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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 185
Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 09:59 Post subject: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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What are the most favorite specimens in your collections?
Cheers!
_________________ Jim
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Carles Millan
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Joined: 05 May 2007
Posts: 1474
Location: Catalonia
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 10:39 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Jim,
I encourage you to be the first to answer your own question...
_________________ Al carrer Duran i Bas, si no hi vas no t'hi duran |
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
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Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 11:22 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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OK, I didn't intend to start a thread like this.... but here we go.
My absolute favorite is the "Okie Dokie" diamond from the Crater of Diamonds State Park, Pike Co., AR. It is a flawless, 4.21-carat crystal of deep canary yellow color. It is probably the most perfect and important diamond found there since 1977.
This diamond has appeared in the MR several times, Rocks & Minerals, Lost Treasure magazine, Western and Eastern Treasures magazine, the AMT book, as well as NBC's The Today Show, MSNBC and Inside Edition.
It is my favorite for its perfection, its historical significance for the Crater of Diamonds State Park and the human interest story that accompanies it.
Cheers,
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4.21 carat, ~1.3 cm, diamond named the "Okie Dokie" |
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This is the field marker for the Okie Dokie in place on the search field. |
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This is us with Marvin Culver standing next to the field marker that commemorates the Okie Dokie diamond. His diamond sparked a huge diamond rush to the Crater that continues to this day! |
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Marvin Culver, the first time visitor who found the Okie Dokie Diamond. This pic was taken right after he found the stone. He named it after his home state of Oklahoma. |
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_________________ Jim
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 11:52 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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No doubt, it is a first class specimen.
_________________ Al carrer Duran i Bas, si no hi vas no t'hi duran |
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 12:04 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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How fun Jim! What a great and informative thread.
My absolute baby is this incredible aqua from Pakistan.
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A cluster of three transparent gemmy highly refractive pale blue aquamarine xls up to 63x20x17mm in size are oriented exactly 120 degrees apart (looking like a "propeller"), each with pinacoidal terminations; a variety of bright gemmy red spessartine garnet xls are sprinkled on each aquamarine xl; the beryl xls are each nestled in a bed of white rhombohedral albite xls, with several doubly terminated colorless prismatic quartz xls up to 70x42x31mm providing added structure |
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_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 185
Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 12:12 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Hi Gail,
Glad you and Jim made it back safely from the show. And congrats on a successful showing!
That aquamarine of yours is a definite keeper, although I have to say that out of all of your aquas I like the "v shaped" aqua from Idaho that is ex-Graeber.
That said, I do really like this one too. It has uncommonly good aesthetics and really nice size!
Cheers,
_________________ Jim
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 12:15 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Hi Gail
It's really superb. Congratulations!
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
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Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 14:25 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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No one else has any favorite minerals in their collection?!!!!!!!!! Come on Jordi, John and everyone... let's see your minerals!
Thanks,
_________________ Jim
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 14:41 Post subject: What are your most favorite specimens? |
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This is so far my favorite, although not the most priced in my collection
Calcite, fluorite
Gemmy rich amber colored doubly terminated twinned scalenohedral calcite crystal, set alongside a translucent purple cubic fluorite crystal with phantom. No damage. Overall size: 82 mm x 60 mm x 40 mm. Main calcite crystal: 82 mm long. Fluorite crystal: 27 mm on edge. Ex Dr. Steve Neely collection.
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee, USA.
Photo copyright © Carles Millan. Reproduction allowed as long as the author's name is cited. Creative Commons Attribution Licence - Some Rights Reserved.
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 185
Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 15:38 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Very nice, Carles! Has it been repaired anywhere? It's lovely and I've a special fondness for US minerals :)
Cheers,
_________________ Jim
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 16:11 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Carles, what a fabulous mineral. Stunning!
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 16:27 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Jim Houran wrote:
>Very nice, Carles! Has it been repaired anywhere? It's lovely and I've a special fondness for US minerals
Hi Jim!
No, absolutely no repair, I believe. It's perfect. It is from Steve Neely collection and it is a guarantee. I like it a lot but am fully aware it's not a first class. I own about ten specimens that must be more priced than this Elmwood calcite. Almost 10% of my collection comes from the US (especially from the central-eastern states). I myself I've been nine times there on vacation, the last one in May '09.
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 16:42 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Gail Spann wrote:
>Carles, what a fabulous mineral. Stunning!
Hi Gail,
I'm really glad you like it. Thank you for your comment. I've been reading your long topic about the Springfield show these days. I fear you (and Jim) must be very tired right now.
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 17:17 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Carles, that topic was a labour of love. So many people like the write ups we do.
We are tired, and still trying to get back to normal. We didn't sleep much for the week before the show either. But it was a wonderful experience and we really enjoyed ourselves.
And, if ever you find your way to Dallas, Jim Houran and my Jim and I would surely have to show you our collections! Right Jim?
_________________ Minerals you say? Why yes, I'll take a dozen or so... |
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Carles Millan
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 18:45 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Gail,
If in the long run I ever plan to go to Dallas be sure I will contact you in advance.
Thank you very much!
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Brooks
Joined: 17 Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Location: Portsmouth, VA
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Posted: Aug 15, 2009 20:18 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Well, Jim, if you insist. I have to say that my best Montana agate is still my favorite as it is one of the best specimens of this material that I have seen and has great size and color. I loved the Editorial in the month's Min Rec on polished specimens and the fact that some species in the mineral kingdom need to be cut and polished to reveal their inner beauty such as this one.
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Montana Moss Agate specimen acquired at the 2004 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (10.5 x 8.5 x 1.0 cm) |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4902
Location: Barcelona
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Posted: Aug 16, 2009 08:22 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Jim,
I'm afraid that I can't say which is my favorite specimens, because, believe it or not, I love all of them (and in fact I love many others that I don't already have), so, as one mom I can't say "who is my favorite" because all of them, for one reason or other, are loved for me. ;-)
Anyway, as in the future a column about my collection will be published in the Rock & Minerals magazine, and some photos will appear there, I take the compromise to explain here the reasons why I love those photographed specimens and if I like specially some of them.
Jordi
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Jim
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
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Location: Dallas
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Posted: Aug 16, 2009 08:36 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Hi Gail,
Yes, anyone who comes to the DFW area is welcome to see my collection!
Hi Brooks,
I LOVE quartz and at one time had a large collection of fine quartz gems (now placed at the Houston Museum). Your Montana agate is super primo! I love it.
Hi Jordi,
I understand that you love all of your "babies," but there must be a couple that stand out for one reason or another. I look forward to the article.
Cheers everyone!
_________________ Jim
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MineralParagon
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Saint Georges es Allier
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Posted: Aug 16, 2009 17:56 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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Hello
My favorite is cumengeite
Then are coming :
- boleite cube of about 9,5 mm
- twins of cerusite on anglesite crystal from Morocco
- pink fluorite from Alps
- twin quartz from La Gardette
- kammererite for the colour
- some twin fluorites from Cumbria
I love minerals from few provenance in the world, and the mix of twin and scepter.
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Tracy
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Location: Toronto
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Posted: Aug 16, 2009 18:18 Post subject: Re: What are your favorite specimens? - (8) |
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I don't have a permanent favorite, it varies depending on what I am most fascinated with and what new things I've acquired. Currently am enjoying my quartz specimens though, some of which are posted on my personal thread.
- Tracy
_________________ "Wisdom begins in wonder" - Socrates |
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