FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Robert Seitz]

Some more from RCM.

[Bob Harman]

All very interesting with a lot of history behind most of the specimens. But note how few have today's aesthetic eye candy appeal. Only a specialized museum case would get much attention at many shows. Also note that private collection cases at shows and museum cases, both at the museum and at shows, need not state any type of specimen repairs or reconstructions etc.
Only mineral specimens for sale need repairs etc to be stated on the labels. BOB

[colin robinson]

Bob, collecting specimens for their aesthetic appeal is quite different from collecting them for their mineralogical appeal.

[Bob Harman]

Just read my first sentence, I think COLIN, that was one point of my post...........BOB.

[Bob Harman]

I just returned from 6 days at the Denver Show. As, I am sure you know, this show is the second largest US show after Tucson. Denver, like most large shows stresses display cases. This year Mexican mining and minerals was the theme. Many cases, both from museums and private collections had eye candy specimens. Other cases, predominantly from museums (but also a few private collections) showed mining history with paraphernalia and historic but non-eye candy specimens.
If you critically watch the show goers looking over the display cases, you can see many dwelling on the eye candy cases, passing up the historic theme cases while others also spend some time on the historic theme cases. The numbers of show goers looking at all these different type cases might be of interest ?????

BTW, I might add my impressions of the Denver show. I was waiting for GAIL S to add more pix and someone else to be curious about that show; nothing yet. BOB

[Recovering - Academic]

I am inclined to agree with Bob. Today’s emphasis in mineral collecting is aesthetics – eye candy. And eye-candy has its price!

Yes I am aware that there are many fine field collectors still collecting, and some are uncovering some good pieces. Yes I am aware that there are many knowledgeable collectors in the hobby – some with superb collections and others with nice collections. But neither field collecting prowess nor mineralogical knowledge by themselves will translate into a fine display-worthy mineral collection. The bottom line is money. Unless you can set aside at least $4000USD per annum for your minerals you will be severely limited in the scope and depth of your collection. It will take a very long time to build a display worth collection. Even common eye-candy minerals like galena, pyrite, sphalerite and calcite will cost many hundreds of dollars per specimen should you wish to add a nice small-cabinet specimen of any of these species to your collection.

I am not saying these things to be controversial or unkind. It is just a simple fact of the current state of the hobby. The more money you have to spend the better your collection will be.

[Robert Seitz]

I sometimes wonder if the end result of present trends towards ‘mineral as art’ will be the acceptance of such extravaganza as the objects of art as seen in “Wilson, W.E., Treasures from the wreck of the Unbelievable: artisan-crafted mineral specimens as works of art, Mineralogical Record, vol. 49, July - August 2018, 597-606”, as legitimate minerals.

[Robert Seitz]

Additional RCM specimens.

[Robert Seitz]

Some additional specimens.
There are many more, but you'll have to visit to see.

I bought a pyrite, covellite specimen from Hingston Down Quarry, Gunnislake, Cornwall at East Pool Mine store during visit there. It was only labelled as pyrite. Interestingly it looks like same material I have from Butte, Montana. I'll post picture.

[Peter Lemkin]

Some great specimens. The museum, however, needs to update their labels. The old names are interesting and appropriate for such old specimens and mines, BUT on many labels they do NOT have the modern approved name - and almost never at the top, as they really should..... This doesn't take away from the specimens themselves, but would confuse and fail to educate those less steeped in minerals.

[Robert Seitz]

I see this commonly in the older museums in Europe. It's particularly interesting for historical reasons to see the shift in mineral name & even the country borders and perhaps existence after 100+ years.

[Peter Lemkin]

[Robert Seitz]

I've tried to discuss at a few museums. In general, the change is often not a priority.
However, we should keep asking!

[Peter Lemkin]