View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42



|
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 13:44 Post subject: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
I thought this could be of interest to many of you, though some of you have already read the conference and trip report on Mindat. Or even have been on the trip.
The trip was parted into three sections. First the pre-conference trip, which was a kind of sightseeing and visiting different mineral localities. The second was the conference itself in Midelt and the third was the post-conference field trip.
We started off from Marrakech on the 2th of November, through High Atlas to Ouarzazate. From Ouarzazate to the Bou Azer area. From there we visited Jebel Issimmour a fossil locality, to Mcissi and then Erg Chebbi dunes. From Erg Chebbi to the famous mines of Taouz, then to Jorf and Hameda Quarry, which is known for Fluorite.
Then travelling to Midelt through Goulmima and Rich. When reaching Midelt we checked in to Taddart Hotel where we stayed for the rest of our days. Different speaches where held and we visited the museum/shop nearby. We where visiting the mines of Mibladen, Aouli snd a Sidi Ayed.
A great trip in all ways. Perfectly organized by Tomasz Praszkier and his crue. Thanks Tom!
c
Description: |
Then we sat off from Marrakech. |
|
Viewed: |
19667 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19639 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Marie Huizing and Gerhard Brandstetter |
|
Viewed: |
19702 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The locals where selling minerals everywhere. Lots of fake! |
|
Viewed: |
19653 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Our buses. 9 buses filled up with mineral lovers. |
|
Viewed: |
19655 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19657 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
On our way to Tizi´n Tichka. 2260 m above see level |
|
Viewed: |
19624 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19629 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19658 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Selling carpets in all sizes and colours |
|
Viewed: |
19651 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
And at least: Bou Azer Center. Here we where divided into 4 groups for visiting Aghbar, Oumlil, Agoudal and Ait Ahmane |
|
Viewed: |
19639 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Tom telling us about the mining area and the surrounding mines |
|
Viewed: |
19641 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19652 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Then off to Agoudal, famous for cobaltoan calcites, erythrites and roselite-beta |
|
Viewed: |
19618 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19654 Time(s) |

|
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42



|
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 14:20 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
More pictures
Description: |
Oumlil East Quarry, famaous for Karibibite and Scorodite |
|
Viewed: |
19609 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Stayin in the Kasbah Meteorite Hotel. Some of us where staying in Berber tents |
|
Viewed: |
19623 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Roselite found by myself at Ait Ahmane |
|
Viewed: |
19598 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Jolyon Ralph or is it..... |
|
Viewed: |
19608 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Some of the Scandinaviens. Olav Revheim, Hjordis Aga, Susanne E. Stenquis |
|
Viewed: |
19598 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19594 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19625 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Thor Sørli and Roger Lang |
|
Viewed: |
19626 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Taouz, famous for Vanadinite and Cerussite |
|
Viewed: |
19637 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
A small minishow in Yassmina hotel. Nice Cobaltoan Calcite! |
|
Viewed: |
19598 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
David Joyce at the top of the dunes! |
|
Viewed: |
19601 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Peter Lyckberg and his wife Nadezda on camels. Nice people! |
|
Viewed: |
19664 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Visiting a fossil factory in Erfoud |
|
Viewed: |
19597 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19596 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
There where Fluorite and Barytes everywhere. Plenty of hydrothermal veins in the area |
|
Viewed: |
19608 Time(s) |

|
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42



|
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 14:53 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
More pictures
Description: |
The opening of the Conference |
|
Viewed: |
19597 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The geology and workings in the Mibladen area. |
|
Viewed: |
19590 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
People looking for minerals in the hotel shop |
|
Viewed: |
19584 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
A nice Fluorite group. Iam not sure of the locality. |
|
Viewed: |
19644 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19611 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
One of the Moroccan dealers: Mohamed Laaroussi |
|
Viewed: |
19636 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Celestine from the Imilchil area. |
|
Viewed: |
19564 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
We had lunsj in Mibladen. Great tent, food and drinks. |
|
Viewed: |
19568 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Washing hands before eating is importent! |
|
Viewed: |
19565 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Who knows: Maybe future mineral dealers! |
|
Viewed: |
19514 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Lots of tea drinking in Morocco! And some prefer coffee too |
|
Viewed: |
19536 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The locals had prepered a great party for us in one of the Mibladen mines |
|
Viewed: |
19527 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Tomasz with dealer friends |
|
Viewed: |
19533 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19535 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The HongKong group enjoys too |
|
Viewed: |
19538 Time(s) |

|
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42



|
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 15:28 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
More pictures
Description: |
Myself with one of the miners in the Lidal mine. Looking for Cerussite |
|
Viewed: |
19510 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Miners trying to sell some of their minerals |
|
Viewed: |
19523 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19533 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Many small pits in the ACF workings |
|
Viewed: |
19499 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
10 meters strait down. Then a small and narrow shaft. The seeking for Vanadinites is not everybody. |
|
Viewed: |
19505 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
On our way to Aouli. Photostop! |
|
Viewed: |
19473 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Aouli. The mines where shut down in the 70´ties |
|
Viewed: |
19520 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Then further on to Sidi Ayed. About 20 km from the village of Aouli |
|
Viewed: |
19554 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
Sidi Ayed. One of the mine entrences. There where lots of veins and small mines in the area. All over you could fine Azurite and Malachite. Also yellow Fluorite which Sidi Ayed is famous for. |
|
Viewed: |
19506 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19545 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
19506 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The weather was cold with heavy wind and rain. |
|
Viewed: |
19543 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
The last evening with great food and drinks. |
|
Viewed: |
19547 Time(s) |

|
Description: |
And there it was. The 2nd International Mindat.org conference had come to its end. A really great trip. Thanks to everybody who attends the conference. The next conference will be in Madagascar 2014. Are you coming? |
|
Viewed: |
19540 Time(s) |

|
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4817
Location: Barcelona



|
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 16:25 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
Nice reportage Jan, I really enjoyed it.
Some feelings (from you or from some other Mindater attending that trip) about the country, the Moroccan people and the deals? Everything is different there, right?
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Jan Erik
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 42



|
Posted: Nov 28, 2012 06:45 Post subject: Re: The 2nd International Mindat.Org Conference in Midelt, Morocco 2012 |
|
|
I would say that Morocco was very nice to visit. The people where friendly, nice and helpfull. The food is excellent. If you want beer and wine you can get that in some hotels in the cities. In the countryside you have to drink juice, water and other things. By the way: They had some wonderful orangejuice. The best I have ever tasted.
The roads are ok. In the wintertime it can be heavy rainfalls. So if travelling in the mountains and if you want access to roads leading to the mountains, the roads can be washed away. In the dry season you can almost drive everywhere. Some difficulties driving at night. Lots of people are moving outside, walking along roads. Bad light can make it a little bit dangerous.
Coming to the mineralogical side, there is people wanting to sell minerals everywhere. Most of them have specimens which is heavely damage, and of no interest to the collector. If you ask for better quality, many will show you better things. But to really see great specimens you have to established a relationship with a dealer/dealers. Building up confidens and knowing the way of doing buisness is of cause an advantage.
If you want to by nice things cheap, forget it! The Moroccan dealers are very well known of our prices. Bying several specimens is cheaper than buying one single specimen. But in my opinion many of the Europeen dealers have often better or even cheaper mineral specimens than the Moroccans.
Great specimens are always expencive wherever you buy them. Dealers are very well awere of that. So it is a matter of what you want.
Anyone else who have some thoughts about handling minerals in Morocco?
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|