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Announcement 2007 |
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Treasures from the roof of the world
The large special exhibit at Mineralientage 2007 was symbolised by the high, even the highest mountains in the world. Spectacular finds and fascinating crystals from the “roof of the world” had been the focus of the special exhibit “Precious Stones of the Himalayas”, which were often salvaged under extremely difficult conditions. Among them is the “King of Asia”, a completely undamaged white tourmaline with a deep red centre, which weighs over 40 kg, and the largest aquamarine crystal in the world.
The exciting theme had also shown two completely separate aspects of mineralisation: on the one hand the pegmatite with its valuable precious stones aquamarine, topaz and tourmaline in complete formation and breath-taking colours, which can become the most coveted collector’s items and, on the other, the crevice minerals, which have their relatives in the European Alps.
Legend Herb Obodda
A pioneer of excavation in this region is the American Herb Obodda from New Jersey. It was more by accident that he discovered the rich precious stone deposits in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 1972. Once he arrived, he was first shocked by the condition of the excavated minerals. These were just chipped off and transported unprotected in cloths. Obodda negotiated with the miners and after many years of explaining, by and by he was able to extract complete stones of the highest quality. Since then, all international museums house so-called “Obodda” pieces from Afghanistan and Pakistan, either salvaged by him directly or according to his directions. “Obodda value” has become a well-known term in the world trade of precious stones from the Himalayas.
2007 Mr Obodda has celebrated 50 years of his company. For Mineralientage München this is an occasion to pay particular attention to his collecting passion; Pakistani minerals.
Fish from the mountain – how can that be?
It has to be seen to be believed! The famous fish fossils from the Monte Bolca had been presented for the first time outside Italy by the Museum Verona, which has selected more than 100 historical objects from its archives. Fossilised prehistoric fish and a crocodile from one of the most recent and, thus, for evolution most significant fossil deposits of the world, revealed how the basis for today’s biodiversity was already laid in the Eocene around 50 million years ago. It is not just the well preserved nature of the fossil pieces that is astonishing, but above all the clear colours, which almost had given us a living impression of the old creatures. The accurate replica of a naturalist’s closet from an 18th century Veronese museum had shown us how the scholars of the day researched and worked at Monte Bolca. The fish have not even been displayed in the museum up to now!
Pterosaurs fascinate
The exhibits from the Munich Museum of Palaeontology had been somewhat fear-inspiring. The Museum had brought some sharp-toothed friends of impressive size from its “Flying Dinosaurs” exhibition, among them the famous Rhamphorhynchus from Solnhofen.
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