FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Sante Celiberti]

Hi, Tobi.

The stalagmite is 140x100 mm large. I got it 40 years ago from a worker in the travertine quarry of Montemerano who had glued it on a travertine pedestal from the same quarry.

You're right, in this piece the similarity is more evident than in others previously posted. Nonetheless, I see more resemblances in many of my specimens than in other high end minerals offered for sale as resembling something. Professional deformation..? :-) :-) :-)

Warm greetings.

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

The Italian collectors call this stalactitic opal "Santa Fiora tears", since in Santa Fiora (on Mount Amiata) this material was found for the first time.

Best regards.
Sante

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

Another curious specimen from Tuscany.

Best regards.
Sante

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

[Don Lum]

Hello Sante,

Your quartz specimen does indeed look like the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

I have been enjoying your posts. Please continue.

Regards,

Don

[Sante Celiberti]

Thank you, Don.

It's always a pleasure to hear from you.
Here is another "suggesting" specimen, this time self-collected: a nodule of cinnabar that reminds me of a famous Etruscan artifact.
Warm greetings.
Sante

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

Two quartzes from the same locality.

Best regards.
Sante

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

Here is another Tuscan quartz: just a miniature, but quite interesting.
In addition to the saturated citrine color, due to iron inclusions, it shows a particular scepter surrounded by a reverse scepter.
The scepter shape reminds a tail-coat, therefore I called this specimen "Man in a tail-coat" (nothing to do with Van Gogh...).
I hope you find it funny.

Warm greetings and take care.
Sante

[Bob Harman]

I consider Sante's latest mineral specimen a modern version of Michaelangelo's "David"!!.......Both great examples, Ciao, Bob

[Sante Celiberti]

Ciao, Bob.

I read with great pleasure your nice comment and I also appreciated the grace with which you made the comparison between these both Tuscan objects.
In light of the suggested new perspective, I would say that -more than a modern version- my quartz is a "Dionysian" vision of the "Apollonian" Michelangelo's David.
Now, the name "Man in tailcoat" seems to be outdated and we have to find another more appropriate (and elegant) nikname, since -as seen in this tread- I like to give a name to my suggesting specimens.
Thank you, Bob. I was hoping for your comment on Tuscany minerals and I'm waiting for others.
Receive my warm Tuscan greetings and stay safe.
Sante

[Tony L. Potucek]

Thank you, Sante,
I, too, enjoy seeing minerals from your region. It's ok by me if you also slip in a photo or two of a some of your favorite Italian wine! Ha!

best regards,
tlp

[Philippe Durand]

What we can say is, that quartz is happy to be in your collection ;

As an Italian quartz, I would say you can name it "Roco"

I admit it is not very elegant, but...

[Sante Celiberti]

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello, Philippe.

Thank you very much for your kind words and the funny suggestion.
Rocco is quite known to a franch neighbor of Italy, but I'm looking for an expressive and at the same time elegant name easily recognizable by everyone.
I think that, all together, we will find it. ;-)

Take care.
Sante

[Sante Celiberti]

Hello.

Two suggesting (at least to me) specimens from Morocco.

Best regards.
Sante