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MO-vember...

No, I'm not growing one, but my daughter's boyfriend is.

Critter Spot: Shield Bug(?)...

This little fella is about 2cm long (not including antennae) and was intent on keeping out of sight. Trouble is, he's so darn big, I could spot him amongst the foliage from a few metres away!

Sun Spot: Flowers in late afternoon sun...

As our house is on the market at the moment, we periodically place some new flowers in a jug in our bedroom. The late afternoon sun was really picking out the vibrant colours and the flowers were begging to be photographed!

A sad day...

I have just heard of the passing of Floyd Gibson, a Canadian artist. He was an active member of a number of artist groups and will be sadly missed. My thoughts go out to his family.

This painting is one of his latest...

Mineral Spot: Cassiterite...

Cassiterite is a tin oxide and has been mined for the production of tin metal for a couple of thousands of years. Good crystals are found in a number of tin mining districts around the world, and those from Rossarden in north east Tasmania are amongst the best.

This specimen is one of a number of specimens that will be in this weekend's upcoming auction.

Mineral Spot: Descloizite...

Descloizite is an uncommon lead vanadium mineral found in the oxidised zone of mineral deposits. This particular specimen has an interesting story to go with it. It was given to me by a Broken Hill mineral collector as an unknown mineral, supposedly collected underground in the Zinc Corp Mine, Broken Hill by a miner. It is clearly from Berg Aukas in Namibia, not Broken Hill. The specimen is about 30mm tall.

This specimen is one of a number of specimens that will be in this weekend's upcoming auction.

New Issue of Mineral Collector Magazine...

The seventh issue of the Australian and New Zealand Mineral Collector magazine is now out. This issue contains articles on new minerals in Australia, Australians in Minas Gerais, Keith Lancaster - a Tasmanian collecting pioneer, thorian brannerite and more.

It is full colour, 28 pages, and only $10US available from Lulu.

If outside the US and if you are going to order a copy directly, can I suggest that you use the 'Standard' option for shipping. It is by far the most economical, and usually arrives within a couple of weeks.

Mineral Spot: Pyrolusite...

Pyrolusite is a manganese oxide mineral, not often found in good crystals such as this one, which measures 2mm in height. It comes from Cloncurry in Queensland.

This specimen is one of a number of specimens that will be in this weekend's upcoming auction.

Mineral Spot: Pseudomalachite...

An uncommon green or blue-green phosphate mineral, pseudomalachite is so-named for its similarity to malachite. I rarely forms as distinct crystals, more likely as rounded aggregates.

This one is from Lake Boga in Victoria and a good example. I have been going through a lot of Lake Boga material recently and photographing a number of specimens. Many of these can be seen here.

Sun, er Moon Spot: Full Moon...

Beautiful moon and clouds out our back door tonight!

Mineral Spot: Zircon...

These are waterworn zircons from Carapooee in northwestern Victoria.

This specimen is one of a number of specimens that will be in this weekend's upcoming auction.

Mineral Spot: 2009 Mineral Calendar

In case you don't like the Creepy Crawly Calendar, here is my 2009 Calendar of Minerals from France, some of the minerals in my collection.

Available from Lulu for a miserly $US12.95.

Critter Spot: 2009 Critter Calendar...

2009 Calendar of Tasmanian Creepy Crawly Critters! A close-up look at some of the critters that inhabit my neighbourhood.

Available from Lulu for a miserly $US12.95.

Mineral Spot: Native Copper...

Well, I am finally getting back to normal. Following closely on my back operation, I had to have an emergency operation to remove my gallbladder. I didn't even know that I had gallstones until three days before the operation! Still, recovering well, and due back at work next Monday.

This specimen, although looking like something someone has dropped into a sugar bowl, is in fact, a specimen of native copper from Virneberg near Rheinbreitbach in Germany, and is one of a number of specimens that will be in this weekend's upcoming auction.

Sun Spot: Tasmanian Rosella...

Its the middle of Winter and the sun is still shining brightly (or it was a couple of days ago when I took this photo. Today's seen snow flurries!). This Tasmanian Rosella, also known as a Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus) was feeding on seeds from a silver birch just outside our kitchen window...

New Issue of Mineral Collector Magazine...

The sixth issue of the Australian and New Zealand Mineral Collector magazine is now out. This issue contains articles on plumbian orthoclase from Broken Hill, a report on the 2008 Gemboree, the Biggenden Mine, Queensland, Henderson's Quarry, New Zealand, and more.

It is full colour, 28 pages, and only $10US available from Lulu.

If outside the US and if you are going to order a copy directly, can I suggest that you use the 'Standard' option for shipping. It is by far the most economical, and usually arrives within a couple of weeks.

Mineral Spot: Wulfenite...

It has been a while since my last entry, over two months in fact. I have been sidelined due to back problems and had a back operation about three weeks ago. Recovering though...

This is a specimen from the Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico and has three mineral species on it, two of which can be seen in the photo. The yellow square-looking crystals are wulfenite and the paler spiky crystals are mimetite. The third mineral present is smithsonite. You can just see some white crystals in the background.

This specimen is one of a number of specimens that will be in this week's auction, also the first for quite some time. Hopefully, things will be fully back to normal soon!

Mineral Spot: Fluorescent Opal...

Nature is wonderful! Take this colourless blob (far left) of hyalite opal and put it under a shortwave ultraviolet light and it glows an eerie green colour!

This specimen will be in one of this week's lots in my auction.

Mineral Spot: Fluorite...

A nice photo of a couple of common minerals, fluorite (colourless cube) sitting on pale greenish pyromorphite, from a locality better known for its wulfenite. This photo is 4mm FOV. K & M Brown Collection.