Mineralogy: Edmond DIEMER Collection
Sale on Thursday, June 4 from 2pm
5 rue de Provence 75009
Exhibition :
Wednesday June 3, 11am to 6pm
Thursday June 4, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Mineral expert: Mr Alain MARTAUD
Shell expert: Mr Sylvain LECOCHENEC
The Edmond Diemer collection :
Edmond Diemer (1929-2008) worked as an engineer for a major geophysics company.
his work and took advantage of the opportunity to organize exploration trips. Around 1980/90 he
accompanied Professor Théodore Monod (of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) on the
rediscovery of the famous Libyan glasses, mysterious witnesses to the fall of a meteorite (1)
...This sale will bring to light probably the finest and largest collection (over 30
kg in all) of this precious natural glass: an exceptional event! Edmond Diemer, along with the
Carion family, will also discover the most beautiful pseudomorphoses of pyrite/marcasite into goethite
of Egypt; there are several hundred waiting to be cleaned... A fine collection of meteorites
meteorites with historic falls; a collection of impactite and a fine series of fulgurite
always collected during his travels, complete the picture. In retirement, he developed
his passion for petrography by resuming his university studies, which is reflected in his
which is reflected in the contents of his collection by the presence of rare or curious rocks (they are
for the curious). The quality of the minerals varies from
some particularly beautiful specimens to simple results of personal collections that have not been
not been showcased since their extraction, through to mineralogical classics and a few rare
some rare species, as well as some particularly well-chosen thumbnails(2).
(1) See the book "Zerzura, l'oasis légendaire du désert Libyque".
(2) Minerals between 2mm and 3 cm. In theory, they should fit into a 1" square box
square or 2.54 cm2. These minerals are the subject of competitions in some countries. The quality of
crystallization...
Expert's warning:
The minerals are delivered as is. In recent years, the collection has been left in untidy display cases
in wooden crates in the cellar for nearly 20 years. The minerals
are very dirty, covered in dust and the like. Clearly, this collection is very interesting in terms of the
the quality of some of the minerals, the rarity of others, the naturalistic sincerity of the species
the extraordinary series of meteorites, tektites and the XX kg of Libyan glass.
glass. Some of the meteorites are in sealed bags, which we have chosen not to open
to risk prematurely altering what may be fragile specimens. For those with a minimum
the know-how of serious cleaning and have a minimum knowledge of the objects
there are undoubtedly bargains to be had, in minerals and rocks as well as meteorites and
meteorites and related items (tektites, impactites, fulgurites). Happy rock hunting
Alain Martaud
Notes: Purchasers of lots on trays or plastic handles are kindly requested to bring the necessary cardboard and packaging.
cardboard boxes and packaging, and not to sort on the premises or on the sidewalk;
the awarding of a lot implies that the lot has been taken in its entirety: no garbage on the premises or on the adjacent
will be tolerated.
