FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

Right from the start of the FMF we have encouraged and thanked the new members who, when they started to participate, wrote a short presentation. While it is not a requirement for membership, it has become considered polite for new members to do this as it links into the general feel of the forum and helps everyone get to know each new member. We really welcome those descriptions that give the name of the mineralnaut (even if it is a nickname, as writing to a members’ chosen short name can at time seem rather strange) and if people want to add interesting personal data such as age, mineral interests, etc that is great. We let each member chose what they want to say.

This is a minor item that, as I see things, helps improve our relationships, which othewrwise can be, especially on the web, rather cold.

I think it is then neat that we can go back to this sometime later and see who has joined and how they grown since then. Some ‘never again’, some very active, and some once in a while.

[wirefram]

Hello

I am new on the forum, my name is Pat, I live in Spain.

I found a lot of interesting topics here and beautiful photos.

I would like to go search (and find?) minerals this week in Tharsis (huelva, andalucia, spain), this will be my first time and i am looking for information about best places to go for a beginner. Is there somewhere a map of interesting places?

Hope someone knows this area and will have some info to share.

Thanks

Pat

[Jordi Fabre]

[Gerhard Brandstetter]

Hello all,
I'm Gerhard Brandstetter from Austria, new member also.

Born in 1960, collecting since 1974. Main focus on minerals from Austria and old Austro-Hungarian monarchy. But as a real mineral manic i nearly collect everything. For example i'm always interested in Spanish minerals - my mother grow up in Madrid. Love beautiful minerals worldwide as well as ugly systematic. Few museum sized samples, many cabinet size up to lots of micromounts.. Also cut gems. A wide field.....

Second interests beside minerals are photography, travel and history. In many cases it works as a good mix together....A great experience were my trips to Mindat-Conferences in Poland and Morocco. I never miss a Munich show and also have been in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and Tucson. And countless field trips - oh, love it! During my trips i met some nice members of this forum of course. So it is a pleasure to keep in contact with them.

As a mineral photographer I also would like to show you something from my trips and from my Collection. I hope this is OK for you

Nice greetings to all, Gerhard

[Jordi Fabre]

[Jordi Fabre]

[wirefram]

Hi Jordi

Yes, I did check the post you mention and others in Spanish and English, in fact this is what motivated me to go to Tharsis.

But, I have receive no answer....

I am leaving tomorrow at dawn and hope my day will be productive...

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi Gerhard and welcome to the forum!
For sure you remember about myself, we knew each other in Lwowek Slaski Poland in 2011! I hope we can see again, either in Austria or in Italy if you come, or (the best!) in the next symposium in Madagascar!
Greetings from italy by Riccardo.

[Greg Lilly]

Hello from New Zealand! I started cutting and polishing rocks as a kid, went on to become a manufacturing jeweller and FGA gemologist but crystals are my passion! I mainly collect quartz, calcite and fluorite plus anything else that appeals....
I have been a regular visitor to the FMF for several years, and always look forward to the show reports ( thank you Gail and everyone who contributes to these ). Thought it about time I contributed in some way.
I will set up a collection page including pieces from NZ which I hope will be of interest to some of you.
Greg

[Don Lum]

Welcome Greg.

Don

[supertxango]

Welcome from Spain Greg!

Juan H

[Jordi Fabre]

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi Greg!
I read you are a gemmologist, I am too! I studied in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Minerals are also my passion and I know you are from NZ. It should be a very interesting country for minerals, as well as for shells and the very particular fauna!
Let's wait for any photo of your country and minerals you may find there!
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[chris]

Hello from France Greg. I'm curious to discover which treasures lie in Middle Earth's undergrounds.

Hope you'll enjoy talking with us

Christophe

[Pierre Joubert]

Welcome Greg! I am also curious to know what can be found in NZ. I have searched for NZ minerals before and did not come up with much (particularly quartz). I am sure, with all those beautiful mountains about, there must be some amazing specimens hiding somewhere.