Tips for visiting a mineral show
Mineral shows are a melting pot of passion, knowledge and discovery. If you have ever visited a mineral show, you know
Analysis: apatite in cleavelandite or not?
By now there are a lot of stones on the market with blue spots, under a lot of different names. One
CAUTION: enforcement law regarding asbestos minerals!
Recently I received a warning letter from the Dutch Inspectorate for the Environment and Transport (ILT) of the Ministry of Infrastructure
Fascinating Larvikite: Norway’s national stone
Larvikite is known for its unique appearance with changing colors and light effects. Read more about the composition, origin and applications of this special rock from Norway in this article.
Typical geodes
In this article, we explore the fascinating world of geodes, hollow spaces in rocks filled with beautiful minerals such as chalcedony, agate, and quartz. Well-known examples include the amethyst geodes from Brazil and the Las Choyas “coconut” geodes from Mexico. We also discuss lesser-known but unusual varieties such as the Puma agates and Red Fox agates from Argentina, and the Dugway geodes from Utah, USA. Discover how the locality and composition of geodes give them a unique identity, and learn about the local names and typical features that set them apart.
Analysis: Nuummite
Find out all about genuine Greenland nuummite and similar rocks! Learn how to recognize real nuummite and how to distinguish lookalikes from China and India. Also a nuummite-related rock from Finland is discussed. Read the article for tips on how to identify genuine nuummite and avoid misleading imitations. With images to show the differences.
Fact or fable? – Septarian concretions originate from deceased animals
Septarian are a special stone that attracts attention with its unique appearance. Moreover, an interesting story circulates about the origin of
Story behind the stone: sulfur from the Ijen volcano
Recently a friend gave me a beautiful piece of sulfur, he asked me if I knew where it came from, “Indonesia”
Sphalerite or not? Part II
In my earlier article sphalerite or not? , which I told about some polished towers of “sphalerite” that I analyzed for
Saint Barbara, multipurpose patron saint
Recently I received a beautiful statue of Saint Barbara for my birthday. I already posted the attached photo on social media
Sphalerite or not? Part I
Quite some time ago I received from one of my students who also sells stones a number of polished towers of
Green ‘smithsonite’ from Indonesia appears to be garnierite (falcondoite) in quartz
Recently, ‘new’ material appeared on the market from Indonesia: green crustal deposits and crystals in fissures in yellow-brown rock. Commonly sold
Lewisian Gneiss: The fascinating history of one of the oldest rocks on Earth
The Isle of Lewis and Harris, located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is home to Lewisian Gneiss, one of the
Siccar Point in Scotland: Geological Wonder and Historical Importance
Siccar Point, located on the east coast of Scotland, is an important geological site that has played a crucial role in
Uvite: A rare and fascinating mineral from the tourmaline group
Uvite is a rare and remarkable mineral that is part of the tourmaline group. Unlike the usual elongated crystals characteristic of
Flos Ferri: the delicate and rare form of aragonite
Flos Ferri, or “flowers of iron,” is a unique and rare variety of aragonite. This beautiful form of aragonite occurs in
Olivine: the versatile green mineral with numerous applications
Olivine is a fascinating and versatile mineral that ranges from forsterite, rich in magnesium, to fayalite, rich in iron. These silicate
Well-known combination of Azurite and Malachite from rare location: Sepon mine in Laos
When collecting minerals, for many not only the species is important, but certainly the location. Sometimes the location is even more
Progress is impossible without change
New developments are piling up at Stack of Stones. Today, I am pleased to delight you with the first monthly ‘Written
Analysis: Rainbow moonstone
Genuine moonstone or white labradorite? At the bottom of the page you find a summary of the main points of this