We have emailed our April 2014 Minerals.net online newsletter. Please click the image below for the larger version.
The borough of Franklin, New Jersey, hosts two mineral shows every year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Although these shows are relatively small when compared to the large shows, they bring out many of the local collectors. The Franklin show is the best place to get minerals from local collectors at the best prices. The show has an outdoor and indoor section, and the outdoor part is heavily weather dependent.
The weather was nicer on Saturday, but it rained in the afternoon, which is always a challenge for outdoor shows. Sunday was overcast and very windy, with temperatures only in the 50's. This made it cold and uncomfortable and unfortunately prevented the crowds from coming.
The show always has nice exhibits, and has some of the best fluorescent displays. I took pictures of the display cases, especially some of the fluorescents.
Click any picture below for a larger pop-up, and use the zoom key to enlarge:
Rock Veins and Arteries from Franklin and Sterling Hill
Franklin Mineral Museum
"Christmas in Springtime" - Green Willemite and Red Calcite
Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Fluorescent Minerals from Around the World
Paul Shizume
Minerals that Fluoresce in Longwave Light
"Ridiculous Roster of Rolling Rocks" - Fluorescent Mineral Spheres
Andy Muir
Case Depicting Mineral "Color and Form"
Rudy and Beth Greipel
Dense Case of Prospect Park, NJ Minerals
Robert A. Horn
Show Scene in the Indoor Gym
Pyrite: Richard and Elna Hauck
Minerals from Great Notch, New Jersey
Bradley Plotkin
I had read about the Heritage Auctions recent Hoppel Collection auction in the Mineralogical Record and in Rocks and Minerals Magazine. It implied that the quality of the auctioned minerals was incredible, and there was a healthy amount of bidders with mineral specimens fetching very high prices.
I then saw an ad for Heritage Auction to sign up for a free catalog for the next auction: The Hoppel Collection Auction 3, taking place from Wednesday April 30 - Saturday, May 3. I went online and signed up, and subsequently received a large catalog in the mail filled with beautiful pictures of high-quality minerals, with a description on each mineral being auctioned.
Even though most of the minerals here are well-beyond my budget, the catalog (more like a book) was very enjoyable looking through. I highly recommend signing up to get the Heritage catalogs on minerals, and being in the loop with their auctions. While their book is aimed at high-end collectors with large budgets, anybody can enjoy looking through it even if they cannot afford to bid.
I found their estimated price range to be highly inflated. (You could take off the last zero for a more accurate estimate). Nevertheless, these are top-notch specimens and they should fetch a healthy winning price. In addition to the final auction of Hoppel Collection of Fine Minerals and Gems, the auction features the collection of Texas Congressman John Culberson and gemstones from the Fallbrook (California) Gem & Mineral Society's gem collection.
Read more at www.ha.com/5168
Here are several mineral display cases and individual minerals of some quality minerals. Many of these were seen in the Fine Mineral Gallery.
Click any picture below for a larger pop-up, and use the zoom key to enlarge:
Display Case of Astro Gallery of Gems
Very Large Azurite Crystal from Tsumeb from the Above Case
Green Mountain Minerals Display Case
Another Display Case from Green Mountain Minerals
Imperial Topaz, Pink Topaz, and Tanzanite, Green Mountain Minerals
The Center Pink Topaz is Really Something Spectacular.
Large Peridot Crystal from Pakistan from Edwards Minerals
Nice Collection of Afghani Gemstone Minerals from Lapis Valley
