How to recognize and identify minerals: a practical guide
Minerals and gemstones are bought or collected for all sorts of reasons. Some people are drawn to a beautiful color or crystal shape, while others…
Terra Mineralia and Krüger-Haus in Freiberg: a paradise for mineral enthusiasts
A day trip from Leipzig In late July 2026, I visited two well-known mineral museums in Freiberg, a historic mining town in the German state…
Yellow-fluorescent phantoms in amethyst: Is it really powellite?
For several years now, the mineral trade has been offering light-colored amethyst crystals from Brazil that show striking yellow to yellow-orange phantoms under UV light.…
New mineral discoveries from Qinglong, China (2025): carlhintzeite, schubnelite, and other rare finds
The Qinglong area in China’s Guizhou province has long been one of the most interesting sites for fluorite and a number of rare minerals. However,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
