Ferberites with some at right angles to the others. The most noteworthy feature is the clear Quartz crystal with a few inclusions, sticking out the side. It looks as if it had been “shot” right through the specimen. It hails from Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. It is 8 x 8 x 3 cm, and the quartz crystal is 3 x 1 x 1cm.

[Samuel]

This is a very beautiful Arsenopyrite Jack (Crowley) got for me, and you do not see these much anymore. It is a mass of the most beautiful “spears of Arsenopyrite.” Just look at the macro inserts of the crystals - their shape, texture and colour is just amazing. It hails from the Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Huánuco Department, Peru. It is about 7 x 7 x 7 cm.

For those that may be interested I print my own labels on Kodak Photographic paper that is specified for InkJet printers, and then laminate and cut to size. The stands are made of glass held firmly by epoxy. I just print the shapes out on a printer and place a sheet of glass over the shape and then cut with a glass cutter. In effect tracing with a glass cutter. I prefer the octagon, and when cut I sand smooth with carbide paper. As for strength, I have stress tested these stands with a 10kg weight on one for two weeks with no breakage. Of course being glass don’t expect it to last if you drop it on concrete.

[Samuel]

This is another lovely Bulgarian piece. It is chalcopyrite on quartz with a few Sphalerite crystals sprinkled around for interest. It hails from Deveti Septemvri Mine, Mogila Deposit, Madan Ore Field, Sth Rhodope Mts, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria. It is 12 x 7 x 4 cm and the largest chalcopyrite is about 4 cm. I just love these combo pieces. They tell such an interesting story about the paragenesis of the specimen. The specimen could almost be taken for a Peruvian piece.

[Samuel]

This is an extraordinary fluorite – incredibly gemmy. It has the most amazing green colour and is absolutely transparent, so much so that you can see right through the specimen. You will notice in the photo that part of the brick wall can be seen through some of the crystals. The crystals are large cubes with beautiful beveled edges. It hails from the Xianghuapu Mine, Xianghualing Sn-Polymetallic Field, Linwu County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. It is 20 x 9 x 8 cm and the largest crystal is 5cm on edge.

[Samuel]

This is a lovely pyrite from Peru and was supplied by Jack (Crowley). It consists of modified pyritohedrons to 5 cm, and on some of the faces of the larger crystals, there is secondary growth of smaller pyritohedrons. It hails from the Huanzala Mine, Huallanca district, Dos de Mayo Province, Huanuco Department, Peru. It is 10 x 6 x 6 cm.

[Samuel]

The specimen featured below is absolutely beautiful and the photo does not do it justice. It is a combo piece consisting of a base of Kidney Ore (Hematite) on which Specularite (Hematite) and quartz has formed. When properly lit it looks beautiful with the light reflecting of the hematite blades. It hails from the Ullcoats Mine, Egremont, West Cumberland Iron Field, North Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, United Kingdom. It is 10 x 9 x 3 cm.

[Samuel]

The specimen shown below is Calcite on fluorite, also from the Xianghuapu Mine, Xianghualing Sn-Polymetallic Field, Linwu County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. It comprises well formed and very clear calcite crystals on light green fluorite. It is another example of the sheer quality of material and volume of quality material that comes out of China. It is 7 x 5 x 3 cm and the calcites are about 2 cm wide.

You will find nothing of this quality in the Land of “Oz.” As far as collector quality minerals are concerned, Australia is bankrupt, and I am amazed why some collectors persist in trying to obtain Australian minerals. Many speak of Broken Hill and I say what has come out of there in the last 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years – they are merely recycling stuff from the late 19th and early 20th century. Just give it up!!!

[Samuel]

This is a lovely piece, and another from the Yaogangxian Mine. It is Galena and Calcite on Quartz. The Galena crystals appear highly modified with nice surface textures, but I do feel there may also be another sulphide present. The Calcites occur as rhombs and have a lovely yellow hue, but these are internal “phantoms” I think. It hails from the Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. It is 11 x 10 x 3 cm and the rhombs are about 2 cm.

[Samuel]

Featured below is your common “garden–variety” Aquamarine (Beryl) with Muscovite. The largest crystal is 4 cm long, and there is a large cluster with a smaller one to the left. After getting my Sichuan Aquamarine I really wanted one of the hexagonal crystal groups with the flat tops - cute. Chinese Beryls are fantastic, but most tend to be tabular. It hails from Chumar Bakhoor, Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan. It is 13 x 10 x 7 cm.

[Samuel]

You have heard the term “Bolivian Uglies” well featured below is an “Australian Ugly” which I acquired some 15 years ago. It is Chalcocite and it is part of my reference collection of Australian Ore Minerals. It hails from the Woolawn Mine, Goulburn, NSW, Australia. It is 8 x 6 x 3 cm.

[Samuel]

I do not normally collect Quartz crystals but these were different. It is a tight cluster of clear and very lusterous Quartz crystal on which dark green crystals of Epidote have grown. Unlike most Quartz specimens that come from this quarry, the Quartz is “crystal” clear. It hails from Hongquizhen Quarry, Meigu County, Liangshan Autonomous, Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. It is 10 x 10 x 4 cm

[Samuel]

It is late here in the land of “Oz” but before I retire for the evening I thought I would show you another of my Australian Ore Minerals. This is Native Silver from Elizabeth Hill Mine, Near Karratha, West Pilbara, Western Australia, Australia. It is 11 x 6 x 3 cm and is pretty hefty at 680grams or about 1.5lbs in the old scale. It has the most brilliant metallic luster with a “hackly” surface texture. It was examined at the Museum for elemental composition but not surprisingly it is pretty much just native silver. Some might call it a nugget, but in fact it was part of a solid seam of native silver. The mine produced two extraordinary size "nuggets" both weighing above 100kg, by comparison mine is a little one.

As for this and other photos I have posted, if you wish to use them for non commercial purposes please feel free to do so. I am a great believer in the view that knowledge belongs to everyone.

[Joaquin Montoro]

Wow! this silver is simply gorgeous, exceptionnel....a number one piece! I like it very much.
Congratulations Sam.

[Samuel]

Hi Joaquin:

These silvers are still very easy to get in Oz. A local dealer visited the mine in 1998 (?) and self collected but paid some $60,000AUD for a large consignment of silver specimens. The largest one he recovered weighed some 11kg. There is not a great deal of interest in the "nugget" style as most people prefer wires so I do not think he has sold many. He got into terrible trouble a few years ago first with the FBI in the United States and with Customs and Federal Police in Australia, over fossils I think. There was a feature story about it in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, but he is still in business.

[Samuel]

Featured below is another of the so-called “Bolivian Uglies” but I “reckon” it is as “cute as a button.” It is a mass of Stannite crystals on which has grown blades of Jamesonite (proven). It hails from the San José Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia. It is 6.5 x 3 x 3 cm. I just love the sulfides and sulfosalts from Bolivia, they make wonderful mineral specimens.

[Darren]

Samuel-

Gotta say, even your "uglies" and ore collection pieces are just amazing - thank you so much for sharing!

Darren

[Samuel]

Hi Darren:

Thank you very much for your encouraging words. Most of the Ore specimens, with the exception of those I have from the Burra Burra Copper Mine, were given to me 15 or more years ago. I simply wrote a nice letter to the appropriate Mine Manager explaining my interest and a bit about my background and they gave me them. Some Managers were not very polite and simply said they had no time to waste on such requests, but some were gentlemen. Most companies will genuinely help collectors but as you can imagine they probably get a lot of requests for stuff, and so it pays to write a well written and sincere request. If you are lucky the company may have a senior geologist who is also a mineral collector, but not all geologist collect minerals. Most refineries will give samples of refined elements to those who show genuine interest, and as there are fewer element collectors than mineral collectors your odds of getting good element samples are much better.

Regards

Sam

[Samuel]

Hello All:

If anyone has sent me a PM I just realized I could access them. I am a bit “absent-minded” at times. So sorry if I seem to be ignoring it is not my intent. I will respond to all.

[Samuel]

Now this would have to be of one the craziest minerals in the mineral kingdom, but also one of the most technically interesting – Cylindrite. It hails from Trinacria Mine, Callipampa, Poopo Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia. Unfortunately it is only 4 x 3 x 2 cm and I have looked for larger. The photo below is a macro shot I took to highlight a portion of the specimen, and show just where its name originates – cylinders, just incredible. Does not nature know how to cook with atoms?