Canadian trip
by Stuart Adams
I had the good fortune at the end of September to visit a friend in
Victoria, British Columbia and apart from thoroughly enjoying myself I
had the opportunity to visit the Victoria Lapidary & Mineral Society. A
lively meeting at which their speaker told all about mineral collecting
trips in South America. A number of members brought along some trays of
rocks which were sold by silent auction - that is you write you bid
down on a piece of paper and whosoever is the highest wins.
Although this may seem a bit fringe I went to the excellent exhibition
on the Titanic held in Museum in Victoria and whilst browsing around
the souvenir shop after I purchased a piece of coal from the Titanic.
Why coal? Well firstly it is geological but more importantly the wreck
from which it came is two and a half miles under the oceans surface and
it is unlikely that an expedition would return to get more. Add to this
the amazing rate at which the hulk is decomposing it is unlikely that
more would ever be retrieved so when this supply has gone that's it! So
now I have a piece of geological history in more ways than one.
Through the coin world with which my friend is involved with I was
given an oil sample. The trouble is when you meet a collector that
person usually has other interests. So once more I was very honoured
to be given the oil sample pictured (above / below?) from his
collection. The sample consists of three tubes containing the crude oil
sand, the separated oil and finally the clean sand.
My thanks go to my host and all the people he introduced me to which made my holiday.
Stuart Adams