FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

Hi all,

As a country with lots of famous mining areas and mineral localities and also with a long mining history, Germany features many mineral classics that are much sought-after by collectors all around the world. I'd like to know what, in your opinion, the greatest of them are, according to each one's taste. As a German collector with a marked preference for German minerals i'm interested to see what the preferences of collectors from foreign countries are. Just would like to know what you consider the "Best of Germany" ... ;-)

Some of my favourites are:

- Topaz from Schneckenstein, Saxony
- Fluorite from Clara Mine, Black Forest
- Fluorite from Woelsendorf, Bavaria
- Fluorite from Erzgebirge, Saxony
- Galena with siderite from Neudorf, Harz Mountains

Of course there are many others, but they aren't that famous and most of you will not know them ...

And i hope you are not shocked that a German collector doesn't prefer some evergreens like Bad Ems pyromorphite, Schlema proustite or Illfeld manganite ;-)

Cheers!
Tobi

[lluis]

Hi, Tobias

Well, maybe I am biased, but I prefer the Ilfeld manganites, the rarities from Grube Clara and the Grube Wolf rhodos.... Along with ruby silver from Germany, of course... :-)

As you say, to each one, his taste

With best wishes

Lluís

[Andreas Gerstenberg]

Great topic;-)

What should I start with? Hence there are so many favorites... The blue zoned fluorites from Halsbrücke/Saxony of course, clinoclase from Clara mine, the brown barytes from Zobes/Saxony, silver from Freiberg, the "black amethyst" from Plauenscher Grund near Dresden, the great chalcopyrites, galenas and sphalerites from many locales and, of course, all the other specimens that cannot compair with the international stuff (azurite from Altenmittlau/Hesse and so on, and so on) but are excellent for the country.

Best regards
Andreas

[chris]

Hi Tobias,

If I had to chose one it would be Galena on Siderite from Neudorf first, followed by silver sulfides from various localities.

Christophe

[Jesse Fisher]

I have always liked the fluorites from Erzegebirge. Some nice penetration twins very much like Weardale fluorites. A few years ago I got this specimen here in the US. It was labeled "Weardale" but the matrix is Baryte, which doesn't happen there. I am pretty sure it is from the Freiberg area, maybe Halsbrucke?

[Andreas Gerstenberg]

Hi,

I agree, could be from Halsbrücke. The mine is named "Beihilfe".

Best regards
Andreas

[Joaquin Montoro]

Hi Tobias, really I like very much the arsenics and bismuths from Hartenstein in Saxony.
Also the world famous pyromorphite from the Rosenberg Mine, near Braubach, in Bad Ems...and of course, all the silver minerals from Freiberg district.

[Jesse Fisher]

Hello Andreas,

Thank you for the information. I looked up Grube Beihilfe on Mindat but there is no information about the mine other than mineral photos. I assume the mine is no longer active. Can you tell me what years it was active and what the main ores were?

Thanks,
Jesse

[Tobi]

Hi Jesse,

i hope you don't mind when it's me instead of Andreas who tells you about the mine ;-) They started mining there in the 17th century, the mine is famous of course for its fluorites but also for Baryte, galena and sphalerite and many others (i suppose you saw the mineral list on mindat). The mine was closed in 1969 ... and some of its minerals got really expensive during the last decades :-/

Cheers!
Tobi

[Jesse Fisher]

Hello Tobias,

Thank you for the information. I have seen how expensive specimens from this mine are. Last year at Munich I was offered a very nice fluorite twin at an unaffordable price. I am hoping that my luck will be better this year!

Cheers,
Jesse

[keldjarn]

Hallo Tobias,

Even if German Fluorites, Topazes and Galenas can be nice, they are still quite common minerals found in splendid specimens in many countries. My mineral favorites from Germany would be those unique "Rembrandts "of the past - the best of the silver-minerals from the old mines (i.e. sulphosalts like Pyrargyrites, Proustites and not the least Samsonite where the best specimens in existence are just as rare and atractive as a Mona Lisa..). There are also unique specimens of native Bismuth found (even if most are too bulky and not really aesthetic) - and a recent favorite of mine following the acquisition of an exquisite specimen - the redish-golden crystals of Nickeline in large globular formations. Germany has truely provided the mineral world with many treasures - but sadly most of these are to be seen in dusty museum cabinets or locked away in back room drawers, and very rarely are such specimens available to collectors.
Knut

[Jesse Fisher]

Just for fun, here is a photo of my Schneckenstein topaz. Not a great one, but a classic locality.

[Peter]

It is a nice Schneckensetein topaz Jesse!

[Carles Curto]

This topaz,also from Schneckenstein, is in the Museum of Barcelona. Registered as MGB 11590 it arrives to the Museum in 1979 together with Cervelló Collection (num. 4758)

The samples size is 5,0 x 4,0 x 2,5 cm and the main crystal has 0,8 x 0,6 x 0,5 cm.

[Tobi]

[Roger Warin]

Of course fabulous minerals, but there are also calcites.
From Freiberg, Erzgebirge, Saxony, a calcite as beautiful as beryl.
Is the German name “Kanonenspath” correct? I think this term is also used for calcites from St Andreasberg (prism and pinacoid).
Roger.

[Tobi]

[Pierre Joubert]

Hi Tobi. For me, the fluorites are the best of German collectible mineral specimens. I find some of them stunning.

[Tobi]

I agree, Pierre, fluorites are among my all-time favourites of German minerals. There are a lot of areas where wonderful fluorites came from (Harz Mountains, Erzgebirge, Black Forest, Wölsendorf/Bavaria) - only collecting fluorites from Germany can fill a collector's life. Well, but fluorite is ALWAYS a beautiful mineral, no matter where it comes from :)

Tobi

[Roger Warin]

Thank you very much Tobi
The word Kanonenspat seems to me (?) only used in Germany, even if that word applies to hexagonal prismatic habit for other localities worldwide.
Here is the same calcite illuminated by a UV lamp (365 nm).
Roger.