Search Results
Sep 2018Re: John VeevaertReply from Jesse Fisher in General.It's really hard to hear things like this. John helped us greatly with sales and publicity for the Rogerley project back around 2000 when we first started, and ask for little in return. He has been a good friend since, always valuing minerals and friends above money and ego. I suddenly feel like ...
Jul 2017Re: The Rogerley MineReply from Jesse Fisher in General.Things are in flux, as they say. After 15 years our head miner has retired. He has invaluable skills that will be very difficult to replace, but this sort of work is physically demanding and we are all becoming old farts. He told me essentially that if he were still working in the commercial mines ...
Mar 2014Re: WHERE ARE THE SPECIMENS?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Specimens from any once prolific mine or district always become increasingly difficult to find with the passage of time after closing of the mines. Fluorite, being a popular mineral among many collectors will be specially difficult to find from desirable and now extinct locations. When I started ...
Mar 2014Re: Camera to use for TN mineralsReply from Jesse Fisher in Mineral Photography.As mentioned above, what you want will depend on the final quality of photos you require. If you want something that would be of publication quality I think you will want a digital SLR camera (both Nikon and Canon are well-respected) and a good macro lens, probably a 100 mm. Unless you can find one ...
Nov 2013Re: Pericline or Oligoclase?Reply from Jesse Fisher in Identity Help.The habit is definitely pericline, and I think the occurence of that habit in plagioclase is restricted to fairly pure end-member albite. To determine the difference between albite and oligoclase you will need a chemical analysis. If the Na:Ca ratio if 90:10 or greater then the species is albite ...
Nov 2013Re: Fluorite: locality?Reply from Jesse Fisher in Identity Help.The twinning and strong fluorescence are quite typical of fluorite from the North Pennines Orefield in England. A lot of mines in and around Weardale produced purple fluorite and it is often difficult to say which mine a specimen came from without other evidence such as associated minerals, old ...
Sep 2013Re: RIP Robert (Bob) J. King (1923-2013)Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.One of my favorites from the King collection - a very large, well-formed fluorite twin from the Hilton Mine, Scordale, Cumbria (the coin is 2.5 cm/1 inch in diameter).
Oct 2013Re: RIP Robert (Bob) J. King (1923-2013)Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Bob King's collection of minerals from the North Pennines is perhaps second only to what is held in the Russell collection in London. His collection is housed in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. Though unfortunately not on display, it well worth making an appointment to see for anyone ...
Aug 2013Re: Collecting in the UKReply from Jesse Fisher in Field Collecting.A site may be given SSSI designation for many reasons that do not involve minerals. If the SSSI is for something other than a mineral occurrence, then I would assume that mineral collecting would not technically be forbidden as long as one is not violating or disturbing what ever the SSSI covers. ...
Jul 2013Re: Cleaning Yellow Stains from Red Beryl MatrixReply from Jesse Fisher in Techniques for Collectors.Always best to start with sodium dithionite/iron out and escalate if that doesn't do the job. I would not recommend using oxalic or HCL on anything with a porous matrix as it will bleed yellow stain as it dries unless you have soaked the specimen in repeated changed of clean water over several days ...
Jun 2013Re: Blatant manipulation of color photographsReply from Jesse Fisher in Fakes & Frauds.Although the digital processing of color photographs does allow for all sorts of manipulations of an image, I would suggest that before accusing of trying to create a false or misleading image, one should try creating realistic, color balanced digital photographs of a good selection on minerals ...
Apr 2013Re: Min Rec + MinDat = awesomeReply from Jesse Fisher in General.Tim,
If you think the data should be free, than make it so. All you need to do is round up prospective authors/researchers and photographers to donate their work to you. Then you will need to learn how to produce the finished articles using something like Page Maker or Quark. I'm sure you can ...
Mar 2013Re: Tucson 1992 to 2013Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Using the total weight of the guide as an indicator of of trends looks a little suspect as the page number to total weight ratio is not consistent. This suggests that there are unaccounted for variables such as changes in the weight of the paper used or something else in the printing process. I ...
Feb 2013Re: Tucson 2013 - Don't miss these eventsReply from Jesse Fisher to an article.Jolyon, thanks for the promo for the OLD FARTS meeting. If we run out of beer this year, I'll blame it on you. Also worth noting are the lecture series at the TGMS/convention center show. On Friday Feb. 15 I will be rambling on about English fluorite and the Rogerley Mine for the TGMS and on ...
Oct 2012Re: Asbestos fearsReply from Jesse Fisher in Field Collecting.Bart -
Not to split too many fibers here, but I think you have your pathology wrong. There are two distinct diseases that have been related to inhalation of asbestos fibers - asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is an emphysema-like condition related to scaring of lung tissue caused by ...
Sep 2012Re: The Weardale Giant - An exceptional Fluorite specimenReply from Jesse Fisher to an article.Update on the specimen, now named "The Weardale Giant." We have successfully trimmed the matrix to the point that it can be reasonable transported. On Monday we lowered it down from the mine using a winch and have crated it for shipment back to California. We hope to have it on display at the TGMS ...
Aug 2012Re: New report - Rogerley 2012!Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Tim,
If you really miss the stuff, I'll be happy to send you some.
Cheers,
Jesse
Aug 2012Re: Frazers hush mine,England fluorite galenaReply from Jesse Fisher in Techniques for Collectors.Removing damaged fluorite crystals from a specimen is relatively easy with an air scribe of the Chicago Pneumatic variety. Use a needle point and just touching it to the broken crystal will cause it to shatter without effecting those around it.
Jul 2012Re: New element discovered?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.The tooth brush was a gift from none other than Mindat's Fearless Leader. I suspect the spelling may be Chinese.
Jul 2012New element discovered?Posted by Jesse Fisher in General.New horizons in dental hygiene with "Flouride." Puts the gummy back in your gums!
Jul 2012Re: spelling of bariteReply from Jesse Fisher in General.I'm really not sure just why people feel compelled to waist their time (time and time again) arguing about trivial stuff like this. I think we all accept that commonly used names are spelled differently in different languages. I think most collectors will recognize that barite = baryte = barit = ...
Jun 2012Re: Pocket Indicators - Post YoursReply from Jesse Fisher in Field Collecting.In the Rogerley, the fluorite in the metasomatic flats forms in roughly horizontal seams, which will often bulge into open cavities, yielding well-formed crystals. The void spaces are almost always filled with a tan-colored sticky mud. Many times the pockets are collapsed and the contents are a ...
Mar 2012Re: the vug bookReply from Jesse Fisher in General.No, Justin, you clearly have too much spare time on your hands. Along with all that I suggest you end poverty, stop wars, and reverse global warming. Oh, and while you're at it, perhaps you could convince all those hedge fund managers that they really don't need to be so greedy.
Cheers!
Mar 2012⚠12 imagesRe: Which Yaogangxian Mine specimen is your Favourite?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.An incredible deposit, particularly for the fluorites - one of my favorites, with quartz, 10x6x5 cm overall size.
Mar 2012Re: Robert ('Bob') Andrew Howie 1923-2012 RIPReply from Jesse Fisher in General.For someone who is basically an igneous petrologist by education, the DHZ books have been at the core of my reference library since I was an undergraduate. Never met any of the authors, but their work has always been important to me. Sorry news!
Mar 2012Re: the vug bookReply from Jesse Fisher in General.Good job Justin, you're quite luck to have Brandy there to make you and it look so good. And thank you for being willing to publish my blathering prose and sorry attempts at graphic design. What's up for the encore?
Mar 2012Re: Viruses distributed trough FacebookReply from Jesse Fisher in General.If you want to keep from getting viruses on your computer (no mater which variety you have) you need to use your brain a bit. The virus you downloaded most likely did not come from Facebook, but from someone who hacked an account with your e-mail, likely Ray's, and sent you a fraudulent e-mail that ...
Mar 2012Re: "rare earth minerals"Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.The problem (or at least one of them) as I understand it is, that while rare-earth elements are not really all that rare, the technology needed to separate the various highly similar elements during refining is fairly involved. Unfortunately, we seem to have been sitting on our hands in this ...
Mar 2012Re: Viruses distributed trough FacebookReply from Jesse Fisher in General.The real problem with Macs is not the computer but, often, the user. Computers are simply a tool to accomplish a task. A lot of Mac users treat them like a lifestyle or worse, a religion. I guess a lot of us are insecure enough that we need to latch onto things we can use to differentiate us from ...
Mar 2012Re: Viruses distributed trough FacebookReply from Jesse Fisher in General.The prime rule for keeping your computer free of viruses is NEVER - I repeat - NEVER click through on an embedded link in an e-mail, no matter how authentic it may look. Always copy the link to your browser and go to it that way.
Macs are for sissies with too much money.
Apr 2012Re: Removing fibers - best way?Reply from Jesse Fisher in Techniques for Collectors.If cost is no object, a plasma etching chamber would do the job nicely without harming the mineral specimen. Barring that, perhaps using some mineral tack on the end of a tooth pick to "touch" the fibers off while viewing under the stereoscope.
Mar 2012Re: Aquamarine HelpReply from Jesse Fisher in Identity Help.Aquamarine is the varietal name usually used for blue beryl. As it is not a formal mineral name, it does not have a rigid definition. In practice, however, it's use is usually taken to mean the beryl is some shade of blue. Green beryl, if known to contain either chromium or vanadium as the coloring ...
Mar 2012Re: IndicoliteReply from Jesse Fisher in General.Adrain,
Unfortunately, your photos are so out of focus that it is difficult to tell much about the crystal other than the color. Without better photos I doubt that anyone could tell you what it really is.
There is one simple test you can try on it, provided the crystal is reasonably ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Not too many decent British minerals to be see around Tucson yet (if you discount that ever-present green stuff). I did find this lovely little Boltsburn fluorite lurking in one room at the InnSuites show, however.
Jan 2012Re: cleaning Albite surface off topaz crystalsReply from Jesse Fisher in Techniques for Collectors.Topaz is fairly resistant to HF, but I suspect that much of the matrix of the specimen would be albite, which is not. A soak in HF would likely corrode the entire matrix and leave you with a bunch of loose bits of topaz. The best way to clean a specimen such as this is with an air abrasive unit ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.I think we're having too many colorful minerals here, so it's time for an alstonite. This one on calcite from the Brownley Hill Mine, Alston Moor. 7 cm tall. The specimen is accompanied by a label from James Gregory (progenitor of the London mineral dealing firm Gregory, Bottley and Lloyd) dating ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Here's a bit from the Heights Quarry, Weardale, showing both the penetration twinning and well-developed vicinal faces typical of fluorite from the area.
Jan 2012Re: Fluorite ,Egremont mine ? Durham.Reply from Jesse Fisher in Identity Help.Though Colin has likely seen more than I have, to my experience fluorite specimens from the Heights Mine/Quarry usually have a dense, fairly uniform brown "ironstone" matrix. The photos here seem to show some sort of foliation, which I have not seen at Heights.
Jan 2012Re: Mindat meeting in TucsonReply from Jesse Fisher in General.But Jolyon, isn't Tom going to be in Tucson this year? I remember what happens to Mindat meetings when he's around. You drink all my beer and then his vodka and I'm afraid we really will be hauling folks out of the pool afterward!
Jan 2012Re: Mindat meeting in TucsonReply from Jesse Fisher in General.No strippers planned, but we will, as always, have a keg of beer at the Old Farts meeting in the UKMV InnSuites room, #144. Monday (same day) 5pm until the beer runs out. Just a stumble past the pool and across the courtyard from Rock's abode. How easy can party-hopping get? Well, I guess you could ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Galena with Siderite, Boltsburn Mine, Rookhope. FOV=5 cm.
Jan 2012Re: Fluorite ,Egremont mine ? Durham.Reply from Jesse Fisher in Identity Help.Egremont, as Philip mentions, is a village in the center of the West Cumberland Iron Ore District, to the west of Durham in the modern county of Cumbria. Fluorite is relatively rare from the mines there, and this certainly doesn't look like one from the photo. All fluorites from the mines in and ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Time for some more fluorite. This one, with sphalerite and minor siderite came from the Beaumont (Allenheads) Mine, East Allendale, Northumberland. Recovered around 1970 during British Steel's ill-fated attempt to reopen the mine for fluorspar. 10 cm across.
Apr 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Hello Philip,
We sometimes get fluorite crystals with that sort of surface pitting from the Rogerley as well. I think the impressions are the result of etching and not from quartz crystals now gone. The outline is rarely hexagonal as one would get from quartz, and quartz overgrowth on the ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Bugger! If I had only known I would have left the grotty stuff on the specimens and charged more! Live and learn...
Here's an Eastgate Cement Quarry fluorite and galena combo, collected in 2001. The galena has been mostly washed but still a few scarps of that grotty stuff hanging about, so not a ...
Apr 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Isn't that the stuff we wash off of our galena?
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.This one's been a bit of a mystery. It came with an old label from the Sorbonne giving the location as "Northumberland." I've seen a lot of North England fluorite but never anything like this one from the region. While looking through the fluorites in the Sir Arthur Russell collection at the NHM ...
Jan 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Calcite with hematite inclusions from the Banana Slide find of the early 1970s, Beckermet/Florence mine complex, Egremont, Cumbria. 13 cm across.
Apr 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Woody - I recently saw a nice group of siderite epimorphs after fluorite from the Virtuous Lady Mine with Heuland catalog label attached. I recall that Ian saw it as well. Unfortunately, financial considerations dictated that it stay where it was.
Apr 2012⚠46 imagesRe: Oi! What about the best of the Brits?Reply from Jesse Fisher in General.Woody,
The label on your specimen looks like the ones that were clipped from Heuland's catalogs and glued onto his specimens.
