Gail's NEW favourite of the day, PART 2

Jelmer, Wow, that is a fascinating rutile spray on so many levels!

I was really smitten with this cowlesite when I received it. Nicely speckled with calcites. A favourite for days!
From Trevor Boyd.

Cowlesite
Fallowvee, Waterfoot, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
vug approximately 15mm long, overall specimen ~ 6 x 5 x 4 cm

A specimen I remember .......



This fine albite (variety clevelandite) specimen was purchased from Jose de Estrada, a mineral dealer in Taquaral, Minas Gerias, Brazil in 1988. In the matrix are several large gem lepidolite crystals. It measures about about 35 cm horizontally. This was hand carried back to the US and when processed through customs the agent looked at the heavily wrapped and taped bundle, asked what I did for a living (geologist), and upon hearing the answer, warily shook his head and waved me through. I believe that this specimen now resides in a museum in Connecticut.

Cheers!

Steve

And for today a scolecite flower on chalcedony from Maharashtra, India.
The color fidelity is not one hundred percent, the color of the scolecite is more towards a brownish red.
Measurements are; 8 by 5 by 3 cm.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2012 10:55AM by Jelmer Hylke Hoeksma.

OK, Stephanie, I am going to post another 'classic', even if it seems like just yesterday when I first saw it and it was produced sometime more than 30 years ago. I guess that we can't fight the clock.

Tabular smoky quartz with rutile, Ibitiara, Bahia, Brazil. Ex R. Thompson collection. T. Rose specimen and photos. This is a floater with just a minor point of attachment on one corner. Overall size: 10x7x3.5 cm.



End view....



Great rocks, Jelmer and all!

Cheers,

Steve

I'm doing a little better with the camera now. My favorite today is a cluster of round rosettes of azurite, partially pseudomorphed to malachite, from Seabra, Bahia, Brazil.

7 x 9 x 4 cm

Jelmer, that is an unusual and alluring scolecite blossom! Perfect presentation!
Stephen, rutilated quartz is always a classic. Yes, you can't beat the clock. It's just alarming (pardon the pun) to recall things not in years. but in decades. Seems like yesterday.
Neal, great job on the photo, a gorgeous Brazilian beauty!

My favourite today is going to be a favourite forever. It was a birthday gift from my brother who snapped it up at the London, Ontario show while I wasn't looking (the rascal). It came with an old yellowed typewritten label, so it has been around. It doesn't sparkle like a blue zircon or tanzanite gemstone, but it is still a gem in my eyes and I will cherish it always.

Stephanite
San Cristobal District, Yauli Province, Junín Department, Peru
specimen size ~ 15mm x 10mm, main crystal ~5mm

Stephanie was Stephanite named after you or you after it? LOL great to see your specimens, thanks for sharing.

Today's favorite is fluorite on quartz on fluorite from the Rock Candy Mine, British Columbia, Canada. 10.6 x 9.2 cm.

© A&M

Goodness gracious, some amazing minerals and amazing photos! How nice to see everyone posting, thanks!

Gail Patricia Copus Spann

Hey Philip ~ you're too funny... stephanite was named in 1845, I know I'm getting older, but last I checked I'm not quite THAT old. hehe .

Having a little fun tonight...
A "Me and Mini Me" staurolite.
I wish I may, I wish I might... oh never mind !!!

Staurolite
Pestsovye Keivy, Keivy Mountains, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Larger one is ~ 9cm x 7cm, smaller one is ~ 1.5cm x 1.2cm

Here is my favorite for the day. Got it at Tucson this year. It is an Alabandite, 25 x 25 x 21 mm and is from Uchuchacchua Mine, Lima Dept., Peru.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/09/2012 06:03PM by Ronald J. Pellar.

What is it, Ron. Alabandite? Spinel? I'm having a hard time identifying it.

Celestite and Calcite

From: Wessels Mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.4 cm

A quite exceptional, pearly, silver-blue Celestine. The habit is so unusual: fine blades rotate through spheres. Just beautiful.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/09/2012 04:56AM by Xiao-dong Xu.

My favorite of the day:

Wulfenite
8.6 x 5.4 x 4.6 cm. Several thick, lustrous, translucent, red-orange crystals to 1.5 cm on gossan matrix. This specimen is from the James Webb Collection of Houston, Texas, and was collected by Wayne Thompson in 1993.

Great photos!!!

We added a couple of tourmalines while in Tucson.


Gail Patricia Copus Spann

My favourite for today is a difficult to photograph spessartine from Brazil. (2,6 by 2,1 by 2,0 cm)
The big challenge is to show both the great colour and the magnificent structure of these specimen.
In most of the pictures I took one of both is excellent displayed but the other one is under exposed.
The picture I choose was the one that, in my opinion, was best balanced.

WoW, beautiful stuff, Folks!

Today my favourite is a location piece. A year ago a tragedy unfolded in Japan. My thoughts still go out to the people of Japan and their continuing efforts to rebuild their lives and their country.

This is not a specimen of beauty but it is a rare earth mineral that hails from the stricken prefecture that was obtained prior to the devasation.
It is the greenish coloured material at the top of the piece. And yes, will upload it as none are in the database.

Yttrialite-(Y)
Fusamata, Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture, Tohoku Region, Honshu Island, Japan
overall specimen size ~10mmx 5mm

A piece we got from Peter Lyckberg a few years ago.

Gail Patricia Copus Spann

Okay, couldn't resist having another favourite as JIm is cataloging and I took photos of these two beryls from Madagascar. Papa and Mama Beryl.



Gail Patricia Copus Spann

Gail I think your Madagascan Beryls are fantastic, love your Calcite too.

Todays favourite is an Epidote.
Skardo, Pakistan.
size is 7.5cm high.