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[chris]

As each year the show took place between Denver & München. It is interesting because several dealers were back from Denver with new specimens while local cristalliers had brought there summer finds.

Chamonix being not very far from Grenoble (2 hours drive), we also had specimens found recently in the Mont-Blanc range. As a result I have selected pictures of specimens coming both from the area and from Chamonix.

As last time, the report is splitted in 2 parts. The first one being about the specimens offered for sale during the show, while the second part will focus on the display case of the Mineralogy Club of Grenoble, host of the show.

Back in the early 1980's nice epidote crystals were found in Montagne du Cornillon which produced nice specimens before been worked out. Several cristalliers prospected the area hoping to strike a new « bonanza ». Between 2007/2008 a new discovery occured producing nice specimens of epidote with quartz such as these sold by M. Dufrêne one the prospector.

[chris]

On the other side of the Romanche valley stands the Belledonne range. This amphibolite rich range (as Cornillon) hosts several spots where epidote can be found usually combined with byssolite and/or actinolite (asbestos).

[chris]

While being in the Belledonne's range, a nice cluster of axinite from the Glandon Pass. This one was collected several years ago. Note the small epidote cluster.

[chris]

As Usual M. Darphin had a small display case with gold from the old and now closed Gardette Mine. Even if the gold production remained low, it produced nice quartz crystals (to see in part II).

[chris]

But my favours went to this perfect small cabinet size prehnite from La Combe de la Selle, St Christophe en Oisans. Typical shape, perfect color... Unfortunately for me, not a sulfide...

[chris]

Always in Oisans a quartz classic from les 2 Alpes. It is lightly smokey, something less usual here than in Chamonix.

[chris]

Several specimens from Vizille were also available (Vizille being at a 20 minutes drive from Grenoble). Around Vizille, the main combination is quartz & siderite. Sometimes these minerals are mixed with sulfides (pyrite, bournonite, ...), less usually with Baryte as on this large cabinet size one having nice Baryte blades.

[chris]

Another example from the locality with rhombo siderite & quartz coming from « le trou des chasseurs » (hunters'hole).

[chris]

Or this one bought by a local collector. It has the typical quartz habit of the area. Note the iron staining remaining even after a sodium dithionite's cleaning.

[chris]

If these large size cabinets were not big enough for you, you had the choice to bring this one home. The 2 € coin at the bottom is 2,5 cm in diameter (1 inch). I let you guess its size. Moreover its aesthetic was enhanced by the irisation of the siderite's crystals. Very impressive.

[chris]

A bit farer north, the area around pontcharra produced window quartz. These small cabinet ones were sold at a fair price, allowing beginners to start without spending hundreds...

[chris]

Standing just beside Sylvain & Grégoire, Sébastien Khayati was offering small cabinet size specimens of quartz with adulaire and quartz with hematite from the Mont-Blanc...

[chris]

While cristalliers from Chamonix had brought the new finds mixed with older specimens...

[chris]

Amongst them an originality : a large plate of smokey with a cluster of epidote, a rarity in the Mont-Blanc's range.

[chris]

Conclusion : There were less minerals from the area than last year. However prospection is still under way and could reserve good surprises. The good news came from Chamonix. According to the cristalliers I talked to, more pockets have been found this summer than during the previous years. If you are interested by smokey quartz, keep an eye on Chamonix.

Second part coming soon...