Fine Minerals from the Paphos Region

[Dominic]

We are delighted to have another blog from Max, showing some more of his amazing crystal collection. Over to you Max...

As my last Blog was about crystals from the Gypsum family, I decided this time to show some fine minerals like Amethyst and Quartz, from the same area: North of Konia...

Read the article and chat about it below...

[LouiseCastricum]

In one word FANTASTIC. Thanks very much for sharing this collection.

[Houdinibun]

Definitely getting us looking more closely at rocks. We want to find our own

[PaphosAL]

AWESOME!! Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos, Max!

Can I suggest that you add a location map of the area at the end of this wonderful blog?

Cheers- AL

[cyprusmax47]

AWESOME!! Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos, Max!

Can I suggest that you add a location map of the area at the end of this wonderful blog?

Cheers- AL

It is very easy to find the area if you look at the panorama photo from my last Blog where one can see the chimney of the volcano in the middle of the pic. It is much more exiting if you search around I think....
Max

[Dominic]

The key thing I have picked up is to always travel with an appropriate tool, while out exploring.

I shall have to invest in a Zappa.

[cyprusmax47]

The key thing I have picked up is to always travel with an appropriate tool, while out exploring.

I shall have to invest in a Zappa.

I have since 30 years a Zappa in the boot. As it comes in 2 pieces it does not take too much space either. It was handy many times like digging out the car when it got stuck in the mud in bad Winters. In Summer I helped many times people to get their car out of the gravel banks when they drove too close to the beach at Polis area. And not to forget it is very handy for garden jobs or at a farm. It is THE tool for all Cypriots to have.
( perhaps this is one to fit in the "Top Tips" section?)
Max

[Dominic]

Oddly in the shops, they only seem to sell them unassembled.

[cyprusmax47]

Oddly in the shops, they only seem to sell them unassembled.

They sell in two pieces, as the steel you buy only once (if it is a good brand, I have mine since 25 years) while the wooden handle you have to exchange from time to time. Further the handles come in different length to match. Sometimes in Summer one have to soak the whole thing for half an hour in water because it comes loose as the wood shrinks.... Normally you buy a Zappa in the old traditional little shops where they sell everything from nails to pipes also in the warehouses from Coop where farmers shop their fertilizer and chemicals....
Max

[bromerzz]

I have a one at home and very useful it is too. Mine was made in the UK. The heads have a habit of slipping on the shaft as mentioned above due to shrinkage. What I do is drill a hole through the shaft just below where the bottom of the head will fit and slip a nut and bolt thro. This prevents the head wobbling too much.

[Jimgward]

The rocks with 'suggs' - do you need to crack them open to find them?

Also, I always thought Amethyst was purple.... is that only one type?

[Emilly1]

Really informative blog.

[cyprusmax47]

The rocks with 'suggs' - do you need to crack them open to find them?

Also, I always thought Amethyst was purple.... is that only one type?

All the rocks of my collection I found like that.

Amethyst belongs to the Quartz family and the hues are from very light violet to dark purple. The ones I found are more like a amethyst quartz type.
Also they fade in tone when in UV light and I don't know how many years they were already exposed to the Sunshine. Not to forget that we are used to dark hue when we talk about normal Amethyst one can find in shops. They can be also artificially darkened or synthetic produced. There is link which explains some methods. http://www.crystalsandgemstones.com/201 ... hat-gives/
Max