FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

Hi,

some days ago, Philippe Durand posted a specimen from the collection of his daughter ( https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=72656#72656 ) and I had the idea that one thing is underrepresented in this great forum - the collections of the next generation! I guess many of us have children who are attracted to rocks because they grow up seeing our enthusiasm for minerals and having displays full of colourful specimens around. There are several prominent collectors whose children also became also an important part of the mineral community. Just think of Bob and Evan Jones, Peter and Lauren Megaw or Gail and Jim Spann and their son Tom ...

Sure, all of those "kids" are not really kids anymore, but I'm sure their fascination for minerals started very early at a young age. My younger son is nearly 3 y/o and he already begins to look at my collection display and asks for the names of the minerals. His older brother Jonathan is 5 now and his interest in minerals started some time ago; he already has his little treasure box with several nice specimens :-)

When I saw Philippe's post last week I had the idea of showing some of the rocks in Jonathan's collection, maybe others here will do the same and we can create a section of the forum dedicated to our kids who once will inherit our rocks - and maybe also our passion for minerals. In several decades, many of us won't be here anymore, but our kids could continue the great work here, at least some of them ...

So why not starting to show what the next generation of collectors already has assembled? I will begin with one of Joni's first rocks, it's his largest one and was once in my own collection. I think this is quite fine for a 5 year old ;-)

[Gail]

Hi Tobi, great subject.

Jim and I offer numerous tours for home-schooled children’s groups as well as Boy and Girl Scout Troops. We also sponsor and assist geo-science clubs in local colleges. We sponsor an 18 to 26 year old Mineral “involved” person and pay all expenses to Tucson and introduce them to everyone. They help us pack and set up displays and help with social gatherings too. We are working on our 4th invitee, she is an amazing mineral artist. We will do this every year and encourage others to help fund a young person to attend shows they normally cannot afford.

We also have 10 grandchildren who, certainly, know minerals! 2 of our 4 adult children are involved in minerals. Tom whom many of you know, and Erin who is our mineral assistant.

When we host and offer tours to families we send all children home with a supply of beautiful minerals.

Loaning minerals to museums also helps to capture the interests of school groups.

Local clubs are reaching out to young people too, a good sign. The old ways are not working so well. But videos, challenges, even painting stones creates an audience.

There is HOPE.

[Tobi]

Hi Gail,

I know how much you and Jim are doing for the mineral world, including her youngest members, please keep up that generous work!

Here are two local Hessian rocks from Joni's collection:

[Tobi]

And of course, as a son of someone who is highly fluorite-addicted, Jonathan has some fluorites in his treasure box:

[James Catmur]

From the display case that my children share.

[Tobi]

Two other specimens from Jonathan's collection:

[Philippe Durand]

great idea Tobi
I will participate, as soon as I have more decent photos,
but I must say, that locality is not precisely specified all the time :)

[Tobi]

I'm excited to see the photos, Philippe!

Here are the last ones so far from my son's treasure box:

[Philippe Durand]

:) First pictures from my daughter's collection

[Philippe Durand]

I have difficulty entering localities with multiple photos, so I will do it one by one.

[Philippe Durand]

:)

[Jordi Fabre]

[Philippe Durand]

:)

[James Catmur]

Personally I tend to add one photo with all its data, click 'Preview' and check it is correct.

I then add the next photo and data and 'Preview' both of them.

Then I just keep adding and previewing until I have finished every photo/data I want to add

Then I click 'Submit'

[Philippe Durand]

:)