View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
David
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 101
Location: Bucharest
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 07:19 Post subject: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
It is well known that, among many other things, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was also a passionate mineral collector. But what did he collect?
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 07:44 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Well, he may have been familiar with Goethite !?
Or if he was not, others familiar with that mineral, were familiar with him!!!
Mineral: | Goethite on Quartz |
Locality: | Amerzgane, Ouarzazate Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco | |
|
Dimensions: | The needles are up to 1 cm. |
Description: |
Goethite needles on Quartz |
|
Viewed: |
21080 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Goethite on Quartz |
Locality: | Amerzgane, Ouarzazate Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco | |
|
Dimensions: | the specimen is 11 cm with the needles up to 1 cm |
Description: |
Goethite needles on Quartz |
|
Viewed: |
21111 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
David
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 101
Location: Bucharest
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 10:15 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
From what I know goethite was named during his lifetime so I assume he was familiar with it. :)
Very nice specimen, congratulations! I have a thing for needle-shaped minerals.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tobi
Site Admin
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4106
Location: Germany
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 12:26 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
David wrote: | It is well known that, among many other things, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was also a passionate mineral collector. But what did he collect? | Goethe wasn't just a collector, he did a lot of works in natural sciences and he even was politically involved in mining. I don't know all of what he collected, but among the incredible number of nearly 18.000 specimens (minerals, rocks, fossils) there were - of course - many samples from Germany, a lot from Austria and the Alps in general, and also from Bohemia.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
lluis
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 711
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 12:37 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Well, Taking in account that he lived in more or less same times as Lord Ferguson, he would collect same. The specimens found in Europe, that generally were bought during a Big Tour.
Strahlers in Switzerland already worked, and specimens were generally nice ones...
We know what Lord Ferguson collected, because he let his collection to BM, that later (things happen...) sold it (maybe 30 years ago...)
So, probably not a big surprise to see what Goethe collected....
With best wishes
LLuís
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Carl
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 28
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 12:41 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
A contemporary of Goethe's, Johann Georg Lenz, named the mineral after him. Although, I seem to remember that Goethite was first the name of another, closely related iron mineral.
The History of Science journal had an interesting article 20ish years ago about his mineral collection. While the collection was very valuable (I believe estimated at a third of his net worth at time of his death?), it was not comprised of pretty specimens. He built the collection for scientific and teaching purposes, and was known to be frustrated by people who wanted to see pretty minerals.
One of our speakers at Rochester Mineralogical Symposium in the last ten years included information on Goethe in his presentation, but I am drawing a blank on who it was.
Goethite is one of the primary minerals that I collect.
_________________ Get Out There! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Carl
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 28
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 14:14 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Carl wrote: | Although, I seem to remember that Goethite was first the name of another, closely related iron mineral. |
Lepidocrocite, which is dimorphous with Goethite.
_________________ Get Out There! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Peter Lemkin
Joined: 18 Nov 2016
Posts: 398
Location: Prague
|
Posted: Apr 05, 2020 23:10 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Very good article on this can be found here:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4028099?read-now=1&seq=1
(link normalized by FMF)
It even includes a photo of one of his mineral cabinets and list of some specimens! It goes into some of his suites and interests in minerals too.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gerhard Brandstetter
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 96
|
Posted: Apr 06, 2020 04:43 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Goethe wrote several articles and letters on geology, mining and minerals. Since short time I own two books: "Schriften zur Geologie und Mineralogie - 1770-1818" and "Schriften zur Geologie, Mineralogie und Meteorologie" with his own records. Up to now I did not have the time to read it but at least I had a closer look. Parts of it seems to be a diary.
He describes lots of interesting things from his area: e.g. a burning coal mine in Dudweiler, mine visits in Jachymov and other places, his travels to Naples and his observations on Vesuvius mtn. the famous Calcite/Aragonite sinters in Karlovy Vary and much more.
What I love most is his excellent article on Feldspar twins from the surroundings of Karlsbad/Karlovy Vary. Among other landscapes and geological sketches there is an amazing drawing of the famous Karlsbad twins he collected. Without photography Goethe also was a talented Illustrator!
If you are Interested I can add some photos of minerals from my collection - all are the species and from localities he mentioned.
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20892 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20881 Time(s) |
|
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20893 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Orthoclase |
Locality: | Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 52 mm |
Description: |
A carlsbad twin from the type locality, photographed on the article where Goethe describes this find. |
|
Viewed: |
20886 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4896
Location: Barcelona
|
Posted: Apr 06, 2020 12:05 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Gerhard Brandstetter wrote: | ...If you are Interested i can add some photos of minerals from my collection - all are the species and from localities he mentioned. |
Please!
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gerhard Brandstetter
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 96
|
Posted: Apr 06, 2020 13:41 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Now I want to show you some specimens from my collection. All are from localities that Goethe described. I will only post minerals that he mentioned from these places. Some are even self collected. Also Goethe used to collect here!
Will be continued…...
Mineral: | Augite |
Locality: | Vlčí hora, Černošín, Plzeň Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 20 mm |
Description: |
From 1823, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe dealt with the rocks of the Bohemian volcano as part of his mineralogical studies. Both the large augite and the amphibole (kaersutite) were of particular interest to him. [1] Since Goethe was particularly interested in the formation of these idiomorphic crystals, the chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner carried out melting tests on these crystals in Jena. [2] Frédéric Soret was also commissioned by Goethe to morphologically characterize the Augite and Amphibole des Wolfbergs. His results were then published in a journal published by Goethe (On Natural Science in general) in French under the title Catalog Raisonné des variétés d´Amphiboles et Pyroxène rapportées de Bohème par S.E. Monsieur le Ministre d´État de Goethe. This work was translated into German and published by Hans Prescher. [3] |
|
Viewed: |
20788 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Kaersutite |
Locality: | Vlčí hora, Černošín, Plzeň Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 75 mm |
Description: |
Wolfsberg is the German name for this locality and Hornblende was the old name for this species. |
|
Viewed: |
20813 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Cassiterite |
Locality: | Horní Slavkov (Schlaggenwald), Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 75 mm |
Description: |
Goethe mentioned "Zinngraupen" from Schlaggenwald (Horni Slavkov) |
|
Viewed: |
20852 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Aragonite/Calcite |
Locality: | Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 77 mm |
Description: |
Goethe travelled several times to Karlsbad. He loved the spa and the talks with prominent mineralogists, geologists and collectors. "Sprudelstein" was very often mentioned! |
|
Viewed: |
20819 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bob Carnein
Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Posts: 327
Location: Florissant, CO
|
Posted: Apr 06, 2020 16:27 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Here's a specimen of goethite on smoky quartz with microcline from the Pikes Peak Granite, Crystal Peak district, Teller County, Colorado.
Locality: | Crystal Peak area, Teller County, Colorado, USA | |
|
Dimensions: | 6 cm |
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20774 Time(s) |
|
Locality: | Crystal Peak area, Teller County, Colorado, USA | |
|
Dimensions: | 6 cm |
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20772 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gerhard Brandstetter
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 96
|
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 14:01 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
One of the main interests of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was the tin formation. After visiting the classic mines in Horni Slavkov (Schlaggenwald), Graupen (Krupka), Altenberg, Zinnwald (Cinovec) he wrote fascinating articles about the "Greisen" formation and the tin mines. He also obtained Cassiterite from Cornwall, Asia and other places. All the minerals i can show you here are mentioned in his records.
Will be continued
Mineral: | Fluorapatite |
Locality: | Martin Mine, Krupka, Krusné Hory Mts., Ústí Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | FOV 25 mm x 17 mm |
Description: |
Exact locality is Martin mine |
|
Viewed: |
20520 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Ferberite (wolframite) |
Locality: | Cinovec/Zinnwald, Erzgebirge, Krusné Hory Mts., Ústí Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | 52 x 37 x 37 mm |
Description: |
During the 18th century this mineral was very unwanted for the miners |
|
Viewed: |
20506 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Polylithionite (variety zinnwaldite) |
Locality: | Cinovec/Zinnwald, Erzgebirge, Krusné Hory Mts., Ústí Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic | |
|
Dimensions: | FOV 25 x 17 mm |
Description: |
|
Viewed: |
20485 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Sante Celiberti
Joined: 04 Oct 2019
Posts: 699
Location: Tuscany
|
Posted: Apr 09, 2020 16:13 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
Congratulations, Gerhard.
This is a very fascinating and beautiful way of collecting.
Warm greetings from Tuscany:
Sante
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gerhard Brandstetter
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 96
|
Posted: Apr 13, 2020 08:42 Post subject: Re: What did Goethe collect? |
|
|
From September 1786 till May 1788 Goethe visited Italy and described it in his travel diary "Italienische Reise". As a souvenir he brought back a large selection of rocks and minerals. Here are some similar specimen from my collection
Will be continued
Mineral: | Alunite |
Locality: | Allumiere Quarries, Allumiere, Tolfa Mountains, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 15 x 10 mm |
Description: |
Some of the alum stones that he collected has been gifts for his friends. |
|
Viewed: |
20151 Time(s) |
|
Locality: | Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Description: |
The Solfatara in Pozzzuoli - a drawing done by Goethe |
|
Viewed: |
20116 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Sulphur |
Locality: | Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 49 x 34 mm |
Description: |
Sulphur crystals on a carbonized little branch - self collected |
|
Viewed: |
20113 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Sulphur |
Locality: | Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 22 x 15 mm |
Description: |
After a deadly accident the Solfatara is closed now for visitors. This supervolcano is too dangerous. A pity…... |
|
Viewed: |
20102 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | lava |
Locality: | Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 48 x 35 mm |
Description: |
Goethe collected several types of "Lava and Basalt" from Vesuvio. He also bought something from a "Lava dealer" |
|
Viewed: |
20116 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Leucite |
Locality: | Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 7 cm |
Description: |
The first mineral he mentioned from Vesuvius was "White garnet" - i think Leucite. |
|
Viewed: |
20121 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Vesuvianite with Grossular |
Locality: | Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | FOV 15 x 10 mm |
Description: |
Perfect brown crystals of Garnets were also mentioned. |
|
Viewed: |
20123 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Vesuvianite |
Locality: | Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 75 x 55 mm |
Description: |
He also collected "Brown crystals with mica" This could be one of the first reports for Vesuvianite. |
|
Viewed: |
20114 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Vesuvianite |
Locality: | Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 55 x 45 mm |
Description: |
Specimen from ex Melk monastery collection in Lower Austria. Second label is from Josef Erber (1824-1882) |
|
Viewed: |
20146 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Grossulare |
Locality: | Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 60 x 43 mm |
Description: |
Monte Somma-Vusuvius erupted in 1786 but Goethe climbed the mountain to the edge of the crater. He recorded how ashes and stones flew through the air |
|
Viewed: |
20125 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Quartz (variety jasper) |
Locality: | Giuliana, Metropolitan City of Palermo Province, Sicily, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 14 x 7,5 cm |
Description: |
During his stay in Sicily Goethe collected several samples of Jasper from various places. During his time Giuliana was well known for this material. |
|
Viewed: |
20114 Time(s) |
|
Mineral: | Limestone (variety paesina) |
Locality: | Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany, Italy | |
|
Dimensions: | 95 x 63 mm |
Description: |
During the 18.th century "Paesina" was very popular for decoration, even for furniture |
|
Viewed: |
20120 Time(s) |
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|