Jim Urbaniak
@hrrockguy.bsky.social
Human Resources Professional by day; Mad Scientist the rest of the time. I am passionate about geology in general, petrology, mineralogy and paleontology more specifically. I love lecturing, teaching, exhibiting and writing about the Earth sciences.
Bronze 1/2 centenionalis of Emperor Flavius Victor, Circa 387- Aug. 28, 388.
April 22, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Bronze 1/2 centenionalis of Emperor Flavius Victor, Circa 387- Aug. 28, 388.
A heavy bronze coin issued by Cleopatra I Thea ("Cleopatra the Goddess") for the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor. The obverse portrait is the Egyptian goddess Isis. The reverse is the Ptolemaic eagle standard. The Cleopatra we are familiar with is a descendant of this Cleopatra. Circa 180-176 BC.
April 3, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A heavy bronze coin issued by Cleopatra I Thea ("Cleopatra the Goddess") for the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor. The obverse portrait is the Egyptian goddess Isis. The reverse is the Ptolemaic eagle standard. The Cleopatra we are familiar with is a descendant of this Cleopatra. Circa 180-176 BC.
Silver penny of King Cnut, 1016-1035AD. Cnut collectively ruled what is referred to as the North Sea Empire. He became King of England in 1016; King of Denmark in 1018; and King of Norway in 1028, ruling all kingdoms until his death in 1035. He was grandson of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark.
April 3, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Silver penny of King Cnut, 1016-1035AD. Cnut collectively ruled what is referred to as the North Sea Empire. He became King of England in 1016; King of Denmark in 1018; and King of Norway in 1028, ruling all kingdoms until his death in 1035. He was grandson of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark.
This is a voided long-cross silver penny of Aethelered II 'The Unready'. As a play on his name, which means 'the well-advised' in Old English, 'unready' actually translates to 'poorly advised' or 'unraed'. He was the longest reigning Anglo-Saxon king of England (978-1013 and 1014-1016 AD).
March 30, 2025 at 3:28 AM
This is a voided long-cross silver penny of Aethelered II 'The Unready'. As a play on his name, which means 'the well-advised' in Old English, 'unready' actually translates to 'poorly advised' or 'unraed'. He was the longest reigning Anglo-Saxon king of England (978-1013 and 1014-1016 AD).
'Bad King' John I short-cross silver penny, Circa 1205-1207 AD. This was found by a metal detectorist in a farmer's potato field in Lincolnshire, England. Obv. reads (star) ҺЄHRICVS RЄX. Rev. reads + RAVF • ON • LVNDЄ.
March 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM
'Bad King' John I short-cross silver penny, Circa 1205-1207 AD. This was found by a metal detectorist in a farmer's potato field in Lincolnshire, England. Obv. reads (star) ҺЄHRICVS RЄX. Rev. reads + RAVF • ON • LVNDЄ.
Short-cross silver penny of 'Good King' Richard I, 'the Lionheart'. Circa 1189-1199 AD. Of course everyone very loosely knows the story. Richard left England to fight in the Crusades. His cousin, John, took Richard's crown and became 'Bad King' John I, spawning the legend of Robin Hood.
March 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Short-cross silver penny of 'Good King' Richard I, 'the Lionheart'. Circa 1189-1199 AD. Of course everyone very loosely knows the story. Richard left England to fight in the Crusades. His cousin, John, took Richard's crown and became 'Bad King' John I, spawning the legend of Robin Hood.
In my quest to acquire every (non-gold) coin of every ruler of England, I've ventured into Norman & Anglo-Saxon coins.
This tiny, crummy silver coin, called a sceatta, is actually a very important coin and a super rare example of coinage by the Kings of Northumbria under King Eardwuld, 796-806 AD.
This tiny, crummy silver coin, called a sceatta, is actually a very important coin and a super rare example of coinage by the Kings of Northumbria under King Eardwuld, 796-806 AD.
February 14, 2025 at 6:36 AM
In my quest to acquire every (non-gold) coin of every ruler of England, I've ventured into Norman & Anglo-Saxon coins.
This tiny, crummy silver coin, called a sceatta, is actually a very important coin and a super rare example of coinage by the Kings of Northumbria under King Eardwuld, 796-806 AD.
This tiny, crummy silver coin, called a sceatta, is actually a very important coin and a super rare example of coinage by the Kings of Northumbria under King Eardwuld, 796-806 AD.
UK minerals: Calcite [CaCO3]; fluorite [CaF2]; copper [Cu]; and agate [SiO2].
February 5, 2025 at 3:07 AM
UK minerals: Calcite [CaCO3]; fluorite [CaF2]; copper [Cu]; and agate [SiO2].
Tanzanian minerals: Tremolite [◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2]; tanzanite variety zoisite [(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)]; and tourmaline variety chromium dravite [NaMg3Cr3+6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)].
January 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Tanzanian minerals: Tremolite [◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2]; tanzanite variety zoisite [(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)]; and tourmaline variety chromium dravite [NaMg3Cr3+6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)].
Minerals of South Dakota: Feldspar variety Anorthite [Ca(Al2Si2O8)]; and Calcite [CaCO3].
January 28, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Minerals of South Dakota: Feldspar variety Anorthite [Ca(Al2Si2O8)]; and Calcite [CaCO3].
South Africa minerals: Calcite and Bultfonteinite on matrix [CaCO3; Ca2(HSiO4)F·H2O]; and inesite [Ca2(Mn,Fe)7Si10O28(OH)2·5H2O].
January 20, 2025 at 6:41 AM
South Africa minerals: Calcite and Bultfonteinite on matrix [CaCO3; Ca2(HSiO4)F·H2O]; and inesite [Ca2(Mn,Fe)7Si10O28(OH)2·5H2O].
Russian minerals: Ferroplatinum [(Pt,Fe)]; murmanite [Na2Ti2(Si2O7)O2 · 2H2O]; and pyrrhotite [Fe1-xS].
January 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Russian minerals: Ferroplatinum [(Pt,Fe)]; murmanite [Na2Ti2(Si2O7)O2 · 2H2O]; and pyrrhotite [Fe1-xS].
Polish minerals: Calcite with stilbite [CaCO3; M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O, where M = either Na, Ca or K]; and calcite [CaCO3].
January 13, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Polish minerals: Calcite with stilbite [CaCO3; M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O, where M = either Na, Ca or K]; and calcite [CaCO3].
Peru minerals: Rhodochrosite [MnCO3]; epidote [(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)]; and galena cube with realgar, orpiment and quart [PbS].
January 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Peru minerals: Rhodochrosite [MnCO3]; epidote [(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)]; and galena cube with realgar, orpiment and quart [PbS].
Pakistan minerals: Beryl variety aquamarine [Be3Al2Si6O18]; peridot variety forsterite [Mg2SiO4]; brucite [Mg(OH)2]; and beryl variety aquamarine with muscovite [Be3Al2Si6O18 and KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2].
December 31, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Pakistan minerals: Beryl variety aquamarine [Be3Al2Si6O18]; peridot variety forsterite [Mg2SiO4]; brucite [Mg(OH)2]; and beryl variety aquamarine with muscovite [Be3Al2Si6O18 and KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2].
Oregon minerals: Feldspar variety orthoclase [K(AlSi3O8)]; feldspar variety labradorite 'Oregon sunstone' [(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] with Cu]; agate [SiO2]; and pyrite [FeS2].
December 30, 2024 at 2:17 AM
Oregon minerals: Feldspar variety orthoclase [K(AlSi3O8)]; feldspar variety labradorite 'Oregon sunstone' [(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8] with Cu]; agate [SiO2]; and pyrite [FeS2].
New Mexico minerals: Fluorite [CaF2]; linarite (on quartz) [PbCu(SO4)(OH)2]; quartz [SiO2]; and aragonite [CaCO3].
December 28, 2024 at 3:22 AM
New Mexico minerals: Fluorite [CaF2]; linarite (on quartz) [PbCu(SO4)(OH)2]; quartz [SiO2]; and aragonite [CaCO3].
Minerals of Nevada: Gold [Au]; turquoise [CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O]; ulexite [NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O]; and garnet variety almandine [Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3].
December 27, 2024 at 12:38 AM
Minerals of Nevada: Gold [Au]; turquoise [CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O]; ulexite [NaCa[B5O6(OH)6] · 5H2O]; and garnet variety almandine [Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3].
Minerals of Namibia: Mimetite [Pb5(AsO4)3Cl]; fluorite [CaF2]; lepidolite [KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 to K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2]; and cerussite [PbCO3].
December 21, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Minerals of Namibia: Mimetite [Pb5(AsO4)3Cl]; fluorite [CaF2]; lepidolite [KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 to K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2]; and cerussite [PbCO3].
Minerals of Mozambique: Tourmaline var. watermelon [A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z]; and lithian muscovite [KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2].
December 17, 2024 at 3:44 AM
Minerals of Mozambique: Tourmaline var. watermelon [A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z]; and lithian muscovite [KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2].
Minerals from Morocco: Azurite [Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2]; malachite [Cu2(CO3)(OH)2]; cerussite [PbCO3]; and vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl].
December 9, 2024 at 7:36 AM
Minerals from Morocco: Azurite [Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2]; malachite [Cu2(CO3)(OH)2]; cerussite [PbCO3]; and vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl].
A selection of Montana minerals: Feldspar var. orthoclase [K(AlSi3O8)]; sphalerite var. marmatite [(Zn,Fe)S]; garnet var. pyrope [Mg3Al2(SiO4)3]; and mica var. biotite [K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2].
December 5, 2024 at 8:00 PM
A selection of Montana minerals: Feldspar var. orthoclase [K(AlSi3O8)]; sphalerite var. marmatite [(Zn,Fe)S]; garnet var. pyrope [Mg3Al2(SiO4)3]; and mica var. biotite [K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2].
A selection of minerals from Mexico: Garnet var. grossular [Ca3Al2(SiO4)3]; quartz var. amethyst [SiO2]; shattuckite with plancheite [Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2]; [Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4·H2O]; and topaz [Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2].
December 4, 2024 at 5:47 PM
A selection of minerals from Mexico: Garnet var. grossular [Ca3Al2(SiO4)3]; quartz var. amethyst [SiO2]; shattuckite with plancheite [Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2]; [Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4·H2O]; and topaz [Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2].
Textites are a fascinating field of geology all by themselves. Not quite rock/mineral, not quite meteorites, but somewhere in between. Libyan glass - Sahara Desert, Libya; moldavite - Czech Republic; indochinite - Maoming, Guangdong Province, China.
December 3, 2024 at 8:38 PM
Textites are a fascinating field of geology all by themselves. Not quite rock/mineral, not quite meteorites, but somewhere in between. Libyan glass - Sahara Desert, Libya; moldavite - Czech Republic; indochinite - Maoming, Guangdong Province, China.
Off the beaten path of my normal postings, 'tis the season and I move into the one arts & crafts thing I do all year; hand engraving copper tree ornaments. This is a small selection of the scores I have made over 30 years. Partridge in a Pear Tree, Owl in Tree, Chrysanthemums, Running Horse.
December 2, 2024 at 5:59 PM
Off the beaten path of my normal postings, 'tis the season and I move into the one arts & crafts thing I do all year; hand engraving copper tree ornaments. This is a small selection of the scores I have made over 30 years. Partridge in a Pear Tree, Owl in Tree, Chrysanthemums, Running Horse.