Empathy List Archives

BA

Brock-Hon, Amy

Thu, Jun 20, 2024 6:23 PM

Hi folks,
We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info!

Cheers,
Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

Hi folks, We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank). If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info! Cheers, Amy Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology Associate Department Head The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science 218-B Grote Hall, 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 Chattanooga, TN 37403 Ph. 423-425-4409 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

AP

Alfredo Petrov

Fri, Jun 21, 2024 2:21 PM

I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar
specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are
probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source
locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with
somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral
specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions
are possible too.

Alfredo Petrov

On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:

Hi folks,

We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across
this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a
part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and
has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no
additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I
appreciate the info!

Cheers,

Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live
forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi*

MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions are possible too. Alfredo Petrov On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk < msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: > Hi folks, > > We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across > this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a > part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and > has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no > additional information on back—specimen information is blank). > > > > If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I > appreciate the info! > > > > Cheers, > > Amy > > > > > > Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. > Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology > Associate Department Head > The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga > Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science > 218-B Grote Hall, > 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 > Chattanooga, TN 37403 > Ph. 423-425-4409 > > > > * “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live > forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi* > > > _______________________________________________ > MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org > To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org >

EG

Edward Grew

Fri, Jun 21, 2024 2:28 PM

Element #11 - sodium? Would have to be in a hermetically sealed capsule as
sodium reacts with water.

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 9:37 AM Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:

Hi folks,

We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across
this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a
part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and
has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no
additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I
appreciate the info!

Cheers,

Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live
forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi*

MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

Element #11 - sodium? Would have to be in a hermetically sealed capsule as sodium reacts with water. On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 9:37 AM Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk < msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: > Hi folks, > > We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across > this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a > part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and > has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no > additional information on back—specimen information is blank). > > > > If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I > appreciate the info! > > > > Cheers, > > Amy > > > > > > Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. > Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology > Associate Department Head > The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga > Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science > 218-B Grote Hall, > 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 > Chattanooga, TN 37403 > Ph. 423-425-4409 > > > > * “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live > forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi* > > > _______________________________________________ > MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org > To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org >

JB

Joseph Boesenberg

Fri, Jun 21, 2024 3:15 PM

Amy

If you are confident this is from Ward's, it is likely one sample among a set of 20, 50 or 100 minerals that they were selling as sets. For this particular sample, I would think simple and inexpensive (given it is number 11 in a set). I would bet either native silver or bismuth. Both are common among mineral sets. If you want to find out quickly what the sample is, bring it to an SEM or microprobe and use EDS to determine the elements present. The samples are metallic so you won't even need to be carbon coat them. Just stick a chip down on a double sided piece of tape and do EDS. Short and simple.

Hope this helps.
Joe

Joseph Boesenberg, Ph.D
Electron Microprobe Manager
Director, Brown Meteorite Repository
DEEPS Safety Officer

Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Brown University
324 Brook Street
Box 1846
Providence, RI 02912
401-863-2560 office
201-321-0028 cell
joseph_boesenberg@brown.edu

On 6/21/2024 10:24:49 AM, Alfredo Petrov via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:
I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions are possible too.

Alfredo Petrov

On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org]> wrote:

Hi folks,
We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info!

Cheers,
Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org]
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk-leave@minlists.org]

_______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

Amy If you are confident this is from Ward's, it is likely one sample among a set of 20, 50 or 100 minerals that they were selling as sets. For this particular sample, I would think simple and inexpensive (given it is number 11 in a set). I would bet either native silver or bismuth. Both are common among mineral sets. If you want to find out quickly what the sample is, bring it to an SEM or microprobe and use EDS to determine the elements present. The samples are metallic so you won't even need to be carbon coat them. Just stick a chip down on a double sided piece of tape and do EDS. Short and simple. Hope this helps. Joe Joseph Boesenberg, Ph.D Electron Microprobe Manager Director, Brown Meteorite Repository DEEPS Safety Officer Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Brown University 324 Brook Street Box 1846 Providence, RI 02912 401-863-2560 office 201-321-0028 cell joseph_boesenberg@brown.edu On 6/21/2024 10:24:49 AM, Alfredo Petrov via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions are possible too. Alfredo Petrov On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org]> wrote: Hi folks, We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank). If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info! Cheers, Amy Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology Associate Department Head The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science 218-B Grote Hall, 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 Chattanooga, TN 37403 Ph. 423-425-4409 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi _______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org] To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org [mailto:msa-talk-leave@minlists.org] _______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

TM

Tom Mitchell

Fri, Jun 21, 2024 3:27 PM

Yes Pt from a placer.
Without removing from the gelatin capsule weigh the sample..
Subtract an empty capsule weight based on hints from the pharmacy
department.
Binocular microscope measure dimensions to estimate volume.
Volume and mass gets density.
It looks like Pt I have seen, Russian River, Calif. placer pannings.

Non destructive analysis might include XRF.
https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/comparing-xrf-analyzers-for-precious-metals/

--
Tom M

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 07:29 Alfredo Petrov via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:

I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar
specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are
probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source
locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with
somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral
specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions
are possible too.

Alfredo Petrov

On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:

Hi folks,

We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across
this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a
part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and
has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no
additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I
appreciate the info!

Cheers,

Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave
https://www.google.com/maps/search/615+McCallie+Ave?entry=gmail&source=g.,
Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live
forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi*

MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

Yes Pt from a placer. Without removing from the gelatin capsule weigh the sample.. Subtract an empty capsule weight based on hints from the pharmacy department. Binocular microscope measure dimensions to estimate volume. Volume and mass gets density. It looks like Pt I have seen, Russian River, Calif. placer pannings. Non destructive analysis might include XRF. https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/comparing-xrf-analyzers-for-precious-metals/ -- Tom M On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 07:29 Alfredo Petrov via MSA-talk < msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: > I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar > specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are > probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source > locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with > somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral > specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions > are possible too. > > Alfredo Petrov > > On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk < > msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: > >> Hi folks, >> >> We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across >> this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a >> part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and >> has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no >> additional information on back—specimen information is blank). >> >> >> >> If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I >> appreciate the info! >> >> >> >> Cheers, >> >> Amy >> >> >> >> >> >> Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. >> Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology >> Associate Department Head >> The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga >> Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science >> 218-B Grote Hall, >> 615 McCallie Ave >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/615+McCallie+Ave?entry=gmail&source=g>., >> Mail code 2653 >> Chattanooga, TN 37403 >> Ph. 423-425-4409 >> >> >> >> * “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live >> forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi* >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org >> > _______________________________________________ > MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org > To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org >

BA

Brock-Hon, Amy

Fri, Jun 21, 2024 8:53 PM

Thank you everyone! I'll do some more investigating. This information has helped me focus where to look.

Have a great weekend,
a

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

From: Alfredo Petrov alfredo@mindat.org
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2024 10:21 AM
To: Brock-Hon, Amy amy-brock-hon@utc.edu
Cc: MSA Talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: Re: [MSA-talk] Mineral/element sample in capsule

You don't often get email from alfredo@mindat.org. Learn why this is importanthttps://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification
I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions are possible too.

Alfredo Petrov

On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:

Hi folks,

We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank).

If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info!

Cheers,

Amy

Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D.
Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology
Associate Department Head
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
218-B Grote Hall,
615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Ph. 423-425-4409

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org mailto:msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

Thank you everyone! I'll do some more investigating. This information has helped me focus where to look. Have a great weekend, a Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology Associate Department Head The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science 218-B Grote Hall, 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 Chattanooga, TN 37403 Ph. 423-425-4409 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi ________________________________ From: Alfredo Petrov <alfredo@mindat.org> Sent: Friday, June 21, 2024 10:21 AM To: Brock-Hon, Amy <amy-brock-hon@utc.edu> Cc: MSA Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Subject: Re: [MSA-talk] Mineral/element sample in capsule You don't often get email from alfredo@mindat.org. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> I don't know what collection this is from, but have had several similar specimens in the past, in similar gelatine capsules. The contents are probably alluvial PGM minerals, native platinum or osmium, etc. The source locality would be more difficult to determine, but specimens like this with somewhat lamellar grains probably used to be most prolific (on the mineral specimen market) from the Ural Mountains, Russia, although other regions are possible too. Alfredo Petrov On Fri, 21 Jun 2024 at 15:33, Brock-Hon, Amy via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org>> wrote: Hi folks, We’re going through some old specimens and donated items and came across this (see attached image). Does anyone know what collection it might be a part of? It has small pieces of a metallic sample inside the capsule and has a number 11 on a Riker Specimen Mount container from Wards (with no additional information on back—specimen information is blank). If anyone knows anything about what collection this might be a part of, I appreciate the info! Cheers, Amy Amy L. Brock-Hon Ph.D. Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology Associate Department Head The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Dept. of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science 218-B Grote Hall, 615 McCallie Ave., Mail code 2653 Chattanooga, TN 37403 Ph. 423-425-4409 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~Mahatma Gandhi _______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk-leave@minlists.org>