Does anyone else collect mineral specimens?

[Bisquitlips]

I know this is a very long shot, but I used to be a miner in my former life for 6 years in Globe, Arizona. It was there that I developed my love for collecting mineral specimens. We used to go deeply into mine drifts and shafts and hack these things out of the walls. It was just a hoot. Not to mention that some of them sell for lots of $$.

That was 30 years ago and I still love collecting them, howbeit only by purchasing them now. Not many mines in Missouri.

I know to some these are just "rocks". But to others they represent a great hobby!

I was just wondering if there are any other mineral collectors here on TRF?

Here is a few shots for those who may not know what I am talking about:

Wulfenite. Rowley Mine



Wulfenite on Chryscolla.



Wulfenite. Red Cloud Mine



Gold in Rose Quartz. Nevada.



Cyanotrichite. Arizona



Chalcanthite. Arizona.



Azurite and Malichite. Arizona.



Wulfenite. Rowley Mine. Arizona.



Aurichalcite. 79 Mine. Gila Co. Arizona

[2careless]

I recall this thread:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=38893

[Zman86]

I did when I was youger. I was obsessed with geology. Still have the large rock/mineral collection from my youth. I've forgotten almost everything about it though. No pictures, my collections buried in my room in a box somewhere...

[redshirt1957]

Don't know if you would call it collecting, but I have left many mineral specimens, free of charge, around the world and have put many of the deposits through college.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Zman86

I did when I was youger. I was obsessed with geology. Still have the large rock/mineral collection from my youth. I've forgotten almost everything about it though. No pictures, my collections buried in my room in a box somewhere...

Dig them out and take some photos!

[Denny M]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Dig them out and take some photos!

I was into geology too for a while in my teens. Still have some pieces of opal. Considered heading down that career path but wasn't capable enough in advanced maths or physics.

About 5 years ago, i went out into the great Aussie outback with a mate and did some gold detecting using detectors. After about 5 days in the heat, dust and clouds of flies and other insects, i found absolutely nothing but bits of scrap metal. Never went again although sometimes i do think about it. His dad has found a fair bit of gold over the years but he is retired and has all the time in the world to go out and look for it.....

[Art 1]

Those are really nice. I did when I was a wee lad.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Denny M

I was into geology too for a while in my teens. Still have some pieces of opal. Considered heading down that career path but wasn't capable enough in advanced maths or physics.

About 5 years ago, i went out into the great Aussie outback with a mate and did some gold detecting using detectors. After about 5 days in the heat, dust and clouds of flies and other insects, i found absolutely nothing but bits of scrap metal. Never went again although sometimes i do think about it. His dad has found a fair bit of gold over the years but he is retired and has all the time in the world to go out and look for it.....

Very cool Denny! Persistence! That is the key to working a metal detector.

I remember the first day out with my MD. I found a gold wedding ring behind the gate in my own yard. That served to inspire me. I have spent a lot of time with my detector and found many wonderful things.

Oz is a great place for big GOLD!! I would love to be there with a good 6500D.

[Latrodectus]

Richard, great looking pictures...I don't collect those nice specimens...I collect spiders and they are alive! But I like those minerals very much!!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Latrodectus

Richard, great looking pictures...I don't collect those nice specimens...I collect spiders and they are alive! But I like those minerals very much!!

Fred,

Uhhh....... you collect live SPIDERS????????

Please post some photographs. I would love to see them.

[Latrodectus]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Fred,

Uhhh....... you collect live SPIDERS????????

Please post some photographs. I would love to see them.

I will but not today...need to be up early in the morning...I will PM you when I do...may take me a few days or so!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Latrodectus

I will but not today...need to be up early in the morning...I will PM you when I do...may take me a few days or so!

I am waiting with baited breath!

Macros please!!

[bodybump]

Richard..now im seeing the other side of you...you seem to be a very intresting person..your hobby just amuse me....

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by bodybump

Richard..now im seeing the other side of you...you seem to be a very intresting person..your hobby just amuse me....

Well, I won't try to be any different. I like what I like.

It's quiet remarkable, the different directions life takes us! If I would have never lived in Arizona, I wouldn't know what a mineral specimen is.

[nylawbiz]

Yes, I collect mineral specimens too Richard. I get them from rock shows though. All we have is shale and limestone around where I am.

[buz-lh]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Don't know if you would call it collecting, but I have left many mineral specimens, free of charge, around the world and have put many of the deposits through college.

I saw the thread title and went looking for your response. You do not disappoint.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Don't know if you would call it collecting, but I have left many mineral specimens, free of charge, around the world and have put many of the deposits through college.

Along the same lines, I knew a few females who loved to swall...I mean collect specimens also. But can you really call it collecting when the specimen disappears down the hatch

[Zman86]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Fred,

Uhhh....... you collect live SPIDERS????????

Please post some photographs. I would love to see them.

I'm not Fred, but I have a few spiders as well...

I cant seem to find my mineral collection to get some pictures....

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Zman86

I'm not Fred, but I have a few spiders as well...

I cant seem to find my mineral collection to get some pictures....

Wow! Unbelievable!

When I was in Iraq we were always on the lookout for the infamous Camel Spider. Not really a spider, but just a totally fearsome creature that I wanted to stay completely away from.

{{{{{{Shiver}}}}}}}!!!!!

Don't watch this if you are squeamish! These things just creep me out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMhIL...next=1&index=3

[gmh1013]

When I lived back home in Phoenix when I was a kid I became interested in trying to find
lost dutchman mine and spent many hours sweating in the desert around weavers needle
looking but i did find gold on the ground in plain view....little over an 1 once in 1975

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Don't know if you would call it collecting, but I have left many mineral specimens, free of charge, around the world and have put many of the deposits through college.

[figbo]

If you all can remember a movie with Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz about them driving across the US in a Silver Bullet Trailer and Lucille collecting ROCKS and almost flipping the trailer 'cause it got really heavy?That's my WIFE!!
She's got rocks in the bedrooms,bathrooms,etc. Drives me nuts!!!

[jas55]

I have a few books and specimens. The best thing I have is a largish piece of Amethyst

I have some very old rocks from Australia, some with some fossilized plant matter in. Have a very old Aboriginal Axe Head, that was carved from stone too.

[rainman_16]

Richard your collection is impressive! I never got into rocks/minerals but have always been taken aback by really nice specimens with interesting and pretty formations/structures.

[TswaneNguni]

Richard,nice collection !!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by rainman_16

Richard your collection is impressive! I never got into rocks/minerals but have always been taken aback by really nice specimens with interesting and pretty formations/structures.

Those shots are from just a few of the copper and lead family. My collection is not all that impressive, but as I was a miner at one time I do enjoy picking up a specimen or two when I am in that part of the world.

I was recently in the Alamorgordo / Carizozo area of New Mexico and stopped in a rock shop. There to my amazement was a small collection of Trinitite!! I had to have a specimen so I dished out the cost and went on my merry way.

If you don't know what Trinitite is, it is the mineral that was created during the atomic bomb testing at the Trinity site in NM. It is created when sand and earth are picked up by the explosion and it rains back down as molten glass with a green tint to it. It is mildly radioactive. It is also not very pretty, but it is fairly rare usually selling by the gram.