Search Results
Jul 2014Re: Cleaning inerals collected from Loudville Lead MineReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I have read your link on cleaning quartz. I don't believe the coating is fine quartz, there is no crystal structure to the coating.
So then I take it that no one on this forum has ever cleaned a mineral from the Loudville (Manhann) Lead Mine?
Jul 2014Re: Cleaning inerals collected from Loudville Lead MineReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.OK I have attached some pictures of some of the quartz crystals that have the coatings.
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Jul 2014Cleaning inerals collected from Loudville Lead MinePosted by Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.Hi, I was hoping someone on this forum has had success cleaning minerals found at the Loudville (Manhann) Lead Mine in Easthampton, MA.
I have many quartz crystals that are covered in a dark brown coating, sometimes black, sometimes slightly orange. I have tried soaking them in soap water, ...
Oct 2013Deer Hill, Stow, Me Collecting TipsPosted by Tom White in Field Collecting.Hi,
I'm currently spending a week up on the White Mountains and I plan to go to Deer Hill at least a few times. I went yesterday and spent most of the day at the top of site 3. I found some amethyst crystals but they pale, light, and spotty. I have heard the more colorful specimens are found in ...
Aug 2013Re: Dark TourmalinesReply from Tom White in Mineral Photography.I haven't tried setting them on top of a lit shelf yet, but I'm looking for something I could take with me out in the field. And no, I'm not going to break the crystals just to see through them. Thanks for the info on the laser. Perhaps I just need to find a very strong white led.
Aug 2013Dark TourmalinesPosted by Tom White in Mineral Photography.I have a growing collection of dark (but not black) tourmalines I've collected from various localities in Maine. I would like to be able to show off its true color. I can identify its color by shining light around the edges or thin parts of the tourmaline using an led pen light I bought at home ...
May 2013Re: Amber in northern New England?Reply from Tom White in General.Yeah, I live 6 hours away from the amber pits and I don't have a ton of space in my suv for buckets upon buckets (I do have a Ford Explorer but I also need room for camping gear and mining equipment). I think the next time I'm down that way I'll spend 2 or 3 days at that site and see what I can ...
May 2013Re: Amber in northern New England?Reply from Tom White in General.I brought back many small pieces and I have yet to take pictures, I'll post them when I take them. The area looked like sand pits except the ground is pretty hard and kinda crusty. If you have directions for it you'll find it.
May 2013Re: Recommendations for usb microscope for photographing microsReply from Tom White in Mineral Photography.Thanks for the info Gene,
I didn't realize what I was looking for was pretty much non-existent for recreational use. I think I'll try to find a better version of what I already have. Not sure what brand it is, but I bought it for $30 so I doubt it's when of the better ones.
The only reason ...
May 2013Re: Amber in northern New England?Reply from Tom White in General.I finally made it over to Sayreville a few weeks ago. I found many small specimens of amber on the surface and a few pyrite nodules. I decided to go there after making the trip to Sterling Hill for the Super Dig. I would definitely go to the amber site again. I didn't have the tools or manpower ...
May 2013Recommendations for usb microscope for photographing microsPosted by Tom White in Mineral Photography.I'm looking for recommendations for a usb microscope that has decent resolution for photos of micro crystals on larger matrix rocks (light microscope types are out). I have a cheap usb microscope that only has a focus adjust. I'm looking for something that can zoom and focus. I have quite a few ...
Apr 2013Re: North Attleboro, MA fossil localities?Reply from Tom White in General.Nice find! I asked a paleontologist how to preserve them when they had a day of presentations at the Museum of Science in Boston and they told me the same thing. There's no way to preserve them. I noticed some similar fossils being sold at the gift shop.
Jan 2014Re: Cleaning PyriteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.Just regular all purpose cleaner. http://toolmonger.com/2007/10/05/simple-green-simply-clean/
Jan 2014Re: Cleaning PyriteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I did pretty well with just the iron out and simple green. I'll try the silver polish and baking soda to see if it is any better though. Thanks for the tip!
Apr 2013Re: North Attleboro, MA fossil localities?Reply from Tom White in General.Matthew Kimball Wrote:
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> Thank you both so much for the replies! I heard
> that about Masslite as well, and I will
> deffinitely not be going there. I will check out
> the North Attleboro site as soon as possible!>:D As for Corys lane, I ...
Feb 2013Re: New England FossilsReply from Tom White in Field Collecting.I haven't yet found any of the fossil sites on the list, but I did find some at Cory's Lane in Portsmouth, RI. I found quite a few plant fossils. I was wondering if anyone had a technique to really bring out the fossil in the shale, not literally, but just so the fossil looks a little more ...
Feb 2013Re: New England FossilsReply from Tom White in Field Collecting.It's a little hard to follow and it seems that most localities are uncertain whether or not there is access to them any more. Have you been to any of these? At the very least it's something I can work off of. Thanks again.
Feb 2013Re: New England FossilsReply from Tom White in Field Collecting.Thanks for the quick response, I'll check it out!
Feb 2013New England FossilsPosted by Tom White in Field Collecting.Hi,
I'm looking for any known fossil collecting sites open to the public In Massachusetts, Maine, NH, RI, CT, or eastern NY. I'm sure requests have come up for this before, but I was unable to find them in the forum.
I know of Cory's Lane in RI but that is the only specific site I know of. ...
Sep 2012Re: Aggregate Simeone QuarryReply from Tom White in Field Collecting.I belong to "New England Rockhounds" which really isn't an official club. It's a group on Meetup so it's more like a free club.
Sep 2012Re: Aggregate Simeone QuarryReply from Tom White in Field Collecting.Thanks for the info. I do belong to a club, but I don't believe they have insurance. Who should I have the club contact at the quarry?
Sep 2012Aggregate Simeone QuarryPosted by Tom White in Field Collecting.Hi,
I was wondering what the collecting status of this quarry is. I would like to check it out for the amethyst, but I don't want to make the trip just to be turned back.
Thanks,
Tom
May 2012Re: How to Remove Hardened Clay off ApatiteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I think I'll try the hydrogen peroxide first only because that's what I have most readily available. I'll try getting one of those mystic cleaning guns when I get a chance. Thanks for all the responses!
May 2012How to Remove Hardened Clay off ApatitePosted by Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I've collected a cluster of clear apatite crystals on a feldspar matrix from Mt. Mica. All of the apatites are covered in hard brown clay. I have had a little success in scraping the clay off with a razor, but I don't want to scratch the crystals. I've tried soaking it in soapy water for a week ...
Jan 2014Re: Cleaning PyriteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.Sorry it has taken so long for a response. I just tried the Super Iron Out and within an hour or so most, if not all, of the rust has vanished. I'm letting it soak in simple green now as recommended. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Nov 2011Re: Massachusetts Mineral LocalitiesReply from Tom White in General.If you don't mind driving a good 4 hours (from Plymouth), you may want to try a few localities up in the Paris, Me area such as Harvard Quarry. I always make at least a few trips a year from Haverhill. I'd highly recommend it! There's also Parker Mountain Quarry which is a bit closer in ...
May 2013Re: Amber in northern New England?Reply from Tom White in General.Thanks for all the info everyone. Both New York and New Jersey are a little far for me (5 hour drive to NJ), but I'll try to get down to them at some point.
May 2013Amber in northern New England?Posted by Tom White in General.I was wondering if there was anywhere I could go collecting amber in Massachusetts or any of the surrounding states. According to mindat there have been some found on Nantucket...but I'm sure the land is pretty much all privately owned. On top of that, it's an island. I'd appreciate any info you ...
Jan 2014Re: Cleaning PyriteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.OK, well I have plenty of tiny chunks I don't mind experimenting on so I'll try both. These have an opaque brown/red coating around them. The stuff doesn't scratch off easy as I've tried with tweezers while out gold panning. And what is "patina"?
Jan 2014Re: Cleaning PyriteReply from Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I'm not looking to sell them (at least not now anyway) so even if it's dull that's ok. I can try sanding it down later on. I'll try your suggestion, Donald, for now. Thanks for the tips!
Aug 2023Cleaning PyritePosted by Tom White in Techniques for Collectors.I've got many small chunks as well as full crystals of pyrite from the Wild Ammonoosuc River in Bath, NH. Most of the pyrite is covered in rust. I was wondering what the best way is to get the rust off of the pyrite with minimal damage?
Nov 2011Re: Lane QuarryReply from Tom White in General.Thanks for the offer! I may just take you up on it.
And I'll definitely look into the Betts Manganese mines. Thanks everyone!
Nov 2011Re: Lane QuarryReply from Tom White in General.That's a shame. I was hoping to go find some prehnite. Thanks for the info, at least I didn't make the trip all the way out there just to find out I can't collect there. (I live in northeastern Mass.)
I've been to Loudville Lead Mine with not much to show for it... are there any other ...
Nov 2011Re: Lane QuarryReply from Tom White in General.Sorry, I meant Lane Quarry in Northfield, MA.
Nov 2011Lane QuarryPosted by Tom White in General.I'm looking for information regarding the collecting status of this site as well as directions (once you're in Northfield). Haven't had much luck on google.
Thanks.
