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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: May 15, 2008 04:11 Post subject: The Folch Collection |
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It is always a pleasure to visit a Mineral Museum, but visiting the Folch Mineral Collection generated to me an avalanche of experiences and feelings that I can’t easily explain. Not only the quality of the specimens, but their history and localities, some of them are pure history, others that have been forgotten, but maybe someday will wake up again.
Therefore, with the permission of the Foundation, we want to start a new topic and share with visitors of this Forum some specimens that are worth mentioning. And those which left there... later.
Just a few words to say thank you to the Can Costa Foundation for their kindness in letting us publish here these highlights that we think that were never displayed before in this way.
Señor Joaquín Folch i Girona
holding a Fluorapatite from Panasqueira
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USA mineral classics is where the Folch Collection is very strong. Two excellent 11-13 cm. (4½ - 5 inches) tall native Copper specimens from Michigan. Both the crystal definition and their high quality can be considered exceptional. Really top specimens. |
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63223 Time(s) |

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Another excellent American high quality specimen. This year, in Tucson 2008, we have supposedly seen the best Red Cloud Mine Wulfenite specimens in the American Treasures Exposition, but we think that this one, with about 6 cm. (2½ inches) on edge, could be similar or maybe better! Extremely intense color! |
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63254 Time(s) |

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We have seen large and good luster Silver specimens from Michigan, but this specimen shows two unusual aspects that we would like to emphasize: really good crystal definition for the locality, and matrix. Specimen is 14 cm. (5½ inches) tall. |
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Kongsberg Mines (Norway), a worldwide classic for Silver mineral specimens. Its legendary fame comes not only from the thick wire Silver “trees” but the fact that if properly protected from light they do not blacken. This gorgeous specimen is a perfect example: 14 cm. (5½ inches) of native Silver tree. |
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More European Classics. An european collector’s dream: Epidote from Knappenwand, Austria. Very few specimens are as perfect as this one from Folch’s collection. This one, also with Fluorapatite crystals, is 14 cm. (5½ inches) across. |
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What incredible color, what brilliance, what esthetic forms... it is close to the ultimate in perfection for alpine red Fluorites. Some octahedron edges measure more than 3 cm. (1¼ inches) An alpine beauty. |
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How is it possible that one of the best italian Phosgenite samples is in the Folch Collection? Near 15 cm. (6 inches) of a pure Phosgenite floater, with an extraordinary transparency (not really common for Monteponi specimens), no damage, no internal cleavages, just perfect. Jordi told us that he has seen several great Phosgenite specimens from Monteponi, but he thinks that only very few ones could be near in elegance and quality to this one. |
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63226 Time(s) |

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It is not the most beautiful mineral we have seen, but it shows an incredible quality. Groups of Hessite crystals forming spike-like growths near to 5 cm. (2½ inches) in length, and with Gold on its matrix. It is a Romanian classic specimen from the XIXth century. |
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Here you can enjoy a Grossular var. Tsavorite crystal of 3.5 (1¼ inches) on 7 cm. (2¾ inches) matrix. It is a member of the garnet group, species Grossular, whose green color is due to trace amounts of vanadium and/or chromium. The excellent color and good transparency make this specimen worthy of being shown in the main Folch collection, it is from a recent find in Madagascar. This is one of the specimens that has been acquired by the Folch Collection through the sale of their duplicates via Fabre Minerals. |
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_________________ Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: May 15, 2008 06:31 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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What a treat !
Thanks for the great start to my day Joan!
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Les Presmyk
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 372
Location: Gilbert, AZ


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Posted: May 15, 2008 08:24 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Thank you for doing this. In my early years (1960's) attending the Tucson Show, I remember seeing Senior Folch-Girona, usually sitting in Walt Lidstrom's booth (and sometimes asleep). He was THE European buyer and I can recall dealers and collectors talking about him buying this specimen or that specimen for phenonemal sums of money like $500 and $1000, usually in hushed whispers. Now, to see some of those specimens is a real treat. It is a goal to someday see the collection.
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Tracy

Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Location: Toronto



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Posted: May 15, 2008 08:26 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Thanks for the beautiful images Joan. I hope you will share more.
_________________ "Wisdom begins in wonder" - Socrates |
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mmauthner
Joined: 30 May 2007
Posts: 113
Location: Graz


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Posted: May 15, 2008 11:57 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Thank you, Joan!
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Joan R.

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: May 16, 2008 03:39 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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We are very pleased that people enjoy this short selection of Folch Collection specimens that we have photographed. This work has been a team effort, as almost everything we do in Fabre Minerals, coordinated by Jordi Fabre who took care of the selection of some “special” specimens and gave substance to the texts contents and, between Parés and myself, we took the pictures. Perhaps the picture quality is not as good as we would like but all of them were taken by camera in hand directly through the showcases.
Slowly, we are going to add in the future some more "beauties" from this great collection.
Thank you everybody for your support and kind comments!
_________________ Joan Rosell
lengenbach(.)com
Grup Mineralògic Català |
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Tracy

Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Location: Toronto



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Posted: May 16, 2008 08:16 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Joan, the quality of your photos taken through showcase glass is far superior to yjay of my own photos taken out in the open.... :-[ They are truly lovely and we are grateful that you shared them. Congratulations to all for the fantastic team effort.
_________________ "Wisdom begins in wonder" - Socrates |
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Les Presmyk
Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 372
Location: Gilbert, AZ


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Posted: May 16, 2008 10:20 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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I agree with Tracy's comments. Thanks.
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Tracy

Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Location: Toronto



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Posted: May 16, 2008 13:46 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Oops - a hideous typo - I meant to say that your photo quality is superior to THAT of my own photos! (my hand slid too far over on the keyboard). Looking forward to seeing more.
_________________ "Wisdom begins in wonder" - Socrates |
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Xavier Martinez
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 12
Location: Molins de Rei- Barcelona-


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Posted: May 17, 2008 04:13 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Really a preciousness. I wonder Joan, that living in Barcelona, once in the life, I will have some possibility of seeing the collection Folch, or it is a totally private and restricted topic.
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4950
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: May 19, 2008 10:18 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Xavier,
The Museum is managed actually by a Foundation named Can Costa. They give green light for Museums, Institutions or scientific purposes, but is not allowed for individuals.
We are trying to organize something like one visit per year with a number of people interested to visit it, if we arrive to fix it we will let it know via our Spanish forum.
Jordi
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Xavier Martinez
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 12
Location: Molins de Rei- Barcelona-


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Posted: May 19, 2008 16:09 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Thank you very much Jordi, would really make me a lot of illusion and I would delight.
For many years ago hears speak of the collection of Mr. Folch.
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4950
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: May 31, 2008 16:40 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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I think that I have interesting news. I had a talk with people of Can Costa, fundation that currently manage the Folch collection. They, kindly, have accepted a visit of a group between 10-15 persons. It means that if sometime during the future some one can manage a team of 10-15 people, they will get a special permision to do a visit of the Folch collection.
Les, Gail, are you interested to organize a group, enjoy Barcelona city, and at same time use it to visit the extraordinary Folch collection?
Jordi
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Gail

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.



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Posted: Jun 01, 2008 07:25 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Jordi, you bet!
Jim and I have been to Spain for the Vuelta bicyclle race. We bicycled all over Spain and ended up in Madrid for the final stage of the race. We would bicycle 100 K per day and then relax along the side of the road in a small village/town and watch the race go by. It was great fun!
But Barcelona we did not see, so this would be wonderful for us and a few other Yanks!
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4950
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jun 01, 2008 09:25 Post subject: Re: The Folch Collection |
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Sounds good Gail, I let you work on it.
Please note that Folch's would need a group, not individuals, and also that I think that Les would like to be on it.
Jordi
PS: Xavier, if the group finally can be organized, then you can join they and visit the collection together with they.
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