Honoring Award-Winning Mineralogist John Sinkankas

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PinkDiamond
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Honoring Award-Winning Mineralogist John Sinkankas

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Here's a good one from Rock and Gem on the legendary John Sinkankas that I hope you'll enjoy. John may be gone, but his remarkable work lives on. ;)

Honoring Award-Winning Mineralogist John Sinkankas

Noted and Admired Gemologist, Mentor, and Military Veteran
By Admin -
December 16, 2020


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When John’s superb gem and mineral reference library was acquired, he made the formal presentation at a Gemological Institute of America reception.

By Bob Jones


"During the 80 odd years I’ve enjoyed an extensive appreciation of minerals, I’ve had the good fortune to meet thousands of mineral collectors and lapidaries. I’ve become friendly with hundreds of professionals in the gem and mineral world, including curators of many major mineral museums and universities in America, Europe, and beyond. Among this vast group are individuals who profoundly influenced me and the science and hobby of mineral collecting.

Within this group of inspiring people, John Sinkankas ranks above all. Dr. John Sinkankas was not only a good friend but a mentor who had the most substantial influence on me in terms of mineral activities. For the science and hobby, John undoubtedly made a more significant contribution to amateur mineral collecting than anyone else I know. He was a skilled writer-teacher whose writings on complex mineral subjects made them understandable to the average rockhound.

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One of John Sinkankas renowned works that is a must-have references for generations of people. BOB JONES

Many a mineral collector and lapidary artist can attest to learning a great deal from various books he’s written about minerals, gem cutting, and the lapidary arts. Additionally, he also wrote field guides on mineral collecting and prospecting and a series of catalogs providing data minerals and gem materials. He began his writing career in 1951, with a column about amateur lapidary. Then in 1964, he penned the history-making text, Mineralogy for Amateurs. The book made the science of mineralogy more accessible and understandable, and as such, became a popular choice for college syllabuses everywhere. He followed this with many other books including, Emeralds and Other Beryls, which combined his interest in gems and minerals and his strong interest and investigation of pegmatite deposits.

INSPIRED TO EDUCATE

Since he lived in Southern California, it was only logical that he spent day after day digging and investigating its famous pegmatite deposits. This practice partially inspired one of his most famous writings, the two-volume work, Gemstones of North America. Volume one was published in 1959, followed in 1976 by volume two. When John gave me a copy of the second volume, he inscribed it as follows: “I inscribe this with my sincerest regards for all you have done to make our hobby the most interesting!” This inscription was typical of John’s support and encouragement.

I met John and his lovely wife, Marge, in 1961, shortly after he completed his military service in naval aviation. As an active collector, he lectured at major shows like Tucson, Pasadena, the Federation Shows, and local club shows where we became friends. By the 1970s, we were writing for the new magazine Rock & Gem, when it started in 1971. By that time, John was also familiar with my column in Rocks & Minerals magazine, which at the time was struggling to survive. The magazine was available for purchase, and John had hopes of keeping it alive. He organized a small group hoping to take over Rocks & Minerals magazine and called me to ask if I would be willing to serve as the editor of Rocks & Minerals if they took over. I had no interest in doing that but was grateful that John considered me. My friend Marie Huizing became its editor and, to this day, continues to do a great job.

On many occasions over the years, I would visit John and Marge in San Diego. During frequent trips to visit family in the area, I’d stop in for a visit. Since John was a bibliophile, he had an excellent and extensive library of mineral and gem books and articles. At other times, when I was researching a particular subject, they would invite me to spend a week with them to do my work. I think I learned as much from John over lunch each day than from his library because his interests spanned the entire spectrum of gems and minerals.

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST

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John’s vast interest in gems and minerals began at an early age. A native of
In later life, Dr. John Sinkankas and his wife Marge operated the rare gem and mineral book business Peri Lithon.


Paterson, New Jersey, a very active area for rockhounding, by the time he was seven years of age, John enjoyed his first collecting trip, where the goal was to locate zeolites, which he did.

His other passion was flying. I find it remarkable that John pursued this interest so intensely that he built a large glider and flew it as a teenager. This early interest led to a career as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. It began with him graduating in 1937 from Pensacola Naval Air Station before world War II, followed by John and Marge marrying just a few years after military graduation.

As impressive as was his knowledge and contributions to mineralogy, John’s military service was equally so. During World War II, he flew the very dependable Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane, flying anti-submarine patrols off the coasts of the U.S. Eventually, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Patrol Plane Training squadron. As a pilot, he participated in the Aleutian Islands campaign against the Japanese. He also often piloted high ranking officers to various destinations, including Greenland, where he also found time and opportunity to collect minerals.

Although many may be familiar with John’s contributions as an author, he was just as much an active collector, who specialized in pegmatite deposits. He also focused on gemology and faceting, and he served as co-operator, with his wife Marge, of a rare book company called Peri Lithon. The company’s name was the same as the title of the first book ever written about minerals, by Greek Theophrastus, in about 400 B.C.

Earlier I mentioned using John’s library at his home. He had converted his two-car garage at his home in San Diego by building rows of shelving. He stored many books, articles, papers, and magazines about gems, minerals, mines, and localities within the library. Each item was cross-cataloged, creating a rare font of gem and mineral knowledge. His library was so superior that it was purchased by the Gemological Institute of America (http://www.gia.org), one of the world’s leading educational and research institutes.

These many accomplishments did not go unnoticed by his alma mater. In 1984, John’s work in mineralogy earned him an honorary Ph.D. in Mineralogy. That same year a new mineral was named in his honor, sinkankasite, to recognize John’s significant contributions to science and the hobby. The mineral that would be named sinkankasite was discovered during a study of the phosphate minerals at the pegmatite deposit of Keystone, South Dakota.

ACCOLADES AND HONORS

The mineral is as complex as its namesake — a hydrous hydrate of hydrogen, manganese, aluminum phosphate. It forms monoclinic crystals that are very small, which probably pleased John, as he was a devoted micro-mounter! The mineral was also found among the phosphates at the equally noteworthy Palermo Pegmatite, North Groton, NH.

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Sinkankas’ expertise in collecting at gem pegmatites gave him insights into the various beryl minerals for this book.
BOB JONES


In terms of faceting, John was exceptionally skillful, so much so he was invited by the Smithsonian and other institutions to create small collections of enormous faceted gems. Another noteworthy faceting request was for the Smithsonian, in which he faceted 4,500-carat smoky quartz, 2,054-carat golden beryl, a 3,373-carat blue topaz, and an 1800 carat spodumene. He did equally large faceted gems for the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. To create these massive pieces, John had to construct a faceting machine to handle these large gems! For the Smithsonian, he also designed and created a stunning 7,000-carat faceted quarts egg resting on golden spikes tipped with sapphires and Arkansas faceted diamonds!

The funniest story I ever heard about the Smithsonian large gems, including those done by John, happened at a Federation Show in Florida. The Smithsonian’s Curator Paul Desautels had been invited to bring a display. When he arrived, show officials were confused as it seemed he was empty-handed. However, after being escorted to the display case, he took several huge and highly-valuable faceted gems out of his coat pockets. It seemed he had flown from D.C. to Florida with the gems in his coat pockets, knowing who would be the wiser! Paul did the same thing with the Smithsonian’s inquisition necklace, which I later hid under my mattress and slept on before returning it to the Smithsonian. Again, who was the wiser?

As a lecturer, John was a skillful teacher. I recall a talk wherein John explained why precious opal had the play-of-colors. ... "

https://www.rockngem.com/honoring-award ... nkas121820
PinkDiamond
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Re: Honoring Award-Winning Mineralogist John Sinkankas

Post by SwordfishMining »

I'm proud to say he dug in the deposits I work. Particularly the Green Fire Mine I renamed the Swordfish back in 1994. Funny the market has not returned, but then again they found literally a hundred tons of opal in Africa while we mine in oz and pounds. But then again we have the best specimens on the planet of precious woods that are gem grade and we do get some black opals that are as fine as ANY mined in the world after cutting and setting. The price offered is why none are cut down to be offered as cabs. LOL
Please note the ex-convict lies to say he owns the Green Fire mine, That is not me a half mile away from Mrs Lougheads home site & shaft in the middle of my claims? I did own that claim Dons sister in law was working after Opal Joe left with his car full of opal. Gave it to the kids as a wedding p[resent & they resold it. He has copied everything ever printed by miners or geologists onto his slanderous links about me website put in his dads name. Just don't take it all as truth, for just as the MSM lies, it is what he leaves out and twists that make him look better compared to all the residents. A true Villains scheme to take away current owners deposits by lawfare. Legal, but a convicts scheme. Peace out mining as they barely ever came here or do anymore.
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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