Rocks & Minerals Talk

minerals specimens & rough direct from mines

gemsminspk — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:13:30 GMT

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Gluing Specimens

sandwalker — Thur, 19 Mar 2009 14:25:07 GMT

Hello,

I have recently purchased a few specimens for my collection that have been glued to their mounts. This really bothers me for several reasons. The main ones being that I cant remove the specimens to measure, weigh, and give them a good look over and because I know that the glue will eventually turn yellow, brown, and yucky looking.
I thought the dealers I bought them from would know better. After contacting one of them, he basically stated that he does it because they transport better that way.
What would be the best way for me to remove the glue? I wish to remount them with sticky tack.

Thank you in advance,
Joy

TGMS Thanks

dechert — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:31:00 GMT

Thanks to John for his time spent writing reports on the TGMS.
From someone who has yet to experience the show in person
I appreciate the reports, pictures and specimens.
Hope to make it to Tucson one day, until then John's reports are the next best thing
Thanks again John
Frank Dechert

Main Ores-Butte Mines

Stoper — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:19:30 GMT

Greetings:
Am curious as to what were the principal ores mined at Butte, Montana? Have read a fair bit about that camp but am ignorant of the minerals actually mined.
Thanks,
Mike

Corrections for information

kqh — Thur, 15 Jan 2009 03:18:44 GMT

Sometimes in the rush to get out emails, I make mistakes or leave some key information out. Feel free to make corrections here or ask questions.

For the phosphorus and halide auction, Steve Hardinger pointed out that only white phosphorus will ignite with oxygen. This brings up the concept of allotropes. These are compounds formed only by one element that have different physical structures and properties. Probably the best known example is carbon which can form diamonds and graphite as well as other structures. Diamonds and graphite are quite different. White phosphorus is one allotrope and it will react with oxygen. The other allotropes do not behave the same way.

Steve also pointed out that HF is not a strong acid even though it can dissolve just about everything. The strength of an acid refers to its dissociation in solution, not its corrosive nature. This is a common point of confusion as most folks tend to judge an acid by its ability to corrode materials (including us). As a chemical engineer, I tend to think of HF the same way as I do strong acid: keep it in the pipes and vessels!

Anyway, I am sure you will have more opportunity to disagree or question. Have fun... we're trying to get everyone to think and learn.

Keith

R.I.P. My Pyrite-Specimen Decay

rockdog — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:02:21 GMT

Some fellow collectors and I were sharing stories about our specimens that had fallen victim to time and the elements- brilliant, gem-clear vivianites that became dark and opaque, formerly lustrous marcasites that turned to ashy powder and orpiments and realgars that degraded into little piles of toxic waste. I had my first experience with specimen decay many years ago when I discovered that a pyritized brachiopod Id self-collected had turned into a brittle and sandy-looking lump- the box Id kept it in was ruined from the sulfuric acid released as the piece decomposed. Since that time, Ive collected only those specimens I regard as reasonably stable, and that can be displayed normally without special precautions.

As a collector professing only a modest command of chemistry, I would be very interested to know of others experiences in this regard, and in particular the methods that have been used for preserving reactive species along with any personal observations as to the effectiveness of these methods. Some collectors, for example, swear by preserving their pyrites with a mixture of ammonia and PEG, while others dismiss the practice as dubious. One collector I know of told me that hes experimenting with an ingredient commonly found in sunscreen in an attempt to stop decay and discoloration from sunlight (how will he know if its worked, I wonder). Do these techniques have merit, or is keep it dry, out of the sun, and at room temperature still the best advice?

Many reactive species are commanding very high prices these days, and it would be helpful to have more information about the best means to preserve their beauty and value, or at least be well informed of their pitfalls

North Butte Mining Co. Specimen

Stoper — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:11:30 GMT

Greetings:
Am an amateur mining historian, former miner with an interest in silver specimens from Cobalt, Ontario. My quest now is for a modest priced sample of the ore mined at the North Butte Mining Co., the site of the horrendous fire.
Cheers,
Mike O'Byrne

Trimming or Cheating?

rockdog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:48:22 GMT

Hi folks- I have in my collection a wonderful neptunite and benitoite specimen. The edges of the plate had been carefully trimmed and ground down by the dealer to improve the balance of the piece and enhance its display attributes. While this doesn't bother me too much, I know several collectors who prefer to keep their specimens in as close to their original condition as possible, and frown on this type of "sculpting" albeit minimal. I'd like to know how you feel about this: Just how much correction is acceptable, and when does it become excessive? Is the practice more likely to improve the desirability of a piece or diminish it?

Mineral Labels

dechert — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:22:37 GMT

Do you create a new label for a new specimen in your collection or display the specimen with the previous owners label?

Texas collector supplement

AquaMatrixGirl — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:53:27 GMT

Hello there, been a while.
The Mineralogical Record has been helping a large group of Texas collectors to throw together a supplement for the Jan/Feb 2009 delivery date. There are quite a few of us putting together a group of write ups and photos from our collections and we expect about 160 pages worth. It is a compilation of MAD and HAMS with a few Austin folks thrown in. We are pretty excited about it and hope everyone enjoys it.
Thought I would give you all a heads up.

The Mineral Collecting Bubble

Mohrox — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:07:09 GMT

Enjoying this financial free fall everyone? I'm finding bruises where I didn't know I had flesh. Today I found flesh missing.

Does anyone want to hazard a guess as to what the short and long term ramifications of this financial "unpleasantness" will be to our mineral passion?

I recall one missive from John where he expressed his bewilderment over when the price bubble in specimen prices might top out. I think we might have bumped against a ceiling of sorts here. How much exuberance is going to get kicked out of the pricing of what types of minerals is beyond my comprehension. I had enough trouble understanding the global inflation of prices other than too many folks had too much money chasing too few samples. The price rises of some mineral species and specimen type I could understand, but the rather broad based price increases eluded me. Then again, I'm on the customer end and have only incomplete knowledge from the vendor aspect.

What are your thoughts on this? Heaven knows I've tired of the shouting heads on the straight financial channels and there isn't a mineral channel to break the ugly monotony. Excepting this one of course.

Auction activity

rockyfeller — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:30:19 GMT

Just finished looking at the results of the last auction (ended Aug 4), and noticed that there were many specimens that did not sell, or that sold at a very low price ( indicating minimal interest). Not to step on any dealer toes, I was wondering if anyone wants to comment on the auction with any constructive comments?
Is it simply the summer vacation season that has folks busy elsewhere?
Maybe the economy slump and folks watching their budgets?
What about the specimens offered? 30 of the 80 specimens were TN's and the small min's took the percentage of very small specimens to about half of the offerings. Unless the quality was really up there, I can't see those specimens ever getting much of a price, but then I'm not a TN collector, so I may be way off base. I've had the feeling for some time that there are a lot of collectors out there that are no longer beginners, and are looking for "above average" quality. Are they finding specimens of interest to them on the auction? There are tons of mediocre specimens out there in dealer stocks, but most collectors are knowledgeable enough not to overbid (or to bid at all) on specimens that won't improve the quality of their collection.
What about the reserves? I know the dealers must protect their investment to a certain degree, but does it limit bidding to the point that activity never gets started?
How about the collectors . . . are they even looking at the auctions? I believe they are. John has one of the most popular auctions on the web and I think folks are checking out the offerings. Must be something else going on.
And maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there. Maybe the auction went real well and I'm full of it. Wouldn't be the first time. And maybe I'm just stirring the pot a bit to get some activity on the message board. Again, wouldn't be the first time.

Springfield 2008

kqh — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:24:49 GMT

Hi, I will be at the Springfield Show... probably Friday afternoon and Saturday. If anyone wants to meet, call me on my cell 989 450 3234

Take care, Keith

New Collector...questions

musicbaby — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:05:01 GMT

Hi, my husband works in mines in Tennessee and has brought home some fantastic specimens! Some are 5 and 10 pounds and gorgeous.

I think this has sparked a new hobby! I know that one of the 5 pound ones is calcite, but some I have no clue what they are.

Is there a way to post pictures to see if maybe someone can help me?

Thanks

What's Hot in Tucson, 2008

AquaMatrixGirl — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:16:27 GMT

Anyone get their two disc DVD yet?
I have watched most of the first disc and some of the second.
So...what do you all think???