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4w⚠31 imagesRe: Collector's habits: Multiples ('Yes, well, I really like these...').Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.The spoon is copper. It was purchased in Bisbee but is not engraved. I have the same spoon engraved with Butte, Montana. These are souvenir items possibly from the early 1900's
5wRe: Old collection, no labels - unknown sky blue mineralReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.You might check out hemimorphite from La Bocona Mine Durango, Mexico
5w⚠31 imagesRe: Collector's habits: Multiples ('Yes, well, I really like these...').Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.I am a locality collector. I acquired my first Bisbee piece in 1970. Here's my Bisbee display collection.
5wRe: Old collection, no labels - unknown sky blue mineralReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Aragonite coloured by copper is also a possibility. Check it with acid.
6wRe: Azurite from Unknown LocalityReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.My vote is for Bisbee
9w⚠51 imagesRe: Show us Your Recent Acquisitions - Volume 11Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Concentrated on thumbnails this year at Tucson. Here is an Itauz copper, ex Rock Currier, 2.7 cm, with his original tag. He posted it to Mindat indicating he bought it from Karp in 2014
9w⚠51 imagesRe: Show us Your Recent Acquisitions - Volume 11Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.And a silver on copper from the Central Mine, Michigan, 2.8 cm. It is also an artifact as it was chiseled off the copper.
9wRe: Fraser valley, BCReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.fracture and surface not quite right for nephrite. Also density too high. Looks like a coarsely crystalline ultramafic rock like dunite or peridotite.
Dec 2023⚠44 imagesRe: Fabulous columnar basalt!Reply from Alex Homenuke in Photos.And whose head is that right in the center of the radiating columns?
Nov 2023⚠50 imagesRe: Red and Green Christmas Challenge #2Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Ruby in zoisite, Tanzania.
Jun 2023Re: AngelwingReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Also refers to angelwing agate where the best specimens look like ocean waves. Best known from Oregon
May 2023Re: Al LiebetrauReply from Alex Homenuke in General.He was a great conversationalist, his displays were top-notch and informative. Enjoyed a few dinners with Al and Sue. Condolences to Sue - he will be missed in the mineral world.
Mar 2023Re: Where in Australia?Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Thought I would refresh this post.
Mar 2023Re: A story about an Illustrated specimenReply from Alex Homenuke in General.I trimmed about 5 mm x 10 mm triangle of the dark matrix. I was not criticizing the photoshopping, just commenting - it really was distracting.
Mar 2023Re: A story about an Illustrated specimenReply from Alex Homenuke in General.lower left, I didn't take off quite as much as the photoshopping
Mar 2023Re: A story about an Illustrated specimenReply from Alex Homenuke in General.here is my trimmed specimen
Mar 2023A story about an Illustrated specimenPosted by Alex Homenuke in General.In 2020, I was shopping at Crystal Classics keystone room at Mineral City. I found a plumbogummite replacing pyromorphite specimen for $60. This would fit nicely in my collection. When I got home, I trimmed off an annoying bit of matrix and placed it on a base in my cabinet. January 2023 I receive ...
Mar 2023Where in Australia?Posted by Alex Homenuke in General.This 3cm pyrite was labelled Australia - wondering if anyone might know where in Australia? It seems distinctive enough
Feb 2023Re: What are my odds of finding jade at this localityReply from Alex Homenuke in Field Collecting.Well said, Alfredo, so much misinformation out there.
Feb 2023⚠37 imagesRe: Old Labels - show them, discuss them, translate them! (volume 2)Reply from Alex Homenuke in Education.Chalcopyrite from French Creek, PA, Mindat No. X67-QDR. On the glasine envelope is written "Vaux Collection". This would be George Vaux, Jr, label possibly from Brynn Mawr College. I have always loved the hoppered chalcos. Acquired my first thumbnail about 50 years ago.
Feb 2023⚠37 imagesRe: Old Labels - show them, discuss them, translate them! (volume 2)Reply from Alex Homenuke in Education.Acquired from Ed Loye in Tucson 2020. Old label on pine base nearly illegible. Mounted with champagne wire (artifact in it's own right). Ed's notes on back of his label - "Ex Adamson collection, Lyon France, Family collection (wide generations) 1770 - 1800, removed circa 1900.
Jan 2023Re: Identifying Russian stonesReply from Alex Homenuke in General.With cover closed - this is 18 x 24 cm.
Jan 2023Re: Identifying Russian stonesReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Here is a book like folder (18 x 24 cm) I picked up for a couple of dollars at a local lapidary show. It seems to be for a similar purpose. Very attractive cover - see 2nd pic.
Dec 2022⚠63 imagesRe: Show us your recent acquisitions - volume 3Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Here's the label
Dec 2022⚠63 imagesRe: Show us your recent acquisitions - volume 3Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Picked this up at a recent Vancouver gem and mineral show. A moderately interesting gold specimen with a valuable label. As much an artifact as a specimen. The Comet Mine was also a millsite. (5 cm)
Dec 2022Re: Sulfur from "Spain"?Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Thank you Alfredo, that makes sense. A non-mineral dealer could think El Desierto was Spanish. The morphology is certainly present in many of the photos on Mindat. I will have to check the matrix and make sure it is volcanic (tuff?)
Dec 2022Re: Sulfur from "Spain"?Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.When there is no question about the identity of the mineral, the questions are superfluous and the boxes are just ticked to get through the process. Perhaps there should be a discussion topic "locality help"
Dec 2022Re: Sulfur from "Spain"?Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Upon further examination, I tend to agree (accept) that it is man made. Although the matrix looks natural, the crystals wrap around the edges and there is no sign of a fresh break except on the bottom crystals where they probably pried off the bottom of the evap container. I will place it with my ...
Dec 2022Re: Sulfur from "Spain"?Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.That was my first thought, but I hadn't heard of any from Spain. The broken crystals on the back side are similar size and look pretty natural. And finally, for a hundred dollars Canadian it would be a nice addition to my fakes sub-collection
Dec 2022Re: Sulfur from "Spain"?Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Here is the back side
Dec 2022Sulfur from "Spain"?Posted by Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Acquired this sulfur from Spain at a local Gem show. (10 cm). Possibly from Cantabria based on morphology? Can anyone help with locality. Next photo shows matrix.Questions AnsweredCan it scratch glass? : NoCan you scratch it with your fingernail? : NoIs it light/heavy for the size? : Light
Oct 2022Re: Mines Museum of Earth Science, Golden ColoradoReply from Alex Homenuke to an article.Thank you for this - takes me back to the early 70's when I was a student working part time in the Museum. I remember the Kongsberg silver and the lamps and instruments.By the way, I think the new Google phone has an app that can remove the blurring from photos!!
Aug 2022Re: Stibnite locality (Japan?)Reply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.The "jackstraw" formation resembles Manhattan, Nevada specimens.
May 2022⚠65 imagesRe: Who likes heavy metal? - Volume 3Reply from Alex Homenuke in General.Here is my display case of native copper, copper artifacts, and memorabilia from the B.C. Rock and Gem Show this past weekend.
Apr 2022Faden Quartz Locality?Posted by Alex Homenuke in General.Acquired this complex 9 cm faden quartz cluster at a local show last week. A piece of paper with it stated Quartz, Brazil. I rather suspect it is from Pakistan. The matrix is sandstone. Any comments?
Mar 2022John DagenaisPosted by Alex Homenuke in General.John Dagenais (1945 - 2022) passed away peacefully in his sleep two nights ago. He was a dedicated amateur mineralogist and field collector. The mineral "Dagenaisite" (https://www.mindat.org/min-51849.html) was named after him and he was involved in the recognition of several other minerals. We ...
Mar 2022Re: Tsumeb cuprite/dioptase with unknownReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Can you recommend somewhere to send samples for analysis? I'd use a local university, but you need a lot of samples to make it cost effective.
Mar 2022Re: Tsumeb cuprite/dioptase with unknownReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.I have found a fair match with brunogeierite which is stated to occur as a coating tennantite, but that's probably wishful thinking. Colourwise, it does not look like germanite.
Mar 2022Re: Tsumeb cuprite/dioptase with unknownReply from Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.Have confirmed a grey streak using folded emery cloth, then wiping it on a streak plate.
Mar 2022Tsumeb cuprite/dioptase with unknownPosted by Alex Homenuke in Identity Help.This is a 3.5 cm cut surface of cuprite and dioptase from Tsumeb. Paragenetically, it appears the cuprite (dark grey on cut surface - it is red on rough surface) formed first, then was coated and partially infilled by the silver coloured unknown, followed by dioptase. On the exposed outside of the ...
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Here's a piece that has not been cleaned (4"). Some kind of clay coating.
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Looks like a lump of copper from the Lavender Pit. These were usually coated with malachite. This has been cleaned. They were usually tossed aside because they caused problems in the crusher.
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.This piece is from Tsumeb (4.5"). The back side has a round furrow suggesting dripping from a pipe, assumedly from the smelter, but there is a slim chance it could have been from underground.
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Seeing some smelter artifacts posted, I thought I would add couple of my favourites. The Bisbee piece (8") is from the Douglas Smelter circa early 1950's.
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Aragonite (question mark) My keyboard went French
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Another Bisbee piece, limonitic aragonite, slightly coloured by iron(?) (15 cm)
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.A specimen of copper crystals on limonitic selenite (8 cm) from Bisbee.
Feb 2022⚠35 imagesRe: Post Mine MineralsReply from Alex Homenuke in General.Thanks for starting this thread Rolf. Here is apiece of mine timber with copper from the Ray Mine (18 cm). Up close much of the copper is crystallized.
Jan 2022Re: Berg Aukas Mine (Berg Aukus Mine), Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa Region, NamibiaReply from Alex Homenuke in Localities.Fluorescence with Convoy LW UV
Jan 2022Berg Aukas Mine (Berg Aukus Mine), Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa Region, NamibiaPosted by Alex Homenuke in Localities.This polished slab (12 cm) came from the Westenberger collection. The label indicates descloizte, dolomite and smithsonite. My "guess" is that descloizite grew on a breccia fragment (dolomite?) then was infilled with finer layered dolomite?. I have not confirmed dolomite with a hot acid test.This ...
