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…
Category: For the enthusiast
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…
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 and the Environment. On…
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 …
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 quar…
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 septarian dating back to…
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…
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 when I hung the…
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…
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 delicate white coral-like shapes,…