FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Les Presmyk]

To all,

I am embarking on a new project to write a book about the fine minerals that have come from Arizona and the people who have helped make that happen. Gloria Staebler will be publishing the book and it will be premiering at the 2012 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Arizona becoming the 48th state in the USA. Besides my wife, Paula, I will have at least one major collaborator, who will be announced as soon as I get a positive response.

The book will highlight the great minerals, the collectors and the organizations (museums, clubs and mining companies) who have helped preserve specimens and to promote the hobby and collecting. We are going to need collectors, dealers and curators to provdie photos of fine specimens that have come from Arizona, the collections where numbers of Arizona specimens currently reside, and histories of collectors and dealers who have resided in Arizona and helped preserve its minerals.

One of the first questions I would throw out is who is out there collecting Arizona minerals, either as an entire specialty or with a significant subcollection, who is under the age of 40? I look to all of you for your help and knowledge. As I this project moves forward, I will keep you all apprised of the highs and lows of writing a book and complling the information and photos.

[Jordi Fabre]

Great idea! I encourage all FMF members and visitors to help Les in this exciting project.

I just sent to him a link with all photos I have of Arizona specimens, on case he need some...

[crocoite]

Why under the age of 40 Les?

[Les Presmyk]

I am interested in all those who have fine Arizona specimens and would like to learn about the collectors who are specializing in Arizona or have significant subcollections of Arizona specimens. The commnet about those under 40 is to begin to identify and highlight the next generation of Arizona collectors. Over the years, we have had several waves of junior collectors and exhibitors at the Tucson Show. None of them are specifically collecting Arizona specimens. At that age, I was not either. I think I know most of the Arizona collectors, at least in the US and the youngest is 47, with most of us in our 50's and 60's.

[chris]

Hi Les,

Very good idea indeed. Unfortunately I have no minerals from Arizona in my collection. However, I can help you in posting your request on the French Geoforum to let know to French collectors & dealers that your are looking for pictures / information.

Tell me if you are interested in.

Christophe

[GneissWare]

Hi Les,
I have over 400 specimens from Arizona....of course, it depends upon the definition of the word "fine" with respect to "fine mineral specimens". I do have some unusual locality pieces.

This seems like a real ambitious effort given the large amount of specimens and species from Arizona. I presume you are organizing the book into the major mineralogical districts with a few special other localities?
Bob

[Les Presmyk]

Bob,

You are already on my list but thanks for the reminder. Actually, the working outline at this point is to break the history of mineral collecting in Arizona into time periods, much like the book, Rocks to Riches, which is a mining history book written 30 years ago. So, with each time period, say 1880 to 1900, we will have sections on each mineral prducing mine or districts and photos of the minerals that came out during that time.

Using the Red Cloud as an example, there were a number of fine wulfenites that came out in that time period. As we move forward in time, there will not be any mention of the Red Cloud until the 1930's and then again not much until the 1960's and certainly into 1990's. Morenci is another example. Even thought mining took place there fairly continuously from 1880 to the present, the specimen production, or at least the saving of specimens centers around 1880 to 1900 and then starting in 1975 or so.

As each period comes and goes, there will be discussions and stories of the collectors, dealers and organizations/institutions that were important as well.

The final selection of photos will rest with the publisher, Gloria Staebler. Sometime this year, I would like to get over to go through your Arizona collection, as we discussed at the Denver Show.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Les Presmyk]

Yes, please do. There are verifiable specimens from the 1880's in the Michigan Tech and Harvard collections. If this one is from that period, I would love knowing it.

[rweaver]

Les

Great Idea. You know where to find me. Just ask and it is yours. I am getting better on the pictures and can retake any you need from the collection.

Bob Weaver

[jimB]

Hi JordI,

That is a wonderful wulfenite. If that is true color it may be my favorite Red Cloud specimen. It is surely a living dream.

[Jordi Fabre]

Yes it is a living dream, as well as many other specimens from Arizona and US that Sr. Folch got in the earlier Tucson Shows.

Hopefully some day the group to visit the collection be organized and you can join they! -> https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=1474#1474

[crocoite]

Well, I am not under 40, but I was when I started collecting about 25 years ago! I do have a reasonable sub-collection of Arizona specimens, almost entirely micro-minerals. I'd be happy to share details with you.

Regards
Steve

[crocoite]

By the way, my avatar photo was taken at Tucson in 2007...

Regards
Steve

[Peter Megaw]

Les...Amherst College has two of the best Hilltop wulfenites I've ever seen, must be OLD. Carl Francis might be able to help determine how old.

I thought you wanted someone under 40 to get involved with writing this thing so that at least one person involved would still be alive when its finished