tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69363640410142073032024-03-12T16:48:39.119-07:00Natural History Museum of L.A. MinblogMinBlog: the blog of the Mineral Sciences staff (Natural History Museum of L.A. County).Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04278597472629399700noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-78442542495424327752014-12-22T16:13:00.001-08:002014-12-22T16:13:47.895-08:00Myanmar part 6 - Yangon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We returned to Yangon for two nights before flying back to the US. There was not much time for sightseeing, which was too bad, Yangon is a large vibrant city, the largest city in Myanmar. There was a lot of new construction of skyscrapers and office buildings, so it appears they are attracting international business.</div>
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This is Bogoke Aung San market, named for General Aung San, political and military hero assassinated in 1947 (and father of Aung San Suu Kyi). It the largest market in Yangon. As you can see, very popular with tourists.</div>
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Gem market at Bogoke Aung San</div>
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Longyis for sale</div>
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Tailoring is done on site, nice!</div>
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Colorful purses</div>
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We stopped at Macle Gem Trade Laboratory, and saw some great minerals and fossils</div>
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A feather in amber from Kachin State, Myanmar. This amber is Cretaceous, 90-100 million years old.</div>
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A selection of fossil amber containing insects and gastropods.</div>
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Fun rare minerals, this is pezzotaite from Momeik, very different in appearance from the Madagascar material.</div>
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A must-see in Yangon is Shwedagon Pagoda, the holiest in Myanmar. It contains relics from four past Buddhas. It was covered by scaffolding while we were there so gold leaf can be reapplied to the surface</div>
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We visited at night so we could see it under the lights.</div>
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Even under construction it is still an awesome sight!</div>
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The top of the Pagoda is called the umbrella, at the top of the umbrella there is a wing shaped vane that is covered with rubies, sapphires and diamonds (all donations to the Pagoda). Here is a close up photo:</div>
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A statue of a reclining Buddha.</div>
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Time for a tribute to the wonderful food of Myanmar! This is a Burmese dish, fish with lemon sauce.<br />
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Vegetarian food at the Bagan restaurant called "Be Kind to Animals" </div>
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Condiments: fried garlic, chilis and Indian style pickle</div>
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Another traditional Burmese dish: tea leaf salad. Pickled tea leaves mixed with peanuts, sesame seeds, fried garlic and fried shallots. We had it many times, delicious!<br />
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Fried fish and other dishes at a Chinese restaurant in Mogok</div>
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River shrimp curry (we were far from the ocean, all fish and shrimp came from the rivers).</div>
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Shrimp..mmm</div>
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One of our last meals in Yangon, more Burmese dishes including roast duck, asparagus salad, curried fish and chicken with coriander sauce.</div>
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A wonderful trip, wonderful memories, thank you to Kyaw Thu and to our fantastic group of GMC members who the trip so much fun!</div>
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carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167565085009009623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-55480532938264391192014-12-22T13:20:00.001-08:002014-12-22T16:08:04.193-08:00Myanmar part 5 - Mandalay(2), continued<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mandalay surprised us...it was not like Mogok but there were a lot of rocks to see.</div>
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We visited some dealers, saw more pink tourmaline from pegmatites in the Mogok area</div>
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Also visited a couple of mineral shops, but didn't find anything to buy.</div>
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We still had a few important cultural sites to visit on our last day. First stop was the Royal Palace of Mandalay (with its intimidating warning sign). This palace was the last home of the Burmese royal family. </div>
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King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat. They were exiled by the British to Ratnagiri, India. Thibaw died in India but the Queen and some of their daughters eventually returned to live in Burma, stripped of their royal titles.</div>
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The palace was built in 1857 by King Mindon and then mostly destroyed by Japanese bombs during World War Two. Most of the buildings were made of wood and burned to the ground. Using the original architectural plans, the government rebuilt the complex in 1990. </div>
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The two white buildings are the only original buildings left.</div>
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Not far from the palace is a monastery that was built in the 1700s. This is one of the few old wooden structures remaining in Mandalay. They are at constant risk of fire damage. This building is maintained by students from the Buddhist school across the street.</div>
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A close up of the elaborate carvings that decorate the walls of the monastery.</div>
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This is Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's largest book!</div>
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The book has 1460 "pages" or stone tablets. There are 729 tablets each housed in a small stupa with a precious gem on the top.</div>
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The 729 stupas surround Kuthodaw Pagoda. Inside each is a stone tablet</div>
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This is two pages (front and back) of Budhist scripture and all together they make the world's largest book.</div>
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We saw this statue inside of one stupa. This is a "fasting Buddha".</div>
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Our final activity in Mandalay was a half-day river cruise to Mingun. Mingun is a tiny village about an hour upriver. There are several interesting sites there. The tour boats line the Irrawaddy riverfront along with the boats of fishermen, who live on the beach:</div>
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Approaching Mingun, you can see the massive ruins of the unfinished Mantalagyi Temple. It was built in 1790 by King Bodawpaya whose palace was Amurapura (just outside of Mandalay). If it had been finished, it would have been the largest temple in the world at nearly 500 feet tall.</div>
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There are no cars in Mingun, this is one of the few options for transporation.</div>
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Where are you going Edna?</div>
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There isn't really much inside Mantalagyi Temple, people like to climb to the top despite the "no climbing" signs posted everywhere.</div>
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The "No Climbing" signs are there for a good reason, earthquakes have severely damaged the structure.</div>
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Walking a short distance along a dirt road we arrived at Hsinphyumae temple, on of the most beautiful buildings we saw in Myanmar! You come around a bend in the road and there it is in front of you, amazing. The design of this temple is based on Mount Meru, the mountain with five peaks that is at the center of the universe in Buddhist cosmology.</div>
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King Bodawpaya also built one of the world's largest bells, the Mingun Bell. Anyone can ring the bell, or stand underneath it if they wish.</div>
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Mingun sights</div>
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Getting back on the boat. Notice that the the handrail is two men holding a pole.</div>
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Cold beers on the boat to celebrate a lovely time in Mandalay.</div>
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A final sunset over the Irrawaddy River</div>
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carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167565085009009623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-40430983048023006612014-12-17T12:40:00.005-08:002014-12-17T13:27:09.785-08:00Myanmar part 4 - Mandalay (1), Capital City of the last Burmese Kings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We left Mogok and drove back through Pyin Oo Lwin (formerly Maymyo), which is something of a resort town. British soldiers stationed in Mandalay went there to escape the heat and humidity. There is still a lot of British architecture as well as a very lovely park and botanical gardens. </div>
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Orchid Garden at Pyin Oo Lwin</div>
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Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar after Yangon. After the British conquered Lower Burma and made Rangoon their capital, the Burmese King moved his capital to Mandalay. In 1885 the British captured Mandalay and sent the King into exile. Mandalay now has a large population of immigrants from China, many hotels and businesses are Chinese-owned. There is also a direct road from Mandalay to Yunnan province choked with trucks shipping goods back and forth.</div>
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An important export for Myanmar is jade, and most of that jade goes directly to China. Mandalay's famous jade market was our first stop. It was hot, crowded, noisy and fascinating. </div>
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These young men are cutting the jade into simple shapes: slabs, disks, cylinders. These are sold to China where they will be carved in finer detail.<br />
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Here is some betel nut for sale. It is actually betel leaf and areca nut; both are stimulants and chewed like tobacco. It stains teeth red and the dark red stains all over the ground are from people spitting out this stuff. </div>
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Mandalay has wonderful arts and crafts. This is a woodcarving shop.</div>
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Wooden marionettes, the bodies and clothing are all hand made.<br />
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Beaded tapestries and purses.<br />
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Weaving longis, the long skirts worn by both men and women.<br />
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Marble buddha statues. The marble is from Myanmar but these statues are made to be shipped to China. The faces require a master carver and will be finished later.</div>
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A young man working on a buddha statue.</div>
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So many buddhas.</div>
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This is very interesting. The gold leaf that is applied to buddha statues and pagodas is mined in Myanmar. In Mandalay it is layers between bamboo paper and pounded into thin sheets. You find the gold for sale at the temples.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyzdRIugMiDreQ1sRXT6XsltggbrbY6A2ILjm6WLkTWMy0cu-shHUCldwwFL-lwZGZ2mGOqiPl6ce9boaOvTA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The gold leaf is pounded by men working in shifts and it is a bit of a production for the tourists.</div>
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This is Mahamuni temple, it contains a very ancient buddha statue that was stolen from Mrauk U in Rakhine State by King Bodawpaya. The statue is believed to be around 2000 years old. It is famous for a face-washing ceremony performed by monks every morning at 4:30 am.<br />
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Unfortunately we saw these signs a lot. Women are not allowed into the most holy temples. We were able to enter many of the temples in Bagan but in Mandalay we were frequently banned entering, or from entering certain areas within the temple. Women cannot apply the gold leaf, touch a buddha statue, touch a monk, be higher than a buddha statue, or enter the large temples like Shwedagon in Yangon.<br />
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We wanted a picture of this gold encrusted buddha so we gave the camera to Tony. Men can enter but they must be dressed modestly, Tony needed to cover up!<br />
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Buddha from outside, it has a knobbly texture from all the gold leaf.<br />
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Men applying more gold leaf to the statue.</div>
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At Mahamuni are several bronze statues originally stolen from Ankor Wat in Cambodia. Bodawpaya brought them along to Mandalay. People rub the statue on parts of the body that correspond to their own health problems.</div>
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At sunset we visited U Bein bridge over Lake Taungthaman. This is the worlds longest teak footbridge. It was a little wobbly but the view was gorgeous.<br />
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Sunset over the lake.<br />
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carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167565085009009623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-57992185652983643222014-12-12T13:28:00.000-08:002014-12-17T11:05:10.449-08:00Myanmar part 3 - Mogok (2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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... and continuing our Mogok tour!</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
November 12</h2>
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On that day, a few of us woke up early for a 1:30 hour drive to the town of Bernard (named for a British army Captain). It was a beautiful drive. Here are some pictures taken along the road.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrYulVEWrUx2Ub2K_0wnslop_BN_C2e6v045VmD8cB2Kb3ag-KZFCpDA8TPXHqxpjf2NsFdc7tjKsxDtXA8pJDVncNX7rJzggTm6suLCnKArYuLMQbUcCQBifqOSNzT9h5kwv7FP31Wq4/s1600/DSC05304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrYulVEWrUx2Ub2K_0wnslop_BN_C2e6v045VmD8cB2Kb3ag-KZFCpDA8TPXHqxpjf2NsFdc7tjKsxDtXA8pJDVncNX7rJzggTm6suLCnKArYuLMQbUcCQBifqOSNzT9h5kwv7FP31Wq4/s1600/DSC05304.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This magnificent scenery was taken just at the entrance of the Bernard town.</div>
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Before visiting some mines, we went to the local traditional market. The market was<span style="text-align: center;"> similar to CA farmer's markets, the vegetables were mostly familiar. There were also fish from the river and live pigs and chickens. There were small food stands with some delicious looking donuts and shan noodles</span><span style="text-align: center;">. </span></div>
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Overview of the Bernard's market.</div>
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Men gambling at the Bernard market.</div>
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A family leaving the market, with all fresh produces, including a live chicken.</div>
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We did a very interesting stop at an abandoned mine called Bernard mine. Nearby in some overgrown brush was a British military cemetery. The graves dated from 1883 to 1899, so right at the time the British conquered northern Burma and took over the ruby mining. I'm glad Kyaw Thu knows it is there, it's completely hidden from view.</div>
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Next to the cemetery, there was this alluvial abandoned mine. Sapphire, ruby and spinel were weathering down from the marble hill above.<br />
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All in all, we came here to visit the Pyaung-Gaung Peridot mine. And we were not disappointed! The mine is owned by the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Ltd.<br />
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The entrance of the Pyaung-Gaung peridot mine.</div>
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Explanation by the geologists on how the peridot formed in this area. Tony is doing the collision of 2 continents with his hands.</div>
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At the entrance of the peridot mine, some nodules of gem peridot.</div>
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The mining area goes 200 feet down. A few of us decided to go down.</div>
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That's what it looked like going down.</div>
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Descending into the Peridot mine was tricky, we held on to the rope pulley that is used to haul up buckets of rock. </div>
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Going down with the buckets.</div>
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Once down 200 feet, the tunnels are pretty wide and comfortable to walk in.</div>
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Gemmy recrystallized peridot is found along columnar joints in the host rock which is an altered peridotite. And here, Tony and Joanna trying to look for some!</div>
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Who knows why Eloïse is destroying the railway?!</div>
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After the peridot mine, we stopped in the village nearby to have a look at some of the miner's rocks. Unfortunately, the peridot production was already out of the area, and didn't get the chance to find some good peridot samples. But it was a good resting time, and a few of us bought some cool minerals there.<br />
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Alluvial topaz crystal from the Pyaung-Gaung area.</div>
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On the way back, we stopped at a <span style="text-align: center;">small family owned secondary </span>sapphire and spinel<span style="text-align: center;"> mine, somewhat hidden away from the road. </span><br />
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Tony modeling in front of a family owned mine in Ohn Gaing.</div>
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And a quick lunch at the "Ruby House"</div>
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That was the cheese ice-cream that Alyssa is trying.</div>
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We continued our day with the Garden Gem Market in Shwe Bon Thar Garden, in East Mogok. It gets a bit overwhelming sometimes, but the atmosphere was still great.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtk0s8CrROlabMKvJlo94ZZY2e7eXAA7bK0AAmq-I1zVzr6Ayhy6v6ZnOn27UKv019UyvzcdShAwrbaBzVEQhLRUdEKGB3jPHWccKN-d1XLqBJGIUuH1zLZh_f6a9rrA_lzHCKmgY6iaE/s1600/DSC05431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtk0s8CrROlabMKvJlo94ZZY2e7eXAA7bK0AAmq-I1zVzr6Ayhy6v6ZnOn27UKv019UyvzcdShAwrbaBzVEQhLRUdEKGB3jPHWccKN-d1XLqBJGIUuH1zLZh_f6a9rrA_lzHCKmgY6iaE/s1600/DSC05431.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point we are starting to recognize the same dealers and seeing stones we have already rejected several times! Still many people found things to buy.</div>
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The setting of the garden market: tables and chairs are already on site. Umbrellas are open when there is a possible deal going on.</div>
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This woman was selling some star sapphires.</div>
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We visited several houses after the market. Much quieter settings, in which the minerals are either brought to us on trays on tables, or are exhibited.<br />
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Above: Skip and Karen looking at some goodies.</div>
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A quick visit to the home of the owners of the mine that produces the "mushroom" tourmalines:</div>
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This dealer is the owner of the mushroom tourmaline.</div>
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Pink oil for the tourmalines, nice.</div>
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And some spectacular petalite.</div>
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And it looks like a twinned hambergite.</div>
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In each house, there is a more or less elaborate area dedicated to buddha. This one was on the more elaborate side.</div>
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In the next house, we found something that made Skip very happy!<br />
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Skip modeling some materials from a pegmatite pocket found years ago, it was fun to see!</div>
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<h2>
November 13</h2>
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Thursday morning, we began the day with the famous Cinema (Ladies) Gem Market. Compared to other markets we've been to, this gem market has booths where minerals, gems and beads were exposed. Much easier to look at than having to wait for people to show us stuff. It was also cheaper material overall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NY7Fqoav0U__Qad4ABOKasA4UmXzie1RpRdqBfcuz1C3_eXQf0gqrdcZiEjxBmcx5JCvK_-CqXpmSbF_Etb4gznHKvDbgmBemI6dD2HY_xkJngfLU8pIqb-wsAb1AW0uwERKAilZzq7o/s1600/DSC05481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NY7Fqoav0U__Qad4ABOKasA4UmXzie1RpRdqBfcuz1C3_eXQf0gqrdcZiEjxBmcx5JCvK_-CqXpmSbF_Etb4gznHKvDbgmBemI6dD2HY_xkJngfLU8pIqb-wsAb1AW0uwERKAilZzq7o/s1600/DSC05481.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdyUAGvKiXZqUeZtW67rvn75eQsIVnqFYkY_Y8hsZpsT2oGV-gsJSjWBY-yfzVdVdvevyNzy40fIRxqwzuWuyRUokHkb-FdICt4_Bn-TLfGH4jPsDIR8gsPy1gv-cq-LxGW2S3k6eoJ5u/s1600/DSC05484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdyUAGvKiXZqUeZtW67rvn75eQsIVnqFYkY_Y8hsZpsT2oGV-gsJSjWBY-yfzVdVdvevyNzy40fIRxqwzuWuyRUokHkb-FdICt4_Bn-TLfGH4jPsDIR8gsPy1gv-cq-LxGW2S3k6eoJ5u/s1600/DSC05484.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Trays of spinels for only a few dollars. We saw some nice gem zircons, and there was a lot of fossil amber from Kachin State.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa6GnoI-AloxnoyemM-NPRxTHp7sjPLBpwnaUm2kQVBsbuY4SVSEzRmaSvCuun5WwpdstEThSBHC4isnys9l39baPiJVU8XUeimH4BHtSsOE-UQbOAnR0kM-UratRtce8g1LilTUw1nOh/s1600/IMG_7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa6GnoI-AloxnoyemM-NPRxTHp7sjPLBpwnaUm2kQVBsbuY4SVSEzRmaSvCuun5WwpdstEThSBHC4isnys9l39baPiJVU8XUeimH4BHtSsOE-UQbOAnR0kM-UratRtce8g1LilTUw1nOh/s1600/IMG_7369.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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These ladies are mostly Gurakha people, originally from Nepal. Many Gurakha came to Mogok to work in the mines during the time of British rule.</div>
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Our first mine stop of the day was in Kadote Tat area. It is a primary ruby mine at the base of the Baw Pa Dan anticline, owned by Hlan San Company, which is State owned. This is a mine that has a lot of production and has been worked for a long time. Kyaw Thu suspects the museum's Hixon Ruby may have been mined at this locality in the early 1970s.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwqnCCCGIcnThUto8BasTGVCfucahgfYLTykFF9lhrvMrKTYwGBqUKbhyphenhyphenaA5-5tAmTny679znp6OeH3rWCG3KMsGwxyZNF5pKHlSHPh12q9sWnfIZpAo0LbCkZlBppsYlH4f5xEi00EKE/s1600/DSC05487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwqnCCCGIcnThUto8BasTGVCfucahgfYLTykFF9lhrvMrKTYwGBqUKbhyphenhyphenaA5-5tAmTny679znp6OeH3rWCG3KMsGwxyZNF5pKHlSHPh12q9sWnfIZpAo0LbCkZlBppsYlH4f5xEi00EKE/s1600/DSC05487.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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In the Kadote Tat area, there are several miner owners. This is the entrance to one of the mines we visited.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs4MF0YrzgKzrVxteMeHF_sUwLUoJcPPq33cm_bdihPxZpreoGmwib_qtlvY9Uo4vC_AhsxDT7idZTXUmgx22nTU-fgqY1Nity88RACAi2ChWcutx0AeJDj21a8XheX4TJQAFKC5pw_95/s1600/DSC05492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs4MF0YrzgKzrVxteMeHF_sUwLUoJcPPq33cm_bdihPxZpreoGmwib_qtlvY9Uo4vC_AhsxDT7idZTXUmgx22nTU-fgqY1Nity88RACAi2ChWcutx0AeJDj21a8XheX4TJQAFKC5pw_95/s1600/DSC05492.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This mine had 20 adits, up to 800 feet deep.</div>
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Looking down at one of the adits!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536Wy0XFWKxtGsqomX75NFJaTVzP0GWi6fk-B4ZzhVtiUqUfGqFMMt0_MKIXuXqciBd0sivDntzNwcXLXytSIibSnm8_c-mTmNaX6Pdervyf8zWV5x99ePMEx_NOlJnvQq48OEIJmbQtX/s1600/IMG_7394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536Wy0XFWKxtGsqomX75NFJaTVzP0GWi6fk-B4ZzhVtiUqUfGqFMMt0_MKIXuXqciBd0sivDntzNwcXLXytSIibSnm8_c-mTmNaX6Pdervyf8zWV5x99ePMEx_NOlJnvQq48OEIJmbQtX/s1600/IMG_7394.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-eDSGXQEfHBqTZjUnp4jbLOFyvjcl5V8SOYRsJmQVgV8VincOraT_2cZJYNfqETllSwBWhhLw7dvxqbCJ1nKiK_my1RkXhdg7qhAx1btz4VoqFR3vbfLE0SElj-wT4LqhYSMD_ihy7F0/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-eDSGXQEfHBqTZjUnp4jbLOFyvjcl5V8SOYRsJmQVgV8VincOraT_2cZJYNfqETllSwBWhhLw7dvxqbCJ1nKiK_my1RkXhdg7qhAx1btz4VoqFR3vbfLE0SElj-wT4LqhYSMD_ihy7F0/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We were at the very beginning of the dry season. The pumps are running 24 hours to get the water out of the underground mining. As all the mines are in succession in the anticline, they must all pump the water at once. At the time we visited, they managed to get down to level 200 feet. Another 600 feet to pump! Above is a picture of the water that is let out of the mining area.</div>
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Again, we had the head geologist explaining to us the mining process in Kadote Tat.</div>
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Oh, and look at what we found! Triplets!</div>
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As we were driving along the mines, we stopped to look at the host rocks. The contrast between the white marble and its black weather is striking.</div>
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Overview of the mining area in Kadote Tat.</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8b85WUD81akJLrWTdnAwBJGh3cdfEDy7nhsiN_0pC7FVXz3_nz80_0hSF-XHsqgAa31E9gUY8ChDu6VkleKabPthQnXbvdI1AwOrga5gJSljIT_p4itMNUAuvqSF2mtn_fBIvTTC8IPEI/s1600/DSC05520.JPG" width="480" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpT0VmCnMG2F5wwL-aAksnsPdqcvUu3cJbwHSVVEjkx-cig2WPjp5Rh9zMNbWH8U3GIHJyf0c12gIyIKRe1E4IUBuAN3EGrLDc4ZEJUxk7wj8l6_CauhIc01WU-fbfnQK3eMmzJD2P8NK/s1600/IMG_7425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpT0VmCnMG2F5wwL-aAksnsPdqcvUu3cJbwHSVVEjkx-cig2WPjp5Rh9zMNbWH8U3GIHJyf0c12gIyIKRe1E4IUBuAN3EGrLDc4ZEJUxk7wj8l6_CauhIc01WU-fbfnQK3eMmzJD2P8NK/s1600/IMG_7425.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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At the top of the hill, women are working the dumps in hope to find some small size rubies.</div>
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The next mine was visited was not far away, in the Baw Padan anticline. It is mined by the Mogok Pride Company, which is state owned.<br />
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Entrance of the mine: the Mogok Pride tunnel.</div>
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There is a very good irrigation system in the mine. We went in horizontal for 200 feet with the water stream running in the center of the tunnel. Some of us then went down 200 feet on the latter.</div>
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200 feet to go down.</div>
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Edna was the first to go!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuker8lPIF6dkXe-g1GjOpg7mBj0c1K_MxvUHGEREEsa5gSPh-6K4sh_CNb8g36eDo6t2DyXvKjNc40nKSyfhteJIbDgGsHrG_E_zD93103SI-EytOQyEB_yNsss46uJGdS4HW07DQuf6-/s1600/DSC05576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuker8lPIF6dkXe-g1GjOpg7mBj0c1K_MxvUHGEREEsa5gSPh-6K4sh_CNb8g36eDo6t2DyXvKjNc40nKSyfhteJIbDgGsHrG_E_zD93103SI-EytOQyEB_yNsss46uJGdS4HW07DQuf6-/s1600/DSC05576.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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After going down, there are some large tunnels.<br />
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With... sophisticated electricity!</div>
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and an surrealist shaft going 400 feet down.</div>
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Going up again to see some more tunnels.</div>
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At the top of the scary latter, some interesting pieces of wood holding the rocks together. We were not allowed to go in there though!</div>
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More shafts.</div>
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Tony pointing out the contact.</div>
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Eloïse with the mine owner. She was wearing flip flops to go down the slippery latter.</div>
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After visiting the tunnel, we saw the sorting area. Here are all the bags of rocks to analyze!</div>
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After the crushed rocks pass through the jig, two women make sure that there was no big rubies going out to waste.</div>
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It was time for a lunch break. A mineral dealer was at the restaurant, and showed us a fun ruby specimen (at an unreasonable price!).<br />
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Above: lid on. Below: lid off to discover a nice ruby!</div>
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We spent the rest of the afternoon mostly shopping around. Our first stop was at a dealer's shop. As usual, we are welcome with something to drink, very often tea.<br />
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A mineral and tea stop at Win Gems & Jewelry center.</div>
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On the wall of the dealer. Wait.I recognize some <span style="text-align: start;">familiar faces there</span>!!!</div>
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We then went T-shirt shopping. Yes, we did. Some of us wanted to get the ONLY T-shirt saying: Mogok! Other interesting items in the shop as well.</div>
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Paintings with small painted pebbles.</div>
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Even if the main religion is Buddhism, there are some Christians in Myanmar.</div>
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Because we all need it!</div>
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To end the day, we visited a few religious places, including the biggest Pagoda in Mogok. It is an ornately decorated pagoda with glittery walls and columns.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCNhsAMBzBUpyjU3Aur8vhUhdyz7PtLandqBqWZKiD_eFk3oENtTNSW7KvdRo5M4nIM5JAalIRTKKYHl-bUxA-BfQQ2PLbKQBo9R0ClNDt3WR35x7vKxnd-wVnapfkn1V6bxsuQoGmDx0/s1600/DSC05646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCNhsAMBzBUpyjU3Aur8vhUhdyz7PtLandqBqWZKiD_eFk3oENtTNSW7KvdRo5M4nIM5JAalIRTKKYHl-bUxA-BfQQ2PLbKQBo9R0ClNDt3WR35x7vKxnd-wVnapfkn1V6bxsuQoGmDx0/s1600/DSC05646.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef4ReX-_zrj3OqgtrBnOTGbzcQiMVQHmPtT8daLexbacI1R65jJYOHfFwhiS_8H2j2Ruecpg98SCta4bUnxZEYi7-ogpUMTlbFuPCLJ408cCDya2hodiM-ajkKTLZCBWYzVoFh73xULsL/s1600/DSC05662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef4ReX-_zrj3OqgtrBnOTGbzcQiMVQHmPtT8daLexbacI1R65jJYOHfFwhiS_8H2j2Ruecpg98SCta4bUnxZEYi7-ogpUMTlbFuPCLJ408cCDya2hodiM-ajkKTLZCBWYzVoFh73xULsL/s1600/DSC05662.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those two buddha (with fun lighting on the background) have been rounded by the layers of gold people applied to them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q6J59Rij6xHzINs-szKsg6znBPOcZx-yoYqlCrm9vfVTe4FqcPRx0fxNoOUe3ywxXeb6LhyUzAUhxH-hojXh9gGGx6fZg2JR5zGbc7TjEDhxJENuUW3ISpblhXpqyy8mh3Tyrb5jzljq/s1600/DSC05661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q6J59Rij6xHzINs-szKsg6znBPOcZx-yoYqlCrm9vfVTe4FqcPRx0fxNoOUe3ywxXeb6LhyUzAUhxH-hojXh9gGGx6fZg2JR5zGbc7TjEDhxJENuUW3ISpblhXpqyy8mh3Tyrb5jzljq/s1600/DSC05661.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkYpRfMmIX3zskDd7E9qzvqHQ0h65lMJD8AwfuWvyi3tlUb8xW2t7UbUUa9I7TqzZj7hLncHYmjReFTM5In922X3ZtXLSDBT_olIpty15vmKVKVH_mtgdE4oS2oPNgJCUQzc_AJyA4-cF/s1600/DSC05656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkYpRfMmIX3zskDd7E9qzvqHQ0h65lMJD8AwfuWvyi3tlUb8xW2t7UbUUa9I7TqzZj7hLncHYmjReFTM5In922X3ZtXLSDBT_olIpty15vmKVKVH_mtgdE4oS2oPNgJCUQzc_AJyA4-cF/s1600/DSC05656.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here, Zach and Kyaw Thu (only men can do this) are applying more gold to them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfemaf3-nwJn2VZCYX6m7D7gnu3WcHP13rXfJM77G-_1ITNY_aFiSNUHaDk5qNVdbfutcI4gkIXwaMZGtqJCytM2L6pn65smoh7mldcwU1GSGk4K8Xbl-Ewi-6ZI2JKyrzdtnEF3wSAWA/s1600/DSC05654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfemaf3-nwJn2VZCYX6m7D7gnu3WcHP13rXfJM77G-_1ITNY_aFiSNUHaDk5qNVdbfutcI4gkIXwaMZGtqJCytM2L6pn65smoh7mldcwU1GSGk4K8Xbl-Ewi-6ZI2JKyrzdtnEF3wSAWA/s1600/DSC05654.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Buddhas used to be on those bases, now stored in a vaulted case.</div>
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On of the bases of the golden buddha.</div>
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Details of the ornament with this flower made out of gold and rubies.</div>
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Some other interesting items in the Pagoda!</div>
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Donations include money and gems.</div>
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And back to the hotel after this very long and awesome day! We were staying at THE hotel in Mogok, the Golden Butterfly hotel.</div>
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Hotel from which we had a spectacular view!</div>
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November 14: Departure from Mogok</h2>
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On that day, we hit the road to go back to Mandalay and spend a few days there. You will see more about it in the next blog post. But before leaving Mogok, we stopped to look at some more rocks, of course!</div>
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Loving those trays of small but perfect red spinels.</div>
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Fun, short tourmaline.</div>
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A clear topaz.</div>
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And a beautiful sapphire crystal.</div>
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Coming next: Mandalay and Yangon!<br />
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This is why we came to Myanmar! Mogok! This lovely isolated valley is the source of something like 90% of the world's rubies! This tour of Mogok was based in part on a 2013 field trip organized by Kyaw Thu and Dr. George Harlow of the American Museum of Natural History.<br />
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Mogok is not easy to reach. Tourists can now visit but must buy a special permit from the government and hire a government approved guide to accompany the group. There is no airstrip, only two roads in and out. We flew into Mandalay then took the newer road from Pyin Oo Lwin to Mogok. It was about 6 hours and was a very rough journey. There are few places to stop for a restroom and the road is windy and in poor condition. Several of us got very carsick. Not a good time to be sick as we had an action packed schedule with twelve mines to visit as well as shops and gem markets.<br />
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We arrived in Mogok on the evening of November 8.</div>
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November 9: First day in Mogok</h2>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Our first group picture in Rubyland!</span></div>
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View of Mogok.</div>
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The first mine we saw is Shunt-pan, a secondary ruby and sapphire mine owned by San Taw Wun Gems Co. The ruby and sapphire mines in Mogok are either primary (rubies, etc. in the host rock, a marble) or secondary (rubies, etc. found in alluvial sediments).</div>
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The Shunt-pan mine.</div>
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The sediments are washed with high pressure hoses and then sucked into pipes. Dangerous work.</div>
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The pipes empty onto the sluices and the overflow is panned.</div>
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The Director gave us a tour and showed us some of the material that they have found recently.</div>
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Next stop was Lin-yaung-chi, both primary and secondary mine. The white rock in the foreground is the corundum bearing skarn and in the distance is the alluvium they are also mining.</div>
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Lin-yaung-chi primary mine.</div>
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The (hopefully) ruby bearing marble is mined at depth, brought to the surface by pulley and then goes into the crusher.</div>
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What brand do they smoke in Mogok?</div>
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In the evening at the hotel a few dealers would stop by. Several people including Bob wanted peridot rough. These ladies had some beautiful rough but they wanted $150 a carat and would not (or could not) negotiate. That is a very high price, so no one bought peridot!</div>
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<h2>
November 10</h2>
Early the next morning (Nov. 10) we visit the home of a mineral dealer. Outside the monks are collecting alms. People in the town give food for lunch at the monastery. This is not charity but a part of Buddhism. Monks and nuns do not accept any money as gifts. People bring them food and medicine and gifts for the household.<br />
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We saw some nice pegmatite specimens, this is a dirty but interesting intergrowth of quartz and topaz.<br />
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Nice twinned spinel crystal.</div>
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As soon as we stepped outside a mob formed. Foreigners visiting Mogok are assumed to be gem buyers. People shove their wares in front of your face but are also very polite and quick to back off if you are not interested in what they have.<br />
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This is a few blocks away at Aung Thit Lwin gem market (really just a gathering of dealers on a street corner).</div>
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This is exhausting! People did end up buying some very nice minerals.</div>
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Next a primary sapphire mine in Kyauk Saung, owned by PENTA Gem and Jewelry Co. Ltd and Myanmar Group Enterprise. Here at the office they are trimming sapphire rough before it is cut. The sapphires come from another mine they own, at Baw Mar.<br />
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Cutting a sapphire on an old-fashioned foot pedal polishing wheel. He told us he prefers the foot pedal to the motorized polishers.</div>
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Very fine sapphire rough.</div>
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A lovely bracelet modeled by the lovely Skip Simmons!</div>
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They had some ruby rough as well, coming from Kyauk Saung.</div>
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Let's visit the primary ruby mine in <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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Kyaw Thu leading us into the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung</span> Mine.</div>
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View to an ancient opening of the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung</span> mine.</div>
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Skip and the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung</span> mine owner looking at the marble.</div>
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Some of the miners of the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung </span>mine.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Some very happy Gem & Mineral Council members!</span></div>
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Exiting the mine.</div>
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Around 60 people work at the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung</span> mine. On site, the worker's house align along the water.</div>
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Women panning the tailings at the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk Saung </span>mine.</div>
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And, of course, a well-deserved lunch at Daung Saing restaurant in Kyat pyin!<br />
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The following large open sky mine is located in Inn Gaung, and is run by Hlan Shan company. It is mostly a secondary ruby and sapphire mine, but some good quality spinels are also found there. Depending on the season, 100 to 200 people work at the mine. We saw a lot of heavy equipment on site, and we have been told that 10 barrels of diesel per day are necessary to run the mine!<br />
We were there just after the rainy season, the miners were mostly pumping the water out, and removing the overburden.<br />
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The entrance of the mine in Inn Gaung.</div>
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At each mine, the local geologist was telling us all about the mining processes.</div>
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The map of the Inn Gaung mine.</div>
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The washing process at Inn Gaung.</div>
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That's it for the day!</div>
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<h2>
November 11</h2>
On November 11, while most of you were taking a day off, we continue our visit of Mogok with another primary ruby and pink sapphire mine in Baw Lone Gyi, run by Htay Paing company. The operation consists in a huge tunnel, where trucks can fit in and navigate easily in the tunnels. We went down the tunnel to where the trucks could go as well, but the mine actually runs 600 feet deeper than the level we stopped at.<br />
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The entrance of the Baw Lone Gyi mine.</div>
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Looking some 600 feet down!</div>
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Trucks can go far deep in the tunnel.</div>
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Resting area.</div>
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Loading the overburden.</div>
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At the same Baw Lone Gyi mine, the sorting area.</div>
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In Baw Lone Gyi village square, all ruby tailings are for public collecting. The people here are Palaung, one of Myanmar's many ethnic minorities. It is impressive to see such a place, covered in white (marble) pebbles.</div>
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Women and children work the tailings, looking for any ruby, sapphires or spinel.<br />
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Our next stop was at the old painite mining area, in Wet Loo. At this location, the first big and opaque crystals of painite were discovered back in 2008. It is at the contact of the leucogranite with the marble that the painite was found. The area is still mined though, but for the rubies in the marble.</div>
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The abandoned painite mine in <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk-Pyat-That.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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And to end our day, we visited the Kyauk-Pyat-That Pagoda.</div>
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Views from the <span style="text-align: left;">Kyauk-Pyat-That Pagoda.</span><br />
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At the bottom of the Pagoda, there were 2 shops selling minerals, including a card with a bunch of minerals for "beginner collectors". On each, there was a painite, so a few of our members bought some!</div>
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And to end the day, some more minerals at the Pan Ma gem market.</div>
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The next few days in Mogok in a following blog post!</div>
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-->carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167565085009009623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-56995538024793202822014-12-10T12:52:00.000-08:002014-12-17T11:05:24.901-08:00Myanmar part 1 - Bagan, Ancient Capital<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On November 5th 2014 the Gem and Mineral Council began a trip of a lifetime to Myanmar (Burma). We had never had an opportunity to visit this country in the past. Prior to the military government changing over to civilian government in 2010 it was very difficult to visit parts of Myanmar that were off the beaten path. </div>
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In the past few years the country has opened and become easier for tourists to navigate. Our main destination was the city of Mogok, located in the region known as the Mogok Stone Tract. The Mogok area produces most of the world's rubies as well as many other minerals and has been mined for over a thousand years. </div>
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Our trip was organized flawlessly by Dr. Kyaw Thu, geologist and owner of Macle Gem Labs in Yangon. He has done a lot of research on the geology of Mogok.</div>
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Kyaw Thu, our wonderful guide in Burma.</div>
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Since we had traveled so far to see this amazing country, we spent a few days seeing some important cultural sites. Our first stop was Bagan, the former capital of the Kingdom of Pagan from the 9th - 13th centuries. There are over 2000 Buddhist temples on the floodplain of the Irrawaddy river. </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76-13uCwtWYyeCk-TRguI8IzhrskycyxRQZgR9YxLBehsSJBGY9IwsxtdZQ8Axr7tOgfRSKv5hYjDWrsQ39YAVKZEOr4GXCdStWB_YQUDZmq9HvIF0_TeKVMj6QXhLyz9HEmlYXM_QQIE/s1600/DSC04448.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This is Bagan Archaelogical zone, some temples are from the 11th-13th centuries though many are younger, and many were rebuilt after damage from a devastating earthquake in 1975.</span></div>
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Our group arrives in Bagan for a three day visit. L to R: Kyaw Thu, Kathy, Tony, Alyssa, Eloïse, Bob, Gerald, Skip, Karen, Mary, Zach,Wallace (our Bagan guide), Roy, Edna. Missing: Joanna.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This is Ananda Temple, built in 1105 AD one of the most important sites in Bagan.</span></div>
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Buddhas in the Ananda temple.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We were in Bagan during a national holiday, full moon of November. Most of the famous temples were very crowded but surprisingly we didn't see that many foreign tourists.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The larger temples are full of vendors. We even saw people selling gems (well...faceted glass, for the most part).</span></div>
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These are sand paintings, there are people selling them everywhere and most look very cheap. The real things were beautiful.</div>
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Skip Simmons spotted this sand painting of "Chief of the Hill Tribes" ... the resemblance is uncanny.<br />
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Marionettes have been popular in Myanmar since the 1700s. There are often puppet shows at dinner in tourist restaurants.</div>
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This is tree bark to make thanaka, a fine paste that is used by women, children and younger men as a cosmetic and sunscreen:<br />
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There are so many beautiful temples! </div>
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It was wonderful to visit a smaller temple with no crowds, this one also had a staircase so we could climb to the top:<br />
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You can get good reception on the ancient temples!</div>
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Steep staircases!</div>
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A popular tourist activity is taking a horse and cart to visit the city of Old Bagan.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Mt_Popa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Mt_Popa.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Wikipedia</td></tr>
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Near Bagan is the volcano Mt. Popa. This is Mt. Popa on a clear day! It was not clear when we visited so we did not get to see this view. This hill is the core of an old volcano and it is a holy site. It is the home of powerful Nats which are spirits worshipped in Burma. Pilgrims climb to the top to visit the Buddhist temples and Nat shrines. We were there on the full moon holiday so it was very crowded.</div>
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Here is a view of the staircase to the top of the mountain. There are 777 steps and you must climb it barefoot.<br />
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The lower part of the staircase is a crazy shopping mall, there is barely room for two people to pass side by side and vendors packed in on both sides of the steps.<br />
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Only a few people in our group made it all the way to the top. L to R: Eloïse, Wallace, Zach, Mary and Joanna.</div>
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On a clear day you have a view of Bagan but this was the view on a rainy day.</div>
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Macaques are everywhere.</div>
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The next day was sunny, perfect for visiting the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. Incredibly beautiful temple completed in 1102 AD. The gold leaf covering the buildings is reapplied every few years.<br />
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A small museum (with extra security) at Shwezigon displays relics going back to the 11th century including these Buddha footprints. It is only open a few times a year on holidays.<br />
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Some more random scenes from Bagan:<br />
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Local arts and crafts included these beautiful cloth parasols:</div>
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Touring a shop that makes laquerware.</div>
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At the Natural History Museum (no photos allowed) Tony and Kathy had a blast chatting with a group of high school students from Pyin Oo Lwin (near Mandalay).</div>
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Government commissioned fountain at the Museum...is that a flying squirrel? It's kind of frightening.</div>
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Young boys are encouraged to spend at least a few months in a monastery as a novice monk. If they wish they can become a full monk at age 20.</div>
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Our last night in Bagan we watched the sunset from a temple... with hundreds of other people. Not many of the temples have an accessible roof so those get crowded in the evening.<br />
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Farewell Bagan, one of the most beautiful places on Earth, we hope to return someday!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNoG08d2yu-1plmV95lBoKpet-l5pu-U7t2sJFkPc9PFc5DwP5GoCNGpwX3fryF-wu6tUL-rztZiK6Zffg3Sjhmi7Kg3tkP-js_2e3idBbNJorEs7Q7vAW6Sp62y0KnQu0e4BAtiKCRR0/s1600/_MG_4997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNoG08d2yu-1plmV95lBoKpet-l5pu-U7t2sJFkPc9PFc5DwP5GoCNGpwX3fryF-wu6tUL-rztZiK6Zffg3Sjhmi7Kg3tkP-js_2e3idBbNJorEs7Q7vAW6Sp62y0KnQu0e4BAtiKCRR0/s1600/_MG_4997.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Suzette Gomes, CEO of Cora International, with the Blue Moon diamond on exhibit at the Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County. Photo by E. Chamorro for NHMLA.</i></div>
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Did you check the Blue Moon diamond on display at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County? You will see that we added the resin models of the different steps of the cutting process. Thanks to information provided by Cora International and the master cutter, here is the description our volunteer Brittany gathered. It is interesting to see the process of having an extremely valuable rough blue diamond and making a decision on how to cut it to yield the best color, clarity and shape. Enjoy!<br />
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<i>The added resin models on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Photo by E. Gaillou for NHMLA.</i></div>
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The Blue Moon Diamond is one of the rarest diamonds in the world. Therefore the cutting process is a rather meticulous procedure. The rough diamond must first be placed into the hands of a master cutter. Most master cutters have been working in the trade for decades. The master cutter will examine the natural growth features of the rough diamond. From there, many models of the stone will be made. Creating models at every stage is a very important and significant part of the cutting process. These models give a blueprint to follow in creating this beautiful and extremely rare gem. Each model will be marked to determine the best shape and size of the stone. Once the model is marked, the cutter will begin to form facets into the model on the cutting wheel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiUprqfm8UyfLMgPyBZ1VME8nbbUBsik-PDVyuKzDsfZs99LppTBwNv477oAD_GBrfhGXC120dCYQaHCm2-Sfj3Q7McGAota7sJ5iFDzQjXoNOPC2nOb94l58HSc4J9WVZPecipjtRl5s/s1600/20140910_104315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiUprqfm8UyfLMgPyBZ1VME8nbbUBsik-PDVyuKzDsfZs99LppTBwNv477oAD_GBrfhGXC120dCYQaHCm2-Sfj3Q7McGAota7sJ5iFDzQjXoNOPC2nOb94l58HSc4J9WVZPecipjtRl5s/s1600/20140910_104315.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Zoom in on the models. The numbers you read represent the carat weight of some steps of the cutting process.Photo by E. Gaillou for NHMLA.</i></div>
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The first two models created, weighing 22.79 cts, help determine the shape that would give the highest yield in weight and to also achieve an “Internally Flawless” diamond grade. One model was created in to a “square cushion” shape and the other in to a “long cushion” shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZknbUXTkYIYoTn2IRLAtg2NWAMtYTrUS3ObJHvZQFvVH38cty8UhlVNUn2qmUT5mgHo1tpHQg2Jt7DQDm-eXe4zKJPJE24hlkkdwS5qMIQ1GchZNnwNTKOS7A7T6VJxneKthuzZ0tuBDC/s1600/DAY+TWO+v6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZknbUXTkYIYoTn2IRLAtg2NWAMtYTrUS3ObJHvZQFvVH38cty8UhlVNUn2qmUT5mgHo1tpHQg2Jt7DQDm-eXe4zKJPJE24hlkkdwS5qMIQ1GchZNnwNTKOS7A7T6VJxneKthuzZ0tuBDC/s1600/DAY+TWO+v6.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond at 22.79 carats. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">©</span> Cora International.</i></div>
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Now at 19.30cts, it was determined that the “longer cushion” shape would give a slightly higher yield in weight and more assurance to achieve the “Internally Flawless” grade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK9yBHWBsTq03YiGb8XbSnCGkMK-JTpqgTs0BWqGjmLY6VTlnwl0RAFiSccjs_ArubKYb-0wJ9YDohHxiO_j_h6KMsKpFNwakFgL7AGiDntLcYpqw0B22aiVrLvhwJbwzB64lZ8tZ0IGk/s1600/IMAG1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK9yBHWBsTq03YiGb8XbSnCGkMK-JTpqgTs0BWqGjmLY6VTlnwl0RAFiSccjs_ArubKYb-0wJ9YDohHxiO_j_h6KMsKpFNwakFgL7AGiDntLcYpqw0B22aiVrLvhwJbwzB64lZ8tZ0IGk/s1600/IMAG1115.jpg" height="640" width="362" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond on the cutting wheel. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666687011719px;">©</span> Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNx-QeXJ7pw2VPq3Ixex9A03ck1m25_nOcYr2k1k9VHxckNa3jElYE5tGSD8OxSJJEZAaNXglcy0Sa3vkJ7w1kGoNQPBPttvtDllXFqTMISeY7CT83sfeH5Ann8XJYyHncl2FFaFamyeM/s1600/DAY+THREE+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNx-QeXJ7pw2VPq3Ixex9A03ck1m25_nOcYr2k1k9VHxckNa3jElYE5tGSD8OxSJJEZAaNXglcy0Sa3vkJ7w1kGoNQPBPttvtDllXFqTMISeY7CT83sfeH5Ann8XJYyHncl2FFaFamyeM/s1600/DAY+THREE+v2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond at 19.30 carats. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666687011719px;">©</span> Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb6tWkswQi7iuDvIxJ7lBDXLBfyh3wh_w4ZcUAF5FFQDjKjiPuKaxoHOBwpiP2gFhf0rxyKSygvVyV9pS1c60LRjHQ_2dDfrh62GY09Vy5_RmhsH9OCQcHC8KSgrBT2a2Qugfe9OIL_d9/s1600/IMAG1129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb6tWkswQi7iuDvIxJ7lBDXLBfyh3wh_w4ZcUAF5FFQDjKjiPuKaxoHOBwpiP2gFhf0rxyKSygvVyV9pS1c60LRjHQ_2dDfrh62GY09Vy5_RmhsH9OCQcHC8KSgrBT2a2Qugfe9OIL_d9/s1600/IMAG1129.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond at 19.30 carats. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666687011719px;">©</span> Cora International.</i></div>
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At 16.31 cts the crown facets were preliminary blocked in and prepared for the shaping process. The results are examined and the model begins to take shape.
Another replica model was created with pavilion facets at 15.29cts. This model determined how the deep indented naturals would be removed while retaining optimal weight and achieving an “Internally Flawless” clarity.<br />
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Once 14.21cts were reached, it was known that the gem had now achieved the “Internally Flawless” clarity grade. After achieving the final result on the model, the rough diamond was then able to be faceted on the wheel and polished into one of the rarest and most exquisite diamonds in the world.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_Y9emf58wyNp-g6BaSFvLgtCReqqEsEDzqFBooLuUjVuQxGv2KQBzzPYdjRLBXE8lxWOgJESsoL_5_Tj63O1khineGXCW65bCcj7h3ruHyaeEmFAnTSBaxk91AAqYiFP9yZThKsdDQwA/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_Y9emf58wyNp-g6BaSFvLgtCReqqEsEDzqFBooLuUjVuQxGv2KQBzzPYdjRLBXE8lxWOgJESsoL_5_Tj63O1khineGXCW65bCcj7h3ruHyaeEmFAnTSBaxk91AAqYiFP9yZThKsdDQwA/s1600/image.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond at 14.21 carats. One already can see the beauty of the stone! <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666687011719px;">©</span> Cora International.</i></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-56037893968487313742014-10-15T12:48:00.000-07:002014-10-15T14:41:30.085-07:00The making of the Blue Moon DiamondIn a short video produced by Cora International, here is the making of the Blue Moon Diamond, from the 29.6-carat rough to the 12-carat Fancy Vivid Blue, Internally Flawless gem. The Blue Moon Diamond is on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County until January 6, 2015. Come and see it: it is included in the regular entrance to the museum!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-25920823548001323232014-09-30T16:03:00.002-07:002014-09-30T16:03:41.125-07:00The Blue Moon Diamond: The Opening of the Exhibit<br />
The Blue Moon Diamond, which we have been covering in the past few articles <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2014/09/testing-blue-moon-diamond-at-smithsonian.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-special-diamond-exhibit-at-nhm-los.html" target="_blank">here</a> finally has made it to our museum, welcomed by one of the largest museum events of the year. Both beautiful and scientifically significant, it has generated much buzz in both the general public and scientific community.<br />
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The day opened to great pizazz with a press conference at 9:30 AM, complete with a catered breakfast.<br />
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When the black cloth was pulled off, the diamond was presented to the press for the very first time.<br />
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Dr. Eloïse Gaillou and Suzette Gomes of Cora International answered questions about the history, production, and rareness of the Blue Moon diamond.<br />
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As readers of this blog will know, the diamond was mined in the Cullinan Mines of South Africa, a mine that has produced other famous diamonds such The Star of Africa and the Golden Jubilee. To learn more about those diamonds, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullinan_Diamond" target="_blank">click here</a>. Knowing the source of the diamond is just as important as the chemical make up of the diamond itself.<br />
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Suzette presented the resin duplicates of the original 29.6 carat raw diamond, explaining the meticulous process of creating the rough to the polished final.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edgar Chamorro © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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The Blue Diamond's final size which stands at an impressive 12 carats, is especially notable for its flawlessness and color, which are much rarer at gems of this size.<br />
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Eloïse finished off the press conference with an interview by Channel 7.<br />
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There was no rest for the weary after the press event, however, because the official welcoming party would be taking place in a few hours. We had to set up and prepare and make sure everything ran smoothly. There was furniture to be arranged, flowers to place, lights to change, and general chaos that comes about when running events such as these.<br />
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The flowers were designed by<a href="http://www.themillefiori.com/" target="_blank"> Mille Fiori</a> and were the centerpieces of each table.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany Arnolds © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PmuMS9PJSz8nvltRHfnjlOsX5h0UGhoSqzTa8j9IW-zKEyAnpk3pP66gJsjs93MwiaVdeIzKD7xqpqdIGG049-kzq4pXU9W0F2_Ir0XXS6Vr0E1L_uWWE_nvQlqslHD5NdMhORk1BPq-/s1600/IMG_7214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PmuMS9PJSz8nvltRHfnjlOsX5h0UGhoSqzTa8j9IW-zKEyAnpk3pP66gJsjs93MwiaVdeIzKD7xqpqdIGG049-kzq4pXU9W0F2_Ir0XXS6Vr0E1L_uWWE_nvQlqslHD5NdMhORk1BPq-/s1600/IMG_7214.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There were two open bars at each corner of the foyer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HmJXDSZbZLasUsyr13_0ZT3DX8bqtnUgomO3j91_Ig7tkQGnCvCYgwyxrCkTc__VnM5uliV7klbpPQR0pEsOvsLAK-PcwmvvWy-yXhFonTDNE5yFOZGWQ0N8H8WOyPBJmOi8zguvFHNd/s1600/IMG_7225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HmJXDSZbZLasUsyr13_0ZT3DX8bqtnUgomO3j91_Ig7tkQGnCvCYgwyxrCkTc__VnM5uliV7klbpPQR0pEsOvsLAK-PcwmvvWy-yXhFonTDNE5yFOZGWQ0N8H8WOyPBJmOi8zguvFHNd/s1600/IMG_7225.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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Setting up everything while not trying to run each other over was bit difficult.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUf7aLZTImzZOwcXhwxcn24Mui25pSEY5izjwz8yM1rvgWIZL0vWFHdyRrP7kyPLR4Ek-SUa1cM7rgmdrYcl-xQFiXhf7r6_EoZCMJjeRaqePA3ScmRc4wqgOtjHZ71CF1iHk0zdmSopH/s1600/MD_20140912_059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUf7aLZTImzZOwcXhwxcn24Mui25pSEY5izjwz8yM1rvgWIZL0vWFHdyRrP7kyPLR4Ek-SUa1cM7rgmdrYcl-xQFiXhf7r6_EoZCMJjeRaqePA3ScmRc4wqgOtjHZ71CF1iHk0zdmSopH/s1600/MD_20140912_059.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxuqrL-kh7q1E6N0NjbZxNV9asck3tbWX1kq9GhBtqX53n6RyhNBxQWM7yy-JonqlFFJd0Uv_S96ndDIKCgy-QdK_MV5drYNP8ydjdZLZFwqPVXSez3CdvMiPziT-BtIZAzFjm_HgTKgF/s1600/MD_20140912_076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxuqrL-kh7q1E6N0NjbZxNV9asck3tbWX1kq9GhBtqX53n6RyhNBxQWM7yy-JonqlFFJd0Uv_S96ndDIKCgy-QdK_MV5drYNP8ydjdZLZFwqPVXSez3CdvMiPziT-BtIZAzFjm_HgTKgF/s1600/MD_20140912_076.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.499999046325684px;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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But it was all very fruitful, because everything ended up looking great. Here's a shot of the museum's foyer with the decor all set up prior to the party.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux4F7AAmwGOqV_VY3pBbKg-T0jC7u-waHaVNZaBwuV23xv-R8eF1UU-Eb7cToLFWouF61EE35kTqezDDtHnCP4kwu5bKpIQ1xtA6_3k9IIIKb2vbmWJBojbvY5PTuZq3IutwH_Mgxk27v/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux4F7AAmwGOqV_VY3pBbKg-T0jC7u-waHaVNZaBwuV23xv-R8eF1UU-Eb7cToLFWouF61EE35kTqezDDtHnCP4kwu5bKpIQ1xtA6_3k9IIIKb2vbmWJBojbvY5PTuZq3IutwH_Mgxk27v/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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The official party started at 7, and guests at the party entered from the north entrance, where they were checked in by these lovely ladies, the work study students and interns of the Gem and Mineral department.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKR7WG0-FoiCZdNj5ocmUte90VsbiesM1eae7YvQiB2-989vA5RbRugpXbL2Ox-tJe2fw_m83bg1kUzdRo6z6XOEe99aQzoM53b-4ViCQTHvDVpQfSHsbNH3dOh4ygjFuk5narFi7suOA/s1600/20140912_210907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKR7WG0-FoiCZdNj5ocmUte90VsbiesM1eae7YvQiB2-989vA5RbRugpXbL2Ox-tJe2fw_m83bg1kUzdRo6z6XOEe99aQzoM53b-4ViCQTHvDVpQfSHsbNH3dOh4ygjFuk5narFi7suOA/s400/20140912_210907.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Directly in front of the table were two photos of the eponymous diamond. One was a normal photo of the diamond, but the Blue Moon has the rare qualities of glowing red after exposure to ultraviolet light (phenomenon called phosphorescence). To read more about specifically why it is glows red, <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/05/hope-diamond-blue-by-day-red-by-night_22.html" target="_blank">read here</a>. This rare phenomena of the Blue Moon diamond has been an important facet of Dr. Eloïse Gaillou's work and a large reason why this diamond is so important.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmjG1vq8PkELFu_ee5ddeX3G9thGU56tf8D2FAcPNeZQDPM0tkvOLLEo8RR_9286__FAm51WC7_qpp8LgXhpv2W6FHhwri234wFtU5UkIEIM3LtHZZr1QOLOf7hT8Kpx7nHrV9CP4yP-z/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmjG1vq8PkELFu_ee5ddeX3G9thGU56tf8D2FAcPNeZQDPM0tkvOLLEo8RR_9286__FAm51WC7_qpp8LgXhpv2W6FHhwri234wFtU5UkIEIM3LtHZZr1QOLOf7hT8Kpx7nHrV9CP4yP-z/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany Arnolds © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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In addition to the two open bars, and servers walked around with Veuve-Cliquot champagne and trays of hors d'oeuvres.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGtQmVipGlpEmnjrHoeciizdHUPpMUzRFGG6KI05h8dfjapK_z4BHd3Dx7CT7WUnbupEJg0uDSjGTMbv4HijzzicPcjAO3Gv5I-UuvsucRnWk9xfgTXoRKGvMwzaJsYG3AobQfeLiK9GP/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGtQmVipGlpEmnjrHoeciizdHUPpMUzRFGG6KI05h8dfjapK_z4BHd3Dx7CT7WUnbupEJg0uDSjGTMbv4HijzzicPcjAO3Gv5I-UuvsucRnWk9xfgTXoRKGvMwzaJsYG3AobQfeLiK9GP/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" height="459" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany Arnolds © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The food was catered by <a href="http://heirloomla.com/" target="_blank">Heirloom LA</a>., a catering company that also owns a host of food trucks in LA.<br />
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Unfortunately we have no photos of the main appetizers but I can personally vouch that it was really good. We do have photos of the desserts, which were a hodgepodge of different remakes of classic American desserts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZna8O2fGaQnQqeEfxdLFWnOaHhFlTpGTEe1wxe4D1MGHIZ8LD214LsAFokfAh15mF4RTo48RKhArIeDkF9C1Rev1BuDMMKe-rG6mEWk3ol16l9PBbwd1NnewZFRfAf6RQkjNVzdL_epZe/s1600/MD_20140912_514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZna8O2fGaQnQqeEfxdLFWnOaHhFlTpGTEe1wxe4D1MGHIZ8LD214LsAFokfAh15mF4RTo48RKhArIeDkF9C1Rev1BuDMMKe-rG6mEWk3ol16l9PBbwd1NnewZFRfAf6RQkjNVzdL_epZe/s1600/MD_20140912_514.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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On this plate, we have some fancy blueberry cookies, Strawberry and pear poptarts, s'mores officially named Blueberry Crostata, Seasonal Pie Squares, and Inside Out S'mores.<br />
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About halfway through the party, Eloïse gave a speech on the scientific importance of the Blue Moon and thanked Suzette Gomes for loaning the Blue Moon to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZv_rGVN2QloNR5NA7khNx4DMo9u1M2MQUtKHcHTKfgDW376g3AwHhHiubpfgLWMnvVcOJtOHt5C93z9hcOESplo8oCyX5T-pBu6jTFyGJaYZWk4VQ9UDYReoGDG_pazC-kUGlQAXHbUV/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZv_rGVN2QloNR5NA7khNx4DMo9u1M2MQUtKHcHTKfgDW376g3AwHhHiubpfgLWMnvVcOJtOHt5C93z9hcOESplo8oCyX5T-pBu6jTFyGJaYZWk4VQ9UDYReoGDG_pazC-kUGlQAXHbUV/s1600/DSC_0110.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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Alan Bronstein, owner of the Aurora Butterfly and Aurora Gems, gave some background of diamonds. A lot of Eloïse's work is thanks to the material (diamonds!) support of Aurora Gems, and his butterfly has been a wonderful temporary exhibit to the Gem and Mineral Hall.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dGMzb9-29cWoaYvdHgRLCHQWM9ZffoenxvjUPe1rwVtAZqEUB4Tv3_ifI5GpDbnU3-Ocqjxt2sQEFRNULZBw3dnLKdTSslSqdVqMebxnVH4dNqQIsc_Hy1EK3eKgV096YsfHmPG3qRgF/s1600/DSC_0118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dGMzb9-29cWoaYvdHgRLCHQWM9ZffoenxvjUPe1rwVtAZqEUB4Tv3_ifI5GpDbnU3-Ocqjxt2sQEFRNULZBw3dnLKdTSslSqdVqMebxnVH4dNqQIsc_Hy1EK3eKgV096YsfHmPG3qRgF/s1600/DSC_0118.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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Jim Shigley, Research Fellow at GIA talked about the certification for the color of the Blue Moon, which was graded a fancy vivid, the best color rating for a diamond.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYl0oPKFqvUguz_8_sZLtDfNfLD8aLxawlv0EB4dGgX8UCVnqFj8fJ6diLCjKNHisAmzNExB25K5PKnyfruLprlAiUGMV-m8r7uTFggUB1j5K72FLLGy7IUkQGuZ2lJtR-NKbOUh-8k5k/s1600/DSC_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYl0oPKFqvUguz_8_sZLtDfNfLD8aLxawlv0EB4dGgX8UCVnqFj8fJ6diLCjKNHisAmzNExB25K5PKnyfruLprlAiUGMV-m8r7uTFggUB1j5K72FLLGy7IUkQGuZ2lJtR-NKbOUh-8k5k/s1600/DSC_0125.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
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Here are some final shots of the presentation, which also had a video playing about the making of the diamond and the studies conducted at the Smithsonian.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjAjRVvX7IaflMRuMAzZTfEpBl-YxKrVBb_HRqfYxLQCWUCVt31DXek-fQQxPln7DqlYAgY9HyiHUIm7i07JM_2WvbsQBcG2Ik7X7PPAvZojfliz7-BwSixXEZNvKAC1gvGcOYB8wEB0m/s1600/MD_20140912_209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjAjRVvX7IaflMRuMAzZTfEpBl-YxKrVBb_HRqfYxLQCWUCVt31DXek-fQQxPln7DqlYAgY9HyiHUIm7i07JM_2WvbsQBcG2Ik7X7PPAvZojfliz7-BwSixXEZNvKAC1gvGcOYB8wEB0m/s1600/MD_20140912_209.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © for NHMLA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpeHYjasgxxYz4mFXgGIwQ7Va-PDjlxFhEtc2SUa1apWjCogN7WnMnebuaoiE-9gOiIirAGhHa1Radh_6NNwhtws0gxZxYVy4Hj7Qrx73GQgW6v-dmZ6ARlpkr6SCBryFZMEx3UuL-mw8/s1600/MD_20140912_211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpeHYjasgxxYz4mFXgGIwQ7Va-PDjlxFhEtc2SUa1apWjCogN7WnMnebuaoiE-9gOiIirAGhHa1Radh_6NNwhtws0gxZxYVy4Hj7Qrx73GQgW6v-dmZ6ARlpkr6SCBryFZMEx3UuL-mw8/s1600/MD_20140912_211.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The entire Gem and Mineral Hall was transformed for the night as well.<br />
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The Hall was decked out in colorful lights, almost completely unrecognizable. There was a rope that led the crowd directly to the Gem Vault, so one couldn't get lost on the way.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPeX-WogWW7vjjZi2I3UH6Vm1hu0A91koUcFJL0IWCm9N7Y_IPww64LWlBqntyBUv4bVKkqWZYlG_qhnA2dfYYAGDuScxryKGwxraRSRALw0wiC1FbJhevSJ780WTE61ynY6dx_PSRxhH/s1600/MD_20140912_239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPeX-WogWW7vjjZi2I3UH6Vm1hu0A91koUcFJL0IWCm9N7Y_IPww64LWlBqntyBUv4bVKkqWZYlG_qhnA2dfYYAGDuScxryKGwxraRSRALw0wiC1FbJhevSJ780WTE61ynY6dx_PSRxhH/s1600/MD_20140912_239.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A gobo projection displayed the name of the diamond on the back wall of the gold exhibit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O-1joC0bp0kHj6ds8Py3OYqN4jF5o_jpf56w0D47eCSNaV-lf9vlTSYmIpisGRbRCpue5U0g0e3RWAYcV7ihANV3nunDpBf-dFBSeLCKFfj0GNY34CHaRGlNP5xv2oRA7CyyPQ-eq8Av/s1600/MD_20140912_311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O-1joC0bp0kHj6ds8Py3OYqN4jF5o_jpf56w0D47eCSNaV-lf9vlTSYmIpisGRbRCpue5U0g0e3RWAYcV7ihANV3nunDpBf-dFBSeLCKFfj0GNY34CHaRGlNP5xv2oRA7CyyPQ-eq8Av/s1600/MD_20140912_311.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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Blue lights streamed out from the gem vault, filling the hallway with lighting not unlike a club scene, only much better because there was a diamond at the center of it all.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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As for the diamond itself, it remained in its glass case, dazzling all with its size, brilliance, and color.<br />
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For fun, we had a photographer on site, photographing guests with the gem.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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Many guests took their own photos of the Blue Moon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario DeLopez © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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And here is the diamond itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edgar Chamorro © <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">for NHMLA</span></td></tr>
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Our Gem & Mineral Council members were among the guests for this special event. We can affirm that everybody present had a fab time! The diamond will continue dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County until January 6th. Come and see it for yourself: you can see the diamond with your regular museum entrance (or for free with your museum membership).<br />
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carohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05167565085009009623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-35426887273418486012014-09-01T17:40:00.005-07:002014-09-11T15:28:30.759-07:00Testing the Blue Moon Diamond at the Smithsonian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNHBGfQ6_RwRZjRsxNzd54w0a_d4Bgi49cwfqa4AJ0E3wtTonQ7wgyNmwby6QnMGz02PySA_h-0vftXwQGSIiW8COMa8N6mjhpg-TfOwQYEUdZHeUJx0PlVW5TweMhLLfebB_8m7FwE1J/s1600/bluemoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNHBGfQ6_RwRZjRsxNzd54w0a_d4Bgi49cwfqa4AJ0E3wtTonQ7wgyNmwby6QnMGz02PySA_h-0vftXwQGSIiW8COMa8N6mjhpg-TfOwQYEUdZHeUJx0PlVW5TweMhLLfebB_8m7FwE1J/s1600/bluemoon.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon Diamond, a 12-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, on display at NHM. Photo by Tino Hammid for Cora International.</i></div>
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Beginning September 13, 2014, we will have a very special host in the Gem Vault of our Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: The Blue Moon Diamond will be on display until January 6, 2015. The 29.6 ct rough diamond was found back in January 2014 at the Cullinan Mine in South Africa. <a href="http://corainternational.com/" target="_blank">Cora International</a> purchased it in February and had it cut in a spectacular 12 ct cushion. The faceting of the stone took place from April to the end of June in New York.<br />
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First of all, I wanted to emphasize our interest to have such a stone at our museum. Of course, there is the exhibit point of view. What a great opportunity for our public to be able to see a big blue diamond. Yes, 12.03 ct (2.4 grams) is impressive for a blue diamond. They are much, MUCH rarer than colorless diamonds (called "white diamonds" in the market). They are probably some of the rarest of all the gems. This diamond has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, with an IF (internally flawless) quality. The cut is perfect. All of these qualities make it a gem as rare as "once in a blue moon", phrase from which its name comes from.<br />
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Now, in the scientific point of view, this diamond might be even more exceptional! I have been studying blue diamonds for over 5 years now, mostly when I was a post doc at the Smithsonian Institution. I had the chance to study famous stones such as the <a href="http://mineralsciences.si.edu/staff/pages/gaillou/Gaillou-etal_2010_Wittelsbach-Hope.pdf" target="_blank">Hope diamond</a>, <a href="http://mineralsciences.si.edu/staff/pages/gaillou/Gaillou-etal_2010_Wittelsbach-Hope.pdf" target="_blank">the Wittelsbach-Graff </a>or the Blue Heart diamonds for example. All in all, it's over 100 blue diamonds that I have analyzed. But most of them were less than one carat, and only a few were of known origin (a dozen only). And they are so rare that we had to find ways to borrow some diamonds for our study. If a few came from the National Gem & Mineral collection, most came from private parties. <a href="http://www.auroragems.com/" target="_blank">Aurora Gems</a> for example loaned to us over 3/4 of the stones studied. We are thankful that Cora International agreed to let us conduct some (non-destructive!) analyses on the diamond, and also supported me to go to the Smithsonian to acquire the necessary data.<br />
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Why blue diamonds are so special? <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html" target="_blank">As explained in a previous blog post</a>, their color comes from the element boron. First interesting fact: boron is quite rare deep in the Earth, where diamonds form (in the Earth Mantle, some 90 miles below the Earth surface or deeper!). Boron is a light element and is expected to be found mostly at the surface of the Earth, or not far below. So, where does the boron contained in the rare blue diamonds come from? Was it in the Earth Mantle since the formation of the Earth? Or was it pushed deep inside the Earth through plate tectonics, by convection of a subducting oceanic plate?<br />
Also, we know that boron gives the blue color of a diamond. But does the amount of boron directly correlates with the intensity of the blue color? Blue diamonds have the property of phosphorescing (emitting a color after exposure to an ultraviolet light - also called black light-). <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/05/hope-diamond-blue-by-day-red-by-night_22.html" target="_blank">Most emit a very short bluish phosphorescence, while a few emit a orange-red glow</a>. What physical phenomenon controls that?<br />
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In this blog post, I'll show you a few pictures of the Blue Moon diamonds acquired while we were conducting the experiments at the Smithsonian Institution, in the highly secured "Blue Room", in the Mineral Sciences department. But look forward to an article talking about the actual results in the coming months!<br />
The scientists present during the experiments were: Dr. Jeff Post, Curator and Dr. Keal Byrne, postdoc, both from the Smithsonian Institution; Dr. Jim Butler and myself.<br />
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The arrival of the Blue Moon Diamond and its unpacking by Jeff Post.</div>
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Waiting to discover the stone we long expected to see!</div>
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Far from being a professional picture, our first look at Blue Moon Diamond. There were a lot of "wow" in the room when Jeff opened the package.</div>
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The Blue Moon Diamond and the phosphorescence equipment on the background. </div>
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The diamond is now in place to be analyzed. The metallic wire is a fiber optic that conducts the ultraviolet (UV) light and receives the light emitted by the stone. </div>
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A close-up of the experiment: we analyzed several spots on the stone to see if the diamond was emitting similar phosphorescence everywhere.</div>
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Jim preparing a cover for the experiment!</div>
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There is nothing to see anymore: the diamond is fully covered to be in the dark during the experiment.</div>
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Keal and I doing the last tests before running the phosphorescence experiments. Photo by Jeff Post.</div>
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What is it that we are doing when we run a phosphorescence experiment? As Jeff shows to the film crew, it's similar to exposing the diamond to a UV light for 20 sec, turning the UV light off and looking if the stone emits a light and if so, what color light. However, our eyes are not as sensitive as a spectrometer is, that is why we use this machine on top of the visual examination.</div>
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A very surprising result: the Blue Moon Diamond phosphoresces orange-red for about 20 seconds, while most blue diamonds show a short bluish phosphorescence. Only a few other diamonds have such a reddish glow, <a href="http://mineralsciences.si.edu/staff/pages/gaillou/Gaillou-etal_2010_Wittelsbach-Hope.pdf" target="_blank">we will cite the Hope diamond and the Wittelsbach-Graff for which the phosphorescence lasts a minute</a>! Amazing photo by Tino Hammid for Cora International.</div>
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The exact reason for the long red versus short bluish glow is not perfectly understood. That is also why we continue acquiring data on more blue diamonds. It might involve the boron defects present in the structure of diamond, interacting with other impurities, defects or charge imbalance. So far, the Blue Moon diamond is the only diamond known coming from South Africa that shows a red glow. The other diamonds of known locality showing the red glow were coming from India (such as the Hope diamond or the Wittelsbach-Graff).</div>
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We also conducted some experiments with a Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. With this machine, we can see the signal of the carbon atoms interacting with each other, as well as the signal of the possible other impurities. Photo by Jim Butler.</div>
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Getting some signal through a faceted stone is not the easiest! But we got some good results. Photo by Jeff Post.</div>
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Our FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of the element boron as an impurity, which is the source of the color. The Blue Moon Diamond is therefore classified as a Type IIb diamond (no nitrogen impurities visible by FTIR, but boron impurities present). We will be able to quantify the amount of boron thanks to the spectra acquired. Stay tuned!</div>
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Finally, we were curious to look at the remaining strain inside the diamond structure. All natural diamonds show some strain features, and the Blue Moon is no exception. The colored striations are the evidence of such a strain. Photo: Eloïse Gaillou, in between cross-polarizers.</div>
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Again, they are not professional pictures, but I still wanted to end with a few shots that I took while conducting the experiments at the Smithsonian. You will have to come to NHM Los Angeles and see for yourself to get the true experience of the color and the fire of the Blue Moon! Photo below and above: Eloïse Gaillou.</div>
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All photo credit: Eloïse Gaillou, unless otherwise mentioned.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-64444038643892384492014-08-30T13:21:00.000-07:002014-08-30T13:21:00.634-07:00A SPECIAL DIAMOND EXHIBIT AT NHM Los Angeles, running through January 6, 2015<h2>
The reunion of exceptional diamonds<br />
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Beginning September 13, 2014 and until January 6, 2015, we will have a special reunion of diamonds at NHM: The Blue Moon Diamond will meet the Butterfly of Peace diamond collection. The collection of 240 natural fancy-colored diamonds that make the spectacular Aurora Butterfly of Peace is already worldwide renown and well traveled: it had been on special exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution and at the Houston Museum of Science, just to cite only a few of the prestigious places it has seen. The Butterfly of Peace will have a new companion beginning September 13: The Blue Moon Diamond, which was recently discovered in South Africa. Now faceted from the 29.6-carat rough, the 12-ct stone will also be displayed in the Gem Vault of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjsTZSScz5A4f7CCz4E6GmsTR3NNC65wiX_T1DJ_lj0VVjIBd1q2IZvB2-bbM0c8IR3JIAx3uv8lzW5FaXoAJD4GcIcaa7B0I-coKbJhIlT-0vmpz359c46Mht9oqaa9NN2_shW1m6H4B/s1600/Aurora+Butterfly_tight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjsTZSScz5A4f7CCz4E6GmsTR3NNC65wiX_T1DJ_lj0VVjIBd1q2IZvB2-bbM0c8IR3JIAx3uv8lzW5FaXoAJD4GcIcaa7B0I-coKbJhIlT-0vmpz359c46Mht9oqaa9NN2_shW1m6H4B/s1600/Aurora+Butterfly_tight.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The renown Aurora Butterfly of Peace: 240 natural fancy-colored diamonds. All known colors of diamonds are represented in this unique and exceptional collection totaling 167 carats of beauty. The collection is not only a delight for the public but also for the scientists to study. The variety of colors makes it the best tool to analyze the color in diamonds. On loan from <a href="http://www.auroragems.com/" target="_blank">Aurora Gems</a>. Photo by Robert Weldon. Copyright: GIA.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttNgOaEyAeQv3seT_bsxe_AmYDFxz4Wsrqtr4P6KarRFi7wu2vcFGV0p31cpsmp_cf5Miku_oTNv4iuiFsjJkfwN7PRgvpYyRpS9RG1F_89pUjAOUShYYDChSn7xA1tBckQEopjixYzGm/s1600/bluemoon-square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttNgOaEyAeQv3seT_bsxe_AmYDFxz4Wsrqtr4P6KarRFi7wu2vcFGV0p31cpsmp_cf5Miku_oTNv4iuiFsjJkfwN7PRgvpYyRpS9RG1F_89pUjAOUShYYDChSn7xA1tBckQEopjixYzGm/s1600/bluemoon-square.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The 12-carat Fancy Vivid Blue Moon Diamond. Recently discovered in South Africa, this diamond shows the most exquisite of the blue colors. Such as the Butterfly of Peace diamond collection, the Hope diamond, or the Wittelsbach-Graff, it was studied at the Smithsonian Institution before coming on exhibit to our museum. On loan from <a href="http://corainternational.com/" target="_blank">Cora International</a>. Photo by Tino Hammid. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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The Aurora Butterfly of Peace on exhibit at NHM</h2>
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Add 240 fancy-colored diamonds, the rarest of all the gems. Arrange it carefully in a butterfly shape that took the owner (Aurora Gems) over 10 years to put together. Obtain a delightful art-piece that will be a joy for the public and the connoisseur to look at!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZlxHHeGSzMVu-oFZD6PeAetJC58ZFLwveiKq1r7MW1UyCzQx2BZNfBlJMXYJHM-yHPWTqoDH27w3MuDZ8UyF63nZ4SMcqpNP7xQhCjmVIoR6trWzIxQZBvKx7nz8qLyc_rEcIkjZXiD3/s1600/DSC02490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZlxHHeGSzMVu-oFZD6PeAetJC58ZFLwveiKq1r7MW1UyCzQx2BZNfBlJMXYJHM-yHPWTqoDH27w3MuDZ8UyF63nZ4SMcqpNP7xQhCjmVIoR6trWzIxQZBvKx7nz8qLyc_rEcIkjZXiD3/s1600/DSC02490.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace on exhibit at NHM. Photo and copyright: K. Stone.</i></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace as seen on its display case. Photo and copyright: E. Gaillou for NHM.</i></div>
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<i>A different look at the Butterfly of Peace! Photo and copyright: E. Gaillou for NHM.</i></div>
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I would like to quote my colleague George Harlow from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH): when the Butterfly of Peace was on exhibit at the AMNH, he mentioned that their colored diamond exhibits have “the highest slobber factor of anything in the gem house” with “nose prints and handprints” commonly found on the glass. We would concur with that! Good thing that our display cases are cleaned every morning...<br />
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The Blue Moon Diamond: from rough to cut</h2>
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The 29.6-carat rough stone was unearthed at the Cullinan Mine in South Africa by Petra Diamonds in January 2014. In February, Cora International bought it and began the cutting process in April 2014. The cut stone was finished at the end of June. The photos below show you a few steps of the cutting process from the rough to the cut stone. Before cutting the blue stone, models of it were made and cut. No rough stone is perfect to begin with, and inclusions and impurities have to be avoided during the cutting process so that the cut stone doesn't have any inclusion in it. The design of the stone was so well done that the stone has been graded "Internally Flawless" by GIA.<br />
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<i>The rough 29.6-carat Blue Moon Diamond on the cutting wheel. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe8Tt2e4TPqYej9jx2Ih85hdytmw_AZG5vvACS00eAGO-mAhRDk-nrHqHQPCiPNEfHQVinekXrXSAnWYp7ge3oVeYzcCQfG0dyBVPwCDKhfzE1yrA-ni1aHr231GZJS8Ph-_J-E3fLAR_/s1600/DAY+TWO+v6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe8Tt2e4TPqYej9jx2Ih85hdytmw_AZG5vvACS00eAGO-mAhRDk-nrHqHQPCiPNEfHQVinekXrXSAnWYp7ge3oVeYzcCQfG0dyBVPwCDKhfzE1yrA-ni1aHr231GZJS8Ph-_J-E3fLAR_/s1600/DAY+TWO+v6.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The first "window" is open in the diamond. It is from this first facet that the other ones will be built from. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsvFPKAQmhOqMuETbs6QyusBQEiKmJww3J90HwcMTm4Pd60jQY3k_CkIQUZplp0nyNYhw7eihWj1h4A-tGbQvhmZRcK4fqxUCACgv0sJzNcbHuxJFWhwi8Azlx1Bt_DRQO-G3XCi6bioH/s1600/DAY+THREE+v1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsvFPKAQmhOqMuETbs6QyusBQEiKmJww3J90HwcMTm4Pd60jQY3k_CkIQUZplp0nyNYhw7eihWj1h4A-tGbQvhmZRcK4fqxUCACgv0sJzNcbHuxJFWhwi8Azlx1Bt_DRQO-G3XCi6bioH/s1600/DAY+THREE+v1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>More facets are polished. Isn't it scary to see such a valuable diamond in such position?! Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxnt7zSOQH0NLQI70f7MVDa5gq3UNHGC-3oMsFV-W7_TzpChJmug-2fBt0XF8d7lm0K-2cA5Ducj-r2mnCB52wBVmpY9eTgkFaNBVnuezTbc5_6EeMFWkx8oIFPttiMl1KMtlXn5U7kIA/s1600/DAY+THREE+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxnt7zSOQH0NLQI70f7MVDa5gq3UNHGC-3oMsFV-W7_TzpChJmug-2fBt0XF8d7lm0K-2cA5Ducj-r2mnCB52wBVmpY9eTgkFaNBVnuezTbc5_6EeMFWkx8oIFPttiMl1KMtlXn5U7kIA/s1600/DAY+THREE+v2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Some of the front facets are polished, while the back of the Blue Moon is still rough. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-2Jf8r1xAULgyFs9JNe0zGkfau511TJujKY4-Ynzj82i5N77yR95g5qEgR8uaKiPNmvNQIQ_6FNkteEhbeb-CkiFybi5GIye0L3cFbNWZFQrLYGiN7awZV2hIOfMB_nV4O8pvd5f0aQo/s1600/IMAG1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-2Jf8r1xAULgyFs9JNe0zGkfau511TJujKY4-Ynzj82i5N77yR95g5qEgR8uaKiPNmvNQIQ_6FNkteEhbeb-CkiFybi5GIye0L3cFbNWZFQrLYGiN7awZV2hIOfMB_nV4O8pvd5f0aQo/s1600/IMAG1115.jpg" height="640" width="362" /></a></div>
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<i>The Blue Moon diamond on the cutting wheel. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS_QPc1fwcCBKUXi0eIjOJ05wlVUBM2snhYWKEbI6CfXmKr1sZUT1qO_SzNxGn7b37C3hQ5DCSYyai3QCFnl2igCKKpytY2USkL1s6UWlX5ple2pkX5CTnlUj5JVwX-3ZXBqnNhZ3srrT/s1600/IMAG1129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS_QPc1fwcCBKUXi0eIjOJ05wlVUBM2snhYWKEbI6CfXmKr1sZUT1qO_SzNxGn7b37C3hQ5DCSYyai3QCFnl2igCKKpytY2USkL1s6UWlX5ple2pkX5CTnlUj5JVwX-3ZXBqnNhZ3srrT/s1600/IMAG1129.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Almost there! But still a few more facets to be cut on the back of the stone. Copyright: Cora International.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04l6Mj_gk0wg1dK7ptmbI7bo8URNiX3KWfyhXyYDbJZGkLmKqfKtSRYfmd1rDQo-NYjk-4usPzIhsvC12qIpMxL8FLZIzsy_7qfYfpkQUA0_BAzq5Rlxibh4xXfZvnMoMiLzDiNiVeDsR/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04l6Mj_gk0wg1dK7ptmbI7bo8URNiX3KWfyhXyYDbJZGkLmKqfKtSRYfmd1rDQo-NYjk-4usPzIhsvC12qIpMxL8FLZIzsy_7qfYfpkQUA0_BAzq5Rlxibh4xXfZvnMoMiLzDiNiVeDsR/s1600/image.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<i>On this shot, we already can see the finished shape of the stone. It begins to look like a little brother of the Hope diamond!</i></div>
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The Blue Moon Diamond will be on display in the Gem Vault of the NHM from September 13, 2014 until January 6, 2015, next to the Butterfly of Peace diamond collection. It will most likely be the ONLY public appearance of this diamond, so rush in! Especially that you can see this special reunion of exceptional diamonds with a regular NHM admission.</div>
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On view at:</div>
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<a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/" target="_blank">Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County</a></div>
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900, Exposition Bvd</div>
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Los Angeles, CA 90007</div>
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(213)-763-3466</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-53667992621840757722014-07-08T16:00:00.002-07:002014-07-15T13:08:32.953-07:00Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Gem & Mineral Show 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGqCUmRPLVM1n1NJzr9KJQf1Gs0Vd-yZuNavM9v1-e3AmAeNM4jZJKRaQxz6xk-63eZsfFT4w_hiDfL1ptN-ylVfaodEt2ydNkGNRHnm7UscXafv5cFmLUYRP2cSnUmvuxSavN0xVVQGl/s1600/DSC03571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGqCUmRPLVM1n1NJzr9KJQf1Gs0Vd-yZuNavM9v1-e3AmAeNM4jZJKRaQxz6xk-63eZsfFT4w_hiDfL1ptN-ylVfaodEt2ydNkGNRHnm7UscXafv5cFmLUYRP2cSnUmvuxSavN0xVVQGl/s1600/DSC03571.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Poster and specimen advertising the 2014 Sainte-Marie show. Cuprite on atacamite from Bisbee, Arizona, USA (Graeme family collection).</div>
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This year, I was again invited by the organizers to participate in the world-wide renowned Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Gem & Mineral Show, open to the public June 26-29, 2014. Sainte-Marie is located in the department of the Haut-Rhin, in the picturesque Vosges Mountains, north-east region of France. The Sainte-Marie show is the mineral show with the best atmosphere (in my opinion): the people, the place, the food and the drinks make it extremely convivial and welcoming, even for non-French speakers. The entire town is turned inside out to welcome its visitors. The local librarian will even be pouring you wine at the town party!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgrFrabdoDYp14dZGJxNvPgj85E3M82iY51QhYZOeKOcQC8Y-TG0ZSMUMvD-pOWRkwY9wzo9qZx4LYeGTO5d0vYccyKnrqe2UvR1cqCYcqT-0r3VZNN2jFHOZUuulrC4MS1i4W-aUSxw9/s1600/DSC03795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgrFrabdoDYp14dZGJxNvPgj85E3M82iY51QhYZOeKOcQC8Y-TG0ZSMUMvD-pOWRkwY9wzo9qZx4LYeGTO5d0vYccyKnrqe2UvR1cqCYcqT-0r3VZNN2jFHOZUuulrC4MS1i4W-aUSxw9/s1600/DSC03795.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This year, I have to admit that I didn't have much time to tour around to look at rocks. Busy schedule: four lectures to give and some filming for "What's Hot in Sainte-Marie". I mostly focused on the special "Prestige" exhibit on Copper, on my first day at the show, before it was open to the public.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynbEhmqmLWSK-eeG8mFB8jEQEyU-7BqOziAZIcnjJ-RBgGQEEZ-bCihNmAVU6zsKIVCSILXcYWg_2bQn6vKHiUPwk4qtNAmZ2O7FaTgxel7U0oBf-lr2GLwsoty-bD1V8WhqqYAu4-OFC/s1600/Bryan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynbEhmqmLWSK-eeG8mFB8jEQEyU-7BqOziAZIcnjJ-RBgGQEEZ-bCihNmAVU6zsKIVCSILXcYWg_2bQn6vKHiUPwk4qtNAmZ2O7FaTgxel7U0oBf-lr2GLwsoty-bD1V8WhqqYAu4-OFC/s1600/Bryan5.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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About to enter a silver mine in Tellure, for "What's Hot in Sainte-Marie". Photo credit: Bryan Swoboda.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo6BOScmsaIjH6xKeCGTKdsP6cZ2rpsiyZzB9LQmUBocZqK4D5OGoZMUn5Ax6ReNfkuFWSPB0dTeKXP0hOSCI2Ln968pvMs6v5dv5p0_LRtJBcEYcGYk7qamBx3g01mD0bbOoFmGUlm-0/s1600/DSC_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo6BOScmsaIjH6xKeCGTKdsP6cZ2rpsiyZzB9LQmUBocZqK4D5OGoZMUn5Ax6ReNfkuFWSPB0dTeKXP0hOSCI2Ln968pvMs6v5dv5p0_LRtJBcEYcGYk7qamBx3g01mD0bbOoFmGUlm-0/s1600/DSC_2793.JPG" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
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I am here giving a lecture on "Diamond and its extraordinary genesis", during the Sainte-Marie show. Photo credit: Alan Hart.</div>
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"Expo Prestige": Copper Exhibit</h2>
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In a dedicated room, the Copper Exhibit presented hundreds of copper-bearing minerals, on loan from museums and private collectors. Most museums displaying are European (MNHN in Paris, Natur Musée in Luxembourg, Musée des Confluences in Lyon, Mines ParisTech, to cite a few); but for the first time this year, the Mineralogical and Geological Museum of Harvard University was also represented. Let's not forget to mention some private collectors, such as the Graeme family, who had their cuprite being the star of the show (see the first picture of the blog) and also Alain Martaud (who was in charge of selecting the minerals for the exhibit), Gilles Emringer and Valère Berlage.</div>
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The "Prestige" copper exhibit: photo taken during the installation.</div>
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Copper exhibit: photo taken on the opening day.</div>
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Below is only a small selection of the minerals displayed. They are more on this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.650738758341774.1073741846.259716944110626&type=1" target="_blank">Facebook page (click here)</a>, even if again, it's only showing my personal favorites! I was extremely impressed by all these French copper minerals reunited, especially the ones coming from Chessy-les-Mines (Rhône). They are not specimens that American collectors see very often, or that I've seen in such quantity and quality... and most likely, it's the first time that such an exquisite selection has been put together. So... Enjoy!</div>
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Copper-bearing minerals from Chessy-les-Mines (Rhône, France)</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4qzr1k_E3FdS-_SHdOX-CLt6CBpLxpT898qQGy92NLzyqKNiLkaCs-hY5NX8B4TOywc8lgS-73DAtoYnhJKD1uLFy6j9vml_fV7Tv7Yr1BBHt0l72HPCx48E8UpIcJnjyj7DfYgZcGDU/s1600/DSC03607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4qzr1k_E3FdS-_SHdOX-CLt6CBpLxpT898qQGy92NLzyqKNiLkaCs-hY5NX8B4TOywc8lgS-73DAtoYnhJKD1uLFy6j9vml_fV7Tv7Yr1BBHt0l72HPCx48E8UpIcJnjyj7DfYgZcGDU/s1600/DSC03607.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lovely suite of azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6zGLmz6GFcNK5bX_h5UuymaI37LVVognJuoAJd3uv74e0jk1A7QR6Tmnup4TMmNbgcySgM2CV8o0YA7HTMikF2REn-K03l6XJxO6tnsuW6R7Enyzameo_Cf_bY0YDkuUxWqKORvQPZB6/s1600/DSC03630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6zGLmz6GFcNK5bX_h5UuymaI37LVVognJuoAJd3uv74e0jk1A7QR6Tmnup4TMmNbgcySgM2CV8o0YA7HTMikF2REn-K03l6XJxO6tnsuW6R7Enyzameo_Cf_bY0YDkuUxWqKORvQPZB6/s1600/DSC03630.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Malachite after cuprite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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Another suite of malachite after cuprite showing different morphologies, from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Zoom on a malachite after cuprite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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Malachite after cuprite in an ancient box, from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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Malachite after cuprite on azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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Malachite after cuprite on azurite. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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Malachite on azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Azurite and malachite half nodules, from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. MNHN collection.</div>
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Azurite and malachite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Great association of large azurite crystals with malachite and baryte, from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Loving the old label! Azurite and malachite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. J.-F. Lanoe collection.</div>
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Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. MNHN collection.</div>
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Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France, featured in Lacroix's book. MNHN collection.</div>
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One of my favorites! Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFimC9JcslKBmN-9U1c1OEHB_zAqRUVMdc__gLFOAqaduFHRo2AdU02jaeQk-GmnRhHNiSVSd3dGoZquE3XlBwCPLDDHn3b2udkp7rvW7FxWakB7VmvhbOnRVrpZUeeiG8eygRf-DVc98/s1600/DSC03605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFimC9JcslKBmN-9U1c1OEHB_zAqRUVMdc__gLFOAqaduFHRo2AdU02jaeQk-GmnRhHNiSVSd3dGoZquE3XlBwCPLDDHn3b2udkp7rvW7FxWakB7VmvhbOnRVrpZUeeiG8eygRf-DVc98/s1600/DSC03605.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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Stalactite of malachite coated with azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. MNHN collection.</div>
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Stalactite of azurite on azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QA0ON7LYc4K3KbuYTkypn8vrZLrxiWgGWFtQaMWpbofOBEJ_hdUvqGafa2p_UlVn8yj28IVYNORKETVzpeLneB400M1NNCg6fgsW7vHDMzEYihT7_ztndZZPldI5Xce-ZOgqLphAvafw/s1600/DSC03629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QA0ON7LYc4K3KbuYTkypn8vrZLrxiWgGWFtQaMWpbofOBEJ_hdUvqGafa2p_UlVn8yj28IVYNORKETVzpeLneB400M1NNCg6fgsW7vHDMzEYihT7_ztndZZPldI5Xce-ZOgqLphAvafw/s1600/DSC03629.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, France. Musée des Confluences collection.</div>
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Copper-bearing minerals from other localities in France</h3>
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If Chessy-les-mines is the main French locality for amazing copper minerals, let's not forget some others.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSL9ENnpVAHn13uHs_Nrkcct_JcI3-LIYBrlTJoTBREJMGEg1-1CG45jCsD_1RdDvmeC84_NvrDYuvekMa66IOMSigRq3wL8xbFwUbVHxLe7D9cCF_K92LJGdESjmK93fP3HOZsVif28b/s1600/DSC03695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSL9ENnpVAHn13uHs_Nrkcct_JcI3-LIYBrlTJoTBREJMGEg1-1CG45jCsD_1RdDvmeC84_NvrDYuvekMa66IOMSigRq3wL8xbFwUbVHxLe7D9cCF_K92LJGdESjmK93fP3HOZsVif28b/s1600/DSC03695.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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First, let's not forget the copper minerals from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines! This is a chalcopyrite from Sainte-Marie, Haut-Rhin, France. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohS7DiGogb4kRB2qyoDV9Q9qJ-m5Imk2Pp9EYW2wKis_brfyAh2C7xBZc4D4ggp_BctFwsgg4-r2WjHH4r3hFy674mkdHW7pgWV2hubJbJ2q6hTZIUWExloabw1Fnz-xajhlDA-ejuGS6/s1600/DSC03697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohS7DiGogb4kRB2qyoDV9Q9qJ-m5Imk2Pp9EYW2wKis_brfyAh2C7xBZc4D4ggp_BctFwsgg4-r2WjHH4r3hFy674mkdHW7pgWV2hubJbJ2q6hTZIUWExloabw1Fnz-xajhlDA-ejuGS6/s1600/DSC03697.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another chalcopyrite from Sainte-Marie, Haut-Rhin, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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This malachite on quartz comes from Bouch-Peyrol, in Aveyron, France. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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Chalcopyrite from Cuzac, Lot, France. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT79svvzrOJu7cnOM_aL5QZXofWjIfeAJik_7LY_6ojFv71Qn26AG9UJGTkAmwMMj-mV025KUu2P5dDV1DgjRgMFfGoE0q3up4wxFMo4hj4z-q9T55Sgn-qrU2HfEHTm4N5g-dV0qQ3pa/s1600/DSC03640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT79svvzrOJu7cnOM_aL5QZXofWjIfeAJik_7LY_6ojFv71Qn26AG9UJGTkAmwMMj-mV025KUu2P5dDV1DgjRgMFfGoE0q3up4wxFMo4hj4z-q9T55Sgn-qrU2HfEHTm4N5g-dV0qQ3pa/s1600/DSC03640.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Azurite and malachite on sandstone from Gaillot, Lot, France. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7S940614WFhzrlsgjknBoD6lpPbiDMOi7m7Gmslwib3THIgMcgfJx29sXRJHpHpqFhXFzCeVjADepU7fSe_1JWzQZCceMdqBonGKa-J2c5kvskEpdw8f11S4Wkh5G7zfjDcYRNdmBTvK/s1600/DSC03641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7S940614WFhzrlsgjknBoD6lpPbiDMOi7m7Gmslwib3THIgMcgfJx29sXRJHpHpqFhXFzCeVjADepU7fSe_1JWzQZCceMdqBonGKa-J2c5kvskEpdw8f11S4Wkh5G7zfjDcYRNdmBTvK/s1600/DSC03641.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quartz, malachite and chalcopyrite from La Gardette, Isère, France. G. Emringer collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpspLMSxN38vbl9oqgpHWXMqqFWd-OWf-1WurE-68lO9kje6CnZdOHdh5KZ-zSTjqsThu3Pw_cclZ0kMx1YFnrk9DpLbrekFzWCAL-OpwhaQMy-63JMjC4EPb64UKtkEXZBiyUX2dvNmd/s1600/DSC03648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpspLMSxN38vbl9oqgpHWXMqqFWd-OWf-1WurE-68lO9kje6CnZdOHdh5KZ-zSTjqsThu3Pw_cclZ0kMx1YFnrk9DpLbrekFzWCAL-OpwhaQMy-63JMjC4EPb64UKtkEXZBiyUX2dvNmd/s1600/DSC03648.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tetraedrite from La Mure, Isère, France. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHnI32a9c6IAisL8yrpp4Ocaq2usUeNIyn65jcBGok0uFTX3J4vPU24wLt8E2emSqnTW10x7axWhBzz_KIPpWDkb8CUVaqCc2vjm5eVRy1rGW9wMChMhvvXCqBC5czwdw9NTaJPiw5Ajy/s1600/DSC03652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHnI32a9c6IAisL8yrpp4Ocaq2usUeNIyn65jcBGok0uFTX3J4vPU24wLt8E2emSqnTW10x7axWhBzz_KIPpWDkb8CUVaqCc2vjm5eVRy1rGW9wMChMhvvXCqBC5czwdw9NTaJPiw5Ajy/s1600/DSC03652.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Tetraedrite from Oisans, Isère, France. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhSlrMHUN65yP6TMbj71kCRnL4SvxITFMzqTEz-dS7eOQYEj1XSecYIqpvbe2sca3R3uB5UcXQtipYEf2c5E46NaeqO6-jxO7bobXuhhHXZpN0Zw4FjkRENOrktURzoGbnoh0YvrZYFb2/s1600/DSC03650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhSlrMHUN65yP6TMbj71kCRnL4SvxITFMzqTEz-dS7eOQYEj1XSecYIqpvbe2sca3R3uB5UcXQtipYEf2c5E46NaeqO6-jxO7bobXuhhHXZpN0Zw4FjkRENOrktURzoGbnoh0YvrZYFb2/s1600/DSC03650.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Chalcopyrite from Laguepie, Tarn-et-Garonne, France. A. Martaud collection.</div>
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Copper-bearing minerals: worldwide</h3>
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Let's not be too chauvinistic and let's take a tour around the world to discover some fabulous copper minerals! My dioptase pictures were pretty bad, so I will be only sharing one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSrq1_axY7-VGh9t1_KF8V4bF720saAZaIFqVTKi8Qw5wEXHeeRAeT8iPRvf-CfWCNNdVTUCXb5m7ZHEq8F9u4CS-5DxCsMIohIHwkjitKqdSQgvHI0VfJ1mqmxPCiHAmMouCcYJNDt-N/s1600/DSC03655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSrq1_axY7-VGh9t1_KF8V4bF720saAZaIFqVTKi8Qw5wEXHeeRAeT8iPRvf-CfWCNNdVTUCXb5m7ZHEq8F9u4CS-5DxCsMIohIHwkjitKqdSQgvHI0VfJ1mqmxPCiHAmMouCcYJNDt-N/s1600/DSC03655.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Azurite and malachite from Kerouchen, Morocco. P. Morelon collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCbyUjKiXwMJUkbCtrJvzB7c2M4ZkjgzJDVZt1TX9VUtR5At_K0cGe5UAuQVz4x81LtOn6osdDskISl10PgikhU4LWHRZuxLYobvL_y42qH_wiAGrJc73dPtm0_-mHFw8EyOXI5rupbue/s1600/DSC03667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCbyUjKiXwMJUkbCtrJvzB7c2M4ZkjgzJDVZt1TX9VUtR5At_K0cGe5UAuQVz4x81LtOn6osdDskISl10PgikhU4LWHRZuxLYobvL_y42qH_wiAGrJc73dPtm0_-mHFw8EyOXI5rupbue/s1600/DSC03667.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Azurite and malachite from Bouskour, Morocco. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8jOFL3e6s2xS3hKeXrYDh-DTsHIyG3ADyO4U1cB-Gf_qxcjKTz5ZAh1_w6AzWt9JlFtkjCPdVlKnwagpZPJkQ9u6ZaWDJizAwzGGhKMGwVAMSmkzkr1MbU2__Fqfa7lWd87lvOX8vGxT/s1600/DSC03738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8jOFL3e6s2xS3hKeXrYDh-DTsHIyG3ADyO4U1cB-Gf_qxcjKTz5ZAh1_w6AzWt9JlFtkjCPdVlKnwagpZPJkQ9u6ZaWDJizAwzGGhKMGwVAMSmkzkr1MbU2__Fqfa7lWd87lvOX8vGxT/s1600/DSC03738.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Malachite and azurite from Touissit, Morocco. P. Morelon collection.</div>
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Azurite crystals from Kerouchen, Morocco. P. Morelon collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cHYtsEa1DpqGeJ06hZPC2XsaPpSCS9NGzCdCEWplnHRdnPx91oRhLgaYHrRn73nR1CztSeKgPeTEgh32gaX3v4WGIPKgVHcd-UrfnXUxxZOBLjBvK0PspD23il0AnYxwTG3XI8ZEhNgw/s1600/DSC03664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cHYtsEa1DpqGeJ06hZPC2XsaPpSCS9NGzCdCEWplnHRdnPx91oRhLgaYHrRn73nR1CztSeKgPeTEgh32gaX3v4WGIPKgVHcd-UrfnXUxxZOBLjBvK0PspD23il0AnYxwTG3XI8ZEhNgw/s1600/DSC03664.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Tetraedrite from Mouzaia, Algeria. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwHeYlqLxqUzFHkCAzdCb9zLyC8bffdlWEt9Dr71hGgmclbigtiO4Wbb5Z78QbSyLBmfCgleyzgHXU8H_1jwQ4m_W1W7Fqfv0Yah8k2-WM9jB8P1ulO9JDshX2MMqJEkhsA0afghVtetm/s1600/DSC03658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwHeYlqLxqUzFHkCAzdCb9zLyC8bffdlWEt9Dr71hGgmclbigtiO4Wbb5Z78QbSyLBmfCgleyzgHXU8H_1jwQ4m_W1W7Fqfv0Yah8k2-WM9jB8P1ulO9JDshX2MMqJEkhsA0afghVtetm/s1600/DSC03658.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Large crystal of azurite with malachite pseudomorph from Tsumeb, Namibia. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWmwgkeoyOjP9xBBARbkbcFE8QckFLMhrktOJklq0VECDA-mePuvCA_Y4cyYFWWlrk-P4OqqIX5rFzeUAAZas9zIES8yTNVtO7CqvVz-vQZCoo1OAkCHHJ5xFqUlE41g3mS80koAPLJH4/s1600/DSC03662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWmwgkeoyOjP9xBBARbkbcFE8QckFLMhrktOJklq0VECDA-mePuvCA_Y4cyYFWWlrk-P4OqqIX5rFzeUAAZas9zIES8yTNVtO7CqvVz-vQZCoo1OAkCHHJ5xFqUlE41g3mS80koAPLJH4/s1600/DSC03662.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another large crystal of malachite completely pseudomorphed into malachite, from Tsumeb, Namibia. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9neOgi4946FxckLzu0RaQI_hyruy70Ndk55fr1Upq8l3yvuTNcIN0RLIzQP7buWBRjs9akXplRrPIn4tx2ipDwDiulilCmi9FEnOOG4A9IKeM9SkRCI9VzSibbKfwKZREQZBcDje9lMGQ/s1600/DSC03740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9neOgi4946FxckLzu0RaQI_hyruy70Ndk55fr1Upq8l3yvuTNcIN0RLIzQP7buWBRjs9akXplRrPIn4tx2ipDwDiulilCmi9FEnOOG4A9IKeM9SkRCI9VzSibbKfwKZREQZBcDje9lMGQ/s1600/DSC03740.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Native copper from Tsumeb, Namibia. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix70cHBq01p8Ji-7SOWeGwC0yNxKHvRcIloXNOgK5g9PtSAhIqV77fV5XG9ownJIJs3iwTC42sawCRO4NLmRjYqzGeeUKILLp_1AcMCPDULSjXlw72VE0Cra-PGoj4SiqkN5At6WA0uJ-k/s1600/DSC03744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix70cHBq01p8Ji-7SOWeGwC0yNxKHvRcIloXNOgK5g9PtSAhIqV77fV5XG9ownJIJs3iwTC42sawCRO4NLmRjYqzGeeUKILLp_1AcMCPDULSjXlw72VE0Cra-PGoj4SiqkN5At6WA0uJ-k/s1600/DSC03744.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cuprite pseudomorphed into malachite from Onganja, Namibia, with its crystallographic wood model. Natur Musée collection. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_sfdvmLPIcxlKSJaA_LYDiNCzXusKfwn5HYR1IkUsMB-qOqcXrdKen8V_jPmHrh-AmiZbnbgPOb-W8w3e6k7vbEqeas5k21chRc_MxK6VIj-bAWJhR_UVoYZfKvaitNBX1CZLvgpH4dW/s1600/DSC03674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_sfdvmLPIcxlKSJaA_LYDiNCzXusKfwn5HYR1IkUsMB-qOqcXrdKen8V_jPmHrh-AmiZbnbgPOb-W8w3e6k7vbEqeas5k21chRc_MxK6VIj-bAWJhR_UVoYZfKvaitNBX1CZLvgpH4dW/s1600/DSC03674.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Azurite with chalcoalumite from Lyon County, Nevada, USA. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9WqBBM2lhdgs6sHKPhic5dIEpeFA3ImlGR3Hf04J5cZdpUWLZy2TzuSMXjfZpW81COl2XmWin5pUV1w6xxvfDzdifdfQS4nufVYE4GNopJC1qXHJK-Byv9vpEzTlBd_KuXCti96rE7xJ/s1600/DSC03675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9WqBBM2lhdgs6sHKPhic5dIEpeFA3ImlGR3Hf04J5cZdpUWLZy2TzuSMXjfZpW81COl2XmWin5pUV1w6xxvfDzdifdfQS4nufVYE4GNopJC1qXHJK-Byv9vpEzTlBd_KuXCti96rE7xJ/s1600/DSC03675.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Native copper from Houghton County, Michigan, USA. Harvard collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpCwOaeVlUP85IUEnjJLz2LFgSA-bXNqkrKBQFTIguGLtywXR3A5ctgpnGnYPAZlpbFjvf27xTYTo2_EKto80oqD3Oi7ejqOYVMOaqkhHFt3TiA5YzQA12RnowNW30dYUntugaQxvvrco/s1600/DSC03677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpCwOaeVlUP85IUEnjJLz2LFgSA-bXNqkrKBQFTIguGLtywXR3A5ctgpnGnYPAZlpbFjvf27xTYTo2_EKto80oqD3Oi7ejqOYVMOaqkhHFt3TiA5YzQA12RnowNW30dYUntugaQxvvrco/s1600/DSC03677.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Azurite and malachite from Bisbee, Arizona, USA. Harvard collection.</div>
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That slice is super fun, geologically speaking. It's a breccia made of azurite cement! It comes from Morenci, Arizona, USA. Museum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) collection.</div>
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Chalcopyrite from Matamoros, Durango, Mexico. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xMAaiEX76WIySMsZ14h0wuZbwXcjb3txAKdS5XJEM97UMwg1DDfezU6waTWFcspSjbC4ZOxQV4dPGsPLqS0k1DbJHgBk97Dd68J1GRLAA6qpqIl0NUNmyDdEvV19NlmEth3-avUATsZV/s1600/DSC03720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xMAaiEX76WIySMsZ14h0wuZbwXcjb3txAKdS5XJEM97UMwg1DDfezU6waTWFcspSjbC4ZOxQV4dPGsPLqS0k1DbJHgBk97Dd68J1GRLAA6qpqIl0NUNmyDdEvV19NlmEth3-avUATsZV/s1600/DSC03720.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Clinoclase from Cornwall, England, still mounted on its early 19th century base and hand written by Henry Just Haüy. MNHN collection.</div>
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Quartz on chalcopyrite from Redruth, Cornwall, England. Mines ParisTech collection.</div>
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Tetraedrite from Herodsfoot, Cornwall, England. MNHN collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv60tgDAx1sjzIr3Q2SYN8TUUZDpHbu-1cUXbJHuw2JknMcGovbptfbcRV3cwLGUkOYL3ihID4FIWj5WJl0l6icmijbu4neGoPzjD6B9pAdOsHRb_BhSDcrUZMjsgCFk0WK2VRajRetU_/s1600/DSC03730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv60tgDAx1sjzIr3Q2SYN8TUUZDpHbu-1cUXbJHuw2JknMcGovbptfbcRV3cwLGUkOYL3ihID4FIWj5WJl0l6icmijbu4neGoPzjD6B9pAdOsHRb_BhSDcrUZMjsgCFk0WK2VRajRetU_/s1600/DSC03730.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cuprite from Rheinbreitbach, Westerwald, Germany. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Pseudomalachite and libethenite from Nijne Tagilsk, Ural Mountains, Russia.</div>
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Native copper from Kolwezi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Large specimen of malachite from Mashamba West, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Native gold on malachite and digenite from Musonoi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5jjbRKJIAkrInE7qOBGZhFjlQ6IaTo8VsSVIEJM9frojBzD29rIi-1kXHgM4UjEHrUvEHGCfqHjeJsuxh0eEwKY0EbsYtF1SVaO24at4otJ0n6iF7RzKQq7it_7AKgehozaB0-6NJOHD/s1600/DSC03742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5jjbRKJIAkrInE7qOBGZhFjlQ6IaTo8VsSVIEJM9frojBzD29rIi-1kXHgM4UjEHrUvEHGCfqHjeJsuxh0eEwKY0EbsYtF1SVaO24at4otJ0n6iF7RzKQq7it_7AKgehozaB0-6NJOHD/s1600/DSC03742.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Malachite and chrysocolla from the Etoile mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Quartz on shattuckite from Tantara mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. V. Berlage collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEqfFJlo3DI2LvuqyWl6c157zSx0wU5SYAQT9B0mcTiX_QmzdV51bLjIWjpB5riNi-eFUSOczVIp6ETDYms88bBbVuxc16yJRQdfunr7iyDGsoc3_JP5kxyxqyT2TnWNa08e8OsI6DDsG/s1600/DSC03762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEqfFJlo3DI2LvuqyWl6c157zSx0wU5SYAQT9B0mcTiX_QmzdV51bLjIWjpB5riNi-eFUSOczVIp6ETDYms88bBbVuxc16yJRQdfunr7iyDGsoc3_JP5kxyxqyT2TnWNa08e8OsI6DDsG/s1600/DSC03762.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dioptase from Tantara mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. This photo doesn't give it justice, sorry! Natur Musée collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ68MCs8PSDGbgXMBl-43TvLjPpXmExflPGssaXALplPpMYtDUNLvi6U87b0vqlwd1O4SQWTUy3SAVlcqLS2RgAgoSagg34OiOyRPX4kAzk25Q5KNbMt_CRwiUIPQTgjQZYwTn6a36dn5/s1600/DSC03764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ68MCs8PSDGbgXMBl-43TvLjPpXmExflPGssaXALplPpMYtDUNLvi6U87b0vqlwd1O4SQWTUy3SAVlcqLS2RgAgoSagg34OiOyRPX4kAzk25Q5KNbMt_CRwiUIPQTgjQZYwTn6a36dn5/s1600/DSC03764.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cornetite from Etoile mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection. </div>
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Malachite on bright pink cobaltocalcite from Musonoi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Cuprite from Mashamba West, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natur Musée collection.</div>
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Shattuckite from Tantara Mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. V. Berlage collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_82mVXqU02lIh7PDLoyrCKF0DcHh0ml-14zZ2rVWQL-zXNC5G_MUWU1YjoUB3qml9946PyVgyfDYg14HYY5J83dk2nHe19scamiOVvgj0x5feMqWJeAPy84ZLyGoovXL86JOPpUXEwAGO/s1600/DSC03569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_82mVXqU02lIh7PDLoyrCKF0DcHh0ml-14zZ2rVWQL-zXNC5G_MUWU1YjoUB3qml9946PyVgyfDYg14HYY5J83dk2nHe19scamiOVvgj0x5feMqWJeAPy84ZLyGoovXL86JOPpUXEwAGO/s1600/DSC03569.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And to close the exhibit: Bryan Swoboda (left), Raquel Alonso-Perez and Alain Martaud.</div>
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Around the show</h2>
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Let's walk around the show, see the setting, the people, and the great party thrown by the show organizers for all the dealers and special guests. Another great time in Sainte-Marie, even with rain on Saturday morning and Sunday. </div>
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Upon my arrival, on the evening of Tuesday 24, June, I met up with some friends and colleagues, reunited around a drink to watch the Italian playing football against Uruguay (I mean, proper football, not American football). Even some Americans joined! The Sainte-Marie show was happening at the same time as the second week of the world cup, the teams were playing their qualifying game for the round of 16.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U7zX6J-PEcBb4VnmvXK0IrQS7FIfADJwxepFxRIT6Ky8n2Ywm3DbBBfOzXa9GqiYr1vYQcJM63fmNqAYk9_hxXLkcFrjHxyLHhSDwOtlRg-5g-HPaUXtPKFueCS0bEr3h2zkNFQWtwtD/s1600/20140624_183812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U7zX6J-PEcBb4VnmvXK0IrQS7FIfADJwxepFxRIT6Ky8n2Ywm3DbBBfOzXa9GqiYr1vYQcJM63fmNqAYk9_hxXLkcFrjHxyLHhSDwOtlRg-5g-HPaUXtPKFueCS0bEr3h2zkNFQWtwtD/s1600/20140624_183812.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our American friends drinking beer and eating foie gras (yes... really?!).</div>
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Italians and Frenchies watching the game. Let's not remind our Italian friends what the score was. Notice the empty plates... of foie gras.</div>
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First night at the show in good company! Wanted again to thank our friends from the MNHN to have gathered a few of us together for this great night.</div>
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I got the chance to take a few pictures before the show opened to the public, on Wednesday 25, June. The weather was gorgeous, which was a good thing when carrying rocks around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph8qsWQ1TdhVX1YUa9m3udUgCTkaw8amFRDgoaTlL2tiAimpNzbyJFsgX68Do1ckFcitfnVRbrhMNR8Nbh0f-57Ya5x5lNKe5G-gyHIIGWeRWIt8KF5OiXU4RPj8Ynak1YsVEqW5fCTn2/s1600/DSC03774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph8qsWQ1TdhVX1YUa9m3udUgCTkaw8amFRDgoaTlL2tiAimpNzbyJFsgX68Do1ckFcitfnVRbrhMNR8Nbh0f-57Ya5x5lNKe5G-gyHIIGWeRWIt8KF5OiXU4RPj8Ynak1YsVEqW5fCTn2/s1600/DSC03774.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Set up time at the Mineral Show.</div>
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Almost ready. In the background, the theater at the Mineral Show.</div>
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Mineral Show, ongoing.</div>
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On the opening day, Friday June 26th, the crowd was present and queuing for tickets and to enter the show. Another successful year for the Sainte-Marie show!</div>
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As I was mentioning earlier, I didn't get many pictures of minerals during the show. From what I saw, the mineral that got people talking was the new find of plumbogummite, sometimes associated with pyromorphite, from China (Yangshuo Mine, Yangshuo County, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang). Some specimens were really aesthetic. Renée Daulon and Jordi Fabre had some, but the most spectacular one was Christophe Gobin's, combining the blue-green color of plumbogummite with the intense yellow of the pyromorphite. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures!<br />
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I got a few pics of some other fun minerals, mostly from dealers set up in the theater:<br />
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Overview of the theater.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Jean-Michel </span>Laverrière had some fun beryl crystals from <span style="text-align: start;">Dassu Valley, Baltistan, Pakistan with magnificent inclusions, such as manganotantalite above and schorl below.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtC9F-ZY74r6enFDNA8jDYtpeYrCeBt25g2bPE947xG8gK_CNJ4tFWVaV678VqAp7xl3Enie2Ta933hb37hxUooVh9iDDk5p9DD9GKnC0R9IIcFOqgS2vcuxtTelZDAAno_6_ce_Sc0J6/s1600/DSC03564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtC9F-ZY74r6enFDNA8jDYtpeYrCeBt25g2bPE947xG8gK_CNJ4tFWVaV678VqAp7xl3Enie2Ta933hb37hxUooVh9iDDk5p9DD9GKnC0R9IIcFOqgS2vcuxtTelZDAAno_6_ce_Sc0J6/s1600/DSC03564.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Crystal Classics, as usual, had some sexy specimens, such as this reticulated cerussite from Nakhlak Mine, Madan-e Nakhlak, Anarak District, Nain County, Esfahan Province, Iran.</div>
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or this triple crystal of tanzanite from Tanzania.</div>
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Also from Crystal Classics, this aesthetic aegirine from Mount Malosa, Zomba District in Malawi.</div>
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This big crystal of sturmanite from N'Chwaning Mines, Kuruman, Kalahari Mountain Fields, N. Cape Province, South Africa, was also seen at Crystal Classics'.</div>
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Something I have rarely seen before was spessartite from Tanzania (Sangulungulu, Loliondo) on matrix. Seen at Cristalli's booth.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We also saw several dealers carrying some gorgeous specimens of tourmaline from Russia (</span>Malkhan, Krasnyi Chikoy, Siberia, Russia)<span style="text-align: start;">, displaying a perfect termination. Pregi Gemme's specimen</span></div>
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CC minerals (France) had some really good pyromorphite from Asprières, Aveyron, in France.</div>
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Going from the Mineral Show to the Gem show does not even take 10 min (walking). And, it's not a bad walk, look at that!<br />
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Unfortunately, couldn't bring back any "saucisson" nor foie gras...</div>
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The Gem show is still developing, with more and more good quality gems, but also some great jewelry. Above there is a man working copper, making bracelets and other jewelry pieces.</div>
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Here, another person was showing the work of a gem cutter.</div>
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While most of the show happens underneath tents, they are few buildings hosting dealers, such as the Salle Prestige at the Gem Show.</div>
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A few fun gems here: some unheated colorful tanzanite crystals (above and below)! They come in all colors, the pink and purple ones being the rarest. Seen at Valerio Zancanella's booth.</div>
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Adolfo De Basilio and Victor Tuzlukov showing off some incredible gems. Victor is a master cutter; he showed us some spectacular cut gems, with hundreds of facets. Including...</div>
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... this gorgeous faceted pearl.</div>
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As you know by now, there is no such thing as a show report without an opal! This one comes from Welo, Ethiopia, and contains some inclusions (manganese oxides?) arranged in a stunning pattern (picture above and below).</div>
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Talking about opals, we got a donation of rare French opals by Hadrien Begon. Thanks again Hadrien!</div>
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A spectacular party was thrown this year again by the organizers: all the dealers and guests were invited to a giant barbecue party, by a lovely summer night, in Sainte-Marie. I don't know how many people attended, but it looked like it was a thousand at least. Again, we had great people serving the food and the drinks, awesome atmosphere, and an entertaining band that made everybody dance throughout the night. What a memorable night!<br />
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A perfect evening for a giant barbecue!</div>
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Time for a drink. But where are the glasses?</div>
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Our table, serious talks going on.</div>
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Everything is better with food.</div>
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Gian Carlo, Alan and Jean-Marc. Happy curators!</div>
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A great selfie! Photo credit: Bryan Swoboda.</div>
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Gian Carlo, Ian and Cathie enjoying a well deserved drink!</div>
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Mr. le Maire, Claude Abel, welcoming everybody.</div>
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Did I mention the drinks yet?</div>
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A curator showing some talents. Bryan S., did you notice that he was playing with your camera?</div>
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"Diamonds are a girl's best friend". </div>
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Fun times!</div>
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And Bryan recording it!</div>
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Great days, fun nights. That's the spirit of Sainte-Marie! Just another picture below with a few friends, at the Auberge des Bagenelles (photo credit: Bryan Swoboda).</div>
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I will finish this post with pictures of those lovely evenings in Sainte-Marie. Again, thanks to the organizers for the invite. And... don't miss the first ever "What's Hot in Sainte-Marie" coming up by the end of the year!<br />
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Bryan Swoboda welcoming Claude Abel to the "What's Hot" family!</div>
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Bergi: mascot of the Sainte-Marie school of Aalberg. </div>
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All photos by E. Gaillou for NHM, unless acknowledged otherwise.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-54711114457894677252014-02-24T17:11:00.001-08:002014-03-03T08:58:33.580-08:00Tucson Gem & Mineral show 2014: Mineral Shows<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you have been to Tucson, you know how difficult it is to get to see all the mineral shows... There are so many of them, widespread all around the town. This year, I've only been to the Westward Look, the Innsuites and to the Main show. Alyssa Morgan got to see the Pueblo show (at the River Park Inn) as well. I got distracted by a 2-day conference on the Geology of Gem Deposits organized by Lee Groat... Great conference, I'm not regretting!<br />
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If we want to summarize the mineral show this year, I would say that the big hit was the azurite from Milpillas, Mexico. I've seen a few in Munich (not on display), but this year, they were just everywhere. It is not a new find, but the miners found a second, bigger (much bigger) pocket compared to the original found.<br />
Shall we begin with the Innsuites? (all photos and copyright by E. Gaillou unless otherwise mentioned).<br />
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The Innsuites mineral show</h3>
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Ahh, the Innsuites. How wonderful it is going from room to room, especially when it's 85F out! Yes, this year, we got lucky, the weather was just perfect, especially the second week of the show.<br />
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By the entrance of the Innsuites: swimming pool and palm trees (Photo by Alyssa Morgan).</div>
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Again, the dinosaurs were here, some walking around the show (Photo by Alyssa Morgan).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaayaq1ILU7EYF6hMVxbHTXqV_JCWkIbI10Ym4zRYQo1fG1FEh2Lzht8L_cIL_tOmWc7hjQgE-VfdjhZCR8BosDv2ofq1v2sNPpA_OAvZO2m_bSRGrBKU2g5iCOjoLD85imAMOMVbwrV-/s1600/DSC02720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaayaq1ILU7EYF6hMVxbHTXqV_JCWkIbI10Ym4zRYQo1fG1FEh2Lzht8L_cIL_tOmWc7hjQgE-VfdjhZCR8BosDv2ofq1v2sNPpA_OAvZO2m_bSRGrBKU2g5iCOjoLD85imAMOMVbwrV-/s1600/DSC02720.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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some flying around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoR038WswQxzJvmgB6SLpcMzbCiyD5x17Ac3hMJA61cpkI7bJzlU6k0F93QsLX47XU8Y5mM8bWDRItIKMcIOXL7yLGVh5mrZpsdPJ6o91ftVk3xM4PeTf-MJuSdFBiE0TYHnSHJgmz5X4/s1600/DSC02719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoR038WswQxzJvmgB6SLpcMzbCiyD5x17Ac3hMJA61cpkI7bJzlU6k0F93QsLX47XU8Y5mM8bWDRItIKMcIOXL7yLGVh5mrZpsdPJ6o91ftVk3xM4PeTf-MJuSdFBiE0TYHnSHJgmz5X4/s1600/DSC02719.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some had their head off</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPu0tCDP3co3o7aP1n7-yjvNLEZ9paehhVYZkNhCXRKLw4xX7ukZnG8Cnh_W2zQQwECdz1rhpJv2c6grZNaZ3DhheCoQvfyi87ATBvpFXb_HH_Gq7mz4YMEboMdyclIdx1c5TpPwyAVGv/s1600/Photo+Feb+15,+10+36+45+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPu0tCDP3co3o7aP1n7-yjvNLEZ9paehhVYZkNhCXRKLw4xX7ukZnG8Cnh_W2zQQwECdz1rhpJv2c6grZNaZ3DhheCoQvfyi87ATBvpFXb_HH_Gq7mz4YMEboMdyclIdx1c5TpPwyAVGv/s1600/Photo+Feb+15,+10+36+45+AM.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Some were really scary (ok, not the one bubbled wrap on the background). Photo by Alyssa Morgan.</div>
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Yes, I know, you are reading this to know what was going on with rocks. Alright. Why don't we begin or tour with Jordi Fabre's room?</div>
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<img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYFBYG5Sx4YEo7ShyphenhyphenU_f2MBYAi5dq4wx6aLjTL17xL5DdPZIc9gFKEaMC19WYDXju7Jnl4icE1f2FIo_zCZPQO0tN09Wp0TaUhqJNFB5-5Rsf3BoiU1-JkVZzb0l_zMygnyN38WSVsK88/s1600/DSC02728.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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This calcite was China was fun because it had some overgrowth of fluorite on its edges (see below pictures).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSp4KdkhAddvQD3upsiSp3O2OT_Du1qL0QduRWmx2OvKbOg7but6rMcV72tRo00zoTj9KGznPtU0vHm9kkoj1obyflDxru17bdm4cspQ5QmPT2iaduqmlgtpXkIpElpCpuyR0PtZ2B-eT/s1600/DSC02725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSp4KdkhAddvQD3upsiSp3O2OT_Du1qL0QduRWmx2OvKbOg7but6rMcV72tRo00zoTj9KGznPtU0vHm9kkoj1obyflDxru17bdm4cspQ5QmPT2iaduqmlgtpXkIpElpCpuyR0PtZ2B-eT/s1600/DSC02725.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFR7wuNV2ISEPqmWbJyeevwsX_KSWSnNHz7XZMEfZMOCTolsb4kEIijgP3uzZ8OPuNSh-iGc6eZxFRSY9M-jaOYg4DxhoVdtpRtpBTuqXZkgSUKiVE-g6fdjetQJz5vN1GE45tlU2IJfQ/s1600/DSC02726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFR7wuNV2ISEPqmWbJyeevwsX_KSWSnNHz7XZMEfZMOCTolsb4kEIijgP3uzZ8OPuNSh-iGc6eZxFRSY9M-jaOYg4DxhoVdtpRtpBTuqXZkgSUKiVE-g6fdjetQJz5vN1GE45tlU2IJfQ/s1600/DSC02726.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I told you about azurite from Milpillas (Sonora, Mexico). The ones that I will show you in this blog have a "little something" that makes the difference.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvZrx3PqFq4eTEDgYWnE6fFLSynEZkTYy7OVDEQ8qn8qM0gT3YvNUYSGyzEKc8ClWLk89lVixkjIyZbxQBQdJaNV6qnzAOZLD21hyphenhyphent50pnY7_803nmLQYmaZD4PHumk2-3aMSSiFitACS/s1600/DSC02732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvZrx3PqFq4eTEDgYWnE6fFLSynEZkTYy7OVDEQ8qn8qM0gT3YvNUYSGyzEKc8ClWLk89lVixkjIyZbxQBQdJaNV6qnzAOZLD21hyphenhyphent50pnY7_803nmLQYmaZD4PHumk2-3aMSSiFitACS/s1600/DSC02732.JPG" height="640" width="572" /></a></div>
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Still in Fabre's room, this azurite with malachite is associated with native copper. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uS86BCDmAK_aoRDOP7dzQGPPBf2QT34r2zDlywQ14A8i5MlwQimtog_KmvqJqExGrNG2ARkjjerx9OWFxI0_gseHj5GAbgoSOEr5MphxIvOqT3mQ23iRfvLPsogJ0wc7bXt0T8jWQjoS/s1600/DSC02735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uS86BCDmAK_aoRDOP7dzQGPPBf2QT34r2zDlywQ14A8i5MlwQimtog_KmvqJqExGrNG2ARkjjerx9OWFxI0_gseHj5GAbgoSOEr5MphxIvOqT3mQ23iRfvLPsogJ0wc7bXt0T8jWQjoS/s1600/DSC02735.JPG" height="640" width="562" /></a></div>
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But wait, on this same piece, the copper is replacing wood! Lovely.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHg71TFCDbIbYuYPoq3KC1DxWIvgs5RUoLVxWUDEflGG-ajzhH6Dg_qkLih-LI5RXgCHilIxnyLt-t0H5_v2NKZcUBryjInzZ5GhioMcmAxDvkrlRbyddSQDoR5RUjdvgfZB_YjwiepoN/s1600/DSC02738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHg71TFCDbIbYuYPoq3KC1DxWIvgs5RUoLVxWUDEflGG-ajzhH6Dg_qkLih-LI5RXgCHilIxnyLt-t0H5_v2NKZcUBryjInzZ5GhioMcmAxDvkrlRbyddSQDoR5RUjdvgfZB_YjwiepoN/s1600/DSC02738.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another Milpillas. This one is all about the color.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVR7Fc8QUQmbPtfeo52qBtOl4QvDNRrciat3WAvojtnzhTl5Ya4lE_e0eBLI7FRvpavlI6BM1_7b0rGxB-Q2YlI4iF2hQcCY6GkiWCu-b3gc3_SLygYwCLbO8Bg_huodImSA6F7YYlRK0/s1600/DSC02737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVR7Fc8QUQmbPtfeo52qBtOl4QvDNRrciat3WAvojtnzhTl5Ya4lE_e0eBLI7FRvpavlI6BM1_7b0rGxB-Q2YlI4iF2hQcCY6GkiWCu-b3gc3_SLygYwCLbO8Bg_huodImSA6F7YYlRK0/s1600/DSC02737.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I swear, I didn't photoshop it. I just got closer to the lower left crystal on the previous picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhDXd63YXyQE5ADyP2_jJt5BD46sxAcjkn12n7nprwKJTgckxV-mv6IgiTlMXwWioOYXfF6tuFxiwb_3oFtBFehxSLEsVwDttDZGVF050OGDT7ViYadtrZmYdDUZI8rln9xJ-B4ffiitD/s1600/DSC02741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhDXd63YXyQE5ADyP2_jJt5BD46sxAcjkn12n7nprwKJTgckxV-mv6IgiTlMXwWioOYXfF6tuFxiwb_3oFtBFehxSLEsVwDttDZGVF050OGDT7ViYadtrZmYdDUZI8rln9xJ-B4ffiitD/s1600/DSC02741.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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These crystals of gersdorffite (nickel arsenic sulfide) are about 2-3 cm across. Impressive 40 cm mineral total (Fabre's specimen). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbRN5TEgarHGJ0Z9prHHPHiV2vHevNN6sSDS46ygG4v-MmqcfiX37P8UJG1ys5JiDkx3Qh63reQwSJeMz_sMgkmNjJ7vN0mD6V90SjoqgMWegKCw4eFwJpdBY1raLtNcXeqBy5Cgua1it/s1600/DSC02743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbRN5TEgarHGJ0Z9prHHPHiV2vHevNN6sSDS46ygG4v-MmqcfiX37P8UJG1ys5JiDkx3Qh63reQwSJeMz_sMgkmNjJ7vN0mD6V90SjoqgMWegKCw4eFwJpdBY1raLtNcXeqBy5Cgua1it/s1600/DSC02743.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, I found a way to show you opals in the mineral section. This opal shown above and below is of the hyalite variety (amorphous opal with a network-like structure, similar to glass; never display play-of-color as the silica spheres making off the opals are too big and disorganized). These kinds of opals grow in a volcanic environment, in hydrothermal condition. This one found comes from Mexico central. What makes it special is its exceptional green fluorescence. And no need for a UV light: there is enough UV from the sun for this opal to show off its fluorescence! The green fluorescence is due to uranyl (UO<sub>2</sub><sup>2+</sup>) in the opal (<a href="http://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=37432#37432" target="_blank">analyses confirming the presence of U in the samples</a>).
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0YWmuFasWEfdi-2JAc8tdZNDD8SY9MAqeV9_fsDEBMfb1FvWHqyTUfjic4A_djSaBU958vwIwU3WHI2MlagDpMM5v-G-4f0MD2KvtAm9wWC2B8hNiXUUYH8mXourWNl2bPBv5S9CNnKo/s1600/DSC02745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0YWmuFasWEfdi-2JAc8tdZNDD8SY9MAqeV9_fsDEBMfb1FvWHqyTUfjic4A_djSaBU958vwIwU3WHI2MlagDpMM5v-G-4f0MD2KvtAm9wWC2B8hNiXUUYH8mXourWNl2bPBv5S9CNnKo/s1600/DSC02745.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxj87uEjaTNMtnmA-1Ziq8gA0RLYogiIrzgxGHaN_R0vFma6EtdmI7Iojtq9B0kCOd21apS30-3MJr0p-DxwAaUmxGpLCxZ1X-WlBtvSWBJxxEA0NVW4GzS-sJlx16haSpZZy3xm-vETt/s1600/DSC02510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxj87uEjaTNMtnmA-1Ziq8gA0RLYogiIrzgxGHaN_R0vFma6EtdmI7Iojtq9B0kCOd21apS30-3MJr0p-DxwAaUmxGpLCxZ1X-WlBtvSWBJxxEA0NVW4GzS-sJlx16haSpZZy3xm-vETt/s1600/DSC02510.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Laurent Thomas of Polychrom France had an amazing arrival of new material from the Democratic Republic of Congo, including dioptase (see picture above), hemimorphite on cerrusite, malachite and azurite. In the picture above, the dioptase crystals are on matrix, most likely two generations of them. The dioptase crystals on the right have inclusions of clay minerals, which give them this unusual color and coating. One of my favorite of the show!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzrfHX6TFWj-urEWqFLtq8jqJ1d_3d18K9xGZqVWy-cAdvQf_lG0uoQhDOerJmBb-IKYzeKqoXIJQQ3AsSmKJTmrgt_i6r4wO4RADmYgcUJE2IXIQWVEaFP5F43SXKl6EE_j2I6RXzJFx/s1600/Photo+Feb+08,+2+59+05+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzrfHX6TFWj-urEWqFLtq8jqJ1d_3d18K9xGZqVWy-cAdvQf_lG0uoQhDOerJmBb-IKYzeKqoXIJQQ3AsSmKJTmrgt_i6r4wO4RADmYgcUJE2IXIQWVEaFP5F43SXKl6EE_j2I6RXzJFx/s1600/Photo+Feb+08,+2+59+05+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Nothing new here, but pyrite from Spain are always fun!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zHD-g_vJN0cmhZZjnaF1xLsQ-keXnwOdsHdOVSnlXU9liUzYlj4CyAYMzBWIuP_sN8Z1R5PyNMPSPOA-VTd6w7s3muDVOqlEyM3Oh4W5s4alKai3J-Yhywuw6UCXj8UzVqr9Xq8tNVNW/s1600/DSC02514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zHD-g_vJN0cmhZZjnaF1xLsQ-keXnwOdsHdOVSnlXU9liUzYlj4CyAYMzBWIuP_sN8Z1R5PyNMPSPOA-VTd6w7s3muDVOqlEyM3Oh4W5s4alKai3J-Yhywuw6UCXj8UzVqr9Xq8tNVNW/s1600/DSC02514.JPG" height="254" width="640" /></a></div>
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Especially this suite of pyrite cubes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_QZlpjMQmkWwlOy9Tk1t2bZYmvDejOHmiDd6n_marEKDuYfgJSaPDDiG63CHfPwfcl_33BSv4nj5ApxGMlqrvClivMZu6Z40c0TlcXo3Uee1nxbGcpA3PECTiVAzKhrDd7Bqxw9KO1x2/s1600/DSC05631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_QZlpjMQmkWwlOy9Tk1t2bZYmvDejOHmiDd6n_marEKDuYfgJSaPDDiG63CHfPwfcl_33BSv4nj5ApxGMlqrvClivMZu6Z40c0TlcXo3Uee1nxbGcpA3PECTiVAzKhrDd7Bqxw9KO1x2/s1600/DSC05631.JPG" height="640" width="612" /></a></div>
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Also seen at the Innsuites various chalcopyrite covering chalcocite from Daye mine, China, sometimes as single piece, sometimes in a coral shape. Specimen: Huanqiu Crystal Mineral Museum specimen, photo by John Veevaert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrDVvkOepRmZ2UvKOrPoG09gpLeUBd868BhbxvxbAdYu_IHnjj50orH1GP-9l65cGmU1ognDWRUjB-ouMAcYt8Up0Obkg9vQ9-Ww-t6NsL8-ga3BXP66EBydsi9py3HXdnR6CG6Ns1uIf/s1600/John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrDVvkOepRmZ2UvKOrPoG09gpLeUBd868BhbxvxbAdYu_IHnjj50orH1GP-9l65cGmU1ognDWRUjB-ouMAcYt8Up0Obkg9vQ9-Ww-t6NsL8-ga3BXP66EBydsi9py3HXdnR6CG6Ns1uIf/s1600/John.jpg" height="640" width="444" /></a></div>
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Talking about John Veevaert, here he is, with some marshalsussmanite. <a href="http://www.mineralshows.com/tucson2014/report1.shtml" target="_blank">Find the full story about marshalsussmanite on John's website</a>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF4z4Io4sDvJRd1TuyBnDO-kc1gNyKTThseD50wxgjYtlkod7ZPgzpF8ZiCIGttQFFs_YUE3ckTwQDy7JiaxgROCCb4jHz4dHjkT_vGVIc8iqES_JLRDpkanbw_F9N-sChLl3m0gVxPC9/s1600/103_7231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF4z4Io4sDvJRd1TuyBnDO-kc1gNyKTThseD50wxgjYtlkod7ZPgzpF8ZiCIGttQFFs_YUE3ckTwQDy7JiaxgROCCb4jHz4dHjkT_vGVIc8iqES_JLRDpkanbw_F9N-sChLl3m0gVxPC9/s1600/103_7231.JPG" height="484" width="640" /></a></div>
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An example of marshalsussmanite from J. Veevaert's collection (photo by J. Veevaert).</div>
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See at Rock Currier's ballroom: this japan law twins (yes, 2 of them on the same matrix!) from Andilamena, Madagascar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg710Ons-1qhF2yq3AWEv_O8PLoRa2C8SCrflna2oYQBFOKCYPWyNR3reFxz9ip7zwfIniW1DuGq39g71vs-Ze3wJsBmTnOs3nhy5nO0_Wro3rsW0IQk501qEOUY5JFO4wHTRel5r7BlXeB/s1600/20140206_131606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg710Ons-1qhF2yq3AWEv_O8PLoRa2C8SCrflna2oYQBFOKCYPWyNR3reFxz9ip7zwfIniW1DuGq39g71vs-Ze3wJsBmTnOs3nhy5nO0_Wro3rsW0IQk501qEOUY5JFO4wHTRel5r7BlXeB/s1600/20140206_131606.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
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It goes without saying that Daniel Trinchillo's house had spectacular specimens... Especially this one, because we don't have a demantoid from Madagascar yet, and this one was just amazing: color, transparency, shape, size... Everything was there...</div>
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Bill Severance reported these giant Shiva Lingam Stones next to the one of the tent at the Innsuites (Photo: Bill Severance).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutEwbs7KmzRv7Ib-zzc4W85v1G6CAxG0DMajNYhY9A3Q63npWeTk5QuMoFGwnPzYBf53-2VX5-dUwm60b36pZUvhsolFVty2ZlODJ0hFVmu5UeGtySgrnTjXuGfy_ppUy8_Pqn_08OwKA/s1600/DSC02750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutEwbs7KmzRv7Ib-zzc4W85v1G6CAxG0DMajNYhY9A3Q63npWeTk5QuMoFGwnPzYBf53-2VX5-dUwm60b36pZUvhsolFVty2ZlODJ0hFVmu5UeGtySgrnTjXuGfy_ppUy8_Pqn_08OwKA/s1600/DSC02750.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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That is all we will feature for the Innsuites, even if there were plenty of other amazing rocks... In this picture, from left to right: Alyssa Morgan, Marco, Brice, Laurent, Paul et Jean-Claude. </div>
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Also, <a href="http://www.mindat.org/article.php/1903/Tucson+2014+-+%22Inn+Suites+Show%22" target="_blank">have a look at Jolyon Ralph's blog</a> for more about the Innsuite show!</div>
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<h3>
Westward Look</h3>
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The fancy Westward organized by Dave Waisman was a success again this year (Feb. 7-10). I guess the weather helped! No picture of minerals were taken at the Westward Look this year. I admit... I forgot my camera this very day. But we will find the dealers back at the Main Show anyway, more to come below!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oi2AzHzJbgYfwAFJLxZ7wVl7BRTk8jmt8_pBGh3g-jGnjIOgdgSNYc-W89R6E3SwGHAOXC31hGMHSoFg0RtDdeSZXDlNy05PkkV2rZUtbd8dcmpjHPeDvMzsFXYRuvYKLv9kipufMiNh/s1600/20140207_134201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oi2AzHzJbgYfwAFJLxZ7wVl7BRTk8jmt8_pBGh3g-jGnjIOgdgSNYc-W89R6E3SwGHAOXC31hGMHSoFg0RtDdeSZXDlNy05PkkV2rZUtbd8dcmpjHPeDvMzsFXYRuvYKLv9kipufMiNh/s1600/20140207_134201.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm2KaVBY2udsNdjIJavXVjzEk7nHTwpYJK46MePcxL71QRGK9913JuHsWvi_khiHDHCOJgNBmQE0OG6vFEuimwpP7g1W0VC2htUfgjdbqJK4zdOaAXxzsaXZHgvH-8s-HrfL761KgDO2x/s1600/20140207_093342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm2KaVBY2udsNdjIJavXVjzEk7nHTwpYJK46MePcxL71QRGK9913JuHsWvi_khiHDHCOJgNBmQE0OG6vFEuimwpP7g1W0VC2htUfgjdbqJK4zdOaAXxzsaXZHgvH-8s-HrfL761KgDO2x/s1600/20140207_093342.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6hCB5fsvYjCNBUiMvd5xMGdKlqJKLgwwRkI_3kSlDsN77psmxLMrqiyLMYUGpgatbY0yry5119-dUoPVHl9_oVyxvUx1DhbjeCK9Y2hJKHZS6NUgTuB5rBBUmsZYCcX7oI3DGXBmanYG/s1600/DSC02618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6hCB5fsvYjCNBUiMvd5xMGdKlqJKLgwwRkI_3kSlDsN77psmxLMrqiyLMYUGpgatbY0yry5119-dUoPVHl9_oVyxvUx1DhbjeCK9Y2hJKHZS6NUgTuB5rBBUmsZYCcX7oI3DGXBmanYG/s1600/DSC02618.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ8yDXVhjhUoW54NqVnHDYj7bjq5lyJ3JKwIkUqk4ICG8arbHMRQ1keDsT71hsLcXYoHAncwtlA8zfjJkgCYsxvbria9D5k6aQ1AiP2Wz6NABFASpqJTPwZj1N3eIPMUPLzymNnNQgS7Z/s1600/20140207_121639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ8yDXVhjhUoW54NqVnHDYj7bjq5lyJ3JKwIkUqk4ICG8arbHMRQ1keDsT71hsLcXYoHAncwtlA8zfjJkgCYsxvbria9D5k6aQ1AiP2Wz6NABFASpqJTPwZj1N3eIPMUPLzymNnNQgS7Z/s1600/20140207_121639.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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Caroline Martaud and Bill Larson in front of their display room at the Westward Look.</div>
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<h3>
Setting up for the Main Show</h3>
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Wednesday February 12: day of set up. Museums and collectors are offered an opportunity to show off their best rocks! This year theme, for the 60th anniversary of the show: Diamond... but also gold, silver and gemstones. We chose our theme: California (with diamond, gold, platinum and gemstones). As you saw <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2014/02/tucson-gem-mineral-show-gem-shows.html" target="_blank">in our previous post</a>, we brought some of our icons with us, such as the benitoite wreath and the gold tree. Here is how it goes (all pictures in this section by Alyssa Morgan).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sp9dyU_xaYHp0NuHDxPPtdVMDupDrJcqYrdRQwYeD8g5fg9ay8GzIlS2ybsvYuwQGZisNw-A7cc8OtWFRvjJhtQDSWlvMWaUjuF34B3D-lqGnfSZQkY80DxMy3_jKiRL1HomEsrMxhBF/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+1+27+49+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sp9dyU_xaYHp0NuHDxPPtdVMDupDrJcqYrdRQwYeD8g5fg9ay8GzIlS2ybsvYuwQGZisNw-A7cc8OtWFRvjJhtQDSWlvMWaUjuF34B3D-lqGnfSZQkY80DxMy3_jKiRL1HomEsrMxhBF/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+1+27+49+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It begins with unpacking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9zvrjFveWGgCfknmzaX1yJ0bNtQUuYTrlqfvSaEZx9SFJw7qgmh5tVgJRFPOWrly_PvQFHCcdxlsHB2V929bcGjR33i8tWboOLRGrCOVKcaoPxWd_M96e6w2OYdO3-iW-WE59D4qUfh6/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+1+26+43+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9zvrjFveWGgCfknmzaX1yJ0bNtQUuYTrlqfvSaEZx9SFJw7qgmh5tVgJRFPOWrly_PvQFHCcdxlsHB2V929bcGjR33i8tWboOLRGrCOVKcaoPxWd_M96e6w2OYdO3-iW-WE59D4qUfh6/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+1+26+43+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then putting our rocks out. Then Tony is not happy about the color of the background (note the light gray liners -which we had all agreed on ahead of time!).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mC5GMzZZRoU8jk0WnLIl_sDhC6EcwBlGOvQzMnuJCmJAQYzaxO48BScVADdsYzb_bhT9_QpqOUBH8xuIcLUjOGIPlPFM-q7h7xCiTIkntg-1f-c6mdlGJ16WwpiFaRR0mdFGRfQ-HLqD/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+2+09+16+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mC5GMzZZRoU8jk0WnLIl_sDhC6EcwBlGOvQzMnuJCmJAQYzaxO48BScVADdsYzb_bhT9_QpqOUBH8xuIcLUjOGIPlPFM-q7h7xCiTIkntg-1f-c6mdlGJ16WwpiFaRR0mdFGRfQ-HLqD/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+2+09+16+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now we have a white background. Pulling more stuff out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZRmY6bWJric88Tyw8kiQck6cNuxjItybyQJo2n3SNRlmEFxpuJn9u72rXqZa71V5Gn74jO27wQSJbINFp8EfJCC7DWNJTsleKlTXRT4kCV9p-GCWcJ9Y9kiWrJhPZqMAa_PmrJoMQQ7c/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+2+52+17+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZRmY6bWJric88Tyw8kiQck6cNuxjItybyQJo2n3SNRlmEFxpuJn9u72rXqZa71V5Gn74jO27wQSJbINFp8EfJCC7DWNJTsleKlTXRT4kCV9p-GCWcJ9Y9kiWrJhPZqMAa_PmrJoMQQ7c/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+2+52+17+PM.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Then Tony and I are not happy about the heights of the liners... We had small and big specimens, it was not an easy task! But Tony was there to save the day and find the perfect trick for our shorter rocks!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU8PCAiVnLJ_sD0JKO0P3RpPhD_0a2Xj-3BG6g06AnMHDD6yWHqNR9-oWxG9Dh2fMe6kWeL478IiILYSB0N37inLBfP1c3jRTDlE8BP1-sCX3Vy-NrztNlVij26UAXeZUn4TtA1nyRZ3V/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+3+13+30+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU8PCAiVnLJ_sD0JKO0P3RpPhD_0a2Xj-3BG6g06AnMHDD6yWHqNR9-oWxG9Dh2fMe6kWeL478IiILYSB0N37inLBfP1c3jRTDlE8BP1-sCX3Vy-NrztNlVij26UAXeZUn4TtA1nyRZ3V/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+3+13+30+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally, we all agreed on how to display our rocks. Time to hang out the posters!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72M8OPs1hlV3k0txEw-CkJf05rl8eA1bfV0bQ8d4asseM8185gsVobX0iCc3Fab6fVopm3puHn7K2kLv1ACTa8S1ov3Y2Eq6rFaOaGI_wj03Tt0nn9HZE4d1Uf4R893U4z3KMQ6nM2fK-/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+3+47+29+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72M8OPs1hlV3k0txEw-CkJf05rl8eA1bfV0bQ8d4asseM8185gsVobX0iCc3Fab6fVopm3puHn7K2kLv1ACTa8S1ov3Y2Eq6rFaOaGI_wj03Tt0nn9HZE4d1Uf4R893U4z3KMQ6nM2fK-/s1600/Photo+Feb+12,+3+47+29+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here it is! All done!</div>
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Our stars: benitoite wreath and cut stone and our gold tree from the Colorado quartz mine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk8Jnq0fp8uPh1FgtqKdcjx7_wWJDTk2k7IZ9jmfrDti0ij50gOFmuR5Sye-dgbg3zUxngQ_PbaGvJ58AhsgF01Qk5BuhTMtV8SuunE-2eBqH-YejrxktWXLbwC3Ulmd4eL-GOgws7-wb/s1600/DSC02764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk8Jnq0fp8uPh1FgtqKdcjx7_wWJDTk2k7IZ9jmfrDti0ij50gOFmuR5Sye-dgbg3zUxngQ_PbaGvJ58AhsgF01Qk5BuhTMtV8SuunE-2eBqH-YejrxktWXLbwC3Ulmd4eL-GOgws7-wb/s1600/DSC02764.JPG" height="284" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our new star! Our main acquisition this year: a gold nugget from Los Angeles County (no kidding), found in the San Gabriel River. It weighs 99.7 grams (3.2 oz. troys).</div>
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We would like to name it "<b>The Cobra</b>". What do you think? Any suggestion? Please, write them up on the comments at the bottom of this page!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmejcj0Zgv1cxdJIqcxHWwNjJ8kDtaeqnycFH6QezIOEgTPPu29HN-Ld_GAwm_koOww8WK4AyhudphG9G18Hr40LNzBT7y5ESloZHhX2GlNuTWNRZAWmdrWeRBGTMxe6WpnQ6ditxfMai/s1600/Photo+Feb+16,+12+36+44+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmejcj0Zgv1cxdJIqcxHWwNjJ8kDtaeqnycFH6QezIOEgTPPu29HN-Ld_GAwm_koOww8WK4AyhudphG9G18Hr40LNzBT7y5ESloZHhX2GlNuTWNRZAWmdrWeRBGTMxe6WpnQ6ditxfMai/s1600/Photo+Feb+16,+12+36+44+PM.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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But most importantly: the result. People looking at our exhibit! We hope that everybody enjoyed it, especially the young ones! </div>
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<h3>
The Main Mineral Show: minerals from dealers</h3>
Let's begin with minerals that were not on the main display cases, but found at dealers' booth. I would like to begin with a dealer I didn't know before: Mineraly's. You had to pass the first row of little carved animals, and on the back of the booth (located on the last aisle, on the East side), there were some little treasures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPYHyKuMhm64Jpz9O_ajtPsWU8Iwfjv-LQjGsFV3COj8QVYHpgzgMiWeapOngss7Xpbn7j4x14vIR0zT8dVR_25svhDgj6TQ94V-kcNDR441pGUgPBkxgYkL6gQgLbFHC0bGDjtwF59Ql/s1600/DSC02785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPYHyKuMhm64Jpz9O_ajtPsWU8Iwfjv-LQjGsFV3COj8QVYHpgzgMiWeapOngss7Xpbn7j4x14vIR0zT8dVR_25svhDgj6TQ94V-kcNDR441pGUgPBkxgYkL6gQgLbFHC0bGDjtwF59Ql/s1600/DSC02785.JPG" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
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For example, this nice displaying piece of dioptase from the Democratic Republic of Congo, on matrix, with quartz (most likely with iron oxydes, giving the reddish-brown color), and on the side, associated with shattuckite. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiFSnxV_lxDQJ8qtjEjNrEaHwcpvBAimSLiEjlat_m9iJnfWNDfB5CLRQSaLWk7fQfmaPzyaBatFqNUp3wp29cRG2wKxtf9jyMMM39kpyLJn6SVLqUeE-oOpf4Gxn6oDhAyNeEzJ1gBJf/s1600/DSC02786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiFSnxV_lxDQJ8qtjEjNrEaHwcpvBAimSLiEjlat_m9iJnfWNDfB5CLRQSaLWk7fQfmaPzyaBatFqNUp3wp29cRG2wKxtf9jyMMM39kpyLJn6SVLqUeE-oOpf4Gxn6oDhAyNeEzJ1gBJf/s1600/DSC02786.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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A floater of dioptase from Congo, from Mineraly's again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gzWf8tzyZyWI_h_NtjBR5-64CWOXWt1UzeAh3iekSmaTQUOyfiH2-89nHj0OUqmZ99tDxrjauiQ5JxIbRtu-7c4ScCj8TYuo-RYmtPwLs0o7jHPecWDPSRnfmeV3eNyJy9L_GGmzV079/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gzWf8tzyZyWI_h_NtjBR5-64CWOXWt1UzeAh3iekSmaTQUOyfiH2-89nHj0OUqmZ99tDxrjauiQ5JxIbRtu-7c4ScCj8TYuo-RYmtPwLs0o7jHPecWDPSRnfmeV3eNyJy9L_GGmzV079/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This impressive wulvenite from Iran.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AA93NzlDVqNBX0b49c1TOtJIv47wS9JEkIsJK1FrdPp02W5qByFQD33pPp0_90lQENae00rSiaRNf92a1uDH7gtB10UDiNizBdrYd_MFRyHO3DgOVm3RKlWo0ycVke_i_pkas1_76uDU/s1600/DSC02789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AA93NzlDVqNBX0b49c1TOtJIv47wS9JEkIsJK1FrdPp02W5qByFQD33pPp0_90lQENae00rSiaRNf92a1uDH7gtB10UDiNizBdrYd_MFRyHO3DgOVm3RKlWo0ycVke_i_pkas1_76uDU/s1600/DSC02789.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this fun natrolite on fossilized wood from Mount Elgon, Uganda.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90XwDaFVAgpMGP9IQOIgNm4__BAlsuTbRxMqU0bszqEoISgc0x1598cDnselFrDpvDJeaUh1fj-DrofAs1FCdbX0ZgzP4dLK2bst3vEyVb-NKGRKLjHpv8I-GnH4ntbzo9OX8HsQ164K/s1600/DSC02798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK90XwDaFVAgpMGP9IQOIgNm4__BAlsuTbRxMqU0bszqEoISgc0x1598cDnselFrDpvDJeaUh1fj-DrofAs1FCdbX0ZgzP4dLK2bst3vEyVb-NKGRKLjHpv8I-GnH4ntbzo9OX8HsQ164K/s1600/DSC02798.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, I like fun things. I know, it's just quartz and amethyst. But when I saw it, it immediately reminded me of the Medusa. So... Here it is, the Medusa, but this one comes from Goboboseb Mountains, Namibia. Seen at Karp Minerals booth. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlEbuvMy68S2PSP0BGnrEIRyklGGWPghF_7eX8Hjjr8_ajU0uvs1ag1ZXwnSoqDDaHPOpqOHKhQnA6i6ozpL5-0imEZ1G99PJN6uTw48FFWKH2MVzqlQ2OtbTSYHsJ3_EZN5XejgS3YXw/s1600/DSC02800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlEbuvMy68S2PSP0BGnrEIRyklGGWPghF_7eX8Hjjr8_ajU0uvs1ag1ZXwnSoqDDaHPOpqOHKhQnA6i6ozpL5-0imEZ1G99PJN6uTw48FFWKH2MVzqlQ2OtbTSYHsJ3_EZN5XejgS3YXw/s1600/DSC02800.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Remember I was talking about Milpillas (Sonora, Mexico) azurite? Well, we found the biggest azurite crystals at La Casa de Cobre booth. They had a GREAT selection of azurites, at good prices as well. Most likely the best display of Milpillas azurite of the show. Fyi: this very specimen was gone by the end of the show.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqSmc0r0nt7nb9QIKxKiyWIxNomLBHIGKMLDmL2zX2K0ufdQrba-DVYipBX600KN8FUE5LDWr4W-8yjhaHaBocxKdPL3j5TsnWumq59McSEHwL9am2ZwUD8y1qnIMYoJhpy2GoTKybDFX/s1600/DSC02802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqSmc0r0nt7nb9QIKxKiyWIxNomLBHIGKMLDmL2zX2K0ufdQrba-DVYipBX600KN8FUE5LDWr4W-8yjhaHaBocxKdPL3j5TsnWumq59McSEHwL9am2ZwUD8y1qnIMYoJhpy2GoTKybDFX/s1600/DSC02802.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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What is a mineral show without me starring at some pink fluorite from France? I'm telling you: it won't stop until we get one for our museum. Just saying!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlZjGzVDyGqBj_YqtUB2ubngLHGTEPkwn2nHL5Q_9yXbhm3Yy8mLocOVUNz3kc7_-c9dJk7q-YKZzjXf-C5iuw-wWXY9nWbBcJ81il6xai6Wp9bbObjaOrrV0YEOhfQV09sAfdGH4FnZg/s1600/DSC02781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlZjGzVDyGqBj_YqtUB2ubngLHGTEPkwn2nHL5Q_9yXbhm3Yy8mLocOVUNz3kc7_-c9dJk7q-YKZzjXf-C5iuw-wWXY9nWbBcJ81il6xai6Wp9bbObjaOrrV0YEOhfQV09sAfdGH4FnZg/s1600/DSC02781.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here is a pink fluorite from L'Aiguille Verte, Chamonix, France, seen at Alain Martaud's booth. Delicious. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtikQJVW7ubukOHnanZx1lGyCZe-f8bA__usAB9cFKje-Nagg8kiYiaRX3Y3FeO4ehl5FVbs0LKKcZvdxNMn3Z_hZdJdaNd4a2gCf85nwyrqckLmRIgdLlE7e3YpWF0xTMZXu6Ijkyd-Na/s1600/DSC02885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtikQJVW7ubukOHnanZx1lGyCZe-f8bA__usAB9cFKje-Nagg8kiYiaRX3Y3FeO4ehl5FVbs0LKKcZvdxNMn3Z_hZdJdaNd4a2gCf85nwyrqckLmRIgdLlE7e3YpWF0xTMZXu6Ijkyd-Na/s1600/DSC02885.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Twinned or not twinned? This galena (on quartz) from Madan, Bulgaria rises the question. However, by just looking at it, several specialists voted for a twin! Measurements still to conduct, but it indeed looks like it's the right angle there. Seen at Alain Martaud's booth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPnCyi6CrsFWI0_TNgc8uCbzc7mTjJlf5fRIu-6NaW2JdrazpPmNpZD_rDqTagwaX9LNY7cVbZecJHowynqqcBJMw6x23EIar4qrHQNXbBcDGgRfT31Va_L1qPN6Go7HUAadOLNrcyhAk/s1600/DSC02883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPnCyi6CrsFWI0_TNgc8uCbzc7mTjJlf5fRIu-6NaW2JdrazpPmNpZD_rDqTagwaX9LNY7cVbZecJHowynqqcBJMw6x23EIar4qrHQNXbBcDGgRfT31Va_L1qPN6Go7HUAadOLNrcyhAk/s1600/DSC02883.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another Alpine pink fluorite, this one from Ziggenstock, Grimsel, Swizerland, seen at Christophe Gobin's booth. Now, look closer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWgpvKHZRiiF_3Igro2BiGSjIJCTlHIHKwhtSMJTB40P0EwP4LlT1t-mu7jXxNzb62KY2mPkZJRsCcWAqzB9UmTrYWfq1pnPy1ZDGZ23yHDCLeQvUL4m3dwGDHJKnIMhYjIVmdpCVa4BD/s1600/DSC02884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWgpvKHZRiiF_3Igro2BiGSjIJCTlHIHKwhtSMJTB40P0EwP4LlT1t-mu7jXxNzb62KY2mPkZJRsCcWAqzB9UmTrYWfq1pnPy1ZDGZ23yHDCLeQvUL4m3dwGDHJKnIMhYjIVmdpCVa4BD/s1600/DSC02884.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, it has some purple in it, on the outer layer. Isn't it special?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrBrXNNa0LQNxG2ygDMuKX5fHEZL9aMGPq1UTjUZCxGfcJ7hnsRglQ_ItdwBOkQXy-1YtR36Spz4yNEFioXjaJxCHSo3aV1RNW9M08UW2Q1iSukx_UhflDByDu4fff5J70SyHa_ZdTtjh/s1600/DSC02873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrBrXNNa0LQNxG2ygDMuKX5fHEZL9aMGPq1UTjUZCxGfcJ7hnsRglQ_ItdwBOkQXy-1YtR36Spz4yNEFioXjaJxCHSo3aV1RNW9M08UW2Q1iSukx_UhflDByDu4fff5J70SyHa_ZdTtjh/s1600/DSC02873.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I found myself taking lots of pictures of acanthite. The shape of acanthite crystals just fascinates me! Most likely coming from a fast growth, it creates those skeletal shape with endless interesting forms. Seen at Christophe Gobin's booth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDHWB_2Z_z7bbym-w3_wcdVgYKAcbDPKtXlmZZeN1BUzREx2F1Aa3n9NR4gfCfPI66p4PxdfyucibgBV0P5o_GmJrfBhwlAy3Nb6VTtvHXzjuX2Ev5J1Lbc1qw4tQc3yQexentV5N0NiU/s1600/DSC02878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDHWB_2Z_z7bbym-w3_wcdVgYKAcbDPKtXlmZZeN1BUzREx2F1Aa3n9NR4gfCfPI66p4PxdfyucibgBV0P5o_GmJrfBhwlAy3Nb6VTtvHXzjuX2Ev5J1Lbc1qw4tQc3yQexentV5N0NiU/s1600/DSC02878.JPG" height="638" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm trying to represent the Milpillas azurite omnipresence as best as I can. Below and above are mineral specimens found at Christophe Gobin's booth. Above, on malachite background, below, on the white matrix (another electric blue azurite).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkg611do1T3klxVprE2TDYaAoKI0trk-Bag-IZSV0oLO0Bluc3kFn1ZF4rY4H93j11-waG_P76Zr8UI5MleT9M3Kp5KXOqQY7CkEszk1wYynHvQgw1b0DIAYk7AFoeROkOHCq9xz5oW2P/s1600/DSC02880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkg611do1T3klxVprE2TDYaAoKI0trk-Bag-IZSV0oLO0Bluc3kFn1ZF4rY4H93j11-waG_P76Zr8UI5MleT9M3Kp5KXOqQY7CkEszk1wYynHvQgw1b0DIAYk7AFoeROkOHCq9xz5oW2P/s1600/DSC02880.JPG" height="640" width="594" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB_Le-FJS30aSQyd7vePLjcOYWnVtqdMbJ6AFvVMYdBGV-4mrZcS5ZS-GPODJrL605Gyess1DwXqSqtlPdZaZ8flnuOqLfGWuBX7_F7j2RPOZoKkP_fGrz3f2ofUIF4XY6n7L7rsbmZw4/s1600/DSC02776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB_Le-FJS30aSQyd7vePLjcOYWnVtqdMbJ6AFvVMYdBGV-4mrZcS5ZS-GPODJrL605Gyess1DwXqSqtlPdZaZ8flnuOqLfGWuBX7_F7j2RPOZoKkP_fGrz3f2ofUIF4XY6n7L7rsbmZw4/s1600/DSC02776.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Modelling this Malalu quartz (from Malalu Mountains, Nepal), Carl Larson with his cowboy look, who also gives the scale for the picture. Thanks Carl! Seen on Pala International's booth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2EV9n68gTDnIVKXISh_HiQeWq0ko6CvQ_CnUiopPV0c-7pb86n08FHDSbvWmR2m2gQsjPq_tfqBGjHZmt26j5VTwTYioIK4xEms1UGgvKX9_VmeUVtpK7WDI2D3rzJEH7xreRaA8FO_a/s1600/DSC02777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2EV9n68gTDnIVKXISh_HiQeWq0ko6CvQ_CnUiopPV0c-7pb86n08FHDSbvWmR2m2gQsjPq_tfqBGjHZmt26j5VTwTYioIK4xEms1UGgvKX9_VmeUVtpK7WDI2D3rzJEH7xreRaA8FO_a/s1600/DSC02777.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another favorite of the show. I love etching, and this aquamarine was etched to perfection. Also seen at Pala International's booth, it comes from Wayne Thompsons collection, and is from Medina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjv9V11d4Aa375j59d3pkMc5jGXjDo0Ecsh0k3MCltVIRr5nV2YqjEaw1nUi4XPw2dYpVp0beppcagBH6m1_4h5K6M_WeylA51vZLN5Hbr8CA1CCRmcFC8PWLISDpIMmMcd8EIzL0RGMl/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjv9V11d4Aa375j59d3pkMc5jGXjDo0Ecsh0k3MCltVIRr5nV2YqjEaw1nUi4XPw2dYpVp0beppcagBH6m1_4h5K6M_WeylA51vZLN5Hbr8CA1CCRmcFC8PWLISDpIMmMcd8EIzL0RGMl/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Also seen this time in Tucson: a few tanzanite on matrix. Exciting! We don't have that in our collection either... Seen at Pala International's booth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybS5jlo_YaL_T0IEKS_mPNAnfxVEgGUKsUb2eKKbK1Zr3ti-WhukZ1y6X-xELgmznI96cDnTZJHcUxJweKbPFgaUpYjaB0MvJShpp9nJMtvCC0BV0GqQvzMjPC_gwwmEDAMypTqIdDxIF/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybS5jlo_YaL_T0IEKS_mPNAnfxVEgGUKsUb2eKKbK1Zr3ti-WhukZ1y6X-xELgmznI96cDnTZJHcUxJweKbPFgaUpYjaB0MvJShpp9nJMtvCC0BV0GqQvzMjPC_gwwmEDAMypTqIdDxIF/s1600/DSC02870.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is fun! Two slices of copper replacing wood, from Cyprus, seen at Crystal Classics' booth.</div>
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<h3>
The Main Mineral Show: the display cases</h3>
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I personally think that the most fun aspect of the Main Show is the display cases. The finest minerals at the show are in the exhibits as museums and collectors are showing their best stuff, fitting with the theme (or not!). This year's theme was broad enough that people could have fun putting their display cases together. For example, we saw a lot of great silver cases, among others. But my favorite one was this diamond case. It was put together by David Kalins (who won the best educational exhibit by an individual). It had a lot of information about diamonds, mostly growth, etching features and about the color of diamonds. But also, the diamond display, if not the biggest, showed a wide range of shapes and colors.<br />
<h4>
Diamond exhibits</h4>
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Best education case of the show: David Kalins' display on Diamonds: diversity in forms and colors (and 4 photos below).</div>
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Star of David twin on matrix... Nice. Very nice!!! David Kalins' specimen.</div>
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Some diamonds in kimberlite (which is the magma in which the diamond is brought back to the surface -not the magma it crystallizes from-).</div>
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The GIA display with some historic diamonds... and King Louis XIV. Just above: replica of the Hope and its previous cuts (Tavernier blue and French Blue). No, the blue color is NOT right, it's more about the cut and the size of the gems!</div>
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Great replica of the Mogul diamond, again in the GIA display</div>
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Somewhere in the Rainbow plays it fancy with this display case. It shows a Cartier Bandeau created by Cartier in 1920, in Paris, France. It contains a total weight of 58 ct of diamonds set in hand carved platinum.</div>
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The Post Diamond Tiara, from the Smithsonian Institution, was made around 1840, most likely in France. The tiara is made of 1,198 diamonds on gold and silver. The flowers are set "en tremblant".</div>
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<h4>
Gold, silver, etc.</h4>
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Great gold from Mockingbird mine, California, and the silver from Himmelsfürst, Germany, is not bad either! Display by The Mineral Trust.</div>
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Very elegant display by the University of Arizona...</div>
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And zoom in on this unbelievable gold from Venezuela. What a shape, what a size. I would love to see the back of it!</div>
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Natural gold egg from a river in Russia. Isn't this little guy fun?</div>
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Silver by Larson & Meieran (Larson's: first photo below; Meieran's: the following 3 photos). Spectacular!</div>
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Some goodies from Scott Werschky's collection.</div>
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Including this fun acanthite.</div>
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More silver and acanthite, I didn't get whose collection it was though.</div>
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Great Kongsberg silver exhibit.</div>
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<h4>
Gems & Jewelry</h4>
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From the Proctor family trust collection, this necklace is composed of 97 sapphires and diamonds.</div>
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One of my favorites: this sapphire button (Turban Ornament, Mughal Style, India) from the late 17th century was first own by Sir Hans Sloane (picture below). It is now part of the Natural History Museum of London.</div>
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Some Gems & Gemology covers with their matching jewelry.</div>
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Treasures of gold and gemstones from the River Rhine, by the Mineral Museum of Bonn, Germany. This case was put together by Curator Renate Schumacher, she won the award for "Best Education Case by an Institution" </div>
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Presenting diamonds, gems, gold and silver, the Harvard Museum display was one of the best's museum exhibits on theme.</div>
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Out of theme but still fun</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AXViarqihyJblBYjoD0Up946V4K2tTUumlXIybEy4PojqFYTxSvQYtl6ulnuY2hNxCHrDn70vXsW_Pyb5p4kF7LV1msucuHL06G3qvIcWi42tWw80eqSabFbLQMxOA9gd5T5NtF9uhiq/s1600/DSC02866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AXViarqihyJblBYjoD0Up946V4K2tTUumlXIybEy4PojqFYTxSvQYtl6ulnuY2hNxCHrDn70vXsW_Pyb5p4kF7LV1msucuHL06G3qvIcWi42tWw80eqSabFbLQMxOA9gd5T5NtF9uhiq/s1600/DSC02866.JPG" height="268" width="640" /></a></div>
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Proctor's display</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05V8IWCjyYO5WGgXQspxO9NJTjsh-iA6mGDmN6OYnUKHROdfjRq96jSyZhUJ3T4Q7TQKa_sWQj-5O0OcQpTGEBs6wKpz1PZyN4vPLyMmZjKwY7tfx_Zvr7BnqgleB_YBMQy2C58vzRkvt/s1600/DSC02868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05V8IWCjyYO5WGgXQspxO9NJTjsh-iA6mGDmN6OYnUKHROdfjRq96jSyZhUJ3T4Q7TQKa_sWQj-5O0OcQpTGEBs6wKpz1PZyN4vPLyMmZjKwY7tfx_Zvr7BnqgleB_YBMQy2C58vzRkvt/s1600/DSC02868.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Great azurite from Proctor's collection</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7fOQTX6dEwulmrzS_ggmqrfz81SyauI-9Alx59IRzT2JlKc5o3Ht5AU2a7xAF_MU5m7lavSCDigMPTO4fIWaR5-ttq8oXzXJcDdxEuL2MUZFn7e550LdFE2HBbWNmINJWmBOZ2cf9dDH/s1600/DSC02891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7fOQTX6dEwulmrzS_ggmqrfz81SyauI-9Alx59IRzT2JlKc5o3Ht5AU2a7xAF_MU5m7lavSCDigMPTO4fIWaR5-ttq8oXzXJcDdxEuL2MUZFn7e550LdFE2HBbWNmINJWmBOZ2cf9dDH/s1600/DSC02891.JPG" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCi1nkp2DhuDW_Lqe9n3UMfs0qXkUzK4K59gUjAoxC2gkpo44oFDzxanUgGAmtMUs876A07yRF4PbKpQo1gEpHpulmeQ56LibAC96tf-KfolapPH1ZKL6HNu_IyIE-GxjSBudztCgxMrk/s1600/DSC02892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCi1nkp2DhuDW_Lqe9n3UMfs0qXkUzK4K59gUjAoxC2gkpo44oFDzxanUgGAmtMUs876A07yRF4PbKpQo1gEpHpulmeQ56LibAC96tf-KfolapPH1ZKL6HNu_IyIE-GxjSBudztCgxMrk/s1600/DSC02892.JPG" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
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From the Mineralogical Association of Dallas</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiufQyMr4UbcGBEIurfq1gGXIW-GlGyFqDgORBbdgWyXtMrzin_onwuvufR3nlThjaz7ni6gXrXzQwdBux6V-hB3cfb6ospM74SaPRH2FOYnscHtF9Ze0DfbgJ_tcT4D9p4X5cilMtml3/s1600/DSC02895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiufQyMr4UbcGBEIurfq1gGXIW-GlGyFqDgORBbdgWyXtMrzin_onwuvufR3nlThjaz7ni6gXrXzQwdBux6V-hB3cfb6ospM74SaPRH2FOYnscHtF9Ze0DfbgJ_tcT4D9p4X5cilMtml3/s1600/DSC02895.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The 7 pictures below are from this display case by Collectors' Edge. Wow. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYS1WBmOZhpr_OxIr8w4Wme9jFGYxz1TuFsAZdIwq3GyyUkdiPhcEroEovz6WuKC0g8NjEoctczeEfzQKAIjz4pzDeC_neGqWoScwS5uEbP-TqqkRAz1WZcK3Gw8y-GyTJp1SDPDPJj04U/s1600/DSC02897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYS1WBmOZhpr_OxIr8w4Wme9jFGYxz1TuFsAZdIwq3GyyUkdiPhcEroEovz6WuKC0g8NjEoctczeEfzQKAIjz4pzDeC_neGqWoScwS5uEbP-TqqkRAz1WZcK3Gw8y-GyTJp1SDPDPJj04U/s1600/DSC02897.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Vanadinite from Geronimo Mine, La Paz County, AZ.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMp8E5NFYPuXNXDdKbbEx1XEjfO_ZgL8T_x4lHkcH14oaumybBDDSntkeG6U4wtFzvxjz20QsghW0w6t0kosuw89Va5bOY7oGSw5ZWVm9XLtMSZZSPWyu8g8GiECXBeUFgMsbYOSgl1AY/s1600/DSC02893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMp8E5NFYPuXNXDdKbbEx1XEjfO_ZgL8T_x4lHkcH14oaumybBDDSntkeG6U4wtFzvxjz20QsghW0w6t0kosuw89Va5bOY7oGSw5ZWVm9XLtMSZZSPWyu8g8GiECXBeUFgMsbYOSgl1AY/s1600/DSC02893.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggelunM57Nf74iPiSpk4CzIQ-Pho6Il9DfoJrQVzXx8fdxjij_XbXde6d37unVMtBMh7XV3zIgg8ViUY73lPMyqxgCE33dnntx_TRPl0SKx8NuXAT3zzuSb8R2VkP98CNBw0WDlhXkXcq2/s1600/DSC02898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggelunM57Nf74iPiSpk4CzIQ-Pho6Il9DfoJrQVzXx8fdxjij_XbXde6d37unVMtBMh7XV3zIgg8ViUY73lPMyqxgCE33dnntx_TRPl0SKx8NuXAT3zzuSb8R2VkP98CNBw0WDlhXkXcq2/s1600/DSC02898.JPG" height="346" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRGAUhL3BrRyiTUW973Z-RKcDebvKgXrCJEDepSD99tzFYS1NM20blVm7JEByGGBHICtNeMyGQ9OLrSCFUX2wRA1umxgsve4jhoYlltitMqt6pPWJNKTnmip2w8YzusB2xNF3bjfA7osi/s1600/DSC02899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRGAUhL3BrRyiTUW973Z-RKcDebvKgXrCJEDepSD99tzFYS1NM20blVm7JEByGGBHICtNeMyGQ9OLrSCFUX2wRA1umxgsve4jhoYlltitMqt6pPWJNKTnmip2w8YzusB2xNF3bjfA7osi/s1600/DSC02899.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTTeUCB_7Lk071yC27yzSnXrXNtvUHks5nTbF5ExvWHVWPoUdFmVxpBegMb7aS_P0jXgEKCIG_YS_Yl40QydGjDSBkI8kc-5JHZm33Zn-JyvBRYuWoRxZEp0_oOSrrmmNDIPCu2HxlYXG/s1600/DSC02900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTTeUCB_7Lk071yC27yzSnXrXNtvUHks5nTbF5ExvWHVWPoUdFmVxpBegMb7aS_P0jXgEKCIG_YS_Yl40QydGjDSBkI8kc-5JHZm33Zn-JyvBRYuWoRxZEp0_oOSrrmmNDIPCu2HxlYXG/s1600/DSC02900.JPG" height="342" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYhy5DqIReLCxCNibmq4r-dZBF3ffZN_RJnTuns1pQ6QUsW6u9FAlyyyc_3zjhWFmibP_3ws3C_RLmInciBPa7axIKNSww5is5qic8UfF6b7-oOQ__tbjTKOCamoOm-gXEiZxMyZXx_fr/s1600/DSC02901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYhy5DqIReLCxCNibmq4r-dZBF3ffZN_RJnTuns1pQ6QUsW6u9FAlyyyc_3zjhWFmibP_3ws3C_RLmInciBPa7axIKNSww5is5qic8UfF6b7-oOQ__tbjTKOCamoOm-gXEiZxMyZXx_fr/s1600/DSC02901.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpkmkv44toOjrxI88u99UlpVcZd1CZ04fAPgnZaeFYMqudW2rk1FPeshDUa0cqni4UVl99YD_k2IN1t9EWhxTd5lsnRIkhcRfNYwAdw2FIw2dufWzDnWzxqRYh-DSjha-PH86O0SwHNrZ/s1600/DSC02903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpkmkv44toOjrxI88u99UlpVcZd1CZ04fAPgnZaeFYMqudW2rk1FPeshDUa0cqni4UVl99YD_k2IN1t9EWhxTd5lsnRIkhcRfNYwAdw2FIw2dufWzDnWzxqRYh-DSjha-PH86O0SwHNrZ/s1600/DSC02903.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxTCOIRAwMjyfOwhejp7D4rPTmhEPzq3D729PVBevUtS9VrA3T0GRWJPMe9ENXy0CUp4ukxO0bPEcYKstsIILuZNpLfV6lFMSDAf9pD09RsNF-L2uLoitbMwcoPvWr19wH0tQ3331VT0V/s1600/DSC02952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxTCOIRAwMjyfOwhejp7D4rPTmhEPzq3D729PVBevUtS9VrA3T0GRWJPMe9ENXy0CUp4ukxO0bPEcYKstsIILuZNpLfV6lFMSDAf9pD09RsNF-L2uLoitbMwcoPvWr19wH0tQ3331VT0V/s1600/DSC02952.JPG" height="284" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gail Spann's display case: a Tribute to all breast cancer survivors. All in pink!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmXukLzePPQCQ38fSS6Am_dvuBsbe_q_tzxSdv20CIJkrcRcXyyeCCgjX-9T4Hu5krKIFNkyuFpB6XPbOaF15k4R7XfzwLnMixeisgI5V_ECJu6JYyQcP8GoEGsr_8u3CuBh3c-5rwlIk/s1600/DSC02953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmXukLzePPQCQ38fSS6Am_dvuBsbe_q_tzxSdv20CIJkrcRcXyyeCCgjX-9T4Hu5krKIFNkyuFpB6XPbOaF15k4R7XfzwLnMixeisgI5V_ECJu6JYyQcP8GoEGsr_8u3CuBh3c-5rwlIk/s1600/DSC02953.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Because I like pseudmorphs (Cincinnati Museum Center).</div>
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Andradite with gaudefroyite from N'Chwaning I Mine, Kuruman Cape Province, South Africa (Hoppel Collection).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dxj4RF01D3DY8kS_PYH1_Xlc4a8P1jdMd_3rB8tTU68ZT-bYcPMLYhOp-UuLk0tYl8beRR0aksS1XiYLAwIazfjFNB54r_FtFqpQkYGmS_qyS74OLGL5NVjkJZjqFj_37BUbqPXjRNXS/s1600/DSC02967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dxj4RF01D3DY8kS_PYH1_Xlc4a8P1jdMd_3rB8tTU68ZT-bYcPMLYhOp-UuLk0tYl8beRR0aksS1XiYLAwIazfjFNB54r_FtFqpQkYGmS_qyS74OLGL5NVjkJZjqFj_37BUbqPXjRNXS/s1600/DSC02967.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The story of a small box in a bank vault in one of the twin towers with gold in it: Gold survives 9/11.</div>
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Pyrite: Fool's gold.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WA02K_ceh6alVMoeVVZlt0RtXqGcpD_FlO68_30nWA_4XFIM_tMU39z65PyFm9IBz0KfNJ-X21EQcEgRel5EQAawTHAkpZhNbw0npaujLAisH5O3L8JbCInNk_UZRGgr_r66euyMD2Mo/s1600/DSC03010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WA02K_ceh6alVMoeVVZlt0RtXqGcpD_FlO68_30nWA_4XFIM_tMU39z65PyFm9IBz0KfNJ-X21EQcEgRel5EQAawTHAkpZhNbw0npaujLAisH5O3L8JbCInNk_UZRGgr_r66euyMD2Mo/s1600/DSC03010.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another favorite: rhodochrosite, apthithalite and blue halite.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu8MAZ8KV3Ji31K-R0YWNfHoJh_ymdlKB3E7V3DWwleHjurMtPSCj_NY5_RWvpYt4eKrn9JlxV7uDcsl6pP4OWjwjYqd2M4pT2oYPjPj0c0Pg8UguLbreKx-tbvm3WrY9Dn3txCI8GE2j/s1600/DSC03011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilu8MAZ8KV3Ji31K-R0YWNfHoJh_ymdlKB3E7V3DWwleHjurMtPSCj_NY5_RWvpYt4eKrn9JlxV7uDcsl6pP4OWjwjYqd2M4pT2oYPjPj0c0Pg8UguLbreKx-tbvm3WrY9Dn3txCI8GE2j/s1600/DSC03011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rhodochrosite from the Sweet home mine, Colorado; halite and aphtithalite from the U.S. Potash Mine, New Mexico.</div>
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Great morganite crystal, love the inclusions! From the Arizona Mineral Minions.</div>
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I've never seen such an amazing peridot... It is from Mogok, Burma, in the Arizona Mineral Minions display case.</div>
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Minerals are made of chemical elements. A great educational display case!</div>
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And this year is the year of CRYSTALLOGRAPHY! Display by Herb and Monica Obboda.</div>
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And finally, sadly, our colleagues from the ROM museum in Canada never got their exhibit: it was kept by the US custom until the end of the show.</div>
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Nights out</h3>
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Day looking at rocks, night socializing. That's what Tucson is all about!</div>
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During the ICA reception: fun time with Andrew Cody (Cody opals)</div>
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Here with Delphine and Alyssa, trying a new restaurant downtown.</div>
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The Kristalle & Crystal Classics annual Party! More pics on the Crystal Classics website: http://crystalclassics.co.uk/</div>
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And one with Dona Leicht and Gian Carlo Parodi.</div>
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A night at the Westward Look. Introduction by Dave Waisman.</div>
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Recognition of Bryan Lee by Gene Meieran.</div>
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And presentation on tourmaline from the Pederneira mine, Brazil, by Daniel Trinchillo.</div>
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Lithographie recognition night: Gloria Staebler giving an award to John Rakovan for the best article of the year. Gloria herself received the Carnegie award this year. Congrats to both of you!</div>
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This year, the Pueblo had organized a series of evening lectures. I was able to attend the one of Frederico Pezzotta (above) on the color of tourmaline, and of Federico Barlocher on Burma (below). Please, more next year!</div>
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The Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP, photo by Katya Ralph) meeting followed by the traditional paella, organized by the Spanns and Jordi Fabre. Every year, they organize a party for museum curators and <a href="http://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/" target="_blank">for the Friends of Mineral Forum (FMF) members</a>.</div>
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Jim Spann making sure the paella is doing ok.</div>
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The cook at work.</div>
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The 3 organizers on the left: Jordi, Jim and Gail.</div>
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Diana, Ian, Jim, Gail and Bryan celebrating Tucson 2014!</div>
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Curators and the Bodes continuing the party at the Surly Wench.</div>
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This is serious.</div>
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Donations and acquisitions</h3>
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Acquisitions</h4>
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<b>Gold nugget from Los Angeles County</b></div>
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The most exciting acquisitions we made this year is a gold nugget from Los Angeles County. No, seriously, definitely probably from LA! It was allegedly found in the San Gabriel River. It weighs 99.7 grams (i.e. 3.2 oz troy). But a full investigation into the provenance of this gold will come online soon, stay tuned! We want to call it "The Cobra". What's your thought on it? Leave comments at the bottom of this page!</div>
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<b>Apophyllite from India</b></div>
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That is right: we didn't have a disco ball yet! But with the discovery of a new pocket, we jumped on the opportunity, and purchased this highly photogenic specimen.</div>
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Recto</div>
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Verso</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/join-us/gem-mineral-council" target="_blank">All purchases were possible thanks to the GEM & MINERAL COUNCIL. Click here if you would like to join or help our collection!</a></b></div>
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<h4>
Donations</h4>
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This year again, we had important donations by dealers and our very own donors. Thank you so much again!</div>
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<b>Aphtithalite from New Mexico</b></div>
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Phillip Simmons gave us this wonderful example of aphtithalite from the U.S. Potash Mine, Carlsbad, New Mexico.</div>
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Phillip Simmons, the donor, with the LA team!</div>
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<b>Barite from Morocco</b></div>
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We got two donations of blue barite from Sidi Lahcen mine, Nador, Oriental Region, Morocco. The first one, a barite on matrix, donated by Christophe Gobin, and the second one by GMC member Joel Siegel. We have been wanting one since we were in Morocco in 2012, when they first came out. However, it's the first year that we have seen a lot of unbroken specimens. Win win! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEopjNHBKzsSTGxqWB5iF-83GVzg_FFqkmV83pccgAuQjxIThshWH1pAVT3rGleO_0-doh5FHMDKWIgHEs7eCtS2qxJMxjWwFaHsuC7OEOKhjcYmiNI1fDV7G0PeAsZjOZrVS48CYfaZi/s1600/DSC03051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEopjNHBKzsSTGxqWB5iF-83GVzg_FFqkmV83pccgAuQjxIThshWH1pAVT3rGleO_0-doh5FHMDKWIgHEs7eCtS2qxJMxjWwFaHsuC7OEOKhjcYmiNI1fDV7G0PeAsZjOZrVS48CYfaZi/s1600/DSC03051.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Blue barite on matrix from Morocco. Donation: Christophe Gobin.</div>
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Blue barite from Morocco: donation by Joel Siegel.</div>
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Zoom in on the last specimen, with overgrowth of barite on one of the blades.</div>
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<b>Autunite from France</b></div>
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Alain Martaud donated this amazingly bright yellow autunite from Peny quarry, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France. We didn't have any from this locality yet.</div>
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French yellow autunite, gift of Alain Martaud.</div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">THANK YOU DONORS!</span></b></div>
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<b>See you next year in Tucson!</b></div>
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Another year at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. This year, the show was celebrating its 60th anniversary. The theme of this show? Diamond... but also gold, silver and gemstones. So we decided to bring some goodies from California, of course! Before showing you a selection of fun gems during the AGTA show, let us show you some of our selected pieces for display at the TGMS show. (All photos and copyright by E. Gaillou unless notified).<br />
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Getting our exhibit ready</h3>
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<b>California: the Golden State... and also the Gem State!</b></div>
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It was the discovery of gold that transformed California into a state and provided it with its nickname – “The Golden State”. However, while Idaho calls itself “The Gem State”, California has by far a greater quantity and diversity of gemstones. The diversity of California’s minerals, and the presence of gold as well, comes from the geological processes that created California. </div>
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Below is a small selection of some minerals we chose to exhibit at the Tucson show. We also brought some matching cut gemstones to go along (ok, except for the gold!).</div>
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The Gold Tree from Colorado Quartz mine, Mariposa County, CA. Photo taken at packing.</div>
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The Benitoite wreath from the Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, CA. Photo taken at packing.</div>
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A diamond from California? YES! Alluvial, of course, this one was collected in the late 1800s at Smithflat, El Dorado County, CA.</div>
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We also brought our favorite kunzite from Pala Chief, San Diego County. From the collection of Dr. Kunz. Photo by Erica and Harold Van Pelt.</div>
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Our bi-color elbaite from Himalaya Mine, San Diego County, CA, almost ready to go to Tucson!</div>
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On the road to Tucson</h3>
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Our annual road trip to Tucson! We left on Tuesday 4th, the first day of the Gem shows (AGTA and GJX). Here is a selection of pictures while going through the desert and arriving in Tucson, 7.5 hours later. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb7J3WHa-BlSQgp1JYtlI8Oj58l0yOtcKQkUILGesdpnYg-thMRpy8Rj0l8neEaNdMVzWO_xR-q2Z0moQ15L6OPmgoYFa3iOqdMsOfe3yqqtvIVzrzY2UWzOZCZcz6jLCNGi6LcOoRa6L/s1600/20140204_181102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmb7J3WHa-BlSQgp1JYtlI8Oj58l0yOtcKQkUILGesdpnYg-thMRpy8Rj0l8neEaNdMVzWO_xR-q2Z0moQ15L6OPmgoYFa3iOqdMsOfe3yqqtvIVzrzY2UWzOZCZcz6jLCNGi6LcOoRa6L/s1600/20140204_181102.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<h3>
AGTA show</h3>
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I still can't believe how busy the AGTA show was this year. Over the last 5 years, the aisles of AGTA were rarely crowded... almost empty at some times. But this year, people were there... and buying. We arrived for the second day of the show, and some dealers were already happy.<br />
What I noticed since I began this blog is that gem dealers are usually more reluctant for me to take pictures to post on my blog (because yes, I ask permission for ALL the pics I take). Except for dealers that already know me. This report might be a bit biased because of that... Still, there was no new exciting gemstones (to the best of my knowledge), and I hope it's still representative.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWQ6FMb3q7gRyTwcJpcjl3j7iFcwv365WPersJxc9IK9wlUGRu9yy5NEp0zfpQEbRW3_gH2Af2ILLZ8Pi4LJEEtrb2fYUfZIyCNX9aXUPevr7bzCsroKp7Z-0vY7fzGeeZHe2vZRq47E6/s1600/DSC02602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWQ6FMb3q7gRyTwcJpcjl3j7iFcwv365WPersJxc9IK9wlUGRu9yy5NEp0zfpQEbRW3_gH2Af2ILLZ8Pi4LJEEtrb2fYUfZIyCNX9aXUPevr7bzCsroKp7Z-0vY7fzGeeZHe2vZRq47E6/s1600/DSC02602.JPG" height="640" width="578" /></a></div>
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The AGTA booth stepped it up this year!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyfkfmMwDvzdq1GI95V_PG7XponP-uGIqHIcf5F3nkeI33Xuf-MhLSdLWTR878bsx4yVuNuvYIpm8J3D9hLmY1V-VErQem1VSkNIraK1szL-aOFfpDkkSzHBD9mSjK-n1aC09OTZZ7Jfx/s1600/DSC02524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyfkfmMwDvzdq1GI95V_PG7XponP-uGIqHIcf5F3nkeI33Xuf-MhLSdLWTR878bsx4yVuNuvYIpm8J3D9hLmY1V-VErQem1VSkNIraK1szL-aOFfpDkkSzHBD9mSjK-n1aC09OTZZ7Jfx/s1600/DSC02524.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Overview of the AGTA show.</div>
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From right to left: Alyssa Morgan, Caroline & Franklin Moser, Eloïse Gaillou. Caroline and Franklin won a day with Alyssa and I at our annual auction, so we toured around gem & mineral shows with them. We had great fun! Photo by Delphine Leblanc.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07D5YriJYDdkyOTD73Zs3TXSNhyphenhyphen7FdTMVtqA5sDSIp-YGwNrvakLn8LDnBigFHiHZRkr6SI-yJm8nFuuQeeiuJgfiugSozMaF6oGIaUEffK-AfJHPnQZw8Ag-pA3ZwKap2MLslocGNUZ-/s1600/Photo+Feb+08,+10+22+35+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07D5YriJYDdkyOTD73Zs3TXSNhyphenhyphen7FdTMVtqA5sDSIp-YGwNrvakLn8LDnBigFHiHZRkr6SI-yJm8nFuuQeeiuJgfiugSozMaF6oGIaUEffK-AfJHPnQZw8Ag-pA3ZwKap2MLslocGNUZ-/s1600/Photo+Feb+08,+10+22+35+AM.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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What are we looking at? (Photo by Alyssa Morgan)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC54tsTsqfg8dnATDw9PJmCRvofjRkexlXKWDkrKMqZqffCd_lm_08jYKf_G1pcPsTgFzgVSElwx-iJi8rq9tZ04pA_HD9K4jmvb4lxrlzGrxzm76h8EZFOttIY9-nwUfXJSyDpmB-kXDs/s1600/DSC02536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC54tsTsqfg8dnATDw9PJmCRvofjRkexlXKWDkrKMqZqffCd_lm_08jYKf_G1pcPsTgFzgVSElwx-iJi8rq9tZ04pA_HD9K4jmvb4lxrlzGrxzm76h8EZFOttIY9-nwUfXJSyDpmB-kXDs/s1600/DSC02536.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This amazing 24.48 ct cat's eye chrysoberyl from Evan Caplan's booth.</div>
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I have two great "recto-verso" for you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsmedqtRAyrMaJH5dUNgOJj7j8LOEVcZmgqje1jkhz1CA017ntvG_AY_ca5i21t83DxQpel2tPF6UMnNn2polAZdYa5UUaIN96gtM5WQCHdKJJX87yyf9FeMinUdNp5MGuWogs1TBPXp/s1600/DSC02529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsmedqtRAyrMaJH5dUNgOJj7j8LOEVcZmgqje1jkhz1CA017ntvG_AY_ca5i21t83DxQpel2tPF6UMnNn2polAZdYa5UUaIN96gtM5WQCHdKJJX87yyf9FeMinUdNp5MGuWogs1TBPXp/s1600/DSC02529.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This stunning carved / cut topaz from Somewhere in the Rainbow collection. There were other incredible stones at the Somewhere in the Rainbow booth, but unfortunately, we were not allowed to take more pictures (we came back at a quieter time - the booth was super crowded - the curator was not at the booth anymore, no more pics for us...). They were displaying mostly spinels and garnets... Unfortunately, it is not through their website that you will see more pictures, which is a shame, because they have some of the most amazing rare gemstones I've even seen. Still, check out the story of the collection here: http://somewhereintherainbow.com/ </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIrazbYzGKGryyTuKrJOCwobD_J-mmH9rFVaUgZVbhcX7Cxq-P8z6E-7G1KZ0Wa4xU_Wte0vLQnrpIhj6m2EPusSH6dZKfj1nwbzETLXio1tP2TGztOENcPFS9a9feQ06sc979mFqe_40/s1600/DSC02530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIrazbYzGKGryyTuKrJOCwobD_J-mmH9rFVaUgZVbhcX7Cxq-P8z6E-7G1KZ0Wa4xU_Wte0vLQnrpIhj6m2EPusSH6dZKfj1nwbzETLXio1tP2TGztOENcPFS9a9feQ06sc979mFqe_40/s1600/DSC02530.JPG" height="640" width="434" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM_-TOQ2yQ8ZfnO0N_VQMqdQ8Yr3gc7RC9uAZCEBQwIAksnXrb81KlnJB_gQaodYtKt-mNTxW74ftckKSmjwW9bXljQXtLHJpfUOYq8xDewdi1PyU006dleI2FdUODf_XbcIws1EIe8o4/s1600/DSC02531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM_-TOQ2yQ8ZfnO0N_VQMqdQ8Yr3gc7RC9uAZCEBQwIAksnXrb81KlnJB_gQaodYtKt-mNTxW74ftckKSmjwW9bXljQXtLHJpfUOYq8xDewdi1PyU006dleI2FdUODf_XbcIws1EIe8o4/s1600/DSC02531.JPG" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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I can't do a show report without mentioning opals. Also, I can't go anywhere without people asking me about opals or showing me some stunning ones. For example, this 11.50 ct black opal from Lightning Ridge, Australia was set in a two-face pendant, and displayed by Jeff Bilgore. Yes, it is the same opal. Amazing, isn't it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8sh6eeCGyYiiWJDjSQXAZqxedrN4QzgaeHVjPWdqbFEotVRaX4GMJDnvy6Fy-Lxvw9qiVqVjncxdlJdj4bfuyCErF9-51RoVpy6y-1TsEzzpbAxCDEurNWDDc119bU2VV7dPLH2C2q-h/s1600/DSC02533b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8sh6eeCGyYiiWJDjSQXAZqxedrN4QzgaeHVjPWdqbFEotVRaX4GMJDnvy6Fy-Lxvw9qiVqVjncxdlJdj4bfuyCErF9-51RoVpy6y-1TsEzzpbAxCDEurNWDDc119bU2VV7dPLH2C2q-h/s1600/DSC02533b.jpg" height="274" width="640" /></a></div>
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Because we like rare stuff. This necklace was on display at Equatorian Imports, and made off 56 red beryl (27.3 ct total) and 56 diamonds (13.28 ct total) on a 18K platinum setting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMJ0q0koaRWbCskX9a1wpLklG9tN_IblEj-yAcCAFBOXXpk2MOOtFyx1dvbN4Sy2_DawJpgEUiYt1YyPToCgNuTgKYWAqEjDoa9INS-w4NeaWst3GZrC2haDeRWmbNfsSNSMdVzpVqlqs/s1600/20140205_111648b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMJ0q0koaRWbCskX9a1wpLklG9tN_IblEj-yAcCAFBOXXpk2MOOtFyx1dvbN4Sy2_DawJpgEUiYt1YyPToCgNuTgKYWAqEjDoa9INS-w4NeaWst3GZrC2haDeRWmbNfsSNSMdVzpVqlqs/s1600/20140205_111648b.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></div>
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A few things we would love to add to our collection: here, these Zambian Emeralds, as seen at Edward Boehm's booth (Rare Source). We do not have any emeralds from this locality.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaeSZlAPBJxnhecayVqU0v-dAW4XWXeAI53xcfUbKrKau_vyQ8X-fKRdWVWc__lGWaGkZA9AypOvTCgD8xALKoblcPbnlU3BA5JF0tgIxQeCN8TG-yqgZ9cEVhUHiSbMiQCsWDumOdGFm/s1600/20140205_111210b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaeSZlAPBJxnhecayVqU0v-dAW4XWXeAI53xcfUbKrKau_vyQ8X-fKRdWVWc__lGWaGkZA9AypOvTCgD8xALKoblcPbnlU3BA5JF0tgIxQeCN8TG-yqgZ9cEVhUHiSbMiQCsWDumOdGFm/s1600/20140205_111210b.jpg" height="640" width="408" /></a></div>
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Also, we were looking for a "hot pink" spinel from Tanzania. Again, Edward had some good ones.</div>
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Dudley Blauwet as well, especially this 5-carat one!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmlSB3fSMc44ZPPfU_OszoCrHlTdsBg1y563bC14veTRIR3vtpiZiLF0A0poEEcPebTGqBklCCO8l6Tj_8ln-MAKGQXR9JN5BaqWC3zp12QtuyxD20pMvz0dXj316OBe2OTh37bxOjy1P/s1600/DSC02588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmlSB3fSMc44ZPPfU_OszoCrHlTdsBg1y563bC14veTRIR3vtpiZiLF0A0poEEcPebTGqBklCCO8l6Tj_8ln-MAKGQXR9JN5BaqWC3zp12QtuyxD20pMvz0dXj316OBe2OTh37bxOjy1P/s1600/DSC02588.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Talking about spinel... Aren't those rough and cut red spinels from Burma amazing? Seen at Pala International's booth!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujEKQVxudnRXPygIBgjmw4NEgo8aK1GVlTWSd09i_0izAXA_XHS2TltJK2UmK1JZgpjBVSPwLj_pUWq2DvNwClIa231WPLT0x-6WAFjsg03X6dr4u_zUra1lq-fMccpJV6Br2FEie_gWz/s1600/DSC02595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujEKQVxudnRXPygIBgjmw4NEgo8aK1GVlTWSd09i_0izAXA_XHS2TltJK2UmK1JZgpjBVSPwLj_pUWq2DvNwClIa231WPLT0x-6WAFjsg03X6dr4u_zUra1lq-fMccpJV6Br2FEie_gWz/s1600/DSC02595.JPG" height="138" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also seen at Pala International, this suite of sapphires. From left to right: 3.70 ct blue from Madagascar, 27.27 ct yellow from Sri Lanka (no heat), 5.67 ct Padparadscha from Malawi, 2.62 ct pink from Burma, and 10.09 ct from Sri Lanka.</div>
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AGTA spectrum awards</h3>
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As usual, beautiful gemstones and pieces of jewelry are selected for the AGTA spectrum award winners. Here are a few that we especially liked or thought were interesting. Oh, just one thing: we were really surprised to see that the display cases with the award winners were getting removed by mid-day on Sunday, when the show was closing much later that day.</div>
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Morganite earrings by Kerri Halpern, Madstone Design. Honorable mention evening wear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OY4gyEXilYoCN06E5Rg4KMh_SpUZYHjk5xVQhKCD8Uway_I9N2bVZ982KaeYEiB2AX8DYtMmjxFt0hzSymY8hlrsza6717GrRl3NXT1MkPcEoFJKxbW5KjqGmoIIR7x0acb7XAUutUsQ/s1600/DSC02563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OY4gyEXilYoCN06E5Rg4KMh_SpUZYHjk5xVQhKCD8Uway_I9N2bVZ982KaeYEiB2AX8DYtMmjxFt0hzSymY8hlrsza6717GrRl3NXT1MkPcEoFJKxbW5KjqGmoIIR7x0acb7XAUutUsQ/s1600/DSC02563.JPG" height="640" width="490" /></a></div>
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Multi-colored gold locket featuring a boulder opal accented with white, pink and yellow diamonds, by Annie Fensterstock. Gem diva award business / day wear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7PENipjdeF0lVxVOGiSGBwfy9KPD7Wi5mQvVo8M_wqLKyutdPOoFq668QAuKfm-VEHwzofvqpSI_N9pvagcKQiOtNgf60mP2ocSKfdrMDFdvq8xydE7RbzdanaA6cnONOD_wEGhqDmyA/s1600/DSC02565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7PENipjdeF0lVxVOGiSGBwfy9KPD7Wi5mQvVo8M_wqLKyutdPOoFq668QAuKfm-VEHwzofvqpSI_N9pvagcKQiOtNgf60mP2ocSKfdrMDFdvq8xydE7RbzdanaA6cnONOD_wEGhqDmyA/s1600/DSC02565.JPG" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yellow gold "Blue Waters" necklace featuring opal doublets and diamonds, by Jonathan Lee Rutledge. 1st place business / day wear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgptVh6P1hmn89742luO-Ba3KQhZrhLgb_lh9XBUy4oPvFyEmNtj_NA220-wNA3S9kpIBxYu3DDc0RllSq4W1NeOh5OjHePvefiZvPBJXPxfgU17a870IG_fRgt3S6wlrod53i-2OGSvP/s1600/DSC02567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgptVh6P1hmn89742luO-Ba3KQhZrhLgb_lh9XBUy4oPvFyEmNtj_NA220-wNA3S9kpIBxYu3DDc0RllSq4W1NeOh5OjHePvefiZvPBJXPxfgU17a870IG_fRgt3S6wlrod53i-2OGSvP/s1600/DSC02567.JPG" height="640" width="544" /></a></div>
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White gold earrings featuring Paraiba tourmalines, emeralds, tanzanites and diamonds, by Caroling Chartuni. 2nd place evening wear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Sn8zmyxCOVXP7yDAPxQ_taKc5llUTZiRfiIFvq6rIAgRpWOjlwPHJG3ic9Ji9GFEPF7tsF3HKsb9ANXi4IqwNErUUkoheBe1ot0Jy02i7iXhSvTyxmJIlUqKG0zvOWI88WHFuwGeAhc/s1600/DSC02569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Sn8zmyxCOVXP7yDAPxQ_taKc5llUTZiRfiIFvq6rIAgRpWOjlwPHJG3ic9Ji9GFEPF7tsF3HKsb9ANXi4IqwNErUUkoheBe1ot0Jy02i7iXhSvTyxmJIlUqKG0zvOWI88WHFuwGeAhc/s1600/DSC02569.JPG" height="608" width="640" /></a></div>
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21.97 ct cushion cut red spinel, by David Nassi, 100% Natural Ltd. Honorable mention all other faceted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV_ZXSNAwBke8KjnDZOQLTkEJFhpFCt3RdW_OdILX3OVR3jUG0xAYbdB_spMWYUrgg_6dDJ_lgeFeXEhroN0L4tDA3dMh4lkuYGwAaoVDhRbgv8truB6QrnsTpg8FJgrAKxXHCwvdr3Rb/s1600/DSC02571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV_ZXSNAwBke8KjnDZOQLTkEJFhpFCt3RdW_OdILX3OVR3jUG0xAYbdB_spMWYUrgg_6dDJ_lgeFeXEhroN0L4tDA3dMh4lkuYGwAaoVDhRbgv8truB6QrnsTpg8FJgrAKxXHCwvdr3Rb/s1600/DSC02571.JPG" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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24.69 ct cushion cut pink sapphire by David Nassi. 2nd place classic gemstone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8m2P4Yuf2Fadw8mgzooAD6KVJSmXOHCXOHsAsjx2oJLJwWOY8l3Azi0NKy2Q_5NrKtJhJLgnpJ3anmUW3IKL1_lVHGBQBTH0Orph9-mesoIwdXd8T3tZV2TcLGaelokWG06XPMhRHKvW/s1600/DSC02575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8m2P4Yuf2Fadw8mgzooAD6KVJSmXOHCXOHsAsjx2oJLJwWOY8l3Azi0NKy2Q_5NrKtJhJLgnpJ3anmUW3IKL1_lVHGBQBTH0Orph9-mesoIwdXd8T3tZV2TcLGaelokWG06XPMhRHKvW/s1600/DSC02575.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29CuDStakRYLCg8RptXE7pW7Il-MiEvkK8sP7XLbZUwrkIcpL-JZs3cKF1etuN1iSqd19aMAlYUUl_n1oFSabQrPbk_rm5x0b_miRx-eLbVMJSxE_iQPw7vQ4VqH9Kw5Bd4fe7WlOfX0s/s1600/DSC02577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29CuDStakRYLCg8RptXE7pW7Il-MiEvkK8sP7XLbZUwrkIcpL-JZs3cKF1etuN1iSqd19aMAlYUUl_n1oFSabQrPbk_rm5x0b_miRx-eLbVMJSxE_iQPw7vQ4VqH9Kw5Bd4fe7WlOfX0s/s1600/DSC02577.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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That's a fun ring! By Mark Schneider. Presidents award.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzU9Pm2Z-C2Qq3soQ4rFzdDncvZzEQGQU_epRgfa_VA_Z96wHPrZXBdU7sKDH8hHQq1QhiY3fqE0QT-KrxsYZmxXIQPjVh8VQLfy6gl7x2G94rNtHgK7uFeWAanghnMzR1iCvHhe-a5HH/s1600/DSC02579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzU9Pm2Z-C2Qq3soQ4rFzdDncvZzEQGQU_epRgfa_VA_Z96wHPrZXBdU7sKDH8hHQq1QhiY3fqE0QT-KrxsYZmxXIQPjVh8VQLfy6gl7x2G94rNtHgK7uFeWAanghnMzR1iCvHhe-a5HH/s1600/DSC02579.JPG" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this one, by Galetea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGYLnykksjeo0ZbmcePyyADSFwBxjV1Wag-dFw6_sctQDPIaY6wxuqy1wg5yzZFHFcTFXghgDSlFQCszSnN_XqjtpnA_1toludTBXPZjC5Depqx5SyGGw-zWMiZdDu3GbWxkFAIWFhn_s/s1600/DSC02582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGYLnykksjeo0ZbmcePyyADSFwBxjV1Wag-dFw6_sctQDPIaY6wxuqy1wg5yzZFHFcTFXghgDSlFQCszSnN_XqjtpnA_1toludTBXPZjC5Depqx5SyGGw-zWMiZdDu3GbWxkFAIWFhn_s/s1600/DSC02582.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lovely bracelet by Tara.</div>
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<h3>
GJX show</h3>
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We heard that on the opening day, Tuesday 4th, 2014, some people were in the starting blocks to be the firsts to enter the show! We were not part of that crowd, as we arrived only on Tuesday night. GJX was crowded, but just as usual.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gihyoqv7e_txyWeT7CA4FT7NBcbwFEcYP_4dPrjdkbfwDkYkOkjoE88zcEUO5hMnemV9gHuIALSmnhVpauxXZgmHG3n1aGfSyuLNn7KtshpR03IJlphmmkG2-hquVJhWsM6tmqHIc-gM/s1600/DSC02609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gihyoqv7e_txyWeT7CA4FT7NBcbwFEcYP_4dPrjdkbfwDkYkOkjoE88zcEUO5hMnemV9gHuIALSmnhVpauxXZgmHG3n1aGfSyuLNn7KtshpR03IJlphmmkG2-hquVJhWsM6tmqHIc-gM/s1600/DSC02609.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The GJX entrance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbPkzvnSClREL1J2dsCUIvWGnFDBAid1OtSoqKa50Tjs6IE84x_BDzNqLFjtEOLH2-hDEtcJu2vtWuhyphenhyphenCiIb9f-gzDa346SvusepEw7qkCPxc1atgmq_JUve2KzFTJrtuBuwnRlFFigw4/s1600/DSC02610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbPkzvnSClREL1J2dsCUIvWGnFDBAid1OtSoqKa50Tjs6IE84x_BDzNqLFjtEOLH2-hDEtcJu2vtWuhyphenhyphenCiIb9f-gzDa346SvusepEw7qkCPxc1atgmq_JUve2KzFTJrtuBuwnRlFFigw4/s1600/DSC02610.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Love the advert!</div>
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We didn't see any new gems or deposits since the Munich show in November 2013. But here are some stones that caught our eyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6XbqQ9hB6yMI9eSRhTDLoDDdJgNWq-dmxhPIfEcRNeB_SBIx9TJaJwX3GZ6Y9-YrJW4J5U78SNWCgjYrPUt90cRRW1Eyz-4TuV52s1HUWQ1Zez5DlS479fs1LetF87G10jdUHjZPt3q9/s1600/DSC02549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6XbqQ9hB6yMI9eSRhTDLoDDdJgNWq-dmxhPIfEcRNeB_SBIx9TJaJwX3GZ6Y9-YrJW4J5U78SNWCgjYrPUt90cRRW1Eyz-4TuV52s1HUWQ1Zez5DlS479fs1LetF87G10jdUHjZPt3q9/s1600/DSC02549.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This 7.43 ct kyanite from Nepal at Gravier & Gemmes. Unbelievable color and clarity for such a stone! Later on, at the main show, I saw some oval shape earring that caught my eyes. I'm not ashamed that I thought they were sapphires when I fist saw them... That's how good the color and clarity gets!</div>
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We considered getting it for our collection, but other plans (well, minerals) got in the way. Eventually, the Smithsonian got it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR07hAxyiNuiQc0XEh4P6YMhfl2InOZVeATVbZtDGBQ4HI-M1KUHDp6dy_SPy8Tw7-eErMv_5lcapGqKdPrCVc0VdUZdP64GVXOuEn4GzjZAXBBrI8lW-3IrEGKwiUfZHLs68G3mmJH5AH/s1600/DSC02551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR07hAxyiNuiQc0XEh4P6YMhfl2InOZVeATVbZtDGBQ4HI-M1KUHDp6dy_SPy8Tw7-eErMv_5lcapGqKdPrCVc0VdUZdP64GVXOuEn4GzjZAXBBrI8lW-3IrEGKwiUfZHLs68G3mmJH5AH/s1600/DSC02551.JPG" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
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Still looking at spinels... Another hot pink 3.31 ct spinel, seen at Abouchard's booth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5upD6RnSs31k3O_Lw86Mu1EQuUYEu-w-TWxCZOGp06S6CBDB4y8clTAYRO0qaLwizHO9xqkRDqAwmi3B2GfvI7LRXnnK0apeQJbWQnDIwWDKpDUUZXpZNYcDELmD6tzjs6s5vMmPUPRh/s1600/DSC02552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5upD6RnSs31k3O_Lw86Mu1EQuUYEu-w-TWxCZOGp06S6CBDB4y8clTAYRO0qaLwizHO9xqkRDqAwmi3B2GfvI7LRXnnK0apeQJbWQnDIwWDKpDUUZXpZNYcDELmD6tzjs6s5vMmPUPRh/s1600/DSC02552.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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More spectacular, and still at Abouchard's booth, this 3.78 ct cobalt spinel. That's another gemstone on our wish list! I saw it last year at Tucson, and it's still here this year...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIiM7Y8pHuYlS1s_eTBo4DFtL8Hs2xkDmoRrjrwIQoqZOXNJwcCmpZNoqXDmRXtpZCb4DGE-A57WUPTZVypF5Brg1cLTZJX6ngw7Fx_GoKEAqLaLpUFIiV2d9f26ooFTt8CPd00z5sO8W/s1600/DSC02614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIiM7Y8pHuYlS1s_eTBo4DFtL8Hs2xkDmoRrjrwIQoqZOXNJwcCmpZNoqXDmRXtpZCb4DGE-A57WUPTZVypF5Brg1cLTZJX6ngw7Fx_GoKEAqLaLpUFIiV2d9f26ooFTt8CPd00z5sO8W/s1600/DSC02614.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Something crazy fun: this is a 11.37 ct lepidolite from Brazil, seen at Mauro Panto's booth. You know, this lithium-rich mica... which has a perfect cleavage and is very soft! Yes, someone managed to cut several gemstones out of that. It goes without saying that it is a collector's gemstone only!</div>
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This year, Mauro Panto was sharing his booth with Jeff Bergman of Beauty in the Rocks. Jeff had incredible trapiche sapphires from Burma, especially the one above. It weighs 36.16 ct and what makes it special is that the white areas cover a wider volume than the blue areas. Both blue and white areas are sapphire, and not inclusions as for other types of trapiche. Jeff Bergman gave us a great sample of trapiche sapphire from Burma (see below) for our collection!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDKVE14mQlgXHS28I7paZSkNdEjNyXo_BzlgmQKiNAwCC-5cMG8phelAOz164YHDkKJ4j_q69tqusj5P7zwML4V-5jRiFAQCSKTxV0H3jgna01edSeOGF0x7ZM2VlkHbc-d3L7JpRnkjD/s1600/20140205_152131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDKVE14mQlgXHS28I7paZSkNdEjNyXo_BzlgmQKiNAwCC-5cMG8phelAOz164YHDkKJ4j_q69tqusj5P7zwML4V-5jRiFAQCSKTxV0H3jgna01edSeOGF0x7ZM2VlkHbc-d3L7JpRnkjD/s1600/20140205_152131.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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You are wondering why I took a picture of a gem not face up. Look closely: it's because it shows amazing pleochroism, visible without tool just by turning the stone around. This kornerupine from Vance Gems was just incredible. I've heard that Robert Weldon got a few good pictures of it, stay tuned!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha70tkY4uLsZcLHQiSaF0J5APuodPc3UOXYcFT8DtqLIcKIPp1qR5ilOs0w-ICirdLB0UFjP14kz6WVqO8DRiIlTppdOg0JYh9lOixomP6I28f15qMsEk7BNNqvqzCWhAqpRNc_GTQs9E-/s1600/20140205_152019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha70tkY4uLsZcLHQiSaF0J5APuodPc3UOXYcFT8DtqLIcKIPp1qR5ilOs0w-ICirdLB0UFjP14kz6WVqO8DRiIlTppdOg0JYh9lOixomP6I28f15qMsEk7BNNqvqzCWhAqpRNc_GTQs9E-/s1600/20140205_152019.jpg" height="504" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here the same kornerupine with a hand dichroscope. See what I mean when I talk about amazing pleochroism? Green to purple, just like that!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFeNWDN1yBE4K2qFGQXKoPwJoJ4FX-EbHx6p7aR3lkIxj6juOXMsYFPMfzYVghyo3XOZjPJwWkmJRqwidAbZlysHYy_yGIJbfaSDUne89kURQEPOM2AAAg9jO-qYRN7hBmrfcdIduUt2Z/s1600/20140205_161255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFeNWDN1yBE4K2qFGQXKoPwJoJ4FX-EbHx6p7aR3lkIxj6juOXMsYFPMfzYVghyo3XOZjPJwWkmJRqwidAbZlysHYy_yGIJbfaSDUne89kURQEPOM2AAAg9jO-qYRN7hBmrfcdIduUt2Z/s1600/20140205_161255.jpg" height="546" width="640" /></a></div>
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And of course, more opals... This spectacular ring with a hologram base was seen at Gemoa (Opalinda) booth.</div>
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Pretty in purplish-pink! This Mozambique 9.55 ct tourmaline is just stunning (Paraiba-type, copper bearing tourmaline). The perfect eye candy! Seen at Ekhehard Schneider, in the Idar-Oberstein group.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8c_36UgGpxpx9k2Epo7YnPkhIUmT_ja53CVXMD-Zn6Vc_hQ1dVeUt6eYM7kaRtFX35Db9vKhdxpgSjLsl_9ycifGy1XVFUyNs473TBomBqxZaGyrGHC1BNXRAudNDbz8zhp2J2MAAgEX/s1600/DSC02612b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8c_36UgGpxpx9k2Epo7YnPkhIUmT_ja53CVXMD-Zn6Vc_hQ1dVeUt6eYM7kaRtFX35Db9vKhdxpgSjLsl_9ycifGy1XVFUyNs473TBomBqxZaGyrGHC1BNXRAudNDbz8zhp2J2MAAgEX/s1600/DSC02612b.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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My favorite of the gem show: this 103 ct spessartine from Nigeria, seen at <a href="http://www.gemstone.de/">Constantin Wild</a>'s booth. Un-be-lie-vable! Thanks Constantin for letting us share this beauty! Obviously, my picture doesn't do it justice..</div>
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Donations</h3>
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Again, this year, some gem dealers were generous with us! And they are right: we provide a permanent home for minerals and gems. We have 2,000 minerals and gems in our exhibit, and over 100,000 in the collection. We are always looking at gems or minerals we don't have, or localities we don't have. Even if our specialty is California, we have a wide variety of world class gems & minerals from all around the world.</div>
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Oligoclase from Kenya (3.12ct), gift of Edward Boehm of Rare Source:</h4>
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Tourmaline from Moragoro, Tanzania (6.06 ct), gift of Menahem Sevdermish:</h4>
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Trapiche sapphire from Mogok, Burma (22.20 ct), gift of Jeffrey Bergman of The Beauty in the Rocks: </h4>
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From left to right: Brendan Laurs, Mauro Panto, Jeff Bergman, George Harlow & Jamie Newman (from the AMNH) and Alyssa Morgan.</div>
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Contraluz opal from Ethiopia (7.7 x 5.8 x 3 cm), gift of Francesco Mazzero and Eyassu Bekele of Gemoa / Opalinda:</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K1Qjw0B4Bt7bq6_4ZZQbJINXVUu6nkmauZ90BTgmGGwFHB5SswjrcpQ5UtALPMGGpHz0eFZh9oEJ5YEqa_BgdbJHI418PuvrD7E1aK_QzLzrEsBt7sgQH7Jc06_GkTMgx0Iiqyt4LgiH/s1600/DSC03072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K1Qjw0B4Bt7bq6_4ZZQbJINXVUu6nkmauZ90BTgmGGwFHB5SswjrcpQ5UtALPMGGpHz0eFZh9oEJ5YEqa_BgdbJHI418PuvrD7E1aK_QzLzrEsBt7sgQH7Jc06_GkTMgx0Iiqyt4LgiH/s1600/DSC03072.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Thanks again to our donors!</span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-40868715161246087972014-01-03T17:10:00.000-08:002014-01-03T17:12:19.302-08:00European Gem & Mineral Experience: a trip organized by the curatorial staff of NHMLAC<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 27th- July 7th 2014</b></span></div>
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<b>A splendid mineral and gem journey through France and Germany
led by Curator Eloïse Gaillou, Emeritus Curator Tony Kampf
and Collections Manager Alyssa Morgan </b></div>
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• 5 nights in Obernai, France, 2 nights near Idar-Oberstein, and 3 nights in Dresden, Germany<br />
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• Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Mineral & Gem Show<br />
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• Private mineral & museum collection tours<br />
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• Mine & Wine: Exclusive excursions of famous mines and celebrated vineyards<br />
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• Visits with prominent mineral, gem, and carving dealers<br />
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• Outings to historical castles and cultural sights<br />
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• European culinary delights
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<i>Top: Main street in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Bottom, from left to right:
Terra Mineralia quartz specimen; Moor bearing emeralds; the city of Dresden. </i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Itinerary (subject to change): </span></b></div>
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• <b>June 27</b>: Arrive at hotel in Obernai, near Strasbourg, France. First dinner with the group.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoSdNJQ5knAvGkoOogoNFXx1GmUffGi1LDdBCx1oVhogEdcM1ehjuUYd27_zqGR2IFvO9u5SvD8H8c7yFzmiSCC8qO-8Q4PD5t4mjcPPxDNTJLD_YkF1eWuLMorV0M5ioaZV2C9b_Y1T/s1600/Obernai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoSdNJQ5knAvGkoOogoNFXx1GmUffGi1LDdBCx1oVhogEdcM1ehjuUYd27_zqGR2IFvO9u5SvD8H8c7yFzmiSCC8qO-8Q4PD5t4mjcPPxDNTJLD_YkF1eWuLMorV0M5ioaZV2C9b_Y1T/s640/Obernai.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Obernai (copyright: freevisits.com)</i></div>
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• <b>June 28</b>: Attend the wonderful Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Mineral & Gem show: a guided tour with curator Eloïse Gaillou. Visit of the show special exhibit.<br />
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<i>Gem show at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (copyright: E. Gaillou)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSV1GcFsHtcAhe91jJQUgk0Wc46THUp_rY1VjOl-GgCFXS2fK0m-VqAvm8Pg656lVtRyPJW2kZAUmOa2wNlpvWn7iZM5y72zaIgqB2jbT3AzjxaH719halIjM-8Bbczv5RNgvalTzwKPT/s1600/DSC00977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSV1GcFsHtcAhe91jJQUgk0Wc46THUp_rY1VjOl-GgCFXS2fK0m-VqAvm8Pg656lVtRyPJW2kZAUmOa2wNlpvWn7iZM5y72zaIgqB2jbT3AzjxaH719halIjM-8Bbczv5RNgvalTzwKPT/s640/DSC00977.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine, Arizona was part of the special exhibit on "American Treasures" at the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines show in 2013. Collection: Musée des Mines ParisTech (copyright: E. Gaillou).</i></div>
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• <b>June 29</b>: Free morning at the show. Afternoon: visit the silver Tellure mine and museum near Sainte-Marie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifHjlEE8gLUXtbIfdfBeWUJPhP4FpjtUFDcHnOkMBKLQgGkw8Fwvve2MStsgRIt6NkhlKiVCcmnwdapaPSzC0ofSJrX9OKML1XtoOKKt-Y3VT4zlh1XwffsfMLcCGrHFOrpgcB-b4CsHJ/s1600/tellure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifHjlEE8gLUXtbIfdfBeWUJPhP4FpjtUFDcHnOkMBKLQgGkw8Fwvve2MStsgRIt6NkhlKiVCcmnwdapaPSzC0ofSJrX9OKML1XtoOKKt-Y3VT4zlh1XwffsfMLcCGrHFOrpgcB-b4CsHJ/s640/tellure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Mine de Tellure (Copyright: <a href="http://www.tellure.fr/">www.tellure.fr</a>)</i></div>
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• <b>June 30</b>: Visit a mine in the Vosges Mountains. Wine tasting and visiting a vineyard located in an old fluorite quarry, in the Alsace wine region.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwRO4M74v3I4LnsIDgAazsBl0L_yFyAQOfczyL2h2k7P0oyaZcyEo01oT5trxSS1D_rOP-umnqoM1lRnzfaSWqRugHrtI1Ym36CYdobF_FJ3yVEG1knPcM7CCjB6BYXhYwM-QqNLLzD1g/s1600/SylvieSpielmann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwRO4M74v3I4LnsIDgAazsBl0L_yFyAQOfczyL2h2k7P0oyaZcyEo01oT5trxSS1D_rOP-umnqoM1lRnzfaSWqRugHrtI1Ym36CYdobF_FJ3yVEG1knPcM7CCjB6BYXhYwM-QqNLLzD1g/s640/SylvieSpielmann.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Copyright: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mineralwine/with/7556230490">mineralwine.it</a>)</div>
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• <b>July 1</b>: Visit the Clara mine in the Black Forest, Germany. Visit the showroom and shop of an international mineral dealer near Strasbourg.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN1HLcCRLxFttuQP34IFquBEjnIbLxAnEvImDBcWa5WCUWoI9m2O4f30vvkYxhoI4wW8kI7hfcXbXI4OG-b2qOLedIxWttKNYs3kvBjaxAekGgSG4x_p0jQxl-zwzyEKcBiL0hL0UeZeD/s1600/ClaraMine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN1HLcCRLxFttuQP34IFquBEjnIbLxAnEvImDBcWa5WCUWoI9m2O4f30vvkYxhoI4wW8kI7hfcXbXI4OG-b2qOLedIxWttKNYs3kvBjaxAekGgSG4x_p0jQxl-zwzyEKcBiL0hL0UeZeD/s640/ClaraMine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Dumps at the Clara Mine (copyright: Luigi Chiappino).</i></div>
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• <b>July 2</b>: All day in Idar-Oberstein, Europe’s historic gemstone center. Morning: visit to the historic gem cutting water mill (Weiherschleife) and to the Gemstone Museum (Edelsteinmuseum). Afternoon and private dinner at world-renowned dealer Constantin Wild’s workshop. Tour of his gem-cutting workshop and gem showroom; possibility to “cut your own” gemstone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNLX9Jd0uUKx9edf_yrs4-u_JzY677KfvFMyk4RghpSC4v9IEVelKvRc5QZMQAZJ2PVbedrFZuIEHXS7evm8wPsy92FsBf1Jc9sjGVZ3uLPUW9EUPkLNIeCl0WDFVn9b8MrT09Hn25qCh/s1600/Constantin+Wild+-+Company+-+3846-cmyk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNLX9Jd0uUKx9edf_yrs4-u_JzY677KfvFMyk4RghpSC4v9IEVelKvRc5QZMQAZJ2PVbedrFZuIEHXS7evm8wPsy92FsBf1Jc9sjGVZ3uLPUW9EUPkLNIeCl0WDFVn9b8MrT09Hn25qCh/s640/Constantin+Wild+-+Company+-+3846-cmyk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The day in Idar will include a tour of Constantin Wild's workshop (copyright: C. Wild).</i></div>
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• <b>July 3</b>: Morning at master carver Andreas Becker’s workshop (family business since the 16th century). Afternoon: travel along the beautiful Mosel River Valley, famous for its delicious wines and incredible castles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREjP9hJ4-d4BbL4GX2AFAbVXifP4ZLd4RODdebLcceUWnRG-M9vcVgkVTusQj5qC6ItuFoyx5Ww1QOg7miXKEfQ7IOcXUqI2bcMo0Lsk2zuyWIhYeV1GuGF-1W4qpnhEH2xU3cc6AAamY/s1600/bonham_becker2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREjP9hJ4-d4BbL4GX2AFAbVXifP4ZLd4RODdebLcceUWnRG-M9vcVgkVTusQj5qC6ItuFoyx5Ww1QOg7miXKEfQ7IOcXUqI2bcMo0Lsk2zuyWIhYeV1GuGF-1W4qpnhEH2xU3cc6AAamY/s640/bonham_becker2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> Hummingbirds by Gerhard Becker, carved out of Californian tourmalines (copyright: <a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20397/lot/1257/">Bohnams</a>).</i></div>
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• <b>July 4</b>: Tour some gorgeous castles near Cochem, Germany before traveling to Dresden in the afternoon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp0EXaiHhC6u2b7sWWbTLSaxi-ZnjqP5T8NEr1gAtZMVxvP0JCCuNY84mXugdfVhe5G5hfQZtA2pfkAUKhyDtTIuKTtVlCMSvWmqe5UxmYNs7Xg-F2WnDo08ZtLB-zFyemm4LJ0MgXDvl/s1600/1200px-Reichsburg_Cochem_0003a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp0EXaiHhC6u2b7sWWbTLSaxi-ZnjqP5T8NEr1gAtZMVxvP0JCCuNY84mXugdfVhe5G5hfQZtA2pfkAUKhyDtTIuKTtVlCMSvWmqe5UxmYNs7Xg-F2WnDo08ZtLB-zFyemm4LJ0MgXDvl/s640/1200px-Reichsburg_Cochem_0003a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Along the Mosel River: the Cochel Castle (copyright: H. Peierl).</i></div>
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• <b>July 5</b>: Visit to the Old Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe) in Dresden, housing the extraordinary treasures of the Kings of Saxony. Afternoon free to enjoy the beautiful and historic city of Dresden (optional activities recommended by staff).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64I1J46EMITdhl-j6hSaeLb2yipbwBi06pfcLDQWMfXSzgA4lI3ZcAY8prnOC-ZHn_fbzyVMdZZ5LA94x-Taq_fCya2OeLi7vnuZvx0mkBNNERcLvkDVRkcK36ZceNE0g0dXMwBvAYWfp/s1600/greenvault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64I1J46EMITdhl-j6hSaeLb2yipbwBi06pfcLDQWMfXSzgA4lI3ZcAY8prnOC-ZHn_fbzyVMdZZ5LA94x-Taq_fCya2OeLi7vnuZvx0mkBNNERcLvkDVRkcK36ZceNE0g0dXMwBvAYWfp/s640/greenvault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Jewel room at the Green Vault (photo: D. Brandt, copyright: SKD).</i></div>
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• <b>July 6</b>: Visit the historic mining town of Freiburg, Germany. Morning: private tour of the renowned mineral collection of the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg by curator Andreas Massanek. Afternoon: visit to Terra Mineralia, a new museum featuring the collection of Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher, with over 3,500 spectacular mineral specimens on three floors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCntNvajBMDolEJEn1tGgPDE9TUed_zUomGKO9kPe5Fa_z80WoG1Zdg3X6QVF2RNAkvmYbS7_qWwsCTl8hxnrHbo_ClDyW1XkFvt-CRVms2TE74DOzUWJpOO9WUnWt6cqPMzc4BBTUlxJ/s1600/Terra-Mineralia-Schatzkammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCntNvajBMDolEJEn1tGgPDE9TUed_zUomGKO9kPe5Fa_z80WoG1Zdg3X6QVF2RNAkvmYbS7_qWwsCTl8hxnrHbo_ClDyW1XkFvt-CRVms2TE74DOzUWJpOO9WUnWt6cqPMzc4BBTUlxJ/s640/Terra-Mineralia-Schatzkammer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Treasure Chamber at Terra Mineralia (copyright: <a href="http://www.germany.travel/en/towns-cities-culture/museums/museums.html">germany.travel</a>)</div>
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• <b>July 7</b>: End of tour.
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*********</div>
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***</div>
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*********</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>10-Day Tour Cost: $4,000 per person </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Includes meals, accommodations, & transportation during the tour (excludes airfare and other expenses before and after the tour) </div>
<br />
• $500 per person deposit required to reserve a spot on the tour<br />
• Full payment due by May 1st 2014<br />
• Registration for Gem & Mineral Council members begins December 7th 2013<br />
• Registration for non-members begins December 14th 2013<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Reserve early, space is limited. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gem & Mineral Council </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Blvd.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Los Angeles, CA 90007 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gmc@nhm.org </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
213-763-3326
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/sites/default/files/mineral/pdf/Europe_FLYER_INFORMATION.pdf" target="_blank">Download the travel information sheet HERE.</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-71811814896366001172013-12-08T21:34:00.001-08:002013-12-30T11:27:39.082-08:00Aurora Butterfly of Peace: A History of the Collection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZGpOqhG7cNsmzZ5A50hIiMidMVEaRmc0Hh6VQiALDOM6gtq6SyQQCQCy6m03d9ASgoqIOXxdL6jwJ0WA7wOxKTuOup_DJCUz3FJjPYB8A2irVr52xO73-3l4ABjHrCF3om0HpmKUr39S/s1600/DSC02489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZGpOqhG7cNsmzZ5A50hIiMidMVEaRmc0Hh6VQiALDOM6gtq6SyQQCQCy6m03d9ASgoqIOXxdL6jwJ0WA7wOxKTuOup_DJCUz3FJjPYB8A2irVr52xO73-3l4ABjHrCF3om0HpmKUr39S/s640/DSC02489.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace, on exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Photo: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdiyVKVZN1JSQtkLVISzeWMigupi2vo6-vgCs6-hq5Jhkgb3UaHdm40sptvYpcWsYNVfQmdRLjEiOAqNdSyVbdCZ5RiVtF81t_pBd-_qiqxHy2eeXghlh3DVCnagDDLd2OgRpzsLVNHk1/s1600/DSC02430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdiyVKVZN1JSQtkLVISzeWMigupi2vo6-vgCs6-hq5Jhkgb3UaHdm40sptvYpcWsYNVfQmdRLjEiOAqNdSyVbdCZ5RiVtF81t_pBd-_qiqxHy2eeXghlh3DVCnagDDLd2OgRpzsLVNHk1/s640/DSC02430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace: 240 natural fancy colored diamonds, here viewed at an unusual angle. Photo / Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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When New Jersey diamond dealer Alan Bronstein saw
his first colored diamond in 1979 he was immediately captivated. He thought the canary yellow diamond shone
like the sun. Surprisingly to him, such beautiful stones were something of an
underground commodity. Back in the 1970s and 80s, colored diamonds were not commercially
popular and 99% of dealers had no interest in them. Bronstein began to collect these diamonds,
buying one stone at time from the few other dealers who loved them. Diamond dealers tend to be secretive,
hoarding knowledge, protecting their sources. A few dealers were willing to sell the colored diamonds and to teach him
more about the stones and their origins. These dealers often became his close friends
and mentors and together they could share their enthusiasm for the elusive
stones.<br />
<br /></div>
Bronstein’s collection grew gradually, with some
diamonds sold and replaced by better examples. By 1989 he had amassed a fine assortment. He arranged 60 stones into the outline of a
butterfly, determined to fill it in. Over the next twelve years he did just that, eventually reaching the current
arrangement of 240 diamonds. The
Butterfly is a spectacular work of art in harmony with nature. The stones are perfectly arranged to show a
wide spectrum of color that natural diamonds can have. The selection process of placing diamonds of
similar size and color on each wing also creates an amazing display under
ultraviolet light. Stones of the same
color may also show a similar color
in fluorescence. When seen in UV light,
the butterfly becomes a rainbow of glowing diamonds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqrZ9_JIAJ5ow5TPdCvf2bQjU4gELeTu-YxAbg9HZWU3l5KD8Nd6ROyNbXpCIP9cklvjxrWgH9EbGn8j9vfnHzQx7JnHu15Nsu7qgM_jYdXtHE7Z8F61_MfiannMMnpfFQeuFkoKsRkAg/s1600/stage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqrZ9_JIAJ5ow5TPdCvf2bQjU4gELeTu-YxAbg9HZWU3l5KD8Nd6ROyNbXpCIP9cklvjxrWgH9EbGn8j9vfnHzQx7JnHu15Nsu7qgM_jYdXtHE7Z8F61_MfiannMMnpfFQeuFkoKsRkAg/s640/stage1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>An early version of the Aurora Butterfly (scanned image). Photo Courtesy of Alan Bronstein.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGNW2vMnr4WhKGHXpHJHS4bmvF_JwYXW5lAXDY7Xec33aBHHybUq8lQsSsIiLvGbMix2u-WOFapsC7lwwndxB6vcvkrkbTogZwwdhLnnr6yKT5gtdjzgvfE0m_V-krI8hJsBfvw8MUeUN/s1600/stage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGNW2vMnr4WhKGHXpHJHS4bmvF_JwYXW5lAXDY7Xec33aBHHybUq8lQsSsIiLvGbMix2u-WOFapsC7lwwndxB6vcvkrkbTogZwwdhLnnr6yKT5gtdjzgvfE0m_V-krI8hJsBfvw8MUeUN/s640/stage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Butterfly grows as more diamonds are added (scanned image). Photo courtesy of Alan Bronstein.</i></div>
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<o:p></o:p>
For years Mr. Bronstein showed the collection only
to friends and colleagues who would most appreciate the rarity of the diamonds
(as well as the time and effort that went in to obtaining them). Eventually he showed the Butterfly to Nicola
Bulgari, a man of discerning tastes who is not easily impressed. When Bulgari saw the Butterfly he exclaimed
“This, I have never seen before!”. That
moment convinced Mr. Bronstein that he should show the collection to a larger
audience.
The first public showing of the Butterfly was at the
Houston Museum of Natural Science. At
that time it contained only 162 diamonds. When it had reached its current size, Mr. Bronstein approached the
Curator of Minerals at the Smithsonian, Dr. Jeffrey Post. Dr. Post visited Mr. Bronstein’s New York office
intending to stay for ten minutes. He
left four hours later with a promise to have the Butterfly displayed in
Washington D.C.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Eg0ycAreokbEiBdVwGqvuk5IvyavAMPIUU-Hxa4Dpk_LADHTqQxSTVGH-GBW60gd2TsMtAaF5_6kmdVZk21IJh9a8kk7sKANK8P9pElQEmUl_tbsboBwzxy9QF1ckO82BI9aeOMcyw/s1600/Elo_Jeff_Alan.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Eg0ycAreokbEiBdVwGqvuk5IvyavAMPIUU-Hxa4Dpk_LADHTqQxSTVGH-GBW60gd2TsMtAaF5_6kmdVZk21IJh9a8kk7sKANK8P9pElQEmUl_tbsboBwzxy9QF1ckO82BI9aeOMcyw/s640/Elo_Jeff_Alan.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Left to right: Dr. Eloïse Gaillou, Assoc. Curator of Mineral Sciences with Alan Bronstein, Curator of the Aurora Collection and Dr. Jeffrey Post, Curator, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Photo by Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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<i>Associate Curator Eloïse Gaillou welcoming guests at the unveiling of the Aurora Butterfly of Peace exhibit. Photo: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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On December 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013 the Butterfly arrived
at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Mr. Bronstein believes the Butterfly belongs
in museums dedicated to science and education. He stresses his admiration and support for institutions whose mission is
to inspire a love of knowledge and concern for our natural world. Though the
Butterfly is a stunning artistic piece, it is more importantly a part of the Earth,
created by nature. He believes its
greatest significance lies in its ability to impart a sense of wonder of the
universe. There are few, if any,
opportunities for most people to see such a variety of colored diamonds
together in one exhibit and it can make a lasting impression. He has seen children (even very young ones) get
so excited at the sight of the diamonds and ask so many questions about them.
The beauty of the Butterfly is universally appreciated and draws people in,
they cannot help but wonder where the diamonds come from and what makes them so
beautiful.
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<i>Mr. Alan Bronstein's speech at the unveiling of the Aurora Butterfly of Peace exhibit. Photo: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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We are so happy that the Butterfly has now alit in the Hixon Gem Vault at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.<br />
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<i>Gathering around the display case in the Gem Vault for the unveiling. Photo: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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<i>Mr. Alan Bronstein unveiling the Aurora Butterfly of Peace in the Gem Vault. Photos: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl84QHm835-BPUhOYmqMnS5Z_ZLMI20gnWBNfwA0Y_tKmfI_qQN6N43KnUYDkS1smIljepcVuVss35rTEYH2QMywptXhe92dNSriTTn8ZU9xuoPuSkNOLRpJZ5OfEqwYX6GTYCC5kyMcAP/s1600/DSC02470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl84QHm835-BPUhOYmqMnS5Z_ZLMI20gnWBNfwA0Y_tKmfI_qQN6N43KnUYDkS1smIljepcVuVss35rTEYH2QMywptXhe92dNSriTTn8ZU9xuoPuSkNOLRpJZ5OfEqwYX6GTYCC5kyMcAP/s640/DSC02470.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Left to right: Annette Bronstein, Eloïse Gaillou and Alan Bronstein.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_elNAFapavcgDOrgml8HroQ8I8ONYxYfLxmp-kqzMSpmCo1eZ8CJONvehJt0Z4lT3j4p8s5evPBEtgx76AdKZv-5EyETZtIF1aJPEA0KkjADD0el2kDingjOxBNbhmXN_R8Hahe0HNWx/s1600/DSC02490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_elNAFapavcgDOrgml8HroQ8I8ONYxYfLxmp-kqzMSpmCo1eZ8CJONvehJt0Z4lT3j4p8s5evPBEtgx76AdKZv-5EyETZtIF1aJPEA0KkjADD0el2kDingjOxBNbhmXN_R8Hahe0HNWx/s640/DSC02490.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Young admirers. Photo: Kristjan Stone for NHMLAC.</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Let's end with some close-up pictures of the Butterfly of Peace, as never seen before. </span><i style="text-align: left;">All pictures below are by<span style="text-align: center;"> Eloïse Gaillou.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6eQx6wPR9QCWBkwqbplhOCR1yyqykXJMG7EGkNERwLACkW1XyBa4MzQo-3mst4w1vHGKcYUnMetuLEal11-2QRCu6FxQm87JJqdU8dWu_____GALKdNvoaduJ6k0iytFaCE48phqMdKE/s1600/DSC02435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6eQx6wPR9QCWBkwqbplhOCR1yyqykXJMG7EGkNERwLACkW1XyBa4MzQo-3mst4w1vHGKcYUnMetuLEal11-2QRCu6FxQm87JJqdU8dWu_____GALKdNvoaduJ6k0iytFaCE48phqMdKE/s640/DSC02435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-16463069689102116512013-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:002013-12-05T14:22:01.458-08:00The Aurora Butterfly of Peace: bringing it to the NHMLAC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9MxJHz4FLm1sBUZK3U8LtmmROLmhC_P_OoIl2IQoJwfx42cQVxwo7WXXADADG6sXMj61824IH8sYms1Rl3AOUrHTifSpkjDviHoM5JAVVqIBaKOfI6UwI6SfxKzpG1tU0gKXrmhxLmMC/s1600/Butterfly_square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9MxJHz4FLm1sBUZK3U8LtmmROLmhC_P_OoIl2IQoJwfx42cQVxwo7WXXADADG6sXMj61824IH8sYms1Rl3AOUrHTifSpkjDviHoM5JAVVqIBaKOfI6UwI6SfxKzpG1tU0gKXrmhxLmMC/s640/Butterfly_square.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace: an art piece composed of 240 natural fancy colored diamonds. Photo: Robert Weldon. Copyright: Alan Bronstein.</i></div>
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<h3>
COLORED DIAMONDS</h3>
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By now, I think that most of you know my passion for <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html" target="_blank">colored diamonds</a>. Yes, they are pretty and some are extremely expensive. But my interest is mainly in their scientific significance. <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html" target="_blank">It is because they contain fortunate imperfections that they have color</a>. These imperfections can tell us more about the environment in which diamonds grow. In particular, I study the pinks and the blues: </div>
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-<a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-pink-diamonds-are-pink.html" target="_blank"> pink (to purple and red) diamonds</a> have undergone some intense plastic deformation while still in the Earth's mantle (150km or below). To accommodate extreme forces in the deep Earth, diamond might not break, but instead re-arrange its atomic structure, creating slip planes (or even twinning, in the case of pink diamonds). This can only occur under the high pressure and high temperature regime of the Earth's mantle. <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-pink-diamonds-are-pink.html" target="_blank">But what is the exact imperfection that gives the pink color and why is it so rare to find pink diamonds?</a></div>
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- <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/05/hope-diamond-blue-by-day-red-by-night_22.html" target="_blank">blue diamonds contain boron impurities</a>, which give them their characteristic blue color (<a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/05/hope-diamond-blue-by-day-red-by-night_22.html" target="_blank">such as in the Hope diamond</a>). But what is boron doing so deep inside the Earth? Boron is a volatile element and is mostly found at the surface of the Earth, not really expected to be found 150 km deep or below. How did get there?</div>
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These are only a few questions that I'm trying to answer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHg0eNt57JCWoX5ipnGMPYSyCte6APntV8Q-woDliY-7_oM3idStGcKs4QLDos-NSFiKAowxi8oYLGPpyTqlFNaDsYGgPPQk0vp-IUUaY1BgFcPsP_1FrtYiieb3BzwTX5vWFrERpBGB-/s1600/DSC02435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHg0eNt57JCWoX5ipnGMPYSyCte6APntV8Q-woDliY-7_oM3idStGcKs4QLDos-NSFiKAowxi8oYLGPpyTqlFNaDsYGgPPQk0vp-IUUaY1BgFcPsP_1FrtYiieb3BzwTX5vWFrERpBGB-/s640/DSC02435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Wing shot of the Butterfly of Peace. Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<h3>
THE QUEST FOR SAMPLES</h3>
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During my quest for samples when I was a post doc at the Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Alan Bronstein crossed my path. As you can imagine, it's not easy to find such rare and expensive diamonds (here, I'm talking about over $2M per carat for the best pink and blue diamonds!). Even the Smithsonian does not have THAT many blues or pinks. And hey, sometimes, you can't do all the experiments you want / need on the Hope or on the Blue Heart diamonds... Can you imagine putting a multi-million dollar into the crusher?<br />
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Mr. Alan Bronstein, a New York based diamond dealer, owner of the company Aurora Gems came into play when curator Jeffrey Post of the Smithsonian asked him to help us in our scientific investigation, back in 2010. Mr. Bronstein told us that he will try to help us. A few weeks later, he had 70 blue diamonds for us to analyze! Incredible! Thanks to this new set of data, we were able to complete our study, and <a href="http://www.intl-ammin.geoscienceworld.org/content/97/1/1.short" target="_blank">publish an article on blue diamonds</a>.<br />
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Following up on our interests on colored diamonds, Mr. Bronstein suggested that I should get a chance to study one of his collections of fancy colored diamonds. He sent the Aurora Butterfly of Peace to the Smithsonian in August 2011, so I can "play" with the diamonds in the collection. I knew already that I got the position of Associate Curator at the NHMLAC and had a lot of research projects to wrap up both at the Carnegie Institution for Science and at the Smithsonian. But how often would I have the chance to look at 240 fancy colored diamonds?<br />
So, here I was, looking at every single pink and blue diamond in the collection (I had to make a choice of what I needed to study). My advisors Jim Butler and Jeff Post helped me collecting all the data (infrared spectrometry and phosphorescence, mostly).<br />
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When I left the Smithsonian, at the end of 2011, I knew that I needed more time to work on the Butterfly. I was still not completely done with the pinks, didn't study the violet to grey from Argyle, and didn't get the chance to have a look at the orange diamonds, which are the least studed of all... <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-largest-orange-diamond-auctioned-geneva-170031656.html" target="_blank">and are now "hot" in the market place</a> ($35.5M for a 14.82-ct fancy vivid orange diamond -the largest known-).<br />
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<h3>
BRINGING THE BUTTERFLY OF PEACE TO LA</h3>
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Still in regular contact with Mr. Bronstein after I left the Smithsonian, we agreed that the Butterfly should come and visit LA, after its stop at the Boston Fine Art Museum. After getting the agreement of the executives of the NHMLAC, and getting all the paperwork, "voilà"! The Butterfly of Peace is in the hands of the Mineral Science team! It will be on exhibit from Dec. 5th 2013 until June 1st 2014. And... I get the chance to look at the diamonds I didn't have the time to look at the last time I had the art piece in my hands.<br />
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When we received the Butterfly and I opened the box containing the diamonds, my heart pumped a few stronger, faster beats! Yes, what an art-piece! Honestly, no photo can do it justice. You know how great a single diamond looks like. Now, imagine 240 of them, all of different colors. AND arranged in a butterfly shape. It is just extraordinary!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf2YThVJ5tQU1vatgUAhQrG2c-Xg1GosNUfKO-jQ1aQQ57XGI0kuiDLtuyUBsf1onmfZEMz0-Pp1vjolaxEfk42mh4LSApdSeeVD5j_9Xn-3cwWVNOB4QzRrQaT7pX80enz9dbFuuautr/s1600/DSC02191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf2YThVJ5tQU1vatgUAhQrG2c-Xg1GosNUfKO-jQ1aQQ57XGI0kuiDLtuyUBsf1onmfZEMz0-Pp1vjolaxEfk42mh4LSApdSeeVD5j_9Xn-3cwWVNOB4QzRrQaT7pX80enz9dbFuuautr/s640/DSC02191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A m<i>oving moment when I received the Butterfly of Peace. Opening it for the first time after 2 years was a great feeling.</i><i>Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1uDA_e4GTjxTw0jl93RkG9W4YX9vwWsKJd6xv2N_9jquBlrsmW5TD2JAqpUqdO0cZT0JMRutcu823VEULuStEDWi3CENkgFR8nHAQ1BUmoOXz1tBfY7hyphenhyphen0tH__5KVtRzfFzOKLgffIxr/s1600/DSC02192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1uDA_e4GTjxTw0jl93RkG9W4YX9vwWsKJd6xv2N_9jquBlrsmW5TD2JAqpUqdO0cZT0JMRutcu823VEULuStEDWi3CENkgFR8nHAQ1BUmoOXz1tBfY7hyphenhyphen0tH__5KVtRzfFzOKLgffIxr/s640/DSC02192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Alright, here it is. Wow....... now, let's check if all the diamonds are here! </i><i>Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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Mr. Alan Bronstein and deceased Harry Rodman put the art-piece together, one stone at a time, dedicating it to "the dissemination of peace and harmony among all men, religions and races". When you look at the Butterfly, peace definitely surrounds you. Well, at least it works on me, and I can't ever get tired of staring at it. Alright, I have to admit, it's even better when you get the chance to play with the diamonds!<br />
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Talking about playing, here are a few shots I got of some of the diamonds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5aqsOw2IzSPgo9m_O4Q9ykbSMDdrwpTlXOnjTEp9hD0pNjGZ6OmIOIVyXmIq7Dx4aSzYdpxgOJTZQ_89MyjlzDViHgTisU0-LCb_jyUOTPy0_5Vz9J-vlvtTHPus3eHR-_X6JhzQKrv6/s1600/DSC02388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5aqsOw2IzSPgo9m_O4Q9ykbSMDdrwpTlXOnjTEp9hD0pNjGZ6OmIOIVyXmIq7Dx4aSzYdpxgOJTZQ_89MyjlzDViHgTisU0-LCb_jyUOTPy0_5Vz9J-vlvtTHPus3eHR-_X6JhzQKrv6/s640/DSC02388.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"The Stars of the Night". </i></div>
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<i>Just love this association of colors. The orange heart-shape diamond (1.10 ct) comes from the body of the butterfly, the yellows (1.11 & 1.02 ct) and pinks from the wings. Photo / Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK74Eg6TbkjGz1Lf5HqK3MBAx8EZLkRNsC7o1H2ONhi7_AYk-4A752ataVadzmgNAdP0At5V0GLR_G7-3N8LvOzJC9RUfm2JSXWEdPMd9SGjNVEuECulbRUmQcr2sQtgRBGRWhDWRxcQm/s1600/DSC02279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK74Eg6TbkjGz1Lf5HqK3MBAx8EZLkRNsC7o1H2ONhi7_AYk-4A752ataVadzmgNAdP0At5V0GLR_G7-3N8LvOzJC9RUfm2JSXWEdPMd9SGjNVEuECulbRUmQcr2sQtgRBGRWhDWRxcQm/s640/DSC02279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Pink diamonds from the Butterfly of Peace collection. From left to right: 0.66, 0.48 and 0.49 carats.</i> <i>Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrjaQ44iVWWC6WfAak7CKfI1YQMgHD1LN3NJZ3-rOR5TP2VFZYWXPw3wz8vkuzWRljBCQ1cBI3HPV7CPHDspxHniFTTA89VKICc2dhNFk3oxPobABladG54HNDzT0xW8hd-ji4pl9E_PE/s1600/DSC02265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrjaQ44iVWWC6WfAak7CKfI1YQMgHD1LN3NJZ3-rOR5TP2VFZYWXPw3wz8vkuzWRljBCQ1cBI3HPV7CPHDspxHniFTTA89VKICc2dhNFk3oxPobABladG54HNDzT0xW8hd-ji4pl9E_PE/s640/DSC02265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Opalescent diamonds from the Butterfly of Peace collection. From left to right: 1.94, 1.95 and 1.58 carats. </i><i>Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9XNqSbR1T8Sz0aIKJIi7xkoNr5Qq7Lt2SDr6vy4XXbHLJKefFz4EVj7KeRBgqUL-cMwbxqvdOJJvpHYn8cZCXmgJP4E-S34fDSnZm2xatbuMu0z6ZILJ11R8lgn_yXqCRwQtiE8PWTiQ/s1600/DSC02332b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9XNqSbR1T8Sz0aIKJIi7xkoNr5Qq7Lt2SDr6vy4XXbHLJKefFz4EVj7KeRBgqUL-cMwbxqvdOJJvpHYn8cZCXmgJP4E-S34fDSnZm2xatbuMu0z6ZILJ11R8lgn_yXqCRwQtiE8PWTiQ/s640/DSC02332b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Compare a 1.62-carat pink (left) with a 1.21-carat bluish-violet diamond, most likely coming from the Argyle mine in Australia. Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91dHpHGKUx9L1aNr6_d-HDHod_OfE0H0upWkjUt9K3rpAfmsrHmAEYKuLjB1Vfs0HD6In7Y-Mu5XHknACmw9XBem1ybcMD5C9J39TPo9lXA2eeEamTRtPXcpyFHx7J4Q7yUze16Whtdo1/s1600/DSC02405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91dHpHGKUx9L1aNr6_d-HDHod_OfE0H0upWkjUt9K3rpAfmsrHmAEYKuLjB1Vfs0HD6In7Y-Mu5XHknACmw9XBem1ybcMD5C9J39TPo9lXA2eeEamTRtPXcpyFHx7J4Q7yUze16Whtdo1/s640/DSC02405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Colorful diamonds from the Butterfly of Peace: green (1.12 ct), pink (0.15 ct) and orangy-yellow (1.31 ct). Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_kEBlGFoXxkhEZM58D00DpvIrzwDrTg8LvKy9awlKx2HT7vn_nWFVR6ljfLtNay4N4HHlfyJ8m4-SnrkwyK5HHPEsHxqid2KcWnRzlkeQldKLZTqfmDHTujl1V4X9dNPMaCYcAE4nzNq/s1600/DSC02371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_kEBlGFoXxkhEZM58D00DpvIrzwDrTg8LvKy9awlKx2HT7vn_nWFVR6ljfLtNay4N4HHlfyJ8m4-SnrkwyK5HHPEsHxqid2KcWnRzlkeQldKLZTqfmDHTujl1V4X9dNPMaCYcAE4nzNq/s640/DSC02371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"You are stealing my heart". </i></div>
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<i>All extracted from the Butterfly of Peace, of course! Blue diamonds: 0.53 & 0.56 ct; orange: 1.10ct. Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ETzHKJ66fcth1IfY583C5XKKy7sx6aAXHc0bIUccZg2l4p_9yLjl7UUODRFygofUOLzvVxi2kGv-PSXzRFpylCIwSNF9B06r4wEEIna6Y-hCHZxOVvjQ1pdvGCEPfQBdqk_rHZRVban/s1600/DSC02414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ETzHKJ66fcth1IfY583C5XKKy7sx6aAXHc0bIUccZg2l4p_9yLjl7UUODRFygofUOLzvVxi2kGv-PSXzRFpylCIwSNF9B06r4wEEIna6Y-hCHZxOVvjQ1pdvGCEPfQBdqk_rHZRVban/s640/DSC02414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> By now, you understood that I like the orange heart-shaped diamond! <span style="text-align: center;">Photo / </span><span style="text-align: center;">Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSh1k5lbgGE7P9FBRFJHK6IAfJEbwahGUFpe-Ze4VsX-rjOQ29otHq9KNV4WYxbT-nPjLgwuXNJWZKVu4KtCHIflpz4gOKAwEKieGB_RQVqDXlL5mIsFeIWARcXZZ35ugAVkV3VJX5JLH/s1600/DSC02410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSh1k5lbgGE7P9FBRFJHK6IAfJEbwahGUFpe-Ze4VsX-rjOQ29otHq9KNV4WYxbT-nPjLgwuXNJWZKVu4KtCHIflpz4gOKAwEKieGB_RQVqDXlL5mIsFeIWARcXZZ35ugAVkV3VJX5JLH/s640/DSC02410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>And I love the white diamonds as well (1.92 ct). Here, associated with this stunning yellow diamond (1.19 ct). Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC5gTL5GU7qZ4V4qU2pBi_heFucrCI3FOTA5HLnMSouiBf6NS45DXLmGw8DqNrKPGEoCb4lq7oOrkopp8YILml_4yMlVo_RvVej_dMG4SAL3xJEl2QCztdt5rNfzn5MabOAkm87EM5s_u/s1600/DSC02394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC5gTL5GU7qZ4V4qU2pBi_heFucrCI3FOTA5HLnMSouiBf6NS45DXLmGw8DqNrKPGEoCb4lq7oOrkopp8YILml_4yMlVo_RvVej_dMG4SAL3xJEl2QCztdt5rNfzn5MabOAkm87EM5s_u/s640/DSC02394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Great combination of blue (0.68 & 0.58 ct) and yellow (1.05 ct) diamonds, from the wing of the Butterfly of Peace. Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Eloïse Gaillou.</i></div>
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<h3>
FLUORESCENCE</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyliJQp-zJR13kUaZglISkNK20fTOgoEFAF1Dz45s9MEM3KJ7Ut1QmRdaIp98jImr3PjQDHA9OSVhmMBM0c5XyGxghG6EnL3w9HhbKfb0c2S5bE_-J7g7nhp5QjVljcI3CTAkPgBABOzK/s1600/Butterfly-Fluor_squarte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyliJQp-zJR13kUaZglISkNK20fTOgoEFAF1Dz45s9MEM3KJ7Ut1QmRdaIp98jImr3PjQDHA9OSVhmMBM0c5XyGxghG6EnL3w9HhbKfb0c2S5bE_-J7g7nhp5QjVljcI3CTAkPgBABOzK/s640/Butterfly-Fluor_squarte.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aurora Butterfly of Peace, under exposure to UV. A lot of the diamonds fluoresce. Notice that the owner tried to match not only the color, but also the fluorescence on each side of the butterfly's wing. Photo: Robert Weldon. Copyright: Alan Bronstein.</i></div>
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<a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html" target="_blank">I already explained the cause of color for diamonds in previous blog posts</a>. But I never did for fluorescence. Here is a little blurb on the matter.<br />
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It is known that about thirty-seven percent of near-colorless diamonds fluorescence; out of those, ninety-seven percent display a blue fluorescence. The percentage of fluorescing colored diamonds have not been reported yet, but a comprehensive study on fluorescence of colored diamonds can be found in <a href="http://www.gia.edu/doi/10_5741-GEMS_43_4_332" target="_blank">Eaton-Magaña et al. (2007)</a>. A blue fluorescence is also commonly seen in some colored diamonds, such as pink, white and Cape yellow diamonds. This blue fluorescence for both colorless and colored diamonds is often due to the N3 center (aggregated of 3 nitrogen atoms around a vacancy), very often associated with the so-called Blue-Band. The Blue Band (also named Band A) is possibly related to the presence of dislocations inside the diamond structure. Yellowish-green emission is fairly common among brown and yellow-green diamonds. It is often due to the H3 center (two atoms of nitrogen around a vacancy) and is created during plastic deformation. Diamonds presenting an orange tint often display yellow fluorescence.
Blue type IIb diamonds never display fluorescence, but they sometimes show phosphorescence. In this case, most of them glow a faint blue-green for only a few seconds after exposure to UV light (especially short-wave UV). In rare cases (the Hope and the Wittelsbach-Graff diamonds for example), blue diamonds will show a long-lasting (more than a minute) red glow <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2012/05/hope-diamond-blue-by-day-red-by-night_22.html" target="_blank">(refer to this blog post for more information on the Hope's phosphorescence)</a>. Even if the exact nature of the blue-green and red phosphorescence is not yet completely understood, recent research suggests the involvement of boron interacting with other defects or impurities (creating an acceptor-donor pair recombination).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeSYzXKZ6tjBzxRzS8CIeG1WpzfWK1ioM-EUkOn7dUEBhR9EOLc2uKb0WyNMtWWZb-aEVWQIsTp-GQGSUrO_LzmA4P3q9_EemvdpAmgraTmk4s506gekxju_A6RG5wAyn7YXjB7Oue5e3/s1600/DSC02205b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeSYzXKZ6tjBzxRzS8CIeG1WpzfWK1ioM-EUkOn7dUEBhR9EOLc2uKb0WyNMtWWZb-aEVWQIsTp-GQGSUrO_LzmA4P3q9_EemvdpAmgraTmk4s506gekxju_A6RG5wAyn7YXjB7Oue5e3/s640/DSC02205b.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
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<i>Look at this fluorescence! Photo / </i><i>Copyright: Chris Raum.</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-57569339811584332692013-10-30T17:04:00.002-07:002013-12-11T13:28:47.906-08:00Munich Show 2013: special Gold exhibit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEjKH34kR6BrW-q_TH-BfVoaM0wiwvG7p_lZwtcdDTora9MXZafau1K576ctvPk8XEtPq-ptPly9u6iys9oVkTgOJCvqUCJBJlNpppE9OKhLfAwgiPfOmyiqsbCOTmvnDCGtk0WvQWazZ/s1600/DSC02005b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEjKH34kR6BrW-q_TH-BfVoaM0wiwvG7p_lZwtcdDTora9MXZafau1K576ctvPk8XEtPq-ptPly9u6iys9oVkTgOJCvqUCJBJlNpppE9OKhLfAwgiPfOmyiqsbCOTmvnDCGtk0WvQWazZ/s640/DSC02005b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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2013 is a big year for Mineral Shows. After the 50th anniversary of the Sainte-Marie aux Mines show last June, Munich celebrated is 50th anniversary this October. The show was held between Thursday, October 24th and Sunday the 27th. And the theme was, appropriately: GOLD. Imagine putting together a special exhibit on gold, the security and organization that it requires! Yes, crazy! But Christoph Keilmann and his team did it, even if that meant many sleepless nights for them. Museums and private collectors brought their best specimens to the show, and yes, we were one of the museums who were very thrilled to be there. <br />
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<h2>
THE SET UP</h2>
Bringing gold across the ocean is "slightly" scary. We arranged for appropriate transportation, but still, we worried and fretted until we received our precious package. And we were not the only ones. Look at all those people, anxiously waiting around for their gold delivery!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHP0WidRtRfowGPkmuhKNzC8-QVuTExaIDlYCvexAggok3nK-ikvwkIfnxXLapYq4pJ2PrY9yhOUY2g5FMm7rg0nzHI1hr5JoxNcxm9X1CPQ2zaMykzUddQC2L00fftGQU65WTuB8ioCU/s1600/DSC02017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHP0WidRtRfowGPkmuhKNzC8-QVuTExaIDlYCvexAggok3nK-ikvwkIfnxXLapYq4pJ2PrY9yhOUY2g5FMm7rg0nzHI1hr5JoxNcxm9X1CPQ2zaMykzUddQC2L00fftGQU65WTuB8ioCU/s640/DSC02017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And yes, it was sunny. And warm. We had a great weather all show long!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ui35A2cxCEuHCK1RLFA1OSUCkspcBh-nYT55jJ01LpPDbU1qXpo6vwXhSLHgdeNAIQmrRqigzTKPa3GLeS2PFP4f_JHx62nAkDq-9v__N6-2uI8wZP7tL3Ywlq4kHvUzC7gtuAmHkJUz/s1600/DSC02009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ui35A2cxCEuHCK1RLFA1OSUCkspcBh-nYT55jJ01LpPDbU1qXpo6vwXhSLHgdeNAIQmrRqigzTKPa3GLeS2PFP4f_JHx62nAkDq-9v__N6-2uI8wZP7tL3Ywlq4kHvUzC7gtuAmHkJUz/s640/DSC02009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On a mission: gold retrieval.</div>
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All the gold arrived on time, with no problem whatsoever. Now, it was time to put all the gold in the special show cases inside the exhibit created for that purpose. Anxiety from curators and collectors: whose gold will look the best?! </div>
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Here, the curator of the Munich Mineral museum doesn't want me to get a peak at his gold.</div>
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Meanwhile, Mario Pauwels is already pretty happy with his specimens.</div>
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Johan Kjellman, Curator at the Museum of Evolution, University of Uppsala, Sweden displays some truly remarkable historic specimens (more info below)!<br />
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Stephanie Snyder from Stonetrust is mounting her gold crystals on pedestals. </div>
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Rob Sielecki from Ausrox is very much focused on his job.</div>
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Gian Carlo Parodi and Cristiano Ferraris from the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris, France, brought a lot of AMAZING gold for the show. Here, Gian Carlo is holding a large gold nugget.</div>
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Alan Hart, amazed by the gold from his very own museum (Natural History Museum, London), while Mike Rumsey is setting up the show case.</div>
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Are you sure it's good there? Maybe a bit more to the left? Is there enough glue? Yes, everybody is picky, we all went to look the best!</div>
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Raquel Alonso Perez from the Harvard museum is putting the precious Ram's horn on display. Don't shake Raquel!</div>
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The set up is actually the fun part. The "not so fun" part is making sure that everything is in place, and that the labels are well made. Here, Renate Schumacher from the Mineralogy Museum of the University of Bonn and Alyssa Morgan from our own NHM are double checking specimens and labels.</div>
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Labels and posters being done. Yes, we will be ready on time!</div>
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And of course, nothing would look as good if the exhibit team was not there. Here, the ladies are getting our mounts ready. Thanks again for the hard work to make the exhibit look gorgeous!<br />
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What about our own exhibit? Well, here it is!<br />
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Locking the Mojave Gold nugget, largest known gold nugget from California. </div>
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Behind the scene of our gold exhibit, part 1</div>
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Behind the scene of our gold exhibit, part 2. You can see the back of Brazilian gold in the center.</div>
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Et voilà! Our gold exhibit is ready! Thanks Patrice Lebrun for sharing this pic with us!</div>
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After set-up pictures. It looks like everybody is happy about their display.</div>
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From left to right: Will & Bill Larson, Alan Hart and Raquel Alonso-Perez.</div>
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<h2>
GOLD SELECTION</h2>
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Alright, now a selection of our favorites!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BcUkuTfqUecmJEBvAw0gl7_74umZlbIyf0EWeTJnnftuaWoTlvV77mu-N_JUS15ElbBhW8WauzpkAKDLUz88Bd7lTrDJldde0T3Ba7P8SXJF3bqlcfEmeGhsGZA_t7_QRI4XVxQOWj1k/s1600/DSC02092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BcUkuTfqUecmJEBvAw0gl7_74umZlbIyf0EWeTJnnftuaWoTlvV77mu-N_JUS15ElbBhW8WauzpkAKDLUz88Bd7lTrDJldde0T3Ba7P8SXJF3bqlcfEmeGhsGZA_t7_QRI4XVxQOWj1k/s640/DSC02092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gold from Chihuahua, Mexico. Harvard Museum.</div>
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Gold from Mockingbird Mine, California. On loan at the Harvard Museum.</div>
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Deidesheimer Brothers Claim, Forest Hill, Placer County, California. Harvard Museum.</div>
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Gold from Breckenridge District, Summit County, Colorado. Harvard Museum.</div>
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and another lovely specimen from California. Harvard.</div>
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A fun Australian specimen: one can see the gold that grew in the fracture of the host rock.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhUO-I1QC8UoK9bpiS7ghyphenhyphenQJ_xwc3zABU9jyhLCTKXLWeXLu5XWH_fK95siuQ1-kpgFopI-j9jfRNBiBttL0AZ7yhq93Kfq_EnBnz-sn8xFWwEhkMw83UVNCJjK2tFgiWx9z_r2pCQ9PX/s1600/DSC02104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhUO-I1QC8UoK9bpiS7ghyphenhyphenQJ_xwc3zABU9jyhLCTKXLWeXLu5XWH_fK95siuQ1-kpgFopI-j9jfRNBiBttL0AZ7yhq93Kfq_EnBnz-sn8xFWwEhkMw83UVNCJjK2tFgiWx9z_r2pCQ9PX/s640/DSC02104.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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LaTrobe Nugget, from Mt Mclvor, Victoria, Australia. From the Natural History Museum in London.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpZP9MT-WpKnFViVEjYLjsH6bu9UC_7gaDRQRAk-S6XxwSLAcGZAU187v9gpk3Ti1WCPMHvv5v4pngMMWln7jusgBHSLYZ-1Mdhspy50Rlxt0Bw-ifg8sh1K9AIHXAs4OiDvZEK_JlFSs/s1600/Latrobe_setup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpZP9MT-WpKnFViVEjYLjsH6bu9UC_7gaDRQRAk-S6XxwSLAcGZAU187v9gpk3Ti1WCPMHvv5v4pngMMWln7jusgBHSLYZ-1Mdhspy50Rlxt0Bw-ifg8sh1K9AIHXAs4OiDvZEK_JlFSs/s640/Latrobe_setup.JPG" width="640" /></a> Another picture of the LaTrobe nugget, while still in its Tupperware!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbFNS51CiQIdrdZlsbAgSVt2UCTsJwTrvDcWq1pp9dkVUHnaOIuHndjErUdw1zfCbDmB6i_C12HwOudFPExtt_XSnfcgrjFlTSoBYcyy_a4VsnEt4nLL6R-dnBdG9wafXUcgiNyphzDMN/s1600/DSC02106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbFNS51CiQIdrdZlsbAgSVt2UCTsJwTrvDcWq1pp9dkVUHnaOIuHndjErUdw1zfCbDmB6i_C12HwOudFPExtt_XSnfcgrjFlTSoBYcyy_a4VsnEt4nLL6R-dnBdG9wafXUcgiNyphzDMN/s640/DSC02106.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The famous Ram's Horn from Groundhog Mine, Eagle County, Colorado. From the Harvard Museum.</div>
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Will Larson in front of the Ram's Horn.</div>
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Huge specimen from the Eagle Nest mine, Placer County, California. From the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris, France.</div>
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THE Dragon. Another famous piece! Spectacular, I have to say. It comes from the Colorado Quartz Mine, Mariposa County, California. From the Houston Museum of Natural History.</div>
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Another fun one: crystallized gold fro Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. From the National Museums, Scotland.</div>
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The Christmas Tree! It comes from Grit Mine, El Dorado County, California. From Pala International Collection.</div>
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An interesting gold leaf ending with a triangle! From Eureka Mine, Groveland, Tuolumne County, California.</div>
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The "Corsage" from the Red Ledge Mine, Washington, Nevada County, California, USA. From Wayne and Dona Leicht collection. It has a tree root growing through it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhrfHqaQzTfeqN_Zod-RJwgLb1zrfiD3BnHy81bZBwqsnbXKifM7yqAyA7cG_SWmEBW1sd5tlLsOrkLOEbyLjtefu3fkp0ZcCCaqpcB0fRySlDgn56CVdkZ4Fq8jW_Bf1dIHnmRA_sQ/s1600/Catherinethegreat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhrfHqaQzTfeqN_Zod-RJwgLb1zrfiD3BnHy81bZBwqsnbXKifM7yqAyA7cG_SWmEBW1sd5tlLsOrkLOEbyLjtefu3fkp0ZcCCaqpcB0fRySlDgn56CVdkZ4Fq8jW_Bf1dIHnmRA_sQ/s640/Catherinethegreat.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="text-align: left;">These are amazing. In 1777 King Gustav III of Sweden visited Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. She liked him very much and sent him a gift of a suite of gold specimens from Voitsky, Russia's first gold mine. They are housed in Uppsala University and have never left Sweden until now!</span></div>
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Interesting association. Gold with rhodochrosite from Colorado. Mineral Classics' specimen.</div>
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How about this, quartz on gold from La Gardette, Isère, France (Gilles Emringer collection).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRzH0rbwxnlpjYcwm9_O2-1RoajPOdPuNRlpFhNxaKrWZjms2OsgVuYgdoNS56vs32n7AOhZU41c0WmuHbJc11Wbo958z6xGUZzzZib2oFInnYCvX6oOOTMoWEVHjgYup77S4fjgm5ZRe/s1600/DSC02130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRzH0rbwxnlpjYcwm9_O2-1RoajPOdPuNRlpFhNxaKrWZjms2OsgVuYgdoNS56vs32n7AOhZU41c0WmuHbJc11Wbo958z6xGUZzzZib2oFInnYCvX6oOOTMoWEVHjgYup77S4fjgm5ZRe/s640/DSC02130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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From the NHM collection: novelty watch chain made out of gold nuggets. Yes, it is heavy!</div>
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Our very own tree, from Colorado Quartz Mine, Mariposa County, California. It will be back on our display soon!</div>
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Some gold medals from the Olympian skier Madgalena Neuer.</div>
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It goes without comment! - Actually Alyssa can comment, she helped translate the label into english. It's a giant coin called "Big Phil" because there is a type of commemorative gold coin called a "philharmonic" This coin was bought by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate their anniversary.</div>
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And some of Elvis Presley's gold collectibles on loan from the Graceland Museum. (Elvis lived in Munich during the Korean War):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gm_g1zQrE-AaQDWF-eHBnM9MDvRAgNPICJS35IrSTxtINhx6DQ0eKPxV8xmBuwlkepTajVv6harVbr1ysv3cbua9gCb4c1YaoIUQNn7zJ1_18puFlaB6q_TrFcOkAdQidtoI0-U7HfgC/s1600/DSC02025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gm_g1zQrE-AaQDWF-eHBnM9MDvRAgNPICJS35IrSTxtINhx6DQ0eKPxV8xmBuwlkepTajVv6harVbr1ysv3cbua9gCb4c1YaoIUQNn7zJ1_18puFlaB6q_TrFcOkAdQidtoI0-U7HfgC/s640/DSC02025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf63CAZQrNeSx-eQ1zz-C9LiFJLJNAobqu8DaPRO5PFGJxS1GBt8eBrcPC1OrnaR-adAqRN9KHghE4WLmN3mLsGPnR1lFPxFHr0p_dZmtHWyVVC3zvYc-wqPr-feXrq3F9zWAbUDreFnrT/s1600/DSC02026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf63CAZQrNeSx-eQ1zz-C9LiFJLJNAobqu8DaPRO5PFGJxS1GBt8eBrcPC1OrnaR-adAqRN9KHghE4WLmN3mLsGPnR1lFPxFHr0p_dZmtHWyVVC3zvYc-wqPr-feXrq3F9zWAbUDreFnrT/s640/DSC02026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Elvis and Bryan!</div>
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<h2>
AROUND THE SHOW</h2>
Some overview pics:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU0BduUevJdRf4o5NUXYGKvkjGVm48qn6TEjks6F-W12Uboto9DI6OiVwQiqj0O9xytw0sQNYNeU19pgHkrCybEndP_1IOtRMNgB5V7BVlLd2F2ZZeCB4JDPCBQCJ_Oirvuk7yguLaonD/s1600/fossilworld.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU0BduUevJdRf4o5NUXYGKvkjGVm48qn6TEjks6F-W12Uboto9DI6OiVwQiqj0O9xytw0sQNYNeU19pgHkrCybEndP_1IOtRMNgB5V7BVlLd2F2ZZeCB4JDPCBQCJ_Oirvuk7yguLaonD/s640/fossilworld.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hall A5: Fossil world</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkk6cTvD1KROpNAvYD1o_nlMApcD1hW3myKR1oLKmlUPpDknpe8cmPa2k0kKjLVOGr7GE67WuE5-qZIOt5BcnKQGEE5WzAcpwrm-o8R6auHNOd7SJfFPPcJc0InATZUD5I7NvlLQB2oST/s1600/sabertoothelephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkk6cTvD1KROpNAvYD1o_nlMApcD1hW3myKR1oLKmlUPpDknpe8cmPa2k0kKjLVOGr7GE67WuE5-qZIOt5BcnKQGEE5WzAcpwrm-o8R6auHNOd7SJfFPPcJc0InATZUD5I7NvlLQB2oST/s640/sabertoothelephant.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Are those tusks pointed the right way? It looks like a saber tooth mammoth.</div>
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T-Rex head.</div>
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Hall A6: Mineral World.</div>
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During the set up of Hall A6. Still, it was Wednesday morning, and most dealers were installed.</div>
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The food court in Hall A6.</div>
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In Gem World<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh307NuoDDGMv4F_VXof96wsbymJ3IxF2kTTutRSpUr6OF6o2tU-tjVneC8TSLMbBGex311Zr6e6Z_lSF54JZrHTBRY5Ati-9MvkJ1ru-3jxi13VO_wQsPZOam4aJSoK7DyeCfg7ov4wIkU/s1600/DSC02046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh307NuoDDGMv4F_VXof96wsbymJ3IxF2kTTutRSpUr6OF6o2tU-tjVneC8TSLMbBGex311Zr6e6Z_lSF54JZrHTBRY5Ati-9MvkJ1ru-3jxi13VO_wQsPZOam4aJSoK7DyeCfg7ov4wIkU/s640/DSC02046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Gold exhibit in Gem World<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc0Ha8icI2v6vfUHovLrsQYTdTs-TWeagaqUBf1f1RnU8yiShzkwZ69yS0hJLksb2273k5Qp6MyxexTDps3vRPd8lfVne_ZKvn7rxJ_prlUfiNt-7dI5h4HCuCuTxSlovN-alDQnICK_8/s1600/DSC02048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc0Ha8icI2v6vfUHovLrsQYTdTs-TWeagaqUBf1f1RnU8yiShzkwZ69yS0hJLksb2273k5Qp6MyxexTDps3vRPd8lfVne_ZKvn7rxJ_prlUfiNt-7dI5h4HCuCuTxSlovN-alDQnICK_8/s640/DSC02048.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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With various religious artifacts.</div>
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Walking around the show, you see sometimes some interesting things, such as these fountains.<br />
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A booth in Fossil World.</div>
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Another great thing about this show, is all the activities that are designed for kids. Digging for fossils, panning in the sand, and looking for minerals. I've seen a lot of happy kids (and happy parents as well!).<br />
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<h2>
SOME COOL ROCKS</h2>
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Yes, that was one of my favorite fun rocks! And so what?! Seen in Marcus Budil's booth!</div>
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And yes, that was my other favorite fun rock of the show! Aren't I allowed to like fossils?! This is Helix Ramondi (a snail) in lussatite (a kind of opal) from Dallet, Puy-de-Dôme, France. From Eldonia collection.</div>
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Fossil Helix, and contemporary snails.</div>
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A new locality of wurtzite: recent found in Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania. Seen at Crystal Classics booth.</div>
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And a new locality for alabandite, also from Tanzania, and also seen at Crystal Classics booth.<br />
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Some cool fossil crabs! Happy Halloween! Seen at Eldonia's booth.</div>
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After the diamonds slices, here are some color gems in slices! Here, some spinels from Tanzania. Seen at Claudia Hamann Edelstein booth.</div>
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And above, some tsavorite. Seen at Claudia Hamann Edelstein booth.</div>
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Zoom in on the tsavorite.</div>
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I've seen some cool jewelry by Marie-Caroline Lagache from Tiber (Paris). Here is a Brazilian rutilated quartz ring.</div>
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And a Brazilian amethyst with Kenyan tsavorite ring, from Tiber as well.</div>
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Jepara was displaying the "biggest cut pallasitic peridot". It's 2.51 ct.</div>
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And some fun jewelry made out of pebbles from the Isar river in Munich.</div>
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And because it's fun!</div>
<h2>
PEOPLE</h2>
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The SMMP meeting. Just a bunch of curators! Very well-attended this year and four North American museums made the trip!</div>
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Peter Davidson introducing the man that doesn't need introduction: Johannes Keilmann, former Chairman of the Munich Show</div>
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Johannes & his son Christoph Keilmann, speaking to the museum curators.</div>
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Wait, what? It's the Munich show, not the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines show! Still the French team was there, with wine and other goodies!</div>
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Another OktoberFest: a special edition for the Munich Show! Here, Christoph Keilmann speaking a few words of introduction, on Friday night.</div>
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Pints of beer. Alan got his stolen by Raquel...</div>
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Overview of the tent.</div>
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During the day, the ladies were posing for pictures.</div>
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And being filmed! Bryan Swoboda and Peter Lyckberg were filming "What's hot in Munich 2013".</div>
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At the end of the day, wine & cheese are needed. A great night in town followed, but pictures will not be shared!</div>
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<h2>
VISITING MUNICH</h2>
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Forget the mineral show, Munich is a wonderful city to visit, so much to see and do! This is the Rathaus (city hall) with glockenspiel at Marienplatz.</div>
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The Munich Residenz Museum. Beginning in the 1300s, this was the home of the Wittlesbach family, the rulers of Bavaria. Items in the treasury date back to the 900s. Here is just one of the opulent rooms of the former palace.</div>
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Hey there Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, future queen of Prussia. I think we have your <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-mystery-of-ring.html">ring</a>!</div>
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This is difficult to see but one of the strangest things in the palace is the Reliquary Room. The Wittelsbachs had quite a collection of body parts of saints. This one in the photo was at one time the single most valueable object they owned. It is (allegedly) an infant killed in Bethlehem by the order of King Herod.</div>
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Last year we had snow, this year warm and sunny weather and beautiful fall colors. This is the Englischer Gardens, a large park in the middle of the city with the Isar river running through it.</div>
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Surfs up on the Isar.</div>
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Enjoying a Bavarian meal and some large steins of beer and the Biergarten. Carol Lucking from Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Caroline Im, our work-study student from USC. <br />
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WRAPPING UP</h2>
A short week in Munich, but a good one. Our exhibit was really successful, as well as the rest of the Special Gold Exhibit. We saw some interesting rocks, and even bought one. And it's always good to catch up with other museum curators and collection managers, and with people we see regularly at shows, of course! Next show for us: Tucson, in February 2014.<br />
In the meantime, a few pictures of us wrapping up our gold!<br />
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Wrapping up the Dragon. Not an easy task!</div>
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Raquel carefully moving the Ram's Horn after being photographed</div>
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Our gold is in there, ready to be shipped back to LA! Guarded by Alyssa and Carol.</div>
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The museums are all packed! Waiting for Brinks. See you all next year!</div>
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There is nothing left in our showcase, the Mojave and the other gold crystals and nuggets are all wrapped up. Thanks Christoph for this amazing experience!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-66690299152157463082013-10-16T17:18:00.000-07:002013-10-17T09:51:24.990-07:00Opening of the MIM museum in Beirut, Lebanon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we were. At the mineralogical event of the year: the opening of the MIM museum in Beirut. I heard so much about the minerals in this collection! At shows, when I was impressed with such or such mineral, I was often told by some dealers: "oh, well, you should see the one from this new museum in Beirut!". Gold from Venezuela? Oh, there is better in the Beirut museum. Jeremejevite? There is better in the Beirut museum. Aquamarine spray? There is better in the Beirut museum. It was going on and on! But what was it about, and who was building this collection?<br />
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The answer was: Mr. Salim Eddé, chemist, with a passion for minerals. Mr. Eddé is fascinated by these naturally beautiful crystals, which arrange perfectly from the atomic to the macroscopic scale. Minerals which are not only interesting for their aesthetic but also for their use in our every day life: whatever it is, metals, rare earth elements (used in computers, cell phone, etc.), building blocks, ceramic, name it, minerals were mostly involved in it.<br />
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Mr. Eddé wanted to create a museum that was elegant, meaningful, educative, with the main focus being gorgeous minerals. And he did. With the help of Jean-Claude Boulliard, curator of the Sorbonne collection (hosted at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris), they gathered over the last 16 years some of the most beautiful minerals. The museum offers a total of 1480 minerals (300 species) from 60 different countries, over 1300 m² (14,000 sq ft) of 9 galleries.<br />
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As a representative of the USA and of a museum, I have been invited to the opening of the MIM. I would like to share my experience of my few days in Lebanon with you!<br />
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Leaving Los Angeles Airport of Thursday afternoon, I landed at 10pm on Friday night (October 11th). Right on time to meet with other guests at a dinner organized by Mr. Salim Eddé, in downtown Beirut. Well, it was not a dinner. It was more like a feast! Delicious mezze platters arrived on our table all night long!<br />
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<h2>
THE PRE-OPENING DINNER</h2>
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In the center, Mr. Salim Eddé is orchestrating the dinner.</div>
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Just not enough room on the table!</div>
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Some amazing fish...</div>
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... that Daniel Trinchillo from Fine Minerals International really enjoyed!</div>
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Finishing beautifully.</div>
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Among guests, Mr. Eddé's colleagues, friends and mineral dealers who supplied some goodies to the museum.</div>
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Eventually, guests departed to have a good night rest at the Smallville hotel. We were all excited to get up in the morning and have a private visit of the museum! The MIM is hosted at the Saint-Joseph University in Beirut.</div>
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<h2>
ENTRANCE THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP</h2>
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Mr. Salim Eddé in front of the main building of the Saint-Joseph University.</div>
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Getting ready for the private tour with Mr. Eddé.</div>
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To enter the museum, one has to enter the gift shop. The museum itself is located on the basement, by the entrance of the University. One can either take the "mine" elevator (we inaugurated it!) or the beautiful staircase with labradorite walls to reach the basement, where 14,000 sq feet of galleries are.</div>
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Entrance through the gift shop.</div>
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<h2>
THE ENTRANCE HALL</h2>
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Mr. Eddé, in between two pillars decorated with minerals as "amuse-bouches" in the entrance Hall of the MIM museum.</div>
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The entrance Hall of the MIM museum. In gold on the left, the room with the Treasures are kept.</div>
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Another view of the entrance.</div>
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From the main entrance, we enter the gallery area, through an impressive vaulted door. From now on, the visitor is placed in a dark environment, which draws attention uniquely to the minerals. Even if it might be considered as an old fashion way to present a mineral exhibit, it proved many times to be successful (the Sorbonne collection, the American Natural History Museum and our own museum have a similar feel to it). Display cases, backgrounds, ceilings and walls are black. Floor tiles are of a light grey. The lighting used is by fiber optic and spot lights from above the specimens. Talking about light: during our 3-hour visit, there were two extremely short power outages ("It is Lebanon"). But the museum is equipped with its own generator when the general electricity goes off.</div>
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Oh, did I mentioned that all labels and interactive medias are available in 3 different languages? Yeap: English, French and Arabic!</div>
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<h2>
THE MINERAL CLASSIFICATION</h2>
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The first room in the vault area has 9 display cases mounted on the wall, containing each a single majestic mineral, representing the 9 classes of minerals following the Dana system of classification: 1- elements; 2-sulfides and sulfosalts; 3- halides; 4-oxides, hydroxides and arsenites; 5- carbonates and nitrates; 6- borates; 7- sulfates, chromates, molybdates and tungstates; 8- phosphates, arsenates and vanadates; 9- silicates.</div>
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In the same room, one can learn, thanks to a giant, multi-user touch screen, more about minerals and their compositions, and also play with them thanks to 360° images of minerals from the MIM collection.</div>
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The first room in the vaulted area: 9 minerals from 9 classes.</div>
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One of the giant multi-user touch-screen.</div>
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<h2>
MINERALS BY CLASS</h2>
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In the second room, each of the 9 classes of minerals is represented by many specimens, beginning with native elements.</div>
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The display cases with native elements.</div>
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An overview of the main room.</div>
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Another angle of the main room.</div>
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One of the display cabinets: fluorite.</div>
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Mr. Salim Eddé leading our private tour.</div>
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Enough talking for the time being, I will let you enjoy a few minerals from the collection. We have many <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.525652160850435.1073741839.259716944110626&type=1" target="_blank">MORE IN THIS ALBUM (click here)</a>.<br />
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Another aquamarine from Pakistan.</div>
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Dioptase from Congo</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSGGvqwarhD8d1jEXL3hCorfinMjplo208Fu9zsX8z3T1xPrUHxYoKzsUeeyQ4gd-sVJIr20aitV6XpBOKKEZ9GvJWSzl210dm1zztjzI0FXLf2C0LgpjxyLdpgqq87pPqHCVMBmAvouS/s1600/DSC01583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSGGvqwarhD8d1jEXL3hCorfinMjplo208Fu9zsX8z3T1xPrUHxYoKzsUeeyQ4gd-sVJIr20aitV6XpBOKKEZ9GvJWSzl210dm1zztjzI0FXLf2C0LgpjxyLdpgqq87pPqHCVMBmAvouS/s640/DSC01583.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Serandite from Canada.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PWkiUBk1tYLCVaImXzb-OuFO2rcIQw8fb48DDoqOGMVlUaiblItW7sdCtu_-jSJpAs2zLoRoKylD5EHLOoa69HznSETcAqDvETdWSHiq6h_8sjVMSFLomNQY7ysQFH27nAjkkK9cOjvH/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PWkiUBk1tYLCVaImXzb-OuFO2rcIQw8fb48DDoqOGMVlUaiblItW7sdCtu_-jSJpAs2zLoRoKylD5EHLOoa69HznSETcAqDvETdWSHiq6h_8sjVMSFLomNQY7ysQFH27nAjkkK9cOjvH/s640/DSC01588.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ek8E8PF9mmiuWucq_aIrJBjFkZAX2JTzxzqI8hMRqMuX_5SFTbv4Tx9FbWNe4ifGtwW6nJxlpQGvBMnLt_GlErV7ZDLFEvwwJoayRjCnYgoLSSFQMqz3W5-wXs4ufnQ1mhWgVUHYrcHs/s1600/DSC01597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ek8E8PF9mmiuWucq_aIrJBjFkZAX2JTzxzqI8hMRqMuX_5SFTbv4Tx9FbWNe4ifGtwW6nJxlpQGvBMnLt_GlErV7ZDLFEvwwJoayRjCnYgoLSSFQMqz3W5-wXs4ufnQ1mhWgVUHYrcHs/s640/DSC01597.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Vanadinite from Morocco.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy_X3IIjvgdOX1jHsB4dD2Ht2cRioJTjbuv-MhustpYAhwRBTjViBqsA1705uSLDvEeouqkZ8yyMVteg8Alqr8cjSRVRuwTLhPpjy_v11X1nq49hvj9gwDx1LBZ6Pc-_wimkqnZ_Figlb/s1600/DSC01606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy_X3IIjvgdOX1jHsB4dD2Ht2cRioJTjbuv-MhustpYAhwRBTjViBqsA1705uSLDvEeouqkZ8yyMVteg8Alqr8cjSRVRuwTLhPpjy_v11X1nq49hvj9gwDx1LBZ6Pc-_wimkqnZ_Figlb/s640/DSC01606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The hambergite from Madagascar (on the right) is just spectacular.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaLnp_wxLMXB6m2Nz47wkvOuwI-DdkeSVlCgvwPJyhocobLgTZ55rkmQO5SgZMiNnptcMZKUosy9buEjMJJvbDEs_hOG8s4HXRY3Hc8MNdqRcf2mMfsIbzZBYt1V8GetqaUx8kP0FIN4p/s1600/DSC01609b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaLnp_wxLMXB6m2Nz47wkvOuwI-DdkeSVlCgvwPJyhocobLgTZ55rkmQO5SgZMiNnptcMZKUosy9buEjMJJvbDEs_hOG8s4HXRY3Hc8MNdqRcf2mMfsIbzZBYt1V8GetqaUx8kP0FIN4p/s640/DSC01609b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A fun gypsum crystal on matrix from Mexico.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6F4fBUScVpKEhLv5coip0CUSGnN0psttKCjqmMauJMtph9SMzKuvZ5PhJQLThWLv9zng8tH7neKhwOYGn4GK4fbYhSaSHVlv7yiVUmUPuCX5V0mXg8SVhbPqFcrPvYlDXSEwvWK_o8KL/s1600/DSC01618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6F4fBUScVpKEhLv5coip0CUSGnN0psttKCjqmMauJMtph9SMzKuvZ5PhJQLThWLv9zng8tH7neKhwOYGn4GK4fbYhSaSHVlv7yiVUmUPuCX5V0mXg8SVhbPqFcrPvYlDXSEwvWK_o8KL/s640/DSC01618.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglg2nAIZ7BmDMD9R4N_XkKzpww_W_EJcTrz-UK8F2jB4RQS_GpaKALrUbHmkamxhqpAFvAefrtL13dtwo_pMkNcQ9vxRqCbsSskUoNkOl-y07zMJH7vKvhEOaQ8dGVquLtkLThL_NQxG6P/s1600/DSC01620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglg2nAIZ7BmDMD9R4N_XkKzpww_W_EJcTrz-UK8F2jB4RQS_GpaKALrUbHmkamxhqpAFvAefrtL13dtwo_pMkNcQ9vxRqCbsSskUoNkOl-y07zMJH7vKvhEOaQ8dGVquLtkLThL_NQxG6P/s640/DSC01620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Much enjoyed this wulfenite from Mexico...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau2182M-FfH1WwP2appAnCRvlGnP905B7s0OY7wSE52IR_ucH6Caon5bnigOEMJQA1WNay3fTdGnGU6KqGTU870ionelVICEh0oxQBwZyV8e2FO_tS4xS6W9MsvQohOynxcORjV8OlnES/s1600/DSC01621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau2182M-FfH1WwP2appAnCRvlGnP905B7s0OY7wSE52IR_ucH6Caon5bnigOEMJQA1WNay3fTdGnGU6KqGTU870ionelVICEh0oxQBwZyV8e2FO_tS4xS6W9MsvQohOynxcORjV8OlnES/s640/DSC01621.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Or this crocoite from Australia!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ypwW67_12Igz3Das0HQhvwzwm9FRPW3j4ZbD50HZAH8oq5JsU8d-5SCv321ptnICbAuySQj0BktmoKSv3JJJnGbogbmnJckjExhdlxPPIBazPHJOBqAhkcn6y8h8wwkqVc8p8O7E78h/s1600/DSC01636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ypwW67_12Igz3Das0HQhvwzwm9FRPW3j4ZbD50HZAH8oq5JsU8d-5SCv321ptnICbAuySQj0BktmoKSv3JJJnGbogbmnJckjExhdlxPPIBazPHJOBqAhkcn6y8h8wwkqVc8p8O7E78h/s640/DSC01636.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkhms6xEYpJwWr5HhRkO-NrvYm-QeFj0lbG8jYU24QJKvqpun2TE_35md1UySBJSgGsSkIXCpyY0RTblG8Se0zGPHgr2oSPiTGGDl-_RLH05qltv6sA8m12l5_waw3YeDV2POy_OYWV1k/s1600/DSC01638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkhms6xEYpJwWr5HhRkO-NrvYm-QeFj0lbG8jYU24QJKvqpun2TE_35md1UySBJSgGsSkIXCpyY0RTblG8Se0zGPHgr2oSPiTGGDl-_RLH05qltv6sA8m12l5_waw3YeDV2POy_OYWV1k/s640/DSC01638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRrR7fiRVb3P0G5sQJBmnAzTTh3BWYOc0RS0QBvLzGoK-jf6UYttNvmGA-VC6mZN6ZGRqViyzYcZKB3VWTX1vawLZ9JgDpyLzDAQqBy7Z4O0mWzxYxN9QP5gpMeTipC0pSedq4X_McQmj/s1600/DSC01643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRrR7fiRVb3P0G5sQJBmnAzTTh3BWYOc0RS0QBvLzGoK-jf6UYttNvmGA-VC6mZN6ZGRqViyzYcZKB3VWTX1vawLZ9JgDpyLzDAQqBy7Z4O0mWzxYxN9QP5gpMeTipC0pSedq4X_McQmj/s640/DSC01643.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovf-HIxrgkqA6gDbpu19Vz_0J_00q53A5gpaZHTU91gYYEnEGlCkeys1nwWv37T-jTgt2a0ODiAJoJ0cVIf3XyRqo0CkDQYGZcmZZcx5QbZMzQ2dWgs5xSOhbWP6I4td595EDlKVnGp6x/s1600/DSC01645b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovf-HIxrgkqA6gDbpu19Vz_0J_00q53A5gpaZHTU91gYYEnEGlCkeys1nwWv37T-jTgt2a0ODiAJoJ0cVIf3XyRqo0CkDQYGZcmZZcx5QbZMzQ2dWgs5xSOhbWP6I4td595EDlKVnGp6x/s640/DSC01645b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Calcite from Congo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPflRUf2_uXfCf5tQLmxX62Ik8VWq4vkR9vcMEQAWNX9K6sy8_fQmxHksH3vZYAtWQPr3gfTFykG7WB4LyhGfd02QYbjxCMKG1i32-ciUDpJ0rvQZPD0CVUUYrTCApdyyRWEHGJYfsryn/s1600/DSC01647b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPflRUf2_uXfCf5tQLmxX62Ik8VWq4vkR9vcMEQAWNX9K6sy8_fQmxHksH3vZYAtWQPr3gfTFykG7WB4LyhGfd02QYbjxCMKG1i32-ciUDpJ0rvQZPD0CVUUYrTCApdyyRWEHGJYfsryn/s640/DSC01647b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-5cKJyLQclrSYaDbXtN7UDYw0a4HCtkuxL5XrdTnlX8hJxEUAIZaxyDW7ms-c5yJtmi8G1I2yzlL4ObCa7bpPKgxHcgbTR0ADUGxNrnMM2MknHq6ksYvBqiialtgyUyVW3Lkx-FidxRd/s1600/DSC01649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-5cKJyLQclrSYaDbXtN7UDYw0a4HCtkuxL5XrdTnlX8hJxEUAIZaxyDW7ms-c5yJtmi8G1I2yzlL4ObCa7bpPKgxHcgbTR0ADUGxNrnMM2MknHq6ksYvBqiialtgyUyVW3Lkx-FidxRd/s640/DSC01649.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL0M-RJFm_Z-OIVR4pdsD_bv_hdTXAp5chcLAlOMnozDuD0jrXWuAQcEPTrtS0o7vGLtuP-hdeF2Ekt_9FCsYHn8xiqiAI-8S8Ey9taPkuZRowPJlRwdYwgvN15i-nTvfkz8wWYsIrjjY/s1600/DSC01654b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL0M-RJFm_Z-OIVR4pdsD_bv_hdTXAp5chcLAlOMnozDuD0jrXWuAQcEPTrtS0o7vGLtuP-hdeF2Ekt_9FCsYHn8xiqiAI-8S8Ey9taPkuZRowPJlRwdYwgvN15i-nTvfkz8wWYsIrjjY/s640/DSC01654b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Vibrant gemmy rhodochrosite from South Africa.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj2BnmLSZPwL_6U3ILk22O6szlE3LDM4Lk47PyI5DWX9udCCT0t3nUVi9M-LWva7yS-_toChMHyNSQk4gAitUhEj0FX-dJHnbb7VkziI1KhDJP4BlTRLk504TQaIswxzmkxMp7BUOLQSn/s1600/DSC01658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj2BnmLSZPwL_6U3ILk22O6szlE3LDM4Lk47PyI5DWX9udCCT0t3nUVi9M-LWva7yS-_toChMHyNSQk4gAitUhEj0FX-dJHnbb7VkziI1KhDJP4BlTRLk504TQaIswxzmkxMp7BUOLQSn/s640/DSC01658.JPG" width="578" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Aih3eu1_Z7BYTK7gx1HDvfP5XLL0ObXi-gAOgRcaNkjOi5_nYRBW0T1ggF5GofbzeE8MeQbPCxQ8HAiZ0Xw-DO10XAIlLDLFPjT2g8FWVPTZpNnO-w8kG00m2dYeTO04-mI9rWh8Crey/s1600/DSC01659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Aih3eu1_Z7BYTK7gx1HDvfP5XLL0ObXi-gAOgRcaNkjOi5_nYRBW0T1ggF5GofbzeE8MeQbPCxQ8HAiZ0Xw-DO10XAIlLDLFPjT2g8FWVPTZpNnO-w8kG00m2dYeTO04-mI9rWh8Crey/s640/DSC01659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A breathtaking collection of cumengeite from Mexico.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TkcoQyCQggE8MH1Ea0fpq0sOr3Fj1xjU04nPfdTT2_QMG_i_U7DbSHATJC5n6BBdLKjqYtdMNrlST9DNsEpYJmN202pL_mOKHj_36rSyV5EjHAggRRSMsk4W7ckHJBXqQ2CIYTTLZTKp/s1600/DSC01675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TkcoQyCQggE8MH1Ea0fpq0sOr3Fj1xjU04nPfdTT2_QMG_i_U7DbSHATJC5n6BBdLKjqYtdMNrlST9DNsEpYJmN202pL_mOKHj_36rSyV5EjHAggRRSMsk4W7ckHJBXqQ2CIYTTLZTKp/s640/DSC01675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pink fluorite from France (a bit of jealousy here again).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2QQ5I6r-xRN1-ifw1LsYaVjLyQs2jGlWn1kUuTJLgwrXbQgHgXZWTJEToFw2zuVzS6DiT7A6iu_T8Fwo3CqmDz8MfDLh7CJpmPbPjg5c6pI9lNGES7-T9Ub4zFtKhQrQ4BqtcU-TAJcr/s1600/DSC01681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2QQ5I6r-xRN1-ifw1LsYaVjLyQs2jGlWn1kUuTJLgwrXbQgHgXZWTJEToFw2zuVzS6DiT7A6iu_T8Fwo3CqmDz8MfDLh7CJpmPbPjg5c6pI9lNGES7-T9Ub4zFtKhQrQ4BqtcU-TAJcr/s640/DSC01681.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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This fluorite specimen is from China.</div>
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Proustite from Chile.</div>
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Spectacular copper from Russia.</div>
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And yes, of course, there is an app!!!</div>
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<h2>
THE TROPHIES</h2>
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"To break the monotony" of the large display cases full of specimens, a long display case was built on the right wall, with big and impressive minerals. It is the Trophy case, in which minerals are display on black mounts with gold labels.</div>
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Also known as the Aztec sun.</div>
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In the foreground: apatite from Portugal.</div>
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<h2>
RADIOACTIVE MINERALS</h2>
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Adjacent to the main room, there is a section for radioactive minerals, that goes along with a video explaining radioactivity. For those who are scared of radioactivity: the room is isolated enough that you don't have to go through it if you don't want to. Clever.</div>
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Mr. Eddé in front of the radioactive mineral room, presenting the video about radioactivity.</div>
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<h2>
MINERALS BY COUNTRY</h2>
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After the main room, there is a section dedicated to "localities", with minerals from different countries grouped in different display cases. Again, a giant multi-user touch screen is dedicated to this section, locating mines around the world where the minerals on display come from.</div>
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Mozambique</div>
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Want to step back? Sit down and relax on the Italian sofa!</div>
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<h2>
LIDDICOATITE</h2>
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Next to this rather crowded but informative "display of the World", there is the aesthetic display of liddicoatite slices from Madagascar. It's a real eye candy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC8vbpHujYyb2chprIG75UH3bhUCNVj8mFcbx07P3E2AM2Fg2CgxgqWFF9YFg62gkpT89_UfqkDaWbPgNiTBp4iTopf3KYrXQLJGZN_SUR0ymVjOrr-swmoCA0mo9I129qKEVicjv4kWl/s1600/DSC01509b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC8vbpHujYyb2chprIG75UH3bhUCNVj8mFcbx07P3E2AM2Fg2CgxgqWFF9YFg62gkpT89_UfqkDaWbPgNiTBp4iTopf3KYrXQLJGZN_SUR0ymVjOrr-swmoCA0mo9I129qKEVicjv4kWl/s640/DSC01509b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mr. Salim Eddé & Laurent Thomas next to some liddicoatite slices. Here, several slices from the same tourmaline are aligned.</div>
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View of the other side of the liddicoatite panel: singular splendid slices.</div>
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Laurent Thomas from Polychrom France, who supplied the liddicoatite slices to the MIM, is playing with the interactive interface. The resolution at which the pictures were taken enables to see microscopic features. What a treat!</div>
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<h2>
THE TREASURES</h2>
In the darkest room, "la crème de la crème", the most exquisite specimens are displayed. One might even say that this room is similar to the design of our own NHM vault! Instead of gems though: minerals. Some of the descriptions below are from the MIM catalog.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhLgcbugIjFPC2TTasyXUEt1Gd5dyNJWA6I8BnpxDB28u4gFcv7TY0Xem0HSMOU7eV63hTcND8Kpkbo6-tgiVtJ7ukhmAigYrZdKrCC9-2Py86IvmK_MW9NG7g0kgSE7vKg8uw5Uz4UCx/s1600/DSC01534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhLgcbugIjFPC2TTasyXUEt1Gd5dyNJWA6I8BnpxDB28u4gFcv7TY0Xem0HSMOU7eV63hTcND8Kpkbo6-tgiVtJ7ukhmAigYrZdKrCC9-2Py86IvmK_MW9NG7g0kgSE7vKg8uw5Uz4UCx/s640/DSC01534.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Overview of the treasure room. On the foreground: the aquamarine spray from Pakistan (see below for a better picture). Delphine Leblanc is giving the scale as she is looking at this impressive specimen.</div>
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Of course, one of my favorite, this aquamarine spray from Pakistan. It's gemmy, it's blue, it's aesthetic. One of the most beautiful things I've seen! The longest crystal measures 12.5 cm, while the specimen measures 27 x 25 x 22 cm and weighs 6kg.</div>
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This gold from Venezuela is the first specimen one sees upon entering the Treasure room. It's elegant and measures (wait for it) 12 x 5.5 x 4 cm. Yes. It is unbelievable!</div>
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With my point and shoot camera, I never managed to get a good picture of this case! These are emerald crystals, all from Columbia. The crystal in the center measures 8.5 x 6 x 5.5 cm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2VWyPIyTDhJRvuk69ZqSmc7uQ6hhdLapw3I3Yd-m_k51ft-8U2v4peuDF0EVF27ElaAac-Tn3MupZqZbI6B3ktJhWZ270Tv7xhapbcfQT1IUozGBS-GmAbHUhPWoN-pNW6u8c2HynHDN/s1600/DSC01525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2VWyPIyTDhJRvuk69ZqSmc7uQ6hhdLapw3I3Yd-m_k51ft-8U2v4peuDF0EVF27ElaAac-Tn3MupZqZbI6B3ktJhWZ270Tv7xhapbcfQT1IUozGBS-GmAbHUhPWoN-pNW6u8c2HynHDN/s640/DSC01525.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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From left to right: </div>
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* <b>Euclase</b> (yes, it is REALLY THAT BLUE!) from Columbia: 4.6 x 3.6 x 2 cm.</div>
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* <b>Aquamarine</b> from Pakistan: perfectly clear crystal on the upper part, with some white inclusions and iridescence on the lower face. This crystal is flanked at the base by a perfect schorl measuring 5.1 cm with tufts of white albite. The aquamarine has a perfect termination rich in faces.</div>
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* <b>Imperial topaz</b> from Pakistan: Perfectly double terminated, limpid, light champagne-colored crystal, brilliant and rich in facets, flanked by an altered green fluorite crystal with strips of albite, the whole on a base made up of a smaller, almost colorless topaz crystal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbZmo2LlEAEsKzOjIKq9eib7I9K3iOYCWhdglesb3fZ0u4VV7EHSuNOdOAEagumgf3f3yNpNMKFfRgny-i1FsQe2cli14pZ3-uTsdG4pI3KUvQ4qRXDxCYo3fDypvkA3JNqXdAbKgF4_1/s1600/DSC01526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbZmo2LlEAEsKzOjIKq9eib7I9K3iOYCWhdglesb3fZ0u4VV7EHSuNOdOAEagumgf3f3yNpNMKFfRgny-i1FsQe2cli14pZ3-uTsdG4pI3KUvQ4qRXDxCYo3fDypvkA3JNqXdAbKgF4_1/s640/DSC01526.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Cerussite crystal displaying an amazing dispersion. It is an intact, transparent and colorless twinned crystal, in a heart shape and giving a rainbow effect, on reticulated cerussite crystals. It measures 7.5 x 7.5 x 10.5 cm.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHpVf7MVhBjL6BOKlT1HPerD-R5KB2v6WO7wF4h8oorVNkUYxetM29PMsoRIpAHdTRpQQ-9saYhOtMSQAJfUpl60MNxQBeJA1v7KOrbQ5rrcu3o4fSHc3vLRBSohs4NSplsuFLYmG04Jt/s640/DSC01527.JPG" /></div>
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Gold from Mockingbird, California. The gold sheet is made of small, brilliant, sharp-edged hexoctahedrons and dendrites. </div>
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Three gold specimens from Mocking Bird, California.</div>
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Tanzanite crystals, showing a striking trichroism (the display is well-done enough to see it!). The elongated crystal measures 14.5 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm and the one on the right is 10.5 x 9.5 x 5 cm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFygWKSBWy4tHZKD_a-c-CcxlZOwEOqXfMjmxHetMrmHvsUnBfCDOg8uhp8hA_UTI5wafHL6b6Iie6R3s4Jtatc0crmHChspTJXc_MEA92EStWRuGNW_k8lULav3oIj3ob7wt6P98XukF/s1600/DSC01536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFygWKSBWy4tHZKD_a-c-CcxlZOwEOqXfMjmxHetMrmHvsUnBfCDOg8uhp8hA_UTI5wafHL6b6Iie6R3s4Jtatc0crmHChspTJXc_MEA92EStWRuGNW_k8lULav3oIj3ob7wt6P98XukF/s640/DSC01536.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Fluorite from Illinois, USA. This fluorite specimen has two interpenetrating crystals (probably twinned) of a vivid orange-amber color, lustrous and rather transparent with smooth surfaces; growth of small fluorite cubes on some faces. It measures 8.5 x 7.5 x 6 cm.</div>
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Another eye candy! What amazing colors in this display case.</div>
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*Pink: <b>Pezzotaite</b> from Madagascar, measure 7 x 6 x 3.5 cm.</div>
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*Pinkish-red (in the back): double transparent crystals of <b>Rubellite</b> in a V shape, measuring 13 x 5 x 3 cm. </div>
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*Yellow: <b>Heliodore</b> from Russia, measuring 12.5 x 3 x 2.5 cm. It i s a perfectly hexagonal, transparent crystal in a beautiful yellow-amber color with small corrosion patterns on the faces. The summit is very well crystallized.</div>
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*Green: <b>Peridot</b> from Myanmar, measuring 6 x 4 x 3 cm. It is a well terminated, entirely transparent crystal with the bottom apparently recrystallized, some naturally corroded faces and others very smooth, without inclusions and of a beautiful greenish-yellow from a front view and a more frankly green profile.</div>
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Three imperial topaz from Brazil. The longest crystal (right) measures 9 x 3.5 x 2 cm.</div>
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Another great display, dedicated to corundum display cases. </div>
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In the front, you find two large sapphires from Sri Lanka. They are un-tumbled, very sharp-edged and translucent double terminated crystals with a pale blue center and yellow ends. The right one measures 11 x 5.5 x 5 cm and the left one 9.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm.</div>
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Kongsberg silver measuring 15 x 10 x 4 cm. You will probably recognize it from the "World's Mineral Masterpieces" book. Some calcite crystals are intertwined in the silver wire.</div>
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<h2>
VIRTUAL TOUR</h2>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKDsSHLu7pE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Enjoy!</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
THE OPENING CEREMONY</h2>
I hope you enjoyed this tour of the museum! Yes, it is a lot of minerals... And I've shown only a few. Now that we were spoiled with a private tour before the opening, it is time to officially open the museum! On October 12th, 2013 at 6pm was the start of the ceremony. The Lebanese President, Mr. Michel Sleiman, officially announced the MIM museum open. After short speeches (including one in 3 languages by Mr. Eddé...), a light and sound show was projected onto the wall of the main University building. Hors d'oeuvres were served around "mineral masterpieces" made out of sugar or polyester! Absolutely gorgeous (to look at and to eat).<br />
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The opening ceremony.</div>
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Mr. Salim Eddé delivering his opening speeches. They were greatly received by all!</div>
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The light and sound show (ok, you have just the light here. I promise, I will add sound soon!).</div>
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The glass fluorite model, in front of the gift shop, by the entrance of the MIM museum.</div>
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I assure you: President Michel Sleiman was there!</div>
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From left to right: Wayne, Alexis, Delphine, Chris and Daniel.</div>
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From left to right: Laurent, Isabelle (Mr. Eddé's sister) and Brice.</div>
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Wayne Leicht & Salim Eddé.</div>
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Laurent (Polychrom France), Diana & Ian (Crystal Classics)</div>
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<h2>
THE AFTER CEREMONY AT THE SKYBAR</h2>
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I took only a few pictures at the beginning of the night. But again, Mr. Eddé surprised us with this fabulous place. Everybody was ready to party pretty quickly and for quite a long time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8D6uoeGz0HgRzvGMNB5O9LtdagY0LFS4wZEDemukNJ2AuMO9JtM6xIyQRZdxtVaUFeKAqNN2u_nxouxMVGVmKxurSKAkoR3m7nGElvy_B6YljER2thzqoocwajYn7IvYJM3iZbebUmO1/s1600/DSC01834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8D6uoeGz0HgRzvGMNB5O9LtdagY0LFS4wZEDemukNJ2AuMO9JtM6xIyQRZdxtVaUFeKAqNN2u_nxouxMVGVmKxurSKAkoR3m7nGElvy_B6YljER2thzqoocwajYn7IvYJM3iZbebUmO1/s640/DSC01834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOqngAjR8SAhSSv0QrRulCCpAoxKYEUd8Yd2aYVi2dDMFktf2YlBoxTBqiJ6LKt0jeE2SXMrs6qwEZ6G9YCBlfcRiUo1fdqWokF_vir3u7xP3hOuIjYgL87Pp8z9OKVL8co4atPtz1o65/s1600/DSC01836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOqngAjR8SAhSSv0QrRulCCpAoxKYEUd8Yd2aYVi2dDMFktf2YlBoxTBqiJ6LKt0jeE2SXMrs6qwEZ6G9YCBlfcRiUo1fdqWokF_vir3u7xP3hOuIjYgL87Pp8z9OKVL8co4atPtz1o65/s640/DSC01836.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gene, Delphine, Wayne & myself.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5MZKlICnROLZq68LBfcJlngE1smYWQgrBcIjTXP7UmnavRxUmYv57-yiyAcPWTQEYxL9DbGEBdJWlZSyknRyhEJoikxRu0VX8g4JnPanmZVREsrYgbTbDO_IvPPrmsWfT89J0eRSimIc/s1600/DSC01843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5MZKlICnROLZq68LBfcJlngE1smYWQgrBcIjTXP7UmnavRxUmYv57-yiyAcPWTQEYxL9DbGEBdJWlZSyknRyhEJoikxRu0VX8g4JnPanmZVREsrYgbTbDO_IvPPrmsWfT89J0eRSimIc/s640/DSC01843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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From left to right: Salim, Carole, myself and Gilles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztZ79nFeXyN9VtdgwAUKXSq8XVqrsXiHeiTy4G8ve7hC69eooElMmLuHc5VKYL2p6UvshlVd_Cp9liRlBo7r0NYNscQtVcjQZZ1CUjW0KTpAoeI3I3IIoIMLLYKuY5mzGZsGQ6Qg5BqNh/s1600/DSC01845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztZ79nFeXyN9VtdgwAUKXSq8XVqrsXiHeiTy4G8ve7hC69eooElMmLuHc5VKYL2p6UvshlVd_Cp9liRlBo7r0NYNscQtVcjQZZ1CUjW0KTpAoeI3I3IIoIMLLYKuY5mzGZsGQ6Qg5BqNh/s640/DSC01845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The curators: here with Raquel Alonso Perez from the Harvard Museum.</div>
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And a few fun pictures:</div>
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Diana and Daniel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmqRuLwuhyphenhyphenHUEugLkKNid_AhwG-KFT4aRwwenbyE4lP3OiD7pRYc4vjIu32qx-RNKsGEhAo0P10Y2ftmV_F1d4bOKZZDA4zdOeRVCMRAWL0OKSU7zPye1Ju-QVHJKyOOM2TUDe6QWKq7/s1600/DSC01858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmqRuLwuhyphenhyphenHUEugLkKNid_AhwG-KFT4aRwwenbyE4lP3OiD7pRYc4vjIu32qx-RNKsGEhAo0P10Y2ftmV_F1d4bOKZZDA4zdOeRVCMRAWL0OKSU7zPye1Ju-QVHJKyOOM2TUDe6QWKq7/s640/DSC01858.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJI8ujENtj6QviRb1znlLyN8Ai_yhfPKNRQWWPeMPGD6IRB_QoKvj-sF-zlT0OICwa2mSUuQoo8hVxFB52AtIuOGGz89-NAgZgz3R7S6KkYQphN8fvTrGarUmCxtisiyD5kYVk5E_ypEE/s1600/DSC01853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJI8ujENtj6QviRb1znlLyN8Ai_yhfPKNRQWWPeMPGD6IRB_QoKvj-sF-zlT0OICwa2mSUuQoo8hVxFB52AtIuOGGz89-NAgZgz3R7S6KkYQphN8fvTrGarUmCxtisiyD5kYVk5E_ypEE/s640/DSC01853.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mr. Salim Eddé rocking the party!</div>
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<h2>
BEIRUT</h2>
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I didn't have that much time to visit Beirut, but here are a few pics, while on our way to the marina. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtcnqDki0a3VJpf2IIFXLckOWstqyeT-cfGHb-2U-U52Utay4XygMmoJwlP_XfS-FFXxiOtE7doZRDYAgQqDkdyTcwWCGHJqOzGT86h4M9P7Y9ipeRtVn0KXmZUnLJVi6Axk_0kGBagFF/s1600/DSC01773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtcnqDki0a3VJpf2IIFXLckOWstqyeT-cfGHb-2U-U52Utay4XygMmoJwlP_XfS-FFXxiOtE7doZRDYAgQqDkdyTcwWCGHJqOzGT86h4M9P7Y9ipeRtVn0KXmZUnLJVi6Axk_0kGBagFF/s640/DSC01773.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5TOFdKraxBrRV-AWCRArbFspUa8bclrnmoXAj2i_mRb5ENveshoyHG73Lm1fctUGcP2i_NakkbKxq2hkpiE1Ia4uL-TOVrLZOZAkJafHf_H687kVXg0qiQHW0Av9xFdI42rokn8QkjJ0/s1600/DSC01776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5TOFdKraxBrRV-AWCRArbFspUa8bclrnmoXAj2i_mRb5ENveshoyHG73Lm1fctUGcP2i_NakkbKxq2hkpiE1Ia4uL-TOVrLZOZAkJafHf_H687kVXg0qiQHW0Av9xFdI42rokn8QkjJ0/s640/DSC01776.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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A few buildings show signs of wars, with walls riddled with bullet holes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidihpgUQrUnc5zS9_6i4Ws6D77kVrY0TeGUUGMBYTZDS4jlP7jSQSVWXAdMOcWUdes7dA0V76XI5XAK_VysCq5GvUUZv0IevW-FNpIPBiyEQ_s_-1VEVzxgmzZNf72h_i86Kt2F4cTRizR/s1600/DSC01779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidihpgUQrUnc5zS9_6i4Ws6D77kVrY0TeGUUGMBYTZDS4jlP7jSQSVWXAdMOcWUdes7dA0V76XI5XAK_VysCq5GvUUZv0IevW-FNpIPBiyEQ_s_-1VEVzxgmzZNf72h_i86Kt2F4cTRizR/s640/DSC01779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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However, most of the town is getting re-built, with extraordinary buildings such as those, next to the marina.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdpycTl-4orW4ILFJ2Ch8KGFHIYRLBTu3j8UTdf8k-CgfB14B693Vy8lbX0kSYOkv4eRx4-RESqwotPN7JkAr9j8wZj_YLB4ZzxTqkeq5W2GGwQSNYUHnu2OiCHj_rf7R4EQR306FJ9yq/s1600/DSC01781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdpycTl-4orW4ILFJ2Ch8KGFHIYRLBTu3j8UTdf8k-CgfB14B693Vy8lbX0kSYOkv4eRx4-RESqwotPN7JkAr9j8wZj_YLB4ZzxTqkeq5W2GGwQSNYUHnu2OiCHj_rf7R4EQR306FJ9yq/s640/DSC01781.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h2>
BYBLOS</h2>
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On the Sunday, we decided to head out to Byblos. In a 40-min cab ride (over an hour on the way back), we were there. We learnt that a 2-lane road means that you can probably fit at least 3 or 4 rows of cars. Anyway, we arrived at our destination, all safe. And it was worth the trip. Next to the Mediterranean, Byblos has preserved centuries, even millenia of history. Possibly, the first inhabitants lived in Byblos between 8800 and 7000 BC, and was built by Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. It is believed by many to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C8gXwPZQ25jWHRxogwqJq6v50L47z-szGIFd9k4qR0NuXwoQ2t76iuuxGvtZxT5Uqe4C6ciOmDvToe9AmP5R_USuVMw9zVx1BCJsn-0fTwwZrXaAApM27etjf4dc_xIZH7sfsYoIPnAv/s1600/DSC01871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C8gXwPZQ25jWHRxogwqJq6v50L47z-szGIFd9k4qR0NuXwoQ2t76iuuxGvtZxT5Uqe4C6ciOmDvToe9AmP5R_USuVMw9zVx1BCJsn-0fTwwZrXaAApM27etjf4dc_xIZH7sfsYoIPnAv/s640/DSC01871.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Byblos: a mix of ruins from different millennia.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-HpXxCSwmI8Ke9XB0KOBpf6cmTwd0d7VxbhFpo0Hi-gcIL8b8r1eVXYSTvpwYZqugLPk0BeD_YsWGOOI90-75Roh3ml0QpkWXMuSeyPB1Mhl5FoeAm4AGH8J61jG1l_qXuusF6Vi2WAN/s1600/DSC01878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-HpXxCSwmI8Ke9XB0KOBpf6cmTwd0d7VxbhFpo0Hi-gcIL8b8r1eVXYSTvpwYZqugLPk0BeD_YsWGOOI90-75Roh3ml0QpkWXMuSeyPB1Mhl5FoeAm4AGH8J61jG1l_qXuusF6Vi2WAN/s640/DSC01878.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rock shopping?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZp1XQhBTmDJb_9V_ie5VrLh25oYJMXFIDJOEZ6MGC0rSdPLCRh8anb6Kun0Mf2j2HE1DmwPIRyYwbY493DSoI5p8H059vnXGsET-hjvucQf2X7OSB8bnJjLOo3ItvEN8tdMIgeDMaQSX/s1600/DSC01883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZp1XQhBTmDJb_9V_ie5VrLh25oYJMXFIDJOEZ6MGC0rSdPLCRh8anb6Kun0Mf2j2HE1DmwPIRyYwbY493DSoI5p8H059vnXGsET-hjvucQf2X7OSB8bnJjLOo3ItvEN8tdMIgeDMaQSX/s640/DSC01883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Blue eyes, Fatima hands and the Madonna. With all of that, we will have enough luck in our luggage to bring us safely home!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozVhehV0qY5B8sw5r3RwSEglSKo0qRfnbXNH3U-FeVFXVRhXXLqJJt3MWusi7BitiBHgX1_FZvVsWX0XYZxOEhTv1VrIHWrhFFzyjD88yaTsMOyT8gQ69m_aW-r8lg2633pgzdVVvD2zB/s1600/DSC01885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozVhehV0qY5B8sw5r3RwSEglSKo0qRfnbXNH3U-FeVFXVRhXXLqJJt3MWusi7BitiBHgX1_FZvVsWX0XYZxOEhTv1VrIHWrhFFzyjD88yaTsMOyT8gQ69m_aW-r8lg2633pgzdVVvD2zB/s640/DSC01885.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGiaXAF4J347XwBnsimnCalzk0xUniouITq-xO7E0uIE1INOXTuJOtr_Oze5BwA4W92WJGqqSK5Jsts2_kSUSaubZfBGv_MjeMlRKINrWnHJcnSE90kF5lk8CzCa70n2lwW58dYpGcrn_/s1600/DSC01887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGiaXAF4J347XwBnsimnCalzk0xUniouITq-xO7E0uIE1INOXTuJOtr_Oze5BwA4W92WJGqqSK5Jsts2_kSUSaubZfBGv_MjeMlRKINrWnHJcnSE90kF5lk8CzCa70n2lwW58dYpGcrn_/s640/DSC01887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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100 million-year old fossils.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO7cRt4krRjLH5F8xXXBoQBu1aaPrGnyKdKZs5-xe9i09PoDr2OeAqIKD6Tjz0XcH5HkXFEHniN8s9OilMbG-c5Z4OAgotijW2N8lt4MdtWgtvoNJLkDHfDtckjMivDlPQOfZM9zQccnb/s1600/DSC01897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO7cRt4krRjLH5F8xXXBoQBu1aaPrGnyKdKZs5-xe9i09PoDr2OeAqIKD6Tjz0XcH5HkXFEHniN8s9OilMbG-c5Z4OAgotijW2N8lt4MdtWgtvoNJLkDHfDtckjMivDlPQOfZM9zQccnb/s640/DSC01897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You said what? Free beer?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwa5dC_HErPTyeAkOjeDElvyr24zyQH6bogtkdj26ho94yxSKgOBoqDaYWfOnYx0fpw8zIWHUeyxRscdhYB2fjVeEMJIegJGHbR95tlaivQhQAMAGOAiWYcTHVMHOmYcqRLG88VNIwJw0i/s1600/DSC01914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwa5dC_HErPTyeAkOjeDElvyr24zyQH6bogtkdj26ho94yxSKgOBoqDaYWfOnYx0fpw8zIWHUeyxRscdhYB2fjVeEMJIegJGHbR95tlaivQhQAMAGOAiWYcTHVMHOmYcqRLG88VNIwJw0i/s640/DSC01914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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From left to right: Delphine, Raquel & myself.</div>
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This time with Gene.</div>
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<h2>
THANKS!</h2>
I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Salim Eddé for his invitation to come to this very special event. It is truly a remarkable museum, that I hope many international visitors, as well as locals, will have the chance to see. May Lebanon get better every day, and this museum is definitely a great step forward. In the meantime, I now can say it is a beautiful country with very welcoming people. I could go back in a heart beat!<br />
Thanks also to Carole Atallah who helped coordinating my trip there. Suzy Hakimian, you have a wonderful collection in your hands, we are all jealous!<br />
All the best to the MIM museum and to Lebanon!<br />
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And I was off on Monday October 14th, at 6am...</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-91566818702797016472013-08-22T15:20:00.003-07:002013-08-23T13:16:07.981-07:00Earthquake Monitoring at NHM and in Los Angeles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/mineral-sciences" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">We are increasing our online presence on the Mineral Science webpage!</a><span style="text-align: left;"> First step: an Earthquake-dedicated page. It describes Earthquakes in the LA area, and also the Quake Catcher Network, a program dedicated to encourage the public monitoring earthquake from home!</span></div>
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The majority of the text and pictures from the site has been added in the remainder of the post below. The website page was created by me, Austin Baca, a volunteer working with the Mineral Sciences Department. I am currently a fourth year student at the California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, studying Geological Sciences with an emphasis in Geophysics. My interests are in Seismology, which is the study of earthquakes, but I also enjoy learning as much as I can about Geology which is what brought me here to the Mineral Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum. When I first began assisting in the Mineral Sciences Department I was informed about the Quake Catcher Network and tasked with reading about it and creating a webpage on how others can become involved. <a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/mineral-sciences" target="_blank">I seriously hope that people will check out the actual post on the Natural History Museum webpage and follow the links to get involved in this project. </a>I believe that it can open people up to the Geosciences while getting them involved in acquiring data that can help individuals who study Seismology to better understand how earthquakes affect the Los Angeles area.<br />
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<h2>
The Quake-Catcher Network </h2>
Partnering with the<a href="http://qcn.stanford.edu/"> Quake Catcher Network</a> (QCN), the public has the unique experience of turning their computer into a mini-seismometer capable of sensing moderate to large-sized earthquakes. The public signs-up to request a sensor from the Quake-Catcher Network website along with the necessary drivers and software. The more people who participate become part of an ever expanding Southern California array of sensors recording ground motion from earthquakes. The ground motion recorded is used to better understand earthquakes and help to mitigate damages in the future. Earthquakes and earthquake hazards are real issues for people living in California, so it is important for people to learn about this incredible force of nature.<br />
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<h2>
What are earthquakes and why should Angelenos care?</h2>
The greater Los Angeles area is no stranger to the dangers of earthquakes. But what are earthquakes exactly? Earthquakes are powerful waves of energy that travel through the ground normally created when two blocks of rock slide past one another at a fault boundary. Normally faults are locked in place and it’s the area immediately next to the fault that is moving and deforming. The deformation, called strain to geologists, builds up a force called stress. At some point the stress built up is released in an earthquake and the rock on both sides of the fault move. Plate tectonics best explains the existence of faults in the world as well as in California and is a fundamental concept for Earth scientists. The Earth is made up of eight large crustal plates and about a dozen smaller ones moving slowly due to the movement of hot mantle material. There are continental and oceanic plates. The Earth’s tectonic plates move in different directions and speeds. Figure 1 below shows the outline of every major tectonic plate in yellow. The red arrows point in the overall direction of plate movement and the length of the arrow represents the speed at which the plates move on average. A majority of the world’s earthquakes occur at or near plate boundaries. There are three kinds of plate boundaries, divergent, convergent, and transform.<br />
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<i>Fig. 1: Relative motion of major tectonic plates. copyright earthquake.usgs.gov.</i></div>
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Two plates split apart from one another at a divergent plate boundary, also called a spreading center or rift. An example would be the Mid-Atlantic Oceanic Ridge which is slowly pulling apart ocean crust and expanding the Atlantic Ocean. As the plates slowly move apart new lava brought up from the mantle crystallizes, forming new crust. Earthquakes at these ridges are normally small to moderate.<br />
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On the other hand two plates can come into contact with one another at a convergent plate boundary. Continental plates can collide, or converge, with one another crumpling and forming huge mountain ranges like the Himalayans. When one continental plate collides with an oceanic plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle creating a subduction zone. Some of the Earth’s largest earthquakes have occurred at subduction zones. Most of the Earth’s volcanoes form parallel to subduction zone boundaries. The chains of volcanoes form because water is carried down into the mantle within the minerals of the ocean’s crust. The water is released as the minerals break down rising into the overlying mantle rock and initiating melting.The figure 2 shows a regional subduction zone off of the Northwest coast of the United States. Here the Juan de Fuca plate is colliding with the North American plate and being pushed down into the hotter mantle where melting occurs. The red ovals within the crust of the North America Plate displays the melted material moving up and eventually breaking the surface where Mt. St. Helen and Mt. Hood are plotted.<br />
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<i>Fig. 2: Block diagram of Juan de Fuca Plate subducting beneath the North America Plate and the movement of magma up to the surface. copyright earthquake.usgs.gov.</i></div>
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A transform fault boundary is one where plates slide past one another in opposite directions. This is the type of faulting common in California, New Zealand, and Turkey. Transform motion is completely horizontal and crust is neither created nor subducted. Transform plate boundaries can produce small, moderate, and large earthquakes. Figure 3 shows all three types of plate boundary can be seen in our state alone. Divergence ends in the Salton Sea area (ending in the Gulf of California in the figure) transitioning to transform motion on the San Andreas Fault with subduction taking over off the coast of Northern California.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnbWpR8jZa5g-ahDps_QYwqCNhFiMk5mm-bgQcfr0rOQUrDLuT4bWKPWWBaiKoQ6hIqEiNZjT7RCRMunY-cIdf33JLeNAuYQ4qxKlFg9uyH36rqmv-mMZV0zvOLd1eSCW97qrf_lyvtKa/s1600/san_andreas_fault-480px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnbWpR8jZa5g-ahDps_QYwqCNhFiMk5mm-bgQcfr0rOQUrDLuT4bWKPWWBaiKoQ6hIqEiNZjT7RCRMunY-cIdf33JLeNAuYQ4qxKlFg9uyH36rqmv-mMZV0zvOLd1eSCW97qrf_lyvtKa/s640/san_andreas_fault-480px.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<i>Fig. 3: Regional tectonic picture of California and the west coast. copyright earthquake.usgs.gov.</i></div>
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A majority of the world’s earthquakes occur on these plate boundaries. One plate boundary all Californians should be aware of is the San Andreas Fault, which divides the Pacific from the North American plate. The San Andreas is a transform boundary. Movement on both sides of the fault is on the order of a few centimeters per year. However the San Andreas isn’t the only fault in California. Due to the movement of the two larger plates many smaller, but still significant faults are found throughout California. Figure 4 below is an example of the number and complexity of faulting in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California resembling cracks in a pane of glass. Many faults are parallel to the San Andreas and exhibit the similar transform motion. Added complexity is due to the San Andreas Fault bending towards the Pacific Ocean. This “Big Bend” acts like a wrench jammed in a series of gears impeding the transform motion on both sides of the San Andreas Fault and creating numerous thrust faults. The movement on thrust faults is vertical, with one block of rock being pushed over another, the same as in subduction. This vertical movement is called uplift and is the reason for the height of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges. Thrust faults are numerous in the Los Angeles area, many of these faults can’t be seen on the surface.<br />
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<img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCDjk_ySY1Oa1FFovH9cFO5v_ZhmX9qZjiqvYGfJilXZWsWTMMGw09K1IXFh05Zp4TgupM-iof78lXbAj1cscVUlXJ92rq6ynN9v9b3ZgDgg2LBDOjx9bo1uQHzgRdiSroqtXSbF9ea4V/s640/California_faults_2Text-480px.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<i>Fig. 4: Known faults in Southern California (plotted red) and the larger San Andreas Fault (plotted yellow). Map created through Google Earth and downloadable KML files provided freely through the USGS.</i></div>
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Earthquake scientists, called seismologists, work to better understand how earthquake waves move through the ground using seismometers and how they can effect major populations, like the one in Los Angeles and neighboring communities. The seismometers pick up ground motion through sensors that measure displacement due to surface disturbances, a much more advanced version of the old spring and pencil system. Some devices are so sensitive that they can easily pick up the sound of the wind hitting the ground. The final recording from a seismometer is called a seismogram; it records displacement with respect to time. The seismogram can be used to determine where the earthquake occurred, at what depth it occurred at, and at precisely what time it occurred.<br />
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Becoming part of a network</h2>
The Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) is a collaborative effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Southern California Earthquake Center. The goal is to create a large-scale seismic network in hopes to attain better earthquake data, to assist in early warning response, and to be used as a teaching tool about earthquakes and earthquake hazards. To achieve these goals, the public is encouraged to sign up for a sensor plus software that turns any internet connected computer into a seismometer.<br />
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The USB sensors can be secured to the floor or attached via USB cable. The floor-mounted approach is far better for picking up seismic signals while reducing any background levels of ground shaking, like typing on your keyboard or people stomping about. A simple configuration of the sensor is required in order to get an accurate position and activation time of the sensor. The configuration is important in aiding earthquake scientists observing ground motion data by giving them the location and time of the earthquake signal. All of this aids in a final determination of when, where, and even how powerful the recorded earthquake was. A software package is also available to read the data that the sensors pick up. It is even possible to view the ground motion on your computer screen!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyFtZi4uTarBWWS-AM9rQ0qyXNylGohOxWe5I54NEL2CRJQ2GPUZL1Tg2F2LW-IbQFlNbZC5Sn7L51xPPOYtL6tRcxjwZv9KC4HsIHlYYNVdk6JxVzi5WKt7aiVuakCmgkXFzexSCIKZ1/s1600/QCN_Sensor_480px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyFtZi4uTarBWWS-AM9rQ0qyXNylGohOxWe5I54NEL2CRJQ2GPUZL1Tg2F2LW-IbQFlNbZC5Sn7L51xPPOYtL6tRcxjwZv9KC4HsIHlYYNVdk6JxVzi5WKt7aiVuakCmgkXFzexSCIKZ1/s400/QCN_Sensor_480px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Picture of USB sensor one can receive. On the left-hand corner of device is a small compass that is used to align sensor to North. For all sensors the y-direction aligns with North.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzJiRPzJdrMU7VHX0QQNKcmmZ9wlUGxx09WvTl7koOy0qffWXXBdlocn-fUbEjTzRBK-ZZ5TMP3bgDHEdO29vZJHaVrn7k2Nq0WlmvbKwrXUOZcrtLKiAWl_CAsL3AGyLXThzuetc5L_p/s1600/QCN_accelerator_480px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzJiRPzJdrMU7VHX0QQNKcmmZ9wlUGxx09WvTl7koOy0qffWXXBdlocn-fUbEjTzRBK-ZZ5TMP3bgDHEdO29vZJHaVrn7k2Nq0WlmvbKwrXUOZcrtLKiAWl_CAsL3AGyLXThzuetc5L_p/s640/QCN_accelerator_480px.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07039613664802445044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-85193180963145249762013-08-09T16:50:00.001-07:002013-08-09T16:52:36.166-07:00Colored diamond frenzy: the Lady Heart Collection at NHM<h2>
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<b>Now on temporary display at </b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Until December 1st, 2013 </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8JGdP4lz0ovtQP9Fljy-fToOnA4KlmWYJRLSqlQjdAJ5LGtfbSmWifHV5ve_MiYfP_XRK8GanDSnJT8h_EeVqUYXgjc8OtJkZ0t2hxBHEV09AGAtbXWHWNjiFcLGdcoD-Nt4vODOqiSt/s1600/orange_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8JGdP4lz0ovtQP9Fljy-fToOnA4KlmWYJRLSqlQjdAJ5LGtfbSmWifHV5ve_MiYfP_XRK8GanDSnJT8h_EeVqUYXgjc8OtJkZ0t2hxBHEV09AGAtbXWHWNjiFcLGdcoD-Nt4vODOqiSt/s400/orange_cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #636363; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px; text-align: start;">The Lady Orquidea is a 2.00 carat Fancy Vivid Orange diamond heart mounted in a heart shaped bezel accented with pave white diamonds. Vivid orange diamonds are believed to be the rarest of the colored diamonds. Pure orange natural diamonds are extremely scarce and can only be classified as such if there is no trace of brown in the stone.</span></div>
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Why is there such a frenzy over fancy-colored diamonds these days? Why are they so highly sought after? Why are they regularly setting new price records at auction? The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) is pleased to offer its visitors a chance to see for themselves! By popular demand, NHM is extending its exhibition of The Lady Heart Diamond Collection until December 1st, 2013. Each of the five rare diamonds is a different amazing color: <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html" target="_blank">red, pink, orange, yellow and blue</a>. The stones are all heart-shaped range in weight from 1.71 to 2.28 carats , and are set in separate pieces of custom-designed gold jewelry.<br />
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"A heart-shaped diamond itself is immensely rare,” says Bernard Bachoura, a fourth generation jeweler from Southern California’s Sophia Fiori and designer of The Lady Heart Diamond Collection. “While the diamond is in the rough, the final shape of the stone is determined by the diamond cutter based on which shape will best maximize carat weight, symmetry, and value. The unusual heart shape requires the cutter to sacrifice significant carat weight in order to achieve the desired result. It makes the heart shape a risk the cutter must be certain he or she is willing to take."<br />
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As for the diamonds themselves, the grade of Fancy Vivid color given by the Gemological Institution of America (GIA) to each single diamond in the collection represents the highest grade for a colored diamond. According to GIA, of the millions of diamonds mined each year, only a handful achieves this top grade. The pure red color of the 1.71-carat diamond is the most sought-after in the gem market today, while the 2.00-carat pure orange diamond is probably the rarest to be found.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsknw2Uu-l0FI4Aqp1nJW8v5cQCW_1nalVqfKq9X0zIjy3JR2nxaR3RQKCwC8qZZfrnQK_Ze2b0OzywsJqYNiUYeaxr_gaWtWlJN_Shgb6wOKtKj8LKatJRX2rEJHiq8FRvIFCQwQhxOL4/s1600/heart+shape+ring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsknw2Uu-l0FI4Aqp1nJW8v5cQCW_1nalVqfKq9X0zIjy3JR2nxaR3RQKCwC8qZZfrnQK_Ze2b0OzywsJqYNiUYeaxr_gaWtWlJN_Shgb6wOKtKj8LKatJRX2rEJHiq8FRvIFCQwQhxOL4/s400/heart+shape+ring1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Lady Diantha is an internally flawless 2.28 carat Fancy Vivid Blue heart shape diamond. This heart shape diamond is mounted in a heart shaped bezel accented with pave colorless and yellow diamonds. <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html#Blue">Blue diamonds are given their color by extremely low concentrations of boron within the stone</a>. Blue diamonds have frequently been the center of attention among royalty, including King Louis XIV. The rarity of the Diantha’s diamond shape, color, and clarity further define the Lady Heart Collection’s historic importance as a distinctive and timeless assortment of colored diamonds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4M3elbUDb7c9qDK_BZIqmjPippl_Dnkwt9sTDN_o-8BTFABSiZTHTgCgPkF618gyyTsIYYTyRQhD_6nTi8Ws1Dko9xQKtosMBvElNbAtB2aKL82EGbi5OBUVK2RX6Tq8aQdk9i1dRCLy/s1600/pink_cropped1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4M3elbUDb7c9qDK_BZIqmjPippl_Dnkwt9sTDN_o-8BTFABSiZTHTgCgPkF618gyyTsIYYTyRQhD_6nTi8Ws1Dko9xQKtosMBvElNbAtB2aKL82EGbi5OBUVK2RX6Tq8aQdk9i1dRCLy/s640/pink_cropped1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Lady Leilani is a 1.73 carat Fancy Vivid Pink heart shape diamond, set in a modern rhythmic white gold tear drop pendant with pave white diamond accents.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv09ldIwFo3-YiH9ZZO5E-W7Ezg_tyeHuLe3fS_BEWMFMomjDCfboavhvAQYYgi0MSPtCoCnS7PNjRVdbyn5phPV6MdOyiREvJCa_BgNAFD1k08vbul0VoyZHFto-refD3LsGDMB8klZvV/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv09ldIwFo3-YiH9ZZO5E-W7Ezg_tyeHuLe3fS_BEWMFMomjDCfboavhvAQYYgi0MSPtCoCnS7PNjRVdbyn5phPV6MdOyiREvJCa_BgNAFD1k08vbul0VoyZHFto-refD3LsGDMB8klZvV/s400/IMG_0142.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here, the back of the Lady Leilani necklace, showing the wonderful design created by Bernard Bachoura of Sophia Fiori, for our special display.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uea3nRx2iRcB-fTBzCrC9mDg8-wwDSjWi_hk90gDIlpXaPmJBlwqefv0DP79rxI4jlZhFsI5Tdu0qFB_9q34Nqd0GIvq-uUVMdRyvRzzl_9DgSC6NTnp-hOb_dhXmUqU-Ljwc5ALp0dj/s1600/Red1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uea3nRx2iRcB-fTBzCrC9mDg8-wwDSjWi_hk90gDIlpXaPmJBlwqefv0DP79rxI4jlZhFsI5Tdu0qFB_9q34Nqd0GIvq-uUVMdRyvRzzl_9DgSC6NTnp-hOb_dhXmUqU-Ljwc5ALp0dj/s640/Red1.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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The Lady Mandara is a 1.71 carat Fancy Vivid Red heart-shaped diamond, mounted with 5.90 carat total weight of colorless pave diamonds. <a href="http://nhminsci.blogspot.com/2013/01/color-in-diamonds.html#Pink">Pure red diamonds are the rarest in the pink diamond family</a>. The Mandara Fiori is documented by GIA as being one of the largest vivid red diamonds in existence. It is also documented as the largest vivid heart shaped diamond GIA has ever certified. Proportionally, this diamond is a perfect heart shape, rather than a modified heart like most heart-shaped diamonds tend to be. Before this stone was cut there was absolute certainty, because of its nature, that the final shape would be a heart. This diamond is the anchor of the Lady Heart Collection, reaffirming the collection’s unparalleled significance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1tuhGbH_Ppum75UHjjlSEkvS3PcxGKbz9Mb8Ihb_tWCD2kLsllZTq2k7Fetdd1-NlLqVgIca4osxymsm4wWMV4SbJZxNUXm6wALUagwiijNYkscn8J22EBsZoCGi_0NZDrKdRPIX5ra_/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1tuhGbH_Ppum75UHjjlSEkvS3PcxGKbz9Mb8Ihb_tWCD2kLsllZTq2k7Fetdd1-NlLqVgIca4osxymsm4wWMV4SbJZxNUXm6wALUagwiijNYkscn8J22EBsZoCGi_0NZDrKdRPIX5ra_/s400/IMG_0138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The back of the Lady Mandara necklace.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOMt8VsNQomFj3ZEbXvVjtnuC4-7xUdAjHm_DzQb27tuLKU5QiOc3YRAVMICD5ilmbo_7e-4wv_HQb3d3EhKOZ7Ypr4GfIJwTTvq5j2PMGf20gjSBr0PQ2NhPWBDT9NDWE55AhF3m0R-q/s1600/yellow_cropped1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOMt8VsNQomFj3ZEbXvVjtnuC4-7xUdAjHm_DzQb27tuLKU5QiOc3YRAVMICD5ilmbo_7e-4wv_HQb3d3EhKOZ7Ypr4GfIJwTTvq5j2PMGf20gjSBr0PQ2NhPWBDT9NDWE55AhF3m0R-q/s400/yellow_cropped1.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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The Lady Zahira is a 2.26 carat Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond heart uniquely embedded in a rose gold encasing. Originating from the Zimi mines of south Africa, the color of this diamond is more intense than most vivid yellow diamonds.Even in very low light, the intensity of a vivid yellow color is evident. This perfectly cut heart shape not only captures the most vivid yellow found in nature, but is also the most intense color in the Fiori Collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O3B_WFMoBzVNPSiJH8r_RrxallDbHdHW9qURDx179RDMKXmsEC11FTmnEQANFohU9hBeCCJS4IdMR56veRi0X5Xgu3Y8WdVMaYxnpy49EIRkB_9Jvj6TswXbkMWdZzc1AgzJ6q8PR0B-/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O3B_WFMoBzVNPSiJH8r_RrxallDbHdHW9qURDx179RDMKXmsEC11FTmnEQANFohU9hBeCCJS4IdMR56veRi0X5Xgu3Y8WdVMaYxnpy49EIRkB_9Jvj6TswXbkMWdZzc1AgzJ6q8PR0B-/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The back of the Lady Zahira necklace, enhanced with colorless diamonds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0t-Pqs8DYM65QZQ3Yhr4hFZBvtdRhhxp0InIMqE5jpVMvWx4F_OaUCG1Fs-GFjTRyb7sje1tVmpQgHEwTkJn4cp261UC5ph5x9uzqqRbdY5qj-JX0iigyBopesPukJIoS9WSB9Hs1icxi/s1600/20130131_190145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0t-Pqs8DYM65QZQ3Yhr4hFZBvtdRhhxp0InIMqE5jpVMvWx4F_OaUCG1Fs-GFjTRyb7sje1tVmpQgHEwTkJn4cp261UC5ph5x9uzqqRbdY5qj-JX0iigyBopesPukJIoS9WSB9Hs1icxi/s640/20130131_190145.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bernard Bachoura from Sophia Fiori, the designer of the Lady Heart Collection, is helping putting the display together. Come and see it at the Natural History Museum!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-58703935928378187512013-07-18T12:33:00.000-07:002013-07-18T16:56:56.251-07:00The Mystery of the Ring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When objects are donated to the museum, they may come with extensive documentation of their history, appraisals, or something that validates their identity. This is not always the case, not all donors have such information and sometimes the object is interesting enough that staff accept it as is. Part of our job is to try and make sure the story stays with the object. Or in some cases, find the missing story.<br />
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In the Gem Vault here at NHMLAC is an object that is a bit different from everything else. It is a European ring with a crown (indicating it belonged to a king or queen), and is obviously old. The letter on the ring is called a cipher, which is similar to a monogram. A cipher is often just the initial of a first name. The ring is gold, with blue enamel and tiny rose cut diamonds. The band of the ring has a beautiful laurel leaf motif.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUGXyD3TLAmWs9nXHbCthC9wJecsfnNRQjePhrgdyQ3awESC-GGWsRRNi8ixHRfBZziP9RlMrm3GUsXF9DbiBGauHw9OlNGc9uzY41LP9-LOoVg8ojdrcxPO5_kteCmTfEPIdkxVViQ/s1600/ring_best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUGXyD3TLAmWs9nXHbCthC9wJecsfnNRQjePhrgdyQ3awESC-GGWsRRNi8ixHRfBZziP9RlMrm3GUsXF9DbiBGauHw9OlNGc9uzY41LP9-LOoVg8ojdrcxPO5_kteCmTfEPIdkxVViQ/s640/ring_best.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Eloïse Gaillou/NHMLAC</td></tr>
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This ring came to the museum in 1974, a gift from a Mr. and Mrs. Haverstick of Santa Monica, CA. <br />
Along with the ring was a label of unknown origin explaining that the ring was a gift from Empress Catherine II of Russia (Catherine the Great) to one of her maids-of-honor. Here it is:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOsEBVDrF8vLQhSn-27D0jr9FBYMGBb1zTjIXBKyAaHxPi7Y7YMVS23QmHOFU8rFl_QfoIZrDTs-8-l2J0c76zHHJfoxwo4xAJh8xIzw9m7worGy2kjl5Ao3rVukTMCPZn9p0ZjroGQ/s1600/E_ring_label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOsEBVDrF8vLQhSn-27D0jr9FBYMGBb1zTjIXBKyAaHxPi7Y7YMVS23QmHOFU8rFl_QfoIZrDTs-8-l2J0c76zHHJfoxwo4xAJh8xIzw9m7worGy2kjl5Ao3rVukTMCPZn9p0ZjroGQ/s640/E_ring_label.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We don't know who wrote this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfMYBnxt6Ew7EPeJdPK2xtmGhZ8py4mUOY7-MY9ga8CH_QTvnHdZU1kT05SHJGJJQyVeNaBvkXWYxbSFUVRpEjq5lPX5kLvQSEAW8Rg5F-AYlyH2pWLXTxb4Bl-wzeCUP2SZ_DuBrOA/s1600/Rokotov_Portrait_Catherine_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfMYBnxt6Ew7EPeJdPK2xtmGhZ8py4mUOY7-MY9ga8CH_QTvnHdZU1kT05SHJGJJQyVeNaBvkXWYxbSFUVRpEjq5lPX5kLvQSEAW8Rg5F-AYlyH2pWLXTxb4Bl-wzeCUP2SZ_DuBrOA/s400/Rokotov_Portrait_Catherine_II.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine II by Fyodor Rokotov. From: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great</a></td></tr>
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Catherine the Great was one of the most influential of all Russian rulers. She was a badass who ruled for 34 years after the murder of her husband in 1762. She had almost no serious challenges to her rule and she wasn't even Russian, she was German! She was very popular among the Russian people. She would have had a lot of maids-of-honor in her 34 years as Empress. A maid-of-honor was not an attendant at a wedding, she was more like a lady-in-waiting, except younger and unmarried. They were daughters of nobility and hung out at court, going to parties, performing certain duties for the Empress. <br />
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Eloïse, Tony and I are geologists. We know a lot about mineralogy, petrology, crystallography. We know squat about historical jewelry. Brittany, our new volunteer, is a gemologist who does know something about historical pieces. She immediately was suspicious. She thought the cipher was a gothic style letter...was it even an E? It looks a bit like a C. Catherine in Russian is Ekaterina.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7PTV2M4D5L2gqY0uI28Cs0tskUa3lTl8qYhCvg8Xp9Z84Jn57QjmR8wKtzm5RT2niOTTRQhoHYR8SPq-QR8glCY6uq792ndBWlD61hgqKAk2_LKiIQMeopxNs1DNaKG_xl3F0Auz3g/s1600/EII_coin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7PTV2M4D5L2gqY0uI28Cs0tskUa3lTl8qYhCvg8Xp9Z84Jn57QjmR8wKtzm5RT2niOTTRQhoHYR8SPq-QR8glCY6uq792ndBWlD61hgqKAk2_LKiIQMeopxNs1DNaKG_xl3F0Auz3g/s320/EII_coin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: Flickr -woody1778a</td></tr>
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This coin has an example of the monogram of Catherine the Great, it's a curvy rococo style E with the roman numeral II and the Russian crown. Her cipher is similar. Not even close the gothic E on our ring, which is more like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6fWL-76B81MGLyB2CEfwyQhfx0GfxbkbRjM77TSQHjK4MyYFPpCenENiNKG-os4QVBV89mk68wQ5qucyi45egshRafU0Z0n8UHLZRCNpLkza940uwHhyphenhyphenRblLT5bAY2aI7zlm1HpsRA/s1600/gothic_stencil_letter_e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6fWL-76B81MGLyB2CEfwyQhfx0GfxbkbRjM77TSQHjK4MyYFPpCenENiNKG-os4QVBV89mk68wQ5qucyi45egshRafU0Z0n8UHLZRCNpLkza940uwHhyphenhyphenRblLT5bAY2aI7zlm1HpsRA/s320/gothic_stencil_letter_e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Several experts we contacted at the GIA, Hillwood Museum in D.C., and the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana said the same thing. The ring does not look Russian and its not the cipher of Catherine. Also, based on the enamel and style, it appears to be from the 19th century rather than the 18th. A jewelry historian from Helsinki further opined that it is a man's "presentation ring" and the crown on the ring is that of Prussia. A sovereign would give away such a ring to honor someone for important service to the crown. For example, a personal staff member at their retirement or maybe a gift to a very close friend or advisor. It was a VERY nice gift. <br />
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With this information we started searching for ciphers and monograms of Prussian royalty of the 19th century. We immediately found our girl:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1qGlyLYpCvyIqGNMOxhnf6RBz_qIGusKduy08E4e0ExJLW70sS5lImJN6YDjAjS-Vmgbm9ArM2cW_HvB7_pIxvlp7U4W7u1OqMXlAaaskeVUolbz9gmMKIRVx3uIlZFQDlAEdl5LTQ/s1600/188px-Royal_Monogram_of_Queen_Elisabeth_of_Prussia_svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1qGlyLYpCvyIqGNMOxhnf6RBz_qIGusKduy08E4e0ExJLW70sS5lImJN6YDjAjS-Vmgbm9ArM2cW_HvB7_pIxvlp7U4W7u1OqMXlAaaskeVUolbz9gmMKIRVx3uIlZFQDlAEdl5LTQ/s320/188px-Royal_Monogram_of_Queen_Elisabeth_of_Prussia_svg.png" width="139" /></a></div>
This is the cipher of Queen Elisabeth of Prussia. She was born in Munich in 1801, the daughter of King Maximilian Joseph I of Bavaria. She was a member of the Wittelsbach family. She married Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who was King of Prussia from 1840-1861.<br />
Everything fits, all our experts had said mid-19th century. At least it truly is the ring of a queen, even if not such a famous one as Catherine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49OMwcHO8hiqt_KvD8RQGlwihjxssrHc0WgmJQktrT74RaMiryhzVWFY_s5eAjJSYuYsgfa3FvnWP4WyHZZAMA4ROZVI_LRKJaKl-wuYx2JUrxwht5RzEbCFecqTIeV1qDFZskAMbrg/s1600/ElisabethVonBayernUndPreusz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49OMwcHO8hiqt_KvD8RQGlwihjxssrHc0WgmJQktrT74RaMiryhzVWFY_s5eAjJSYuYsgfa3FvnWP4WyHZZAMA4ROZVI_LRKJaKl-wuYx2JUrxwht5RzEbCFecqTIeV1qDFZskAMbrg/s400/ElisabethVonBayernUndPreusz.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia. From: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Ludovika_of_Bavaria">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Ludovika_of_Bavaria</a></td></tr>
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The only thing that doesn't quite fit is the personal story that came with the donation.<br />
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The ring came with a letter. The letter was mailed from Paris in 1927 and was sent to the American woman who bought the ring in a Parisian shop. The American was Mrs. Florence Gordon Hall of Palo Alto, CA. When she bought the ring, she left a note for the former owner expressing sympathy that circumstances had forced her to sell such a special object. The former owner appreciated Mrs Hall's kind words and wrote her this letter:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZd5Zdsr8k1TE9GVZcd8N0IjuKtatXCkMHDuP7mMQYDNMkxnE_2lnbE56rzvtxz8OaK170jpPyOVJNT603wTWEl9F4FqHH34ep6A3K09A4KnoxBxbGoC608PJUap4eFo-mkg6L6nLBA/s1600/E_ring_letter1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZd5Zdsr8k1TE9GVZcd8N0IjuKtatXCkMHDuP7mMQYDNMkxnE_2lnbE56rzvtxz8OaK170jpPyOVJNT603wTWEl9F4FqHH34ep6A3K09A4KnoxBxbGoC608PJUap4eFo-mkg6L6nLBA/s640/E_ring_letter1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLZy9xpnj8QafOsx6LHfUjz-JGWXjIJ4pISj2-QBZM1RGMhIXDuvZhyH6n5jWLembdCjjzTXv0bvpTlYz4sZRsG8xR66bdF0861zOib-HUmg-M6cE2v9QkDM84Ot03IgpXHR63AL50Q/s1600/E_ring_letter2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLZy9xpnj8QafOsx6LHfUjz-JGWXjIJ4pISj2-QBZM1RGMhIXDuvZhyH6n5jWLembdCjjzTXv0bvpTlYz4sZRsG8xR66bdF0861zOib-HUmg-M6cE2v9QkDM84Ot03IgpXHR63AL50Q/s640/E_ring_letter2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The little sale-girl who sold you my ring faithfully gived me your writing card with your kind words. I must tell you Madame, how touched I was to receive that mark of your appreciation. It is very seldom that American ladies think of the unhappiness of the people who have to sale their family's jewelry. I hope Madame Catherine's ring will bring you happiness and good luck which good luck you deserve certainly. Thank you again."</td></tr>
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She refers to the ring as "Madame Catherine's ring." For all these years no one at the museum was able to translate the signature. Our best guess was "Finaida Levowitck Tchakhowskov" which is not a name in any language! I was not sure what to make of the monogram "ZL" on the letter. There are often many different spellings of Russian surnames and this was likely a person who had only recently arrived in France. Her English is good but far from perfect, she may have been learning French at the same time, who knows! We thought it likely that the spelling of the name had changed.<br />
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Eventually, some of our colleagues asked Russian friends to decode the name and they came up with "Zinaida Shakhovskoy". Now we get lots of google hits. There was a Zinaida Shakhovskaya in Paris at that time under similar circumstances as our letter writer. She was the daughter of Prince Alexei Shakhovskoy and had fled Russia with her mother and siblings after the revolution. She moved to Paris by herself to get an education and eventually became a writer. At the time that the ring was sold, she would have been 20 years old. I read an autobiography she wrote in the late 1950s called "The Privilege was mine. A Russian Princess returns to the Soviet Union." In this book she describes her family's flight from St. Petersburg in 1917. They spent a few years in the countyside before her mother finally got them out of Russia.<br />
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We hope to learn more about Zinaida and her family history. She almost certainly did write this letter and I think she sincerely believed the story about the maid-of-honor to Catherine the Great. Family stories can easily get lost or muddled over the generations. Perhaps the story is true even if this is not that ring. Her family was noble and doubtless had many close connections to the royal families of Europe (they are all related anyway). We may never be able to find a direct connection between Zinaida Shakhovskaya's ancestor and Elisabeth of Prussia but it doesn't matter so much. Just knowing that the ring has likely made a remarkable journey from the court of the Prussian Kings in Berlin to St. Petersburg, to Paris to California is amazing! <br />
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Stay tuned for further updates!<br />
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04278597472629399700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-77300747868644794962013-07-05T02:14:00.002-07:002017-07-10T10:03:32.043-07:0050th Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Gem & Mineral Show<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A little report of the Sainte-Marie "Mineral & Gem" show, at which I have been invited by the organizers<a href="http://www.sainte-marie-mineral.com/centre/centre_vis_min_con.php" target="_blank"> to give 4 conferences</a>. It was only my second Sainte-Marie show, but it was just as memorable as the first one!<br />
For those who have not been to the Sainte-Marie before: 1) You have to go. 2) The atmosphere is like no where else. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines" target="_blank">It is set in the small town located in the Vosges mountains,</a> not far away from Germany, and very importantly, in Alsace, which is a wine region. White wines such as Gewurztraminer and Riesling are the specialty. Food-wise, the region is popular for its cured meat, and its "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarte_flamb%C3%A9e" target="_blank">tartes flambées</a>".<br />
Each year, the town is completely re-configured to welcome the mineral and the gem show where thousands of dealers come and set up their booths, mostly under tents. There is the "mineral village", set up around the theater, and the "gem village", set up not far away from the Town Hall. They are separated by a 10 min walk.<br />
For the last two years, the city is organizing the show, and I have to say, very successfully. The organizers and people working for the show were extremely nice and helpful. This year, a special exhibit on "American treasures" was coordinated by Alain Martaud. Museums and private collectors brought there best goodies to the exhibit. Alain Martaud also published <a href="http://www.minerauxetfossiles.com/index.php?page=031" target="_blank">a book on the minerals of Sainte-Marie-aux-Min</a><a href="http://www.minerauxetfossiles.com/index.php?page=031">es</a> (in 3 languages!), and had a small showcase dedicated to those, which serves as a complement to the most extensive collection showed in Tellure, a town nearby.<br />
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Anyway, here are some pictures. Be aware that the weather was not great: every other day, it was raining. However, it never made the show less enjoyable, and a great atmosphere ran through the entire show!<br />
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I arrived in Paris on Sunday June 23. After a relaxing evening with friends I have not seen for ages, I went for a tour of the <a href="http://www.upmc.fr/en/culture/heritage/scientific_heritage/minerals_collection.html" target="_blank">Sorbonne collection, hosted at the Pierre & Marie Curie University</a>, and curated by Jean-Claude Boulliard. Unfortunately, pictures of the collection are not allowed, and I can only share my impression with you: WOW!!!! Yes, it is a fabulous collection (with 1,300 minerals on exhibit), that is worth seeing (and seeing again).<br />
Jean-Claude drove us from Paris to Sainte-Marie in the afternoon. I was sharing a house with my colleagues from the French National Museum of Natural History in a small village called "La Vancelle". Two horses and a donkey were sharing the back-garden. Lovely place!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirm6l5eG8nNHvQ4xQNX_TRfLEroT-KJ8rduUtGlUpcdpIWe_LgBCj6CV3_fulOqaMRAF4O1kchHZ_YaqT0w3I0AGXwUaMoEsQzm9G8NelWOLU0fCDe-Yi26OfhwppLv5Nd1-75MDGjOg2e/s1600/DSC00800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirm6l5eG8nNHvQ4xQNX_TRfLEroT-KJ8rduUtGlUpcdpIWe_LgBCj6CV3_fulOqaMRAF4O1kchHZ_YaqT0w3I0AGXwUaMoEsQzm9G8NelWOLU0fCDe-Yi26OfhwppLv5Nd1-75MDGjOg2e/s640/DSC00800.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The back garden of our house, at La Vancelle.</div>
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A small part of our the back garden.</div>
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And Titan, the donkey.</div>
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My first day at the show was Tuesday, June 25. The show is supposed to open on the Thursday, but a lot of mineral dealers were already set up by the end (or sometimes even the beginning!) of the Tuesday. I would say that most big transactions are done before the opening of the show.<br />
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Grey sky over the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines church.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpl9so9-FJNt27GycIAGej_KMZfhI2fOV2WrdwGy8lHbJnaFYHHEsSxNHDeoCJ-jP9XVcGqksLitYCsqqTVkDMTFBcMVUpm2dT9RD2EI71S4rmKLFxfK8Ct676WoZH6tJGpeG_srwiqbV/s1600/DSC00777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpl9so9-FJNt27GycIAGej_KMZfhI2fOV2WrdwGy8lHbJnaFYHHEsSxNHDeoCJ-jP9XVcGqksLitYCsqqTVkDMTFBcMVUpm2dT9RD2EI71S4rmKLFxfK8Ct676WoZH6tJGpeG_srwiqbV/s640/DSC00777.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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First breakfast in Sainte-Marie: Already, Alejandro Stern is showing us diamonds and gold from Venezuela.</div>
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And what gold! 25g of crystal. Front view...</div>
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And back view. My personal favorite!</div>
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Assorted gold and diamonds from Venezuela.</div>
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Set up time: curators Gian Carlo Parodi and Cristiano Ferraris are getting their "Treasures of America" ready.</div>
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In the theater, most dealers were ready to receive their first costumers. Here, "les Merveilles de la Terre" booth is right at the entrance of the theater.</div>
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One alley of the Theater. Empty alley, for the only time of the show. No opportunity from Thursday on to take such a picture.</div>
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The entrance Hall of the theater.</div>
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A short rest for the organizers, in front of the quiet theater.</div>
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And the quiet streets during the set up.</div>
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The usual lapis booths were ready by the beginning of the week.</div>
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We left the mineral village early to get ready for the first party at our little house in La Vancelle. My room mates did most of the work, cooking lasagna and hors d'oeuvre and having the house ready for our 30 or so guests. Barbecue was first on our mind but cold weather and rain prevented us from having the entire party outside. It didn't prevent us from having a great time! Pictures were surprisingly not taken (maybe for the best?!).</div>
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Gian Carlo cooking.</div>
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Wednesday, it was time to discover more of the show. But nothing can be done without a first stop at the "Salon de Thé" (tea shop) / pâtisserie in Sainte Marie. What else than a croissant or a pain au chocolat to begin the day?</div>
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My morning breakfast place.</div>
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Within: great treasures, such as pure butter croissants and pain au chocolat, and those wonderful homemade chocolate.</div>
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The town hall of Sainte-Marie, next to the church.</div>
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The local bar and restaurant. Lunch at the "Taverne du Mineur" can't be avoided, to eat some tasty "tartes flambées".</div>
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On Wednesday, the set up continues, with a bit of blue sky.</div>
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Some intriguing rocks... Fake chalcedony and malachite.</div>
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The set up also continues for the "American Treasures".</div>
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Alain Martaud and his daughter preparing the labels for the special exhibit.</div>
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It's not only about minerals and gems: fossils are also here!</div>
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And of course, there can't be a Sainte-Marie show without the infamous "buvettes", where dealers and collectors can talk around a good glass of cold Riesling... or Gewurtz depending on preferences.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaNQ2rs5b4xs74CkEcS6kZnBHJiGJrV96C4zvwcNiX9RoCmAN82a35Pp5HQ2Ga-3SaXY0BS7vaWt3wFv7CnTnQjRgyeGiD01GEU7-JP3aeYy0SWADulW3mU5wUDqjXMdDrWu_j_XySu9B/s1600/DSC00813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaNQ2rs5b4xs74CkEcS6kZnBHJiGJrV96C4zvwcNiX9RoCmAN82a35Pp5HQ2Ga-3SaXY0BS7vaWt3wFv7CnTnQjRgyeGiD01GEU7-JP3aeYy0SWADulW3mU5wUDqjXMdDrWu_j_XySu9B/s640/DSC00813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My old friend, Michel Boudard and I, drinking a glass of Riesling. Michel's collection is a very special one: he collects only andalusite, sillimanite and kyanite.</div>
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From left to right: Laurent Thomas, Bill, Will and Carl Larson seating on the steps of the theater (the meeting place). It looks like they have found some good stones already, and are in a very good mood.</div>
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A few cold but good nights were spent at the hotel / restaurant "<a href="http://www.bagenelles.com/">Les Bagenelles</a>".</div>
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But with a bit of good wine and great company, everybody is in an excellent spirit!</div>
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On Thursday 27th, the first day of the show, it was raining, I mean, pouring. As I was giving my first talks the day after, I took this opportunity to stay home and work on my lectures. From what I've heard, even if the weather was not that great, the first day of the show was a success. Thankfully in the evening, rain stopped, and a lovely weather came back. Right on time for the big event organized by the city, which was held at the stadium: barbecue and live music were on the schedule. Again, the event was a bit success. <a href="http://www.kristalle.com/news-story.php?id=154" target="_blank">Some pictures of the party can be seen on the Kristalle website</a>.</div>
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Friday and Saturday, I spent a lot of time giving my lectures and conversing about the talks. The topics: "Color in diamonds" and "Treasures of the museums of the Smithsonian and of Los Angeles". Here are a few pictures I took on the Friday. On the Saturday, it was raining too much to even take my camera out! But still, the show was overcrowded, and the lecture room full.</div>
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The lively mineral show.</div>
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Cristiano admiring some of Alain Martaud's rocks.</div>
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Including some pyrargyrite from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, with its old label.</div>
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A close-up of the pyrargyrite.</div>
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Side view of the theater, from one of the "buvettes".</div>
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At the end of the day, my friend Stefanos Karampelas, from the Gübelin Gem Lab, picked us up to go to dinner, in its 8 seat-van. For the story, we ran out of gas by the end of the night...</div>
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Sunday was the last day of the show, but also my day to tour around and take pictures of the exhibits and some rocks. It was also a perfect sunny day! I began with a breakfast at the Gem show, before the show opened. What a quiet atmosphere before the public arrived.</div>
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Before the opening of the show, in the early morning, the gem show is sunny and quiet.</div>
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Overview of the gem show before the opening.</div>
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And to begin the day, tea and pain au chocolat!</div>
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Or maybe a petit salé? Jam or Nutella?</div>
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Alright, time to begin looking. As usual, beads are everywhere. Tourmaline, sapphire and diamonds are popular as low quality material, rounded or faceted and ready to string.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLooLzqqyIUlfZwU91HjaMp9ZSJww830n_nK8IqYehyphenhyphengEhDdj1Zv7vjwSE7t6OiZNu0nO_ucaHZoU6Bi_APc3z4DUovCepwCSnSJPfJppCXUZL8P1vLxg5gm_D0ohBHNhfjQa-FajQlioC/s1600/DSC00852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLooLzqqyIUlfZwU91HjaMp9ZSJww830n_nK8IqYehyphenhyphengEhDdj1Zv7vjwSE7t6OiZNu0nO_ucaHZoU6Bi_APc3z4DUovCepwCSnSJPfJppCXUZL8P1vLxg5gm_D0ohBHNhfjQa-FajQlioC/s640/DSC00852.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Diamond plates from, most likely, Zimbabwe are still popular.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0hDjyVtSWYQO45H6TLzKHt5QAELpSJha2AcjInocOngtSRMvETOjTiHMdiJ0tV-Z3tAx81OeuoU4cQqpebrQPIUdeW76FwX4IsMpKnwrNo9NLcGpY-tfNjx9JwUrfrgiIP94ENnPntAr/s1600/DSC00853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0hDjyVtSWYQO45H6TLzKHt5QAELpSJha2AcjInocOngtSRMvETOjTiHMdiJ0tV-Z3tAx81OeuoU4cQqpebrQPIUdeW76FwX4IsMpKnwrNo9NLcGpY-tfNjx9JwUrfrgiIP94ENnPntAr/s640/DSC00853.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Some interesting zonations are visible in some diamonds, with a typical cubic growth followed by octahedral growth for the diamonds on the right.</div>
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And of course, I can't do a report without talking about opals. Here, at Denis Gravier's booth (Gravier & Gemmes), are some yellow opals from Madagascar.</div>
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He also had some rare blue opal from France, from the Biot locality.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwI8EoAXCii_maaleNxGuprNgf8JcWG_dO702b5ExuyQM_gHIhzN7fKuX4LEDxd1vZB8WkuY-AmHkoJVQhWsw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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As usual, Boris from Opallion had unbelievable opals, such as this amazing 33.6 ct opal from Wollo, Ethiopia.</div>
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This 323 ct one, from Mezezo, Ethiopia has an "egg" inside. I've seen it a year ago, and it doesn't look like the egg is "growing". From Opallion.</div>
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Hyaline opal from Wollo, Ethiopia. 148 ct of pure goodness. Seen in the Opallion's booth.</div>
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Overview of the main Gem Hall.</div>
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A long booth of beads.</div>
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View of the entrance of the main Gem hall.</div>
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Pearls were presents, but not as numerous as we can see in Tucson.</div>
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Nice pearls from Tahiti.</div>
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If some excellent rare gemstones were seen at the Gem show, in selected booths (Gravier & Gemmes, Gemfrance for example), there were not that many spectacular gems. Therefore, I headed back to the mineral show, as I wanted to have a better look at the minerals of the special exhibit on "American Treasures".</div>
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Here is the sightseeing between the gem and the mineral shows. Not bad, hey?</div>
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Ok, yes, you are right, it was lunch time, and I was a bit hungry!</div>
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And here some local soap with argan oil from Morocco. "Savon artisanal du Val d'Argent".</div>
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Back to the mineral show, here is a lovely cube of fluorite from Stack Nala, Balistan, Pakistan, at Jean-Michel Laverrière's booth.</div>
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A gemmy orthose crystal from Itrongay, Madagascar, still at Jean-Michel's booth.</div>
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Overview of Jean-Michel's booth.</div>
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My favorite from the show? This parasite on quartz from Mt Malosa, Zomba district, Malawi, was on exhibit at the Kristalle booth. What a specimen!</div>
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From "Les Merveilles de la Terre" (Claudette & Michel Cabrol's booth), a new found of quartz with hematite and rutile from Bahia, Brazil.</div>
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"La couronne Impériale": fluorite and scepter quartz from Inner Mongolia, China. Seen at "Les Merveilles de la Terre".</div>
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Green fluorite with quartz from Mongolia, China, from "Les Merveilles de la Terre".</div>
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From left to right: Gian Carlo, Christoph Keilmann, and Cristiano. Christoph is the organizer of the Munich Gem & Mineral Show (end of October). This year, the theme is gold, and we will be there for that!</div>
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That's more like it: the steps of the theater are full of visitors enjoying a break.</div>
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René Daulion's booth, with lovely minerals from China.</div>
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Time to visit the "Val Expo". "Hidden Treasures of America" was put together by several museums and private collectors, and directed by Alain Martaud. The displays were gorgeous, with vaulted displays for the gold, silver and kunzite. The rest of the exhibit was under glass displays, well lighten, with a nice dark blue background. Perfect for taking pictures !</div>
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Gold from Eagle Nest Mine, California, from the French National Museum.</div>
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Explanation of the exhibit, in French and English.</div>
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Silver with calcite hanging in the tree, from the French National Museum. Just gorgeous!</div>
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The Kunzite collection from Pala, California, of the French National Museum.</div>
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Just a zoom in on this amazing kunzite crystal. Look at the termination.</div>
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This black & white rock with Pyrargyrite from San Jose Mine, Mexico is STUNNING! One of my favorite of the exhibit! From the French National Museum.</div>
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Overview of the French National Museum exhibit.</div>
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Red Cloud Mine wulfenite (Arizona, USA) of the French National Museum.</div>
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Azurite from Bisbee, Arizona, of the French National Museum. And a few more from the same collection below.</div>
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The French museum also brought some gems from the new world.</div>
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Ah! What a great Smithsonite! It comes from the Mezquite Mine in Sonora, USA, still from the French Museum.</div>
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Another wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine, but this time from the "Musée des Mines, Paritech" collection! Pick your favorite!</div>
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Crystallized turquoise from Virginia, USA, Musée des Mines collection.</div>
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People. Please. Stop dribbling! One of the two cumengeite displayed (Boleo, Mexico) from the Musée des Mines.</div>
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Ok, I know you wanted to see the two of them. Here you are. You are welcome!</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Bonus: this boleite from Mexico! And a few more specimens from the Musée des Mines.</span></div>
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These spectacular pink tourmalines are from the Pala mine, California.</div>
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John Veevaert exhibited a "small part" (as he said to me) of his benitoite collection. OMG! Here are only a few of them. Wow... From the Benito Mine, San Benito County, California.<br />
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The sushi plate... with benitoite, neptunite and joaquinite.</div>
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Neptunite twin. Yes, sir.</div>
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An overview of the central alley of the American Treasures exhibit.</div>
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And some nice illustrations of Alain Martaud's book on the minerals of Sainte-Marie, such as this lovely aragonite.</div>
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...or this chalcopyrite.</div>
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Or this last minute addition of fluckite.</div>
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It is almost the end of the show. Let me show you some pictures of the atmosphere of the last night.<br />
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Wind chimes in the air</div>
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The orchestra was charming people, saying its last words: goodbye and come back soon.</div>
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The big rocks were there too.</div>
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A last stop at Gilles Emringer's booth to look at some lovely fluorites.</div>
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And a last drink at the show, with, from left to right: Gian Carlo Parodi, Mark Mauthner, Laurent Thomas, John Veevaert and Jean-Claude Boulliard.</div>
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A few drinks later...</div>
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Everything looked different.</div>
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And I'm taking this opportunity to thank again Mr. Le Maire (Claude Abel) and his entire team for inviting me over to the show. </div>
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And thanks to Anne Muller who put a nice article together in the local newspaper!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-14057855834054518692013-06-19T09:25:00.001-07:002013-06-19T09:26:50.174-07:00The unveiling of the Otis Booth Pavilion at the Natural History MuseumJune 8, 2013: The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County celebrates its 100th anniversary. During this week-end long event, the opening of the new North Entrance of the Museum occurred. This entrance, facing Exposition bvd and the University of Southern California (USC) is made of a big glass cube containing the bones of a Fin Whale. You should check out the unveiling of this entrance, called the "Otis Booth Pavilion", as it is pretty spectacular!<br />
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The Fin Whale is in a dive position, as in the last picture of the movie projected on the giant screen.</div>
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With this little blog post, the Mineral Sciences team wanted to take the opportunity to share our love of our entire museum, and not only the Gem & Mineral section! Congrats NHM, with the new Pavilion, the 2 newly open exhibits (the Nature Garden and the Natural Lab) and a third one to open in July 2013 ("Becoming LA"), you are definitely one of the best Natural History Museum in the US... and more!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936364041014207303.post-59271237651643704952013-06-05T16:50:00.002-07:002013-06-05T16:50:28.460-07:00JCK & COUTURE JEWELRY SHOW 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year, volunteer Brittany (the newest acquisition of the Mineral Sciences Department) had the chance to visit the annual <b>JCK & COUTURE trade shows in Las Vegas</b>. The shows are the most exciting time of the year for the international Gem & Jewelry industry. Around 50,000 guests from all around the world descend upon the desert to discover jewelry designers, gem dealers, and manufactures. Here is what she found...</div>
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The rich, deep color of emerald was a treat to the eyes throughout the entire show. The fine jewelry house of <b>Goshwara</b> was able to take my breath away with a special and fascinating pair of historical Emeralds.</div>
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The two rectangular-cut <b>emeralds</b> weighing 17.97 and 15.99 carats were formerly in the <b>collection of Empress Eugenie of France</b>. The Empress was said to be the most beautiful woman of her time. Her natural elegance and charisma seduced Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Emperor Napoléon I, who had been elected French President in 1848 before ascending the throne as Emperor Napoléon III in 1852. Green was her favorite color so naturally emerald became her favorite gemstone. Created an Empress by her marriage to Napoléon III in 1853, Eugenie greatly influenced French fashion. The emeralds were originally thought to be a part of a tiara and they have had a long history of moving between many great European families. </div>
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My interest in France was piqued with these emeralds and it seemed as though that interest kept directing me to the fabulous French designers. My favorite of all the French designers, <b>Lydia Courteille</b>, was exhibiting her fascinating jewels at the <b>Couture Show</b>.</div>
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Lydia's jewels inspired me to think of jewelry in a more artistic way. In her magnificent designs you are able to notice that she is inspired by many different aspects of life. My favorite of her designs were the pieces inspired by Africa. Using non-traditional materials, and expanding the idea of what a jewel should be, she is truly inspirational.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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Lydia Courteille presenting one of her wonderful creations.</div>
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Another designer that has also been inspired by nature is the <b>L.A. based Simon G</b>. Using tanzanite rough for his inspiration, he has captured the gem in a contemporary way using accent diamonds. </div>
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He also was able to capture the more feminine side of nature by using a diamond rose to accent the natural shape of the tanzanite.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The show had a vast array of exquisite jewelry and gemstones which only made me anticipate being a part of the show next year!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349255968671800889noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.1728160000000135.7048665 -115.81826300000002 36.5244255 -114.52736900000001