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Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 09:17 Post subject: Gail's collection

>Women are here invited to delight us, showing pics (or just describing them if they prefer don't publish photos) of their favorite specimens from their collections. The start of this topic is the Gail's collection.
>She was so kind to offer us some pics of their specimens. TAK, of course you are invited to join us too!

>The idea is not as a kind of race among best specimens, just the more loved specimens for any reason, although those specimens are not "top".

>Jordi

Thank you Jordi.
I will entice more women to come and post on your site, it is nice to be able to talk AND show off some of our favourites!
Gail

Gail,
I loved this specimen when I saw it on the Westward's show case. I said everybody that this was one of my favorites when I saw it. I'm pleased that you like so much too!

Jordi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ex Irv Brown collection. Photo by Jeff Scovil.

Most of the photos you will see were taken by Jeff Scovil.
Some were taken by Stuart Wilensky and the others by me. ( You can tell mine, they are not professional! )

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 09:21 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

Got this one from Peter Lyckberg. We have become good friends and attended his wedding this past year in Sweden.

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 09:33 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

A beauty amongst beryls, this is 15 cm long. Brice Gobin says this is his favourite in our collection. We have a number of aquamarines, but this is the one that knocks my socks off!
Ex Irv Brown collection

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 13:32 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

Jim and I got this when it was dirty, needed trimming and was a bit larger than we normally like, but we had it cleaned and trimmed and absolutely love it! I have made a point to collect a number of specimens from this mine. We really almost said NO to buying it.
When it was offered to us I was skeptical, it was not very attractive. We decided, overnight, to keep it and see how it would clean up. It has five water inclusions, which is great fun when showing to the grandchildren. The gemmy terminations of the two "main" crystals is a bonus as many can be found with a milky inclusion, as you will see evident in the "thumb".
From Keith Williams

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 13:37 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

There is something so wonderful about Cavansite! What rich colour. This was one of our earlier pieces, when we had been collecting for less than a year. I was so drawn to the fact that Nature had produced something so richly BLUE! I notice that non mineral people really are drawn to it.
Ex Irv Brown collection.

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 13:42 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

I didn't pay a whole lot of money for this, but it really took my breath away. I saw it on an internet site and took a gamble that I would love it as much as the photo, well...I did.
It is superb with a gemmy face at the top and an etched face on back and front.
I find fluorites to be fascinating, they often catch my attention and each has its own special appeal.
From Dan and Diana Weinrich

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 13:47 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

We had no idea this was to be a cover piece for the Mineralogical Record last year in January. It was an extreme honour.
From Rob Lavinsky.

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 03, 2008 18:15 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

I have quite a nice collection of Hemimorphites from Mexico, and this is one of my all time favourites from that suite. From Rob Lavinsky.
Ex Ed David, Evan Jones and Bob Jones piece.

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 09:03 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

We thought this was an unusual combination and it is just very pleasing to the eye as well. Both Jim and I found it a "must have" for our collection. It is a miniature in size.
The combination of the two colours is divine!

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 09:09 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

John might know this piece, it is from the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. I found the formation to be very pleasing, the interaction of the Baryte to be almost puzzle like. Nature continues to amaze me, and this piece is also my Daughter-in-Laws favourite as well. Until seeing this I was underwhelmed by most Barytes, but this was something that we truly loved adding to our collection. Stunning!

Jeff Scovil photo

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 09:16 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

If ever there was a "pretty" mineral, this is it. The Tourmaline jutting out the side of the Kunzite makes this specimen all the more unusual. The sharp angle of the Kunzite is virtually damage free and makes a sharp impression on novice and old timer when they visit. Ex-Irv Brown collection, who happens to be one of my dearest friends.

Jeff Scovil photo.

NOTE: Fred Wilda just painted this and it is being used by Marty Zinn for his show poster in Tucson this year. We are honoured.

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 13:01 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

I have seen many Rose Quartz specimens, and many are nice but didn't strike a chord with me, this one...well, it was exactly what I was looking for.
It did belong to Pete Bancroft, Dave Wilber, John Barlow and Irv Brown which is fun for me as I like to think that real men don't fear pink! It was featured in the Bancroft book as well as John Barlows, but it is truly a Spann mineral as I can't imagine parting with it!
This was used in my women's talk at the Westward Look this year.
I keep a cut gemstone next to it to add to the fun.
Jeff Scovil photo.

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 13:09 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

One of my top ten beloved specimens is this gorgeous pink fluorite from Peru. It was on the cover of Mineralogical Record in June/July 1997. It was a Marty Zinn piece at the time. It was also in the Bruce Oreck collection. We acquired it from Stuart Wilensky in 2007.
It takes my breath away. I love the fun provenance, but it is the mineral that must win my heart and admiration first.

Stuart Wilensky photo.

Gail · Posted: Apr 04, 2008 14:39 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

The first photo is an unusual colour of Scheelite. I saw this and bought it right away, it was a must for our collection! I saw it across Stuart Wilensky's room and walked straight over to it, admired it and knew that it was So different than the other Scheelites in our collection.
It is also DT which only adds to its beauty. It was purchased in Denver of 06, our first time at the main show.

About the second photo, we are blessed with having Wallace Mann in our MAD group. HIs taste in minerals is impeccable and we have managed to talk him out of a few! This Quartz var. Amethyst is one that I treasure. I know that there has been much debate on labels and who owned minerals before us, and this is a case of being honoured to have Ex-Wally Mann specimens.

Gail · Posted: Apr 07, 2008 08:35 Post subject: Re: Gail's collection

This is our most PRICELESS piece in the whole Spann collection. I would no sooner let this piece go than I would my right eye.
It is by far the most sentimental, generous and inspiring example of self collecting.
This was collected, in Collin county, Texas by a 5 year old Grandson of ours, Iain. He was so thrilled to go out in our driveway and find a rock off to the side and present it to me as he said "Here Nanny, for your collection. Will you put it in your cabinet? "

Now this is how a grandmother collects. ( smiling )

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