Spaniard Posted August 9, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 9, 2022 @Spirityoda...Wow!...That turned out nice....Beautiful colouring.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted August 14, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) It's kind of a slow, lazy day today, with the temperature warming up to the upper 80s (mid 90s by Tuesday). The camera is down, with the battery recharging, so I thought I would post a mineral specimen that I previously posted on CT about two years ago, as part of my thread on the beauty of impermanence. This old timer specimen is a mass of malachite and azurite with a polished face. The intense greens and blues really stand out. Malachite (green) and azurite (blue) are sister minerals, and they are responsible for some of the beautiful patinas seen on some ancient bronzes. Not all ancient bronzes acquire a hard almost gem-like color and sheen, but when they do they are a pleasure to behold. Here's the specimen: Massive Malachite and Azurite, Bisbee, Mule Mountains, Arizona. 297.8 grams Edited August 14, 2022 by robinjojo 7 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etcherdude Posted August 14, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 14, 2022 57 minutes ago, robinjojo said: It's kind of a slow, lazy day today, with the temperature warming up to the upper 80s (mid 90s by Tuesday). The camera is down, with the battery recharging, so I thought I would post a mineral specimen that I previously posted on CT about two years ago, as part of my thread on the beauty of impermanence. This old timer specimen is a mass of malachite and azurite with a polished face. The intense greens and blues really stand out. Malachite (green) and azurite (blue) are sister minerals, and they are responsible for some of the beautiful patinas seen on some ancient bronzes. Not all ancient bronzes acquire a hard almost gem-like color and sheen, but when they do they are a pleasure to behold. Here's the specimen: Massive Malachite and Azurite, Bisbee, Mule Mountains, Arizona. 297.8 grams Bisbee related item. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted August 15, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted August 15, 2022 4 hours ago, Etcherdude said: Bisbee related item. What an interesting coin. What is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etcherdude Posted August 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 15, 2022 (edited) @robinjojo Yes, it’s a marvelous hammered silver coin made by a friend who became fascinated with ancients. AR (35mm 28.34 gr) Javelina right surrounded by wreath of prickly pear cactus pads, OB (Old Bisbee) above, BSBE (Bisbee) below. Phainopepla right on branches, PHN-O-PPLA Edited August 15, 2022 by Etcherdude 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted August 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 15, 2022 Picked up this year's back, but still don't know what it is? Pretty though. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhoopster Posted August 15, 2022 · Member Share Posted August 15, 2022 45 minutes ago, Spaniard said: Picked up this year's back, but still don't know what it is? Pretty though. I'm not a geologist or mineralogist, but it reminds me of Stibnite (antimony). That might be a place to start. Just a guess from something that stuck in my memory, so I could be completely wrong. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted August 15, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted August 15, 2022 I was thinking galena, but the crystalline habit for that mineral in more cubic. Where was your specimen found? That might be useful clue. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted August 15, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 15, 2022 @robinjojo....I found this in the UK in Cornwall...There are lots of old abandoned tin mines in this area...Don't know if this helps? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted August 15, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted August 15, 2022 Well, Cornwall is a classic location for tin, going back to Roman times., as well as numerous other minerals. Here's a website that shows some of the minerals: https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/cornish-mineral-heritage?page=0 I think you might have a crystal cluster of arsenopyrite, but that just a guess based on the photos. Arsenic is part of its composition (FeAsS) and it is perfectly safe to handle. Just wash your hands when finished. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted August 18, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted August 18, 2022 Here's one more malachite specimen that I've owned since 1969, when it was purchased from an Italian mineral dealer near Milan. The Russian malachite that was mined in the middle Ural Mountains in the 19th century was of such high quality and massive quantities that Russian artisans were able to create magnificent objects using veneered malachite from this area. The famous Winter Palace Malachite Room of the Hermitage Museum, created in the 1830s, is renowned for its malachite veneered works of art, including table tops, urns, columns and wall panels. The Ural malachite is a classic, no longer obtainable except through old collections. The contrasting green banding and eyes is remarkable and not equaled by other locations. Malachite Middle Ural Mountains, Russia. 9.5cm x 8.2cm x 4.5cm; 474.8 grams. 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted August 18, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted August 18, 2022 34 minutes ago, robinjojo said: Here's one more malachite specimen that I've owned since 1969, when it was purchased from an Italian mineral dealer near Milan. The Russian malachite that was mined in the middle Ural Mountains in the 19th century was of such high quality and massive quantities that Russian artisans were able to create magnificent objects using veneered malachite from this area. The famous Winter Palace Malachite Room of the Hermitage Museum, created in the 1830s, is renowned for its malachite veneered works of art, including table tops, urns, columns and wall panels. The Ural malachite is a classic, no longer obtainable except through old collections. The contrasting green banding and eyes is remarkable and not equaled by other locations. Malachite Middle Ural Mountains, Russia. 9.5cm x 8.2cm x 4.5cm; 474.8 grams. Thanks for sharing that remarkable piece 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted August 18, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 18, 2022 @robinjojo...Beautiful colouring! Nice lounge too 😉 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted August 19, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted August 19, 2022 Not real, but a museum quality reproduction. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted September 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 17, 2022 I was given these by a friend... Any ideas? 1..... Light purple to transparent cubed crystals, base stone is white with black veins... 2.....Not seen this before?? 3......Heavy!....Some sort of iron? Any help really appreciated Thanks. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted September 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 17, 2022 (edited) The last ones look like Pyrite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrite#/media/File:Pyrite_elbe.jpg The crystals on top are cubic. Halite (rock salt)????? https://celestialearthminerals.com/product/crystals-minerals/halite-mineral-specimen-3/ Fluorite is also cubic, but mostly greenish Edited September 17, 2022 by shanxi 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted September 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 17, 2022 5 minutes ago, shanxi said: The last ones look like Pyrite Thanks, that's it... It's only approximately 6cm diameter by 5cm thick BUT weighs 420grams! Here's a couple of close ups... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted September 17, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 17, 2022 15 minutes ago, shanxi said: The crystals on top are cubic. Halite (rock salt Spot on!.....Thank you so much @shanxi.... Reading the description on the link you provided identifies Halite crystals usually forming on a base stone as gypsum which it is... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted September 19, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 19, 2022 Another gift... I assume this is a Trilobite? I must admit I'm tempted to knock of the base rock from the head area? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 19, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 Nice detail left on it. If you remove the rock don't be surprised to find it has no head anyway. Quite scarce to find a whole one. These have been cleared of all rock and deposits 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted September 20, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 20, 2022 @expat...Nice examples! 9 hours ago, expat said: If you remove the rock don't be surprised to find it has no head anyway. Good point, on second thoughts I quite like the way it looks as if it has head dived into the rock...I'll leave it as is.... Do you treat your fossils?..A sealant or left as is? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 20, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 20, 2022 4 hours ago, Spaniard said: @expat...Nice examples! Do you treat your fossils?..A sealant or left as is Depends how fragile they are. Dry and flaky debris you can blow off. Cracks etc need a clear sealant, sometimes even superglue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 21, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Quarried in Lebanon, fossilised shrimps from the Upper Cretacious marine deposits ca. 100 million years ago 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted September 21, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted September 21, 2022 (edited) Here are a few "eye" agates from Alashan, Inner Mongolia. The eyes in these examples are clearly pseudomorphs, replacements of a previous mineral by quartz. In the case of these specimens I believe the mineral replaced was aragonite, a mineral that can take on different forms, from crystalline to massive banded forms, including eye-like formations. I might be wrong about this, but I don't know of another mineral, other than possibly a zeolite, that would be a candidate, an unlikely one I think. That aside, these agates come from a vast arid plateau in the Gobi Desert, a windswept region that is part of the legendary Silk Road of ancient times. Other type of agates and fossils have be found in what was, eons ago, an ocean bed. 172 grams 219.5 grams 3.56 pounds Edited September 21, 2022 by robinjojo 8 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 21, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 9 minutes ago, robinjojo said: Here are a few "eye" agates from Alashan, Inner Mongolia. The eyes in these examples are clearly pseudomorphs, replacements of a previous mineral by quartz. In the case of these specimens I believe the mineral replaced was aragonite, a mineral that can take on different forms, from crystalline to massive banded forms, including eye-like formations. I might be wrong about this, but I don't know of another mineral, other than possibly a zeolite, that would be a candidate, an unlikely one I think. That aside, these agates come from a vast arid plateau in the Gobi Desert, a windswept region that is part of the legendary silk road of ancient times. Other type of agates and fossils have be found in what was, eons ago, an ocean bed. 172 grams 219.5 grams 3.56 pounds Wonderful examples. Don't see those too often 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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