Mindat Mineralogy Messageboard - Mindat Articles

Mines and minerals of the minions district (2 replies)

Barry Pitt — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:17:09 +0000

I have just started to research and write a paper on the mines and minerals of the minions district including the Caradon mines in Cornwall.
What I'm after is very good photos of specimens from the area that I can include in this. Or permission from people to use theirs from mindat. So far everybody is being very helpful, in letting me use them, and very forth coming with information about the area.
Also has anyone out there got any old maps of the mine setts that I could use, or old photos/pictures of the mines and owners.

Thank you for this.

Locations (6 replies)

Alan Melbourne — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:21:46 +0000

Please somebody, tell me how I can successfully upload mineral photos. I cannot get the website to accept any locality descriptions that I have, for example " Illabo Mine, Nana Glen, New South Wales, Australia" where I have found what I think is trigonite. Just exactly what do I have to use as the location???

Geowriting proposal for class (4 replies)

Chris Kyler — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:14:10 +0000

Hello all,

Next Monday I will be assigned a project in which I need to write a proposal, followed up with a paper, on a topic of my choice for a Geowriting course.
The instructor has left the topic base open as anything having to do with geology, meteorology, or geography as it pertains to our own major, mine being a BS in Professional Geology. I have already asked him if I could do a research paper on Mineralogy and have received the green light, but cannot seem to think of a good topic. All i know for sure is that mineralogy and crystallography is what I am most interested in.

I believe I read a post somewhere, possibly here or Jordi Fabre's forum about *I think* the rarity of twinned emeralds, and that sounds like a very interesting topic as Beryl is my favorite crystal.

On topic however, I wanted to know what others would suggest for a good research topic for a Junior undergrad student.

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated,
Chris Kyler

*EDIT - after a quick search I found the article, any idea how I could turn this topic into a proposal then a research paper?
[www.mineral-forum.com]

Atlas Der Krystallformen DVD by mindat.org (3 replies)

Dana Morong — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:22:27 +0000

This is a wonderful resource - lighter weight and smaller size than the paper edition, and much more available. It is very well set up and perhaps the best disk with mineral information, that I have ever seen.

I have 2 questions:
1. Is it okay by you for me to download the disk onto own home computer (only for uses as permitted in the "Read Me" note). These new computers have so much storage space (if so, I would have to make a separate folder, what should be its name). If so, this would be downloaded only on own computer (others can buy their own copies from mindat.org). What is your policy regarding this possibility?
2. If I use a diagram in an article, I would want to properly attribute and credit the source (referring to Goldschmidt's Atlas, via DVD by mindat.org, or something like that?. What is the best way to do this (perhaps an example might help?).

How Does One Adjust the Dimensions of a "Table of Contents" (no replies)

Frank Festa — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:36:52 +0000

Hello,

Here is a simple question for a "code savvy" person.

I added a Table of Contents (toc) to a new article I wrote. The article is titled Fluorspar of the Moria Lake Region.

I used the code "Table of Contents", I think that was it.................that is not relevent. I have a beautiful Table of Contents in my article and all the headings do function as links to the headings in the article.

My problem/question......if you look at my article, the toc is far to wide. It's appearence is not exactly nice.

Is there a way to adjust the dimensions of a toc????? Maybe not so much the heighth because that would depend on the number of headings. Is there a way to adjust the width???? Can you give me the code to do this???

Thank you

Frank Festa

Adding photo thumbnails to an article. (4 replies)

Frank Festa — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:40:12 +0000

Hi all,

Just need a little help.

I have added an article to my home page and wanted to add five photos( thumbnails) at the very end of the article.

I was able to get three of the five posted using the code where the pic numbers are my own photos. Obviously I have tried numerous combinations of the examples in the help page but have gotten nowhere.

Is it possible to get 4 photos across and the last 1 below these 4???????? If so can you offer the code???????

Or can I get 1 photo in the center and 1 photo to each side of the center photo???????? Then 2 photos below these????????

I'm just looking for a pleasing pattern, symetrical.

If you look at my home page you can see what I am refering to. The code I used got three posted....how to post last two????

Thank you

Frank Festa

Richiesta di aiuto (1 reply)

Ermanno Gianoli — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:07:14 +0000

Questa mattina ho scritto un articolo riguardante la mia Swap List che risulta correttamente inserita nella lista SWAP.
Non ho ben capito come fare per riaprire il mio articolo e poterlo eventualmente modificare.
Qualcuno me lo può spiegare ?
Grazie
Ermanno

Request for help with illustrations for finished articles (1 reply)

Peter Andersen — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:27:27 +0000

P.O. BOX 2418
MILDURA
VICTORIA 3502
AUSTRALIA
Pjandersen50@hotmail.com
9 May 2010
Dear Fellow Mineral collectors
I have just completed a number of manuscripts on Localities and individual minerals that I have submitted to Wendell Wilson for publication in the Mineralogical Record as either individual articles or complete issues. The Mineralogical Record is the world’s premier magazine for mineral collectors and also has quite significant standing in the scientific community. I was wondering whether anyone out there in the mineralogical community would like to contribute photographs that would help improve what I have already managed to put together myself so far. Unfortunately I do not have a suitable camera for taking photographs of mineral specimens of the high quality required for publication which is why I am requesting this help. To this purpose I have outlined the articles and what is required in the way of illustrations to make them even better. For any photographs submitted for publication then the name of the photographer, size of specimen and in whose collection the specimen is in at the time of the photograph needs to be included as well. With slides I require the original as duplicates are no good for reproduction in publications. With prints please do not write on the back as this also makes them unusable. Digital photos can be sent on discs which are sent to me and then forwarded on to the Mineralogical record offices in America. I must make it clear that I have no control over what photos or other illustrations go into these articles as Wendell Wilson and Tom Moore have full control over this aspect. All I can do is make suggestions. So far I have completed or planned to complete in the very near future:
A/ A series of articles on Broken Hill with the hope that they will become two complete issues and which consist of:
1/ Introduction
Any old photographs of mining operations or people or the town itself would be of use.
Any modern photos showing the town today would also be of interest.
2/ Geology of the district
Any photos showing interesting geological aspects of the region of Broken Hill could be of use here. This would include anything in a 100 km radius of Broken Hill. Any photographs of any type of ore, metamorphic or pegmatic deposits would be of interest for this section.
3/ The mineralogy of the ABH Consols mine.
Any old photos of this mine or even modern ones showing where the mine once was would be of use. Also any specimen photographs of minerals from this mine would help.
4/ The mineralogy of the metamorphic rocks
Any photos of metamorphic mineral collecting sites such as the Thackaringa garnet and staurolite, etc. deposits would be of help. Also any photos of metamorphic mineral specimens.
5/ The mineralogy of the pegmatites in the Broken Hill district
Any photos of pegmatite mineral collecting sites such as the Thackaringa, Euriowie etc. deposits would be of help. Also any photos of pegmatite mineral specimens.
6/ The Silver mineralogy of Browne’s Shaft
Any photos of the silver mineral specimens from this part of the main lode.
7/ The mineralogy of the Broken Hill Type deposits.
Any photos of these mineral collecting sites such as the Potosi Pit, 9 Mile mine etc. deposits would be of help. Also any photos of mineral specimens from Broken Hill Type deposits.
8/ The mineralogy of the Mines of Thackaringa
Any photos of these mineral collecting sites such as the Lily mine etc. would be of help. Also any photos of mineral specimens from the Thackaringa ore deposits.
9/ The mineralogy of the Mines of Silverton
Any photos of these mineral collecting sites such as the Daydream mine etc. would be of help. Also any photos of mineral specimens from the Silverton ore deposits.
10/ A locality listing of all mines in the Broken Hill district.
Any photos of these mineral collecting sites and any photos of mineral specimens from these mines would be used to illustrate this one.
11/ The Mineral collection of the Harvey Family (is complete with no further illustrations required)
12/ The Mineral collection of the Milton Lavers.
A current photo of Milton would go in. I have quite a number of photos of his specimens but any more would be sent and left up to the editors to decide what goes in.
13/ The Edward Alderidge Mineral collection.
I have only one photo of one of his specimens so any others would certainly be included. I also require a photo of this gentleman should any exist in broken Hill archives.
14/ The Mineral collection of Maurice Mawby.
Any photos of Mawby at BH would be included as well as any photos of specimens that he handled.
15/ Type minerals from Broken Hill
Any photos of any type minerals or localities that they came from would go in. Also any people after Broken Hill minerals have been named such as Frank Pace, Ben Hogan, Ian Plimer, etc.
16/ Broken Hill collectors
Any photos of any Broken Hill current or past mineral collectors and specimens from their collections would be of use. I am especially after a photo of the Mural of Ross Clark in the BH High School Science section.
17/ A listing of all Broken Hill species and their localities.
Any photos of specimens would be submitted but I have sent all of Bernie Day’s slides so the oxidized section of the main lode is well represented. Other BH species would probably be used.
18/ Broken Hill Vughs
Any photos of any vughs seen in the mines would be of use.
19/ Recent Discoveries
Any photos of specimens recently found in the Broken Hill district would be submitted and probably used. Same with the localities that they came from.
2/ A series of articles on Dundas have also been completed. For this project I require:
Any photos of minerals from Dundas, especially of the Crocoite specimens in the Smithsonian and Harvard mineralogical collections that are from the 1971 pocket. Any photos of the South Comet Mine and Dundas Extended mines are required. I have suitable photos of all the other mines. Any photos of the late Frank Mihajlowits as a comprehensive article on his life and finds has been completed. Any Photos of William Petterd or any of his mineral specimens that are now in the Tasmanian Museum and Art gallery mineral collection as a comprehensive article on his life and mineral collection has also been completed.
3/ An article on the Mineral localities of Minas Gerais has been completed and so any photos of any mineral localities or minerals found in Minas Gerais is required. One condition of mineral photos for this article is that the exact locality must be known for the specimens photographed.
4/ An article just on Australian azurite has also been completed so any photos of any good specimens of azurite from Australian localities is required, along with photos of the Australian localities that have produced superb specimens of azurite.
5/ A series of articles on the minerals of Japan have been completed so as to be a special issue on this country. Any locality photos or specimen photos are required for this project. Maps showing the earlier provinces and later Prefectures are required. An overlaid map of both together would be a real bonus. A good picture of Wada is also required.
Any help given with any of these projects will be acknowledged in print and original prints and slides will be returned once publication has occurred. I expect that anyone who submits a photo that is published will receive a copy of the magazine or article that it appears in. I am entitled to receive 50 copies of all articles published and I hope to turn these into complete issues which will then be dispersed to those who have helped out in these projects.
Please send any photos to my address above as soon as possible so that I can forward them to Wendell so as to get these issues published as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Peter Andersen

Article (no replies)

Antony Glauser — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:25:48 +0000

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"New" Articles -- A reader's request (no replies)

Robert Meyer — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:23:04 +0000

Hello all,

The listing order of "new" articles on Mindat's home page is from top-down, the most recently updated article rather than the most recently written or posted. Since some revisions might warrant re-reading a previously read article, I think it would be nice if authors would favor their readers with a brief statement at the top of the article concerning what revisions were made. That way, the reader will know whether it is worth spending the time to re-read an article.

For example:

Revised February 22, 2010. Made major additions to the section on Calcite, added site photographs and a crystal drawing.

Revised February 22, 2010. Made minor revisions, corrected typos.

Revised February 22, 2010. Changed nothing. Just wanted to see my article on the top.

As you can see in the first instance, a reader might want to re-read the section on Calcite, or perhaps the entire article. In the second and third example, the reader would know that there were no significant changes. I point this out because older articles commonly pop up to the top on the home page. Since many of the articles posted on Mindat have been informative or enjoyable, and I (and presumably other readers) would be interested in reading any relevant revisions, it would be nice to know if there were worthwhile changes.

One other note, revision dates should be listed as shown, since formats such as 2/27/2010 and 27/2/2010 are not universally used. Alternatively, the date format could be as: 27 Feb 2010.

Bob Meyer

Request for articles (5 replies)

Jolyon & Katya Ralph — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 23:19:07 +0000

Would you like to write articles that will be placed more prominently on the site with a permanent link from the home page?

I'm after some volunteers to write some good articles on the following subjects, aimed at complete beginners.

Perhaps you have an article already that could be the basis for this?

What is mineral collecting?

An article to explain the hobby to people who don't understand what we do. Try to explain about the motivation - why do we do it? and then a little bit about what we do, including field collecting, research, buying minerals, displaying a collection, and what we can learn from it.

What is a mineral?

There is a formal definition of what a mineral is, and various informal ones. Note the page [en.wikipedia.org] (and the picture which unfortunately shows various non-minerals alongside the minerals!)

Need to explain the inconsistency of the definition with several things that are classed as minerals but probably shouldn't be (eg mercury, opal)

The following articles will be linked to from every mineral page:

Crystal Systems

Perhaps one simple article explaining the difference, with diagrams, between the different crystal systems and another article for each system giving more follow-up information.

Hardness

Describe the Mohs hardness scale and explain how it can be used to differentiate some similar-looking minerals.

and a similar article for each physical and optical property etc...

Volunteers at the ready - sign in below and let me know what you want to do!

Your articles will be potentially re-edited by me and others later, so don't offer to help unless you're prepared to be edited!

Jolyon

Australian & New Zealand Mineral Collector Magazine... (1 reply)

Steve Sorrell — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 06:38:42 +0000

Hi all

Four issues of the Australian and New Zealand Mineral Collector Magazine have so far been published in 2007 (one every three months). The next issue is due out in March 2008.

Interested in penning an article? I am looking for input into upcoming issues. Preference given to articles on Australian or New Zealand locations, minerals, show reports, field trips, or trips overseas by 'locals'. I won't say no to articles from other regions either.

Regards
Steve

Check out Steve's Spot at [crocoite.blogspot.com]

Photos to accompany articles (no replies)

Denise Bicknell — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:11:27 +0000

Jolyon

Wondering, since the magazine is a Mindat endeavor, will we be able to access photos from the database to accompany articles?

Denise

Article Suggestions (24 replies)

Jolyon — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:35:52 +0000

Are there any articles you would love to see in the new Mindat Magazine? Here's a few suggestions of my own, things I would like to see written, please comment with your own ideas, or if you'd be interested in writing one of these articles!

My Choices:

1) Meteorite Mineralogy
2) The Great Himmelsfurst Silver Fraud
3) Minerals of Antarctica

What would you choose?

Notes for Authors (7 replies)

Jolyon — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:32:15 +0000

As Uwe suggested we need to prepare a series of Notes for Authors. Guidelines for use of mineral & locality names will match those for the mindat.org website, other guidelines will be broadly in line with similar publications.

Jolyon