Archives

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 07.12.2024 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

I’ve posted excellent new specimens in this Europe Update with many classics, including superb Alpine smoky quartz, pyromorphite from several localities, fluorite, hematite, specimens from the German silver mines and more.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 05.21.2024 | Filed under: Latest

From a recent visit, I’ve posted some of my favourite specimens from the fabulous Mineralogy Museum at L’École des Mines de Paris.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 11.08.2022 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

I’ve posted a new update featuring the first of many specimens to come, from the collection of my friend Tracy A. Kimmel. Tracy built an excellent, substantial collection of fine minerals, and I acquired it this year. I have also written a post about Tracy (see Profiles and Tributes), and I really hope you’ll enjoy reading about her – she was a remarkable person.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 09.10.2021 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

I’ve posted excellent new specimens from the John S. White quartz collection, representing many different phenomena of quartz crystallization, also from a great diversity of localities and mineral environments.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 08.18.2017 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

I’ve added a small number of excellent hematite specimens in this France Hematite Update. I’ve had a few of these in the past, and have managed to obtain a few more. These hematites were excavated from a deposit in the hills just above the town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 07.26.2017 | Filed under: Latest, Mineral Shows

In the heart of France’s Vosges Mountains, each June, Mineral World assembles at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, for what is always a great mineral show. This post gives a glimpse of some of this year’s finds, including gorgeous red zircon crystals, bi-coloured spodumene, clinochlore crystals and some classic French hematites from just outside of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 09.02.2016 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

I’ve added some great new French specimens in this France Update. Several are recently-collected from the Mésage Mine, Saint-Pierre-de-Mésage, Isère, France, along with a bournonite from Saint-Laurent-le-Minier and a gem-clear calcite from Pau, Aquitane.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 09.02.2016 | Filed under: Latest, Mineral Shows

Every summer, for a few days, the quiet town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines transforms into a bustling mineral and gem extravaganza. This is the most beautiful major mineral show setting, and attending is a great experience. This year’s show included some excellent minerals, including some great new finds.

Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 07.11.2015 | Filed under: Latest, Recent Mineral Updates

In this France Update, I am including the first of the specimens from the 2015 Ste. Marie Show. Despite the host country, the show is truly not full of French mineral specimens, given their relative scarcity, and the ones that are there are highly prized. Nonetheless, I was able to acquire a few excellent French pieces.


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