Today, I have encountered the beautiful view in the evening at the Tokyo Bay side.
I will show you the picture as follows.

Blog by Steve Knight-Rainbow Bridge


You can find the Rainbow Bridge at the left side of picture.
Today, I have visited to the Okorogawa mine and Itaga mine in Tochigi Prefecture with my Mineralogical friend Ms. Brightman.

Our first destination was Okorogawa mine.
It was 2nd time to visit Okorogawa mine. My last visiting was on Mar. 2002.
After long interval, I have returned there.

When we reached the old mine's office area, we found the snow covered field, and the lines of animal's footmarks.
$Blog by Steve Knight
So we could find only little pieces of marachite.

Old mining machine was still neglected.
$Blog by Steve Knight

And old mining trocco was still neglected, too.
$Blog by Steve Knight

We tried to go to the azurite district, but we couldn't reach there because of the hard condition.
So we have collected some specimens of Marachite at the area of old office area.

On the way back, we found the dead deer. Maybe the bear attacked that deer, we think.
$Blog by Steve Knight

Today's our next destination is Itaga mine.
But we found the snow covered field, too.
$Blog by Steve Knight
So we couldn't search any specimens at there.

At that time, we have gave up to continue searching.
I and Ms. Brightman promised that we will come back here after the snow melting.
Fin.

Today I have attended the Society of Mineral Specimens Watching in Kanagawa Predfectural Museum of Natural History which is located near by Hakone Hot spa resort area.
It is so long distance from my home, so I had spent more over 3 hours by one way to go to museum.

In the conference room, there were many well known members and I had said greetings to each members before my observations of minerals began.

There are the hundred kinds of mineral specimens which have kept by Museum in the conference room, and the member of society can observe each specimen in detail for his/her hand.
If someone had a question about the specimen, he/she can ask to Dr. Akira Kato.
It is so rare opportunity to study about minerals.

(Displayed specimens)
$Blog by Steve Knight

Several families with little children came into the conference room.
Most of children had strongly interested in many kinds of rocks, especially magnesite which has connect with magnet.
$Blog by Steve Knight

The last society will be held on next week, but I have another appointment, so I couldn't attend.
If another series of society will be held some day, I will attend every week, certainly!

Fin.
Today, I have visited Nikko Mine in Tochigi prefecture with my mineralogical friend Ms. Brightman.
This is the first mineral collecting trip in 2010.
This time, our purpose is to get some good specimens of Clinoclase.

Blog by Steve Knight

In my record book, my last visiting to Nikko mine is on August. 2003.
After 6 and half years interval, I have visited there again.
So I didn't remember the details of the way to our destination, but at last we could reach there.
At the north area of Nikko mine, there are no colored blocks of stones.
Only we could find some chalcanthites in the test pit.
Blog by Steve Knight

We looked for clinoclase and other specimens about two hours, but we couldn't find.
Most of specimens were already taken, we think.

Next our destination is the south area of Nikko mine.
Last time I have visited there, I could find only Malachite.
The cold wind blew over us, but under the sun shine, it was rather warm.
Blog by Steve Knight

At last we reached the entrance of the mining tunnel, but we couldn't find any kinds of specimens.
On the way back, we had lunch under the sun shine.
We found so blue sky over the mountains. It was nice hiking, not mineral collecting tour.
Blog by Steve Knight


(Additional informations)

I will show you the evidence how cold that day.
We found a lot of big ice needles because it was very cold on the morning of the day.
See this picture, it just looks like a big crystal of native silver.
Blog by Steve Knight


In the afternoon, on the way to mine, we found some large scale of icicles at the river side.
$Blog by Steve Knight


fin.

Every December, Tokyo Mineral Show is held in Ikebukuro Sun-Shine City.
This year, the Show opens from 11.Dec.(Fri) to 14.Dec.(Mon).

In the Saturday afternoon, the mineralogical lectures by Dr. Akira Kato who is the honour research associate of National Science Museum was held in the conference room.
This time, the theme of lecture is as follows,
Part I : What kind of information can you get from mineral specimens. (for beginners)
Part II : How to use the system classification of minerals. (for middle grade persons)

I went to the conference room on 12:30, there were many well known people. (e.g. Mr. Blizzard, Ms. Dewy Cat, Mr. HN, Mr. KN and Mr. MS. They are also member of mineralogical club which I belong.
And some members of "society for geological studying" in Kanagawa prefectural museum of natural history. etc.)

After opening the door, we stepped into the room and take our own seat.
And then, Ms. Brightman also came into the room after us.
When she found me, she told "Why don't you listen in the lecture together?".
Therefore, I got the seat beside her.


Blog by Steve Knight

In the Part I lecture, it was rather easier than Dr. Kato's ordinary lecture.
There were some children seems elementary school pupil.

In the Part II lecture, it was more difficult because many chemical formulae were shown.
To compare the Structural Formula and Oxide Formula, we can recognized the something in common.
It is so interest to hear that the newest topics in mineralogical academic society in that lecture, but it is too hard to note the topics what Dr.Kato said.

After lecture, I and Ms.Brightmann went back to the hall and bought some specimens as follows,
Stringhamite (Fuga Mine, Okayama pref.)
Hemimorphite (Kiura Mine, Ohita pref.)
Wulfenite (Nakatatsu Mine, Nagano pref.)
Barite (Osorezan, Aomori pref.) etc.

It was very warm day, so I didn't need to wear the flannel inverness coat.

Hi, everybody. I'm Steve Knight.
At first, would you please accept my appreciation to visit my blog page.

I have many kinds of hobbies.
Mineral collecting is the most favorite hobby for me.
Therefore, the first contents of my blog will be concerned about Minerals.

One day in November, I have visited to Koganezawa Mine with my mineralogical friend Ms.Brightman.
Koganezawa mine is located in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
We also visited here 3 weeks ago with several members of Mineralogical Club which we belong.
At that time, we couldn't find any good specimens.
We are also unsatisfied the results of the collecting trip, then we decided to visit here again.

It was fine day. Most of the leaves were already fallen.
So the surface of the mound was very bright and clear.
And we had much time to look for some good specimens because we had started from early morning.

In the morning, we spent all time to look for Carminate on the upper area of mine.
We pushed aside fallen leaves, crashed stones by our Hammer, checked the cross-sectional slice of stones with our magnifying glass.
We might have some good specimens, we think. (See the follow picture.)
Blog by Steve Knight
(Carminite)

After having lunch, we have moved to the lower area of mine.
The area is old Mineral Saving District.
Blog by Steve Knight
(old Mineral Saving District)

In the afternoon, we spent all time to find Bournonite here, but we could find only Galena and Arsenopyrite, and not to get Bournonite.
3 weeks ago, a senior member of our club found Bournonite here so easily. He has special experience and knowledge to find minerals, we think.
At last, we found a Jamesonite (maybe Boulangerite).
We shared each side of that block.

At 16:00, we went back to home. It was so hard day, but we have too much nice time.