Photo Synthesis » B Jefferson Bolender http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis Just another site Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:02:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2-alpha Crystal Persuasions http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/07/04/crystal-persuasions/ http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/07/04/crystal-persuasions/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:56:13 +0000 B Jefferson Bolender http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/07/04/crystal-persuasions/ The lure of minerals is irrepressible when one sees fine crystals on display. This post is the first of four in a row featuring crystals seen at rock and gem shows in Arizona. The Tucson Rock and Gem Show is one of the oldest and largest of all such shows, with famed international reputation. The images shown in these posts display fine specimens on display and available from vendors. Most photos were taken with various point and shoot cameras using available light and no special preparation for the best photography conditions. Each image has a link where interested visitors to this blog may see larger, better versions and technical details about the minerals.

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The above gigantic cluster of quartz crystals stands about 4 ½’ tall outside one of the Tucson hotels that host the many shows that make up the whole of the Tucson Rock and Gem Show. Shot in macro mode with a point and shoot camera at night, the orange and yellow glow comes from low sodium lights at the entrance. The photo was chosen by the Greater Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to decorate 10′ tall vertical banners to show parking areas and was featured on a guide to the many show events around the city during the 2008 and 2009 shows in Tucson.

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This crate is 7′ tall! Detail below

Orange vug shown at the Tucson Rock and Gem Show in 2008 is taller than a person. A vug is a pocket of crystals, some almost room size. A prized vug of the right size to remove intact is prepared for collector display. One opening is sliced from the vug and the edges along the front face are polished. This vug was found in a Brazilian mine. Quartz crystals and varieties of amethyst, citrine and other mixes of mineral composition are in great abundance in Brazil. It is also common to see growths of other crystals in great contrast to the majority of crystals lining the pocket of the vug, seen in this linked image from my photo stream on flickr. Smaller vugs that are tall and narrow are sliced in half vertically to display as table specimens called “cathedrals”. The gigantic “geode” was filled with large crystals of citrine. A close look at the citrine crystals is to the right.
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The photograph above is a close look at deeply-colored amethyst crystals in a large chunk of crystals on matrix, broken out of a vug taken from the mine. A complete, whole vug of amethyst from Brazil is pictured in a crate about 6′ tall and a macro view of amethyst crystals is to the right:

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Next blog post to come: rare and pure crystal specimens in many formations.

Links to higher resolution and large images of these specimens are listed below:

1. Glowing Crystals, Quart Giant
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/442116580/
2. Large Crated Vug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846988/
3. Dark Yellow Crystals, Side View
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846992/
4. Blue Purple Red: Amethyst Crystals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/2259191409/
5. Amethyst Vug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846984/
6. Amethyst with a Green Curve, Macro
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/

]]> http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/07/04/crystal-persuasions/feed/ 7 Rocks that ROCK! http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/06/27/rocks-that-rock/ http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/06/27/rocks-that-rock/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:05:36 +0000 B Jefferson Bolender http://scienceblogs.com/photosynthesis/2009/06/27/rocks-that-rock/ Introducing a month long exploration of natural wonders seen by a woman who always has a camera on hand. We begin exploring with the wonders of minerals.

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“Velvet Beauty” is a magnificent collector’s specimen from Bisbee, Arizona. This museum-quality piece of malachite and azurite was available for purchase at a rock and gem show for a mere $25,000. See a higher resolution image here.

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A titanium wash over a piece of quartz crystal is heat-treated to produce great color and flash. Seen on display with a vendor at the world-famous Quartzite, Arizona Rock and Gems show. Higher resolution image here.

Most of my rockhounding these days is manifested in collecting images of great rock and minerals, such as this amazing specimen of pyrite crusted on the bevel edges of these cubes of calcite from China, seen at the Tucson Rock and Gem Show.

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