20/10/2025
A bit of background, the Minsoc Qld sponsors The Minerals Heritage Museum (www.mineralmuseum.org.au) which currently has high quality mineral displays in both the Queensland Museum and the Brisbane Opal Museum in Brisbane.
This week I was happy to receive a valuable donation of 17 mineral specimens from an anonymous donor, of Brisbane, which he would like to add to our public mineral displays. His generous donation will be acknowledged and hopefully form part of a new planned display.
I will photograph them later for inclusion in our newsletter, but a few of the pieces are described here:
Two gem-grade pale blue topaz crystals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. One weighing 438 gms (2190cts, 70mm x 70mm x 60mm) and the other 834 gms (4,170 cts, 85mm x 85mm x 65mm). A terminated gem Tanzanite crystal from Tanzania of 180 cts (approx 30mm x 30mm). An olive green 490 ct gemmy crystal of the rare mineral Diaspore from Turkey. A pink/green 281 gm (1,405 ct) terminated crystal of Elbaite tourmaline from Paprok, Afghanistan. These pieces will all make great additions to our gem mineral cabinets.
Other specimens that were donated include a large Celestine Geode from Madagascar with unusual acicular terminations. A large (2.4kg) lustrous cube of Pyrite with Sphalerite and Amethyst from Peru. A single lustrous 70mm crystal of Azurite partly-altered to Malachite from Tsumeb, SW Africa. Plus other pieces! Thank you for your generosity!
