Controversy surrounding purple fluorite on quartz from China
Since the publication of the first version of this article on Jan. 6, 2026, much new information has become available in a short period of…
Category: For the enthusiast
About the value of de-collecting
For the tenth episode of the Stack of Stones community podcast, I sat down with Ed Richard to discuss a topic that is little discussed…
Exhibition Pristine Minerals & Stack of Stones
For the international mineral show in Rijswijk, Ed of Pristine Minerals and Rolf of Stack of Stones have put together a special exhibit featuring mine…
Remarkable quartz with citrine color from Morocco
For several years, remarkable shaped quartz crystals have been popping up on the market from Morocco with a distinctive citrine color, ranging from yellow-brown to…
Ethical aspects of rose quartz mining
On February 10, 2025, consumer TV program Radar paid attention to the extraction and trade of rose quartz in Madagascar, including hidden camera foota…
Acquisition of the month: Japanese twin quartz
I recently added a fine specimen of a Japanese-law quartz twin to my collection from the Ambolo Quartz Mine in Madagascar. This crystallographic peculiarity is…
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 it is a unique…
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” I said, “Yes!” he…
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 …
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 tourmaline, uvite often forms…
