|
On December 03 2012 01:47 Chef wrote:I would say you're closest on this point, Micronesia. The best advice for a new photographer is to invest in a tripod and user the timer function. Then there is no chance at all of blur due to you pressing the button or holding the camera. With a good camera in a very bright area, the shutter speed is so fast it hardly matters, but if you are trying to get the most out of substandard equipment, then this is probably the most solid advice. Most cameras these days (even the OPs) probably have a number of settings that you just need to play around with. You can get a lot out of a point and shoot, and it's ok to not want to invest in a DSLR. Just make sure you are using the functions of the point and shoot, like how long the shutter is open, macro photography, brightness adjuster... etc etc. Any premium point and shoot will have all that stuff. The worst thing about a point and shoot is that you only have your one lens, so all your picture taking is general picture taking, and that taking pictures in low light is hard because they usually don't let you set shutterspeed for long enough. Higher detail is ofc going to mean using the macro setting on the point and shoot, or using a lens that is good at close up on any DSLR. Low blur is just don't be a dumb amateur that never uses a tripod or timer.
I guess I need to keep practicing, then. 
On December 03 2012 02:51 Uvantak wrote:That first image of chalcopiryte is really incredible, i wish i could get my hands in something like that -.-, but well, my favorite mineral is the vanadinite, i really love these things ♥ btw That last pic of the stibnite is trully amazing! im really dumb founded of that piece of "rock"
Vanadinite is great stuff! That red-orange color is soooo beautiful. Always sells pretty decently at the auction. Classmate of mine got me some from his internship. 
|
I don't think I have a favorite rock, but that image of stibnite you showed in the OP is a hell of a contender. Sweet collection, thanks for sharing. I am not much of a mineral aficionado but I've always liked marble for its smoothy creamy texture and granite for its unique tone of red.
|
Malachite, and bismuth (does that count?), and cuprite, watermelon tourmaline and topaz and garnets - especially uvarovite, the star sapphire (which comes from sapphire which comes from corrundum), tiger's eye, jadeite (jade), lapis (comes from lazurite), azurite, muscovite, zoisite, tanzanite...GOD DO I HAVE TO PICK JUST ONE? I am such a honking NERD!
|
|
|
That Pyrite looks amazing.
Like the DragonStone too. Sounds like something out of Skyrim lol.
|
On December 03 2012 06:12 tMomiji wrote:
Malachite, and bismuth (does that count?), and cuprite, watermelon tourmaline and topaz and garnets - especially uvarovite, the star sapphire (which comes from sapphire which comes from corrundum), tiger's eye, jadeite (jade), lapis (comes from lazurite), azurite, muscovite, zoisite, tanzanite...GOD DO I HAVE TO PICK JUST ONE? I am such a honking NERD!
Lol, you like ALL the rocks!! X-D
Bismuth counts in my book. Technically not a mineral since it's not naturally occurring, nor do I believe it's a rock, but it's definitely pretty to look at. Have some really good cuprite that I can upload someday.
|
Whoa these are so cool. Never knew rocks/minerals could be so pretty.
|
|
|
On December 03 2012 08:07 RiceAgainst wrote:
Whoa these are so cool. Never knew rocks/minerals could be so pretty.
Oh you've no idea. 
|
Awesome pictures, as a geologist myself, have a few questions:
1) What is the impurity (I am assuming it would be an impurity) that causes the blue in the chalcopyrite? Have never seen any samples that color. Mine are more golden/coppery color
2) Similar question, what is the cause of the zonation in the fluorite? Is there calcium replacement? Thats the only thing I can think of off the the top of my head
3) What age are the fish fossils? Excellent preservation there. (Random guess would be Devonian)
To answer the question of the blog: My favorite mineral was always kyanite. Easy to spot and always looked badass.
However, since I am a sedimentary geologist, my favorite rock would be sandstone (preferably one filled with hydrocarbons so I remain employed).
|
Apologies in advance, I don't know off the top of my head. I'm emphasizing in geophysics, and my last (and only) mineralogy course was two years ago. So I'm having to look in my old mineralogy book and... well, Google.
1. I mistook these chalcopyrite specimens for bornite originally; only when I took a closer look at the habit did I understand where my first assumption was wrong. Chalcopyrite's formula is CuFeS2, whereas bornite's is Cu5FeS4, so with chemical formulas that similar, I'd guess it's possible that there is some bornite on the surface of the chalcopyrite. I rule out covellite because even though the color looks similar to what's in the picture, its formula doesn't seem to add up as well as bornite's (CuS), and personal experience looking at copper-bearing minerals in a mine for three months tells me "bornite" if I had to choose a second mineral besides chalcopyrite.
2. It might be calcium. I wish I could tell you what element it is, but I don't know. My guess as to what's causing the zoning is similar to how you, a sedimentologist, would describe the deposition of sediments. As the crystals are forming, certain periods of time hold greater amounts of impurity than others, causing some "layers" so to speak to be of a stronger color than others.
3. I'm not a fossil guy. I only took the picture because I knew someone would like it anyway.
You like sandstones.... Sandstones =  X-D I kid, lol. I'm biased; I find igneous petrology much more exciting.
|
Does Lapis Lazuli count? The color is enchanting and mystifying, as if it were the Earth itself.
|
Absolutely! Lazurite definitely counts. I'm not too familiar with lapis, but I believe there are some mines in Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East. Very pretty mineral.
|
I was wondering if you can help me identify some sliced specimens that I have? Like I mentioned before, some minerals that I received were gifts, so I never bothered to identify them myself. I apologize for the quality of my phone again D:
1. I thought this was Rhodochrosite for a while haha. It's pink agate
+ Show Spoiler +
2. I'm actually still not sure if this is agate, it's quite large though. I had trouble holding it in one hand haha
+ Show Spoiler +
3. Blue Agate
+ Show Spoiler +
4. Agate
+ Show Spoiler +
5. Agate again haha
+ Show Spoiler +
EDIT: I found out these were different agate actually, except for #2, nonetheless if you want to look at them I kept the links
Also, how would I go about cleaning these minerals?
|
I've never really had any interest in geology or minerals, but my favorite is probably vanadinite. The color is spectacular, and all crystal forms are obviously sweet.
I read up a bit on minerals a while back and got pretty interested... then I realized getting good at identifying minerals, which seems cool, is actually close to impossible, unless you have a microscope nearby.
|
On December 12 2012 22:27 Archaeo wrote:I was wondering if you can help me identify some sliced specimens that I have? Like I mentioned before, some minerals that I received were gifts, so I never bothered to identify them myself. I apologize for the quality of my phone again D:1. I thought this was Rhodochrosite for a while haha. It's pink agate + Show Spoiler +2. I'm actually still not sure if this is agate, it's quite large though. I had trouble holding it in one hand haha + Show Spoiler +3. Blue Agate + Show Spoiler +4. Agate + Show Spoiler +5. Agate again haha + Show Spoiler +EDIT: I found out these were different agate actually, except for #2, nonetheless if you want to look at them I kept the links Also, how would I go about cleaning these minerals?
Yep. Looks like a bunch of agate to me.  (that rhodochrosite pink agate would have confused me if someone suggested it was rhodochrosite first, lol)
Cleaning minerals? I've never done that before, lol. If you have a really soft cloth handy, I would suggest wiping it with that, very lightly damp if you can manage it. Something fibrous or fragile like really good cuprite won't let you do that unfortunately. For those agates, a gentle wipe-down should suffice.
On December 12 2012 23:19 Tobberoth wrote:
I've never really had any interest in geology or minerals, but my favorite is probably vanadinite. The color is spectacular, and all crystal forms are obviously sweet.
I read up a bit on minerals a while back and got pretty interested... then I realized getting good at identifying minerals, which seems cool, is actually close to impossible, unless you have a microscope nearby.
It depends on which minerals you're trying to identify. But you're absolutely right that some minerals are practically impossible to differentiate without a microscope. Heck, that's all we did for Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. 3 hour class, but spent 10 hours in the lab every week, drawing pictures of what we saw under the microscope.... -.-'
In the field, a hand lens usually suffices. You just have to identify a couple of key characteristics about the rock/mineral to rule out the other possibilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
