FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Byron Anderson]

Hello fellow FMF's. I hope I'm not misusing this fourm with this question as the FMF theme's trend more toward the academic (which I love), while my question is more economic. However, I thought this question my generate some fun discussion (and help me out) so here it goes. I have been collecting for about 25 years and recently acquired the remains of a mineral and lapidary shop inventory dating back to the late 1950's to mid 1960's. The collection is mostly lapidary and gemstones, but there are some minerals, including several basic/beginner collections glued behind a glass 18X12 inch frame. I didn't get too excited about these until I took a closer look at one of the frames and discovered they were all Japanese minerals - many with assigned mine locations (mostly Chichibu, Siatama Prefecture). I inquired to the person from which I purchased the collection about these and he informed me that the owners had collected (some self collected) these while in the military, shortly after WWII. Based on my experience Japanese minerals are relatively rare (I admit from a California-centric basiis) so here is my question.......Is the collection more valuable kept together, or parceled? I have several mineral friends that would like some of the specimens, but I'm hesitant to parcel out. This is my first post, so I'm hoping I can post several detail pictures to follow the overall picture. Keeping my fingers crossed...

[Byron Anderson]

Arsenopyrite and Sphalerite on Galena, Chichibu Mines, Siatama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan

[Byron Anderson]

Not sure I believe the label on this one....but providing what is on the label.

[Byron Anderson]

Another close up of the collection.

[GneissWare]

Unless it is a well-known collector (and doesn't seem to be) there is no reason not to break up the collection.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Robledo]

I think the correct name of the prefecture is Saitama (埼玉県, Saitama-ken), not Siatama

[Byron Anderson]

Thanks for the location correction! I'll make sure the correct spelling stays with the specimens if I decide to let them go (friends or donate to the local state college?)

[Robledo]

YW! There is neither a prefecture called "Mino", but there is a town called Mino (美濃市, Mino-shi) in Gifu prefecture (岐阜県, Gifu-ken). Maybe that topaz is from there, I don't know...
Sorry, I'm very sensitive with Japanese locations :)

[Byron Anderson]

No apology! This is exactly what I'm looking for. Great stuff! Keep it coming and thank you! I get the impression from the material in the inventory I purchased that these were not sophisticated collectors. They had some beautiful turquoise, lapis lazuli crystals, and fist size garnets with absolutely no location information. It kills me.

[Byron Anderson]

The quartz crystal from the Japanese collection. Location only given as Honshu. Is this a beta-quartz?

PS Sorry about the poor quality photos. I have a better camera and will try to provide higher quality photos in the future.

[alfredo]

Don't doubt the vesuvianite; that's a typical one from there!

[Robledo]

[Pierre Joubert]

I would agree with some others; keep it together. I would redo all the labels though.

[alfredo]

It's not a beta-quartz, it's what the Japanese call "sorobandama-ishi" = "abacus bead stone".
They are composed of chalcedony, formed by shrinkage of what was originally a blob of gel.

[alfredo]

"Mino province" is now half of Gifu prefecture. The topaz is undoubtedly from the Naegi pegmatite district in Gifu prefecture.