Mindat News
- 26th January 2024 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2024And it's that time of the year again, I've escaped from the cold UK to sunny Arizona for the world's biggest mineral and gem event, spread across dozens of venues throughout the city.
Enchanted ...
- 27th November 2023 - LIVE REPORT Gold Museum, New Taipei City
Today I'm visiting a museum in a famous Gold and Copper mining region of Taiwan
Display of mining lamps hanging from the ceiling
Discussing the Shuijinjiu area
The gold museum is situated next ...
- 18th November 2023 - LIVE REPORT The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
My last day in DC after a successful datathon finally gives me enough free time to visit the Smithsonian.
The Berms Quartz, from.Arkansas.
Walking up to the gallery
The Hope Diamond, ...
- 10th November 2023 - LIVE REPORT New Mexico Mineral Symposium 2023
I'm.here for the first time here at Socorro for the symposium.
Here's the museum.
The university is having a book sale, suggested donation of $1 per book
I might have bought a few too ...
- 24th October 2023 - LIVE REPORT Munich Show 2023The countdown has begun for the Munich Show! I'll be there from tomorrow and I'll be reporting for the first time since 2019, so please keep watching here!
So I first went to Munich in 2005, and ...
- 19th October 2023 - LIVE REPORT Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh
Another new museum to explore, this time the historic Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh is famous for coal mining.
Let's explore the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems
The front ...
- 28th May 2023 - LIVE REPORT The Hunterian Museum, Glasgow
I'm here today for a quick visit to the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, within the beautiful grounds of the University of Glasgow.
Let's go in!
The galleries in this, Scotland's oldest museum, ...
- 6th May 2023 - LIVE REPORT China Nanjing (International) Mineral Gemstone & ...
Magnificent entrance
Thank you so much Mr Peng and his organisation team to invite me to attending this first mineral show in Nanjing!
Guest registration area
The opening ceremony
Show ...
- 13th April 2023 - LIVE REPORT Natural History museum of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Just a quick report today from the Natural History museum in Plovdiv.
The small mineral gallery doubles as the planetarium.
Displays are very basic with almost no descriptive content - this ...
- 7th April 2023 - LIVE REPORT Mineral Days show, Sofia, Bulgaria I'm in Bulgaria right now working with Pavel Martynov and there's a small show on this weekend at the Earth and Man museum here in Sofia
It's a small show with local dealers but as always this is ...
- 19th March 2023 - LIVE REPORT 48th Nautilus Show - Ghent, Belgium
It is becoming an annual tradition by now, but I am back in my hometown for our show. And we are amazed at how many people are queueing outside!
One of the biggest attractions of our society is ...
- 9th March 2023 - LIVE REPORT The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
I have some time before I leave Canada to visit the ROM here in Toronto.
The building is a beautiful fusion of old and new.
I'm visitor No. 1
Thanks to Katherine Dunnell for access and ...
- 5th March 2023 - LIVE REPORT Hannut 2023
We’ve just arrived at the mineral show in Hannut, Belgium for this year! This is one of the best shows of the year here and we look forward to what we are going to find today!
Let’s have a ...
- 5th March 2023 - LIVE REPORT PDAC 2023I'm in Toronto this week for the PDAC mining conference, where I hope to get more information and contacts and hopefully some sponsorship for mindat. If you're at PDAC please let me ...
- 14th February 2023 - LIVE REPORT The New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum
After a hectic Tucson it's time for a week off, although I am still of course working - today we are at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum in Socorro.
Entering the museum.
Nice ...
- 7th February 2023 - LIVE REPORT Tucson Sonoran Desert Museum Minerals
I'm about to enter the mineral displays here at the Sonoran Desert Museum
The opening gallery describes the evolution of the Earth and the landscape of Arizona
A dark cool room housing Arizona ...
- 23rd January 2023 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2023
It's that time of the year again and I'm back in Tucson preparing for the shows, which open to the public mostly on Friday. But let's wander round and see what's going on now.
This year we are ...
- 3rd January 2023 - LIVE REPORT University of Sofia Geology MuseumI am here today as a guest of the University of Sofia to visit their geology museum. It dates back to 1892 and has many historic samples.
The museum is in the roof on the building to take ...
- 2nd January 2023 - LIVE REPORT Earth and Man National Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria
Today I'm visiting the Earth and Man National Museum in Sofia.
Unfortunately it's closed today, but this is the outside.
At least we can see pegmatite veins in the granite stairs outside.
You ...
- 23rd December 2022 - LIVE REPORT The American Museum of Natural History
We are back in New York for a quick visit, and finally have the chance to see the new mineral galleries at the AMNH, thanks to our host Jamie Newman.
A new display on the timeline of mineral ...
- 19th November 2022 - LIVE REPORT Sussex Mineral Show 2022
I'm at Hayward's Heath again for the annual SMLS mineral show.
Earth's Wonders
I'm selling a few books here.
The Crystal Classics team hard at work.
Faceted green fluorite
An example.
Hopes ...
- 12th November 2022 - LIVE REPORT The 42nd New Mexico Mineral SymposiumThe 42nd Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium is now underway!
I am going to attempt to do a live report, but I’ve been attempting this for a few hours already and there are just so many folks to ...
- 9th October 2022 - LIVE REPORT GSA Connects 2022 Meeting Denver
I'm in Denver for the Geological Society of America meeting, where oner 5000 people are gathering for presentations, poster sessions and social activities.
Poster sessions
There are multiple ...
- 8th October 2022 - LIVE REPORT Bakewell Mineral Show 2022
Roman here with Bakewell show report
This is my favorite mineral from Crystal Classics
Some British stuff
Greenlaws fluorite
Campylite from Cumberland
Nice ammonites
And teeth selection ...
- 8th October 2022 - LIVE REPORT Mines Museum of Earth Science, Golden Colorado
I'm in Colorado for the GSA meeting which starts tomorrow, so Nathan and I have come to the Mines Museum of Earth Science, formerly known as the School of Mines museum.
The upper hall. ...
- 15th August 2022 - LIVE REPORT Greenland!
With another heatwave in the UK it was obvious where I should go. I've been invited on an adventure that I will try my best to live report, bearing in mind internet is going to be sporadic. So, ...
- 17th June 2022 - LIVE REPORT The San Diego Museum of Natural History
A brief stop before my flight home!
There are displays of some of the minerals from their collection in cabinets on each floor.
Muscovite on matrix from Pakistan.
Cut and natural ...
- 16th June 2022 - LIVE REPORT Gem and Mineral Hall at the San Diego County Fair
My academic conference is over and I've managed to escape to the San Diego County Fair, which has its own mineral show.
The entrance to the hall.
Exhibits in the center with dealers around the ...
- 1st June 2022 - LIVE REPORT The Lyme Regis museum
A quick visit today to the famous Jurassic Coast of Dorset, England and a look in to the Lyme Regis museum.
The museum stands on the site of Mary Anning's house. She is of course the most famous ...
- 8th May 2022 - LIVE REPORT Oxford Mineral Show, May 2022Roman and I are back in Kidlington for the Oxford Mineral Show.
Busy at the start as usual.
There's a new book by Roy Starkey.
Fluorite from the the greenlaw mine
This is a tourmaline in ...
- 23rd April 2022 - LIVE REPORT GEA and NVG 2022 Symposium in Ermelo in The ...
I’ve been invited by two Dutch geological societies to give a talk at their symposium about England. The GEA President Hans Sanders is welcoming all the participants.
Marcel van Schoor is the ...
- 20th March 2022 - LIVE REPORT The 2022 Nautilus Show, Ghent, Belgium
We are back again at the Nautilus Show in Ghent, Belgium.
I'm selling books and Roman is helping me do the live report.
These are some of Francis Van Troyen's Fluorites.
These are ...
- 15th February 2022 - LIVE REPORT The Yavapai Geological Museum, Grand CanyonRoman here and l will introduce you to the Grand Canyon geology museum.
There is a fabulous view out of the window of the Grand Canyon!
This is the inside of the museum
At the left ...
- 26th January 2022 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2022!And for the first time in two years, it's Tucson time again!
I've actually been here ten days already setting up this - the Mindat bookstore in the La Fuente building on Oracle (1735 N Oracle) - ...
- 11th December 2021 - LIVE REPORT Crystal Classics Open Day 2021
There are only a few mineral shows in the UK, Haywards Heath and Bakewell are the biggest, but the next most important event each year for serious collectors in the UK is the Crystal Classics open ...
- 28th November 2021 - LIVE REPORT The Oxford Mineral Show, November 2021The Oxford Mineral Show is back, and busier than ever.
We are just finishing our breakfast and we will be getting on with the report.
The search begins
Natural Wonders have this mammoth ...
- 20th November 2021 - LIVE REPORT The Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society Show 2021
It's strange to be back at a mineral show for the first time in nearly two years - but three vaccinations later here I am at Haywards Heath for the annual club show.
Earth's Wonders have an ...
- 19th November 2021 e-Rocks Ltd Data & Visualisation ProjectIntroduction
By Jolyon Ralph
I'm delighted to be able to announce a partnership between e-Rocks and mindat.org to help build a world-class mineral information visualization system to better ...
- 12th November 2021 - LIVE REPORT 41st Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium
We are live this weekend at the 41st Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium! Today we’re out in the field for the official field trip to the Copper Flat Mine in the Hillsboro District.
The Copper ...
- 28th September 2021 - LIVE REPORT Lightfield at the Mound
In Marble Arch at the moment is a temporary exhibition called 'Lightfield' in a structure called 'The Mound' - which was widely criticised recently as it's just turf-covered scaffolding in London ...
- 22nd August 2021 - LIVE REPORT TheRock.Show is live
The third virtual mineral show - therock.show is now live.
Join in the fun at https://therock.show
The sensation of the show this time is a new find of fluorite from the Doublestrike ...
- 20th August 2021 - LIVE REPORT The Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium 2021
And we're almost ready for the August 2021 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium. This year the event will be a dual live/virtual event, but unless you're already in Dallas and you already have a ...
- 12th June 2021 - LIVE REPORT Crystal Classics - 2021 Summer Open Day
A nice annual tradition is back!
The Crystal Classics summer open day in the showroom in Somerset is on its way today!
For some strange reason the British drawers are very popular with the ...
- 9th April 2021 - LIVE REPORT Tucson April Show 2021 - Live Report (Virtual ...In 5 minutes TheRock.show is going live again! Today (9th of April) is just for VIP's so let me give you some sneaky previews. If you want to have a look yourself; here is the website: ...
- 29th January 2021 - LIVE REPORT Tucson Show 2021 - Live Report (Virtual Show)Tucson is very different this year, with Covid preventing International travel and severely restricting what people can do there are only a few dealers actually trying to set up a real online ...
- 27th October 2020 - LIVE REPORT The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Sea LifeWe are in Kimmeridge, Dorset looking at this museum dedicated to Jurassic sea life fossils from the Jurassic Coast of England.
The building
They have an impressive AR app to show the creatures ...
- 4th October 2020 - LIVE REPORT The Horniman Museum
On a rainy Sunday here in South London I'm taking the chance to visit a small museum with a very varied collection. I'll warn you in advance there's not much mineralogical, but they do have a ...
- 22nd August 2020 - LIVE REPORT Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium 2020
The Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium is one of the most important annual events for mineral collectors. This year is a little different to usual (to say the least!) and this year the symposium ...
- 30th January 2020 - LIVE REPORT Tucson Shows 2020And I am back in Tucson for the shows again, it's that time already. I'm here at the La Fuente building at 1735 North Oracle where mindat will be based for the next two weeks.
Those who ...
- 9th November 2019 - LIVE REPORT 40th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium
We’re live this weekend at the 40th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium. This year promises to have many more shenanigans than usual, just for anniversary’s sake!
We’re at the Friends of ...
- 24th October 2019 - LIVE REPORT Munich Mineral Show 2019And for the fifteenth year in a row I'm here at the Munich Show!
As usual Crystal Classics have the largest area. This is just half of it.
Ok, it's hard to report when everyone is trying to ...
- 23rd October 2019
- 19th October 2019
- 19th October 2019 - LIVE REPORT The 46th Annual Friends of Mineralogy Pacific ...I’m live this weekend at the Friends of Mineralogy Pacific Northwest Mineral Symposium. This is another wonderful annual symposium - there’s been some debate over which year it actually is but ...
- 12th October 2019 - LIVE REPORT Bakewell Mineral Show 2019
I'm currently on the way up the hill to the Bakewell Show, first time I've visited in a few years.
Arrived at Lady Manners School
Crystal Classics in the first hall. ...
- 22nd September 2019 - LIVE REPORT Geological Society of America Annual Meeting 2019
I'm here in Phoenix for the GSA Annual Meeting. Hundreds of presentations over four days and many other events and exhibition booths.
There are 21 talks running concurrently so I have chosen to ...
- 14th September 2019 - LIVE REPORT Denver Mineral Shows 2019
I'm back in Denver for a quick weekend visit to the mineral shows as a minor detour on a longer work trip. Today is already the last day of two shows so I'll try to show what's going on.
Fabulous ...
- 23rd August 2019 - LIVE REPORT Dallas Mineral Collector Symposium 2019
I'm in Dallas for the Mineral Collector Symposium and the Rock Currier collection auction. First stop is the evening event at the Perot Museum.
Stibnite
Stibnite!
The event is very ...
- 31st July 2019 - LIVE REPORT Visit to the Natural History Museum of LA County
I'm in LA for business and with time spare to visit the Natural History Museum.
I'm with Jim.Spann and we are about to enter the Gem and Mineral gallery
Amazonite from the Ten Percenter mine, ...
- 4th July 2019 - LIVE REPORT Crystal days - Luban Show Poland 2019I'm back in Poland for the annual Crystal Days festival in the picturesque town of Luban.
Town officials announcing the show open.
A young mineral show fan
Let's look around.
Minerals ...
- 3rd July 2019 - LIVE REPORT Jáchymov - a quick visit
This isn't quite a live report as I'm now in Poland, internet in the Czech Republic was too poor to be able to do the live report 'live'. But the visit was too important not to document, so here's ...
- 12th May 2019 - LIVE REPORT Oxford Mineral Show, May 2019
Hello all! I'm back in Oxford, UK for the mineral show and I'll be live reporting as usual.
Two Chevkinite-Ce specimens from Pit 27, Ilmen Mts, Russia. Nicholas Schäffer specimens
Richard ...
- 15th March 2019 - LIVE REPORT 44th Nautilus Show - Ghent
In a couple of days it is that time of the year again... The show report of the Nautilus Show in Ghent, Belgium.
Since i’m one of the co-organisers, I have to abuse my MinDat power to provide a ...
- 7th March 2019 - LIVE REPORT Bologna Mineral Show 2019
I'm happy to be in Italy today here for the first time at the Bologna Mineral Show. Today is set up day, but I hope to be able to find things to report on.
Right now dealers are slowly starting ...
- 3rd March 2019 - LIVE REPORT PDAC Toronto 2019
Today Ida is at the PDAC mining conference and exhibition in Toronto, the biggest event of the year for the mining industry. Ida will be working with me (back in the UK) to live report this event, ...
- 6th February 2019 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2019It's time once again for the annual Tucson Shows report, this year sponsored by Tucson's New Mineral Show.
The show has expanded this year with dealers in buildings and tents. Let's go check out ...
- 25th December 2018 25 Years of MindatTwenty five years ago today, on Christmas Day 1993, there was nothing good on television.
So I went upstairs to my room and started writing mindat.
I've already mentioned the origins of ...
- 17th November 2018 - LIVE REPORT The Sussex Mineral & Fossil Show 2018
Back again at Haywards Heath in the UK for the Sussex Mineral and Fossil Show. My phone decided on its own that the outside is far too grey and decided to make the photo look far more fabulous. ...
- 10th November 2018 - LIVE REPORT The Mineral Show Hong Kong 2018I'm here today in Hong Kong for The Mineral Show, a new event. The show is covering all costs so no mindat donated money goes towards attending this event.
I was also here giving a private ...
- 10th November 2018 - LIVE REPORT The 39th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium
I’m live this weekend at the 39th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium!
Today was the secret (though it’s becoming less and less of a secret) field trip to the Blanchard Mine courtesy of ...
- 25th October 2018 - LIVE REPORT Munich Mineral Show 2018And it's that time of the year again, the Munich Mineral Show. It opens tomorrow but I'm here today to send some preview images of what's new in the mineral world.
Russian Minerals have a new ...
- 15th September 2018 - LIVE REPORT BMS Symposium 2018 - Leicester
Each year the BMS organises a symposium for everybody who loves micromounts (and just minerals in general). We’re all staying in the same hotel and they are renting a whole floor just for ...
- 3rd September 2018 - LIVE REPORT Mindat Adventure UK
Today a small group of international visitors is joining me for a mineralogical tour of the UK. First stop, the Natural History Museum. We start in the Earth Science galleries.
Flashlights at ...
- 3rd August 2018 - LIVE REPORT Minerals of the Metallic Ore Deposits of the ...
I'm live this weekend at the Minerals of the Metallic Ore Deposits of the American Southwest Symposium, held at the Colorado School of Mines and sponsored by the Friends of Mineralogy Colorado ...
- 13th July 2018 - LIVE REPORT Crystal Days - Luban, Poland We are back in Poland for the Crystal Days mineral show and displays. Rapidly evolving into Poland's answer to the Ste Marie aux Mines show this combination of open mineral market, exhibitions and ...
- 6th July 2018 - LIVE REPORT The 65th Annual Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show
I'm here live this weekend at the 65th annual Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show hosted by the Four Corners Gem & Mineral Society in Durango, Colorado.
One of my first stops here is Eckhard ...
- 29th June 2018 - LIVE REPORT The 32nd Annual San Juan County Gem & Mineral Show
I'm live this weekend at the 32nd Annual San Juan County Gem & Mineral Show in Farmington, New Mexico.
(These are Chinese fluorites but we are wishing they were New Mexico specimens - we do have ...
- 13th May 2018 - LIVE REPORT Oxford Mineral Show May 2018
I'm back again at the Oxford Mineral Show here in the UK.
It's held four times a year however the March show was cancelled because of snow.
Ed Loye is wearing a great t-shirt
Super Welsh ...
- 5th May 2018 - LIVE REPORT Minerant 2018 - Antwerp, BelgiumAnd we’re off again. This time we’re in the big city of Antwerp and is organised by one of the largest mineral societies in Belgium. It is a two day event, but I’ll only be here today.
Let ...
- 25th March 2018 - LIVE REPORT Meerssen Swap Fair - Meerssen, The Netherlands
We’re here way too early and we were one of the first to arrive and now we’re just waiting for everybody to arrive. This is the only fair we attend in The Netherlands, but we’ve been here for ...
- 24th March 2018 - LIVE REPORT 1st Blaton Mineral Fair - Blaton, Belgium
For the first time the club from Bernissart is organising a mixed mineral fair. Swap and selling. There are a lot of collectors clearing out parts of their collections, so I’m curious what today ...
- 18th March 2018 - LIVE REPORT 43th Nautilus Fair - Ghent, Belgium
This is the third year in a row we’re going to report on the Nautilus Fair. We’re still setting up and several dealers still haven’t arrived. But I’ll be your guide for today.
And Erin... ...
- 16th March 2018 - LIVE REPORT The 49th Treasures of the Earth Show - ...
This weekend, I'm live at the 49th Annual Treasures of the Earth Show hosted by the Albuquerque Gem & Mineral Club. This year's theme is Pseudomorphs, which I am very excited about.
Can't go ...
- 4th March 2018 - LIVE REPORT Hannut Mineral Fair 2018 - Hannut, BelgiumAnd we’re back again. This time in Hannut. It is my first time here and to be honest, I’m impressed. There are a lot of dealer I have rarely seen on other fairs and a lot of quality pieces. ...
- 18th February 2018 - LIVE REPORT 4th Nautilus-Gent Swap Fair - Deurle, BelgiumAnd we’re off again. This time we’re on a swap fair organised by your humble narrator. It is one of smaller and newer in the region, but it is definetly growing
It starts in half an hour and ...
- 31st January 2018 Tucson 2018 - Index of ReportsHere's where we will be and what we will be doing each day of the Tucson Show 2018. Unless you're reading this after the show, in which case it's where we were each day.
Wednesday, January ...
- 29th January 2018 Tucson 2018 - A Preview!THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE: TUCSON!
Here's a very brief summary of what we'll be doing, where you can meet us (tentatively), and how you can help support mindat.org during the most important mineral ...
- 1st January 2018 Mindat 2018 Winter Auction
Welcome to the Mindat 2018 Winter Auction!
All auction proceeds go to the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy and directly support mindat.org.
Thank you to all of the generous donors who ...
- 3rd December 2017 - LIVE REPORT 30th Lithos Mineral Fair - Harelbeke
As promised last week... We’re back and this time we’re in Harelbeke in the northern part of Belgium. This fair is quite large (for Belgium) and is very interesting due to the large ammount of ...
- 25th November 2017 - LIVE REPORT NaMineral 2017 - Namur, BelgiumAnd we’re off again, this time in Namur! It is still early and everybody is still setting up.
A smashing new find for Belgium. Galena from Lompret - Francis Van Troyen
There is a tombola ...
- 18th November 2017 - LIVE REPORT Hayward’s Heath Mineral Show 2017Tom and I will be reporting today from the Hayward’s Heath Show - here is the crowd waiting to come in.
Chris Mavris!
Chris has some pyrites from Elba.
And also some mimetite and ...
- 8th November 2017 - LIVE REPORT 38th Annual New Mexico Mineral SymposiumIt's time for the 38th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium held at The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico.
I've arrived a day early to spend some time in the New ...
- 4th November 2017 - LIVE REPORT 4M Swap Fair - 2017 Live Report
Each year on the first weekend of November there is the biggest swap fair of the BeNeLux (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg) in Montigny-le-Tilleul. There are about 170 meters of tables, all ...
- 4th November 2017 - LIVE REPORT Live Report - Gem-A Conference LondonToday I’m at the Gem-A conference in London, and I’d like to thank Gem-A and specifically Alan Hart for making this possible.
I know Tom is doing a rival live report from Belgium today so ...
- 26th October 2017 - LIVE REPORT Munich Show 2017 Live Report - Sponsored by ...
There is plenty of choice these days on where to buy a new mineral specimen for your collection – dealers websites, regular shows/fairs and of course on line auction sites. Catawiki falls into ...
- 13th October 2017 STOLEN - from the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral MuseumBURGLARY AT FALLBROOK GEM & MINERAL MUSEUM - Iconic San Diego Tourmaline Specimens Stolen in Early Hours of September 10,
2017
Some of the stolen pieces as they were displayed (not all specimens ...
- 9th September 2017 - LIVE REPORT Denver Mineral Shows 2017And so it begins again! Welcome to the Denver Shows 2017.
We now have a team, a real actual team, doing live reports in Denver between now and the 17th. So keep watching this report to see the ...
- 26th August 2017 - LIVE REPORT Kola! 2017 part 2Finally the weather has changed and we can go up the mountain onto the Khibiny massif. Just waiting for the cable car to open.
Going up...
Town of Kirovsk where we stay.
At the ...
- 23rd August 2017 - LIVE REPORT Kola! 2017Finally we're off on a Sukhoi Superjet from Moscow to Murmansk.
We are flying over the Kola Peninsula!
Landed at Murmansk! And yes, as you probably guessed the flight didn't take three minutes ...
- 22nd August 2017 - LIVE REPORT Moscow mindat tour
Our group has a day in Moscow before we leave tomorrow for Kola. First stop, Moscow State University. Let's take the metro.
The 'new' building of MSU built in 1953
Famous Russian geologist ...
- 18th August 2017 - LIVE REPORT Saint Petersburg mindat tourWe are here in St Petersburg with a pre-tour group before our Kola adventure. First we are at the Mining Institute.
Inside the institute's museum on a private tour.
Displays of fantastic ...
- 15th August 2017 DENVER SHOW 2017 - Everything you need to know!
MINDAT.ORG IS COMING TO DENVER THIS SEPTEMBER!
We're excited to see old friends and make new ones - we all know one of the best parts of mineral shows is being in a crowd of like-minded ...
- 21st July 2017 - LIVE REPORT Gold and Silver Deposits in Colorado Symposium ...Gold and Silver Deposits of Colorado Symposium - hosted in Golden, Colorado by the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, Friends of the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, the Denver Region ...
- 14th July 2017 - LIVE REPORT Crystal Days 20 - Lwowek Slaski 2017I'm delighted to be back in Poland for the 20th Crystal Days festival.
As usual the town is filled with wooden tables where local and foreign dealers sell minerals, carvings and much more.
Lots ...
- 6th July 2017 Lwówek Home of Culture - Mindat Meeting 15th ...The beautiful town of Lwówek Śląski
Mindat.org are delighted to be returning once again to the Crystal Days festival at Lwówek Śląski, Poland, where this year to celebrate the 20th ...
- 1st July 2017 Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines 2017At the Nautilus Mineral Fair in March I asked Jolyon if he wanted me to set everything up for the MinDat-visit of the Mineral & Gem fair in Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines. We both thought that was a terrific ...
- 4th June 2017 - LIVE REPORT TIMA Tokyo Mineral Show 2017
And here I am back in Tokyo for the first time since 2006 for the TIMA show!
Show has just opened and the queue is slowly moving in.
With Sami Makki from Matrix India.
It's a bit busy ...
- 21st April 2017 - LIVE REPORT The 44th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium
I am going to live report from the symposium over the next 4 days.
Ray McDougall starting the ball rolling with the Bay of Fundy
Super presentation, now taking questions.
The 4th floor is ...
- 19th March 2017 - LIVE REPORT Nautilus Mineral and Fossil Show, Ghent, Belgium
For the second year running I'm at the Nautillus Mineral and Fossil Show, in Ghent, Belgium.
Tom Costes at his booth.
does this mean I'm meant to be doing something secial at 2pm? Maybe I'll ...
- 12th March 2017 - LIVE REPORT Oxford Mineral Show - Live ReportA far cry from the scale of Tucson is the Oxford Mineral Show. The show is under new management now after the passing of Paul Lowe last year who founded it.
Thompson minerals
Greenlaws ...
- 14th February 2017 - LIVE REPORT Visit to Meteor Crater
Now Tucson is over Katya,Roman and I are visiting some sites of geological interest in Northern Arizona, Starting with Meteor Crater.
We start in the visitor centre
The Holsinger Meteorite ...
- 14th February 2017 - LIVE REPORT Visit to Petrified Forest National Park
Next stop on our geotour of northern Arizona is the Petrified Forest National Park.
Triassic age rocks with varying levels of iron oxidisation create the 'painted desert' effect
View from ...
- 31st January 2017 - LIVE REPORT Tucson Show 2017 - Live ReportAnd it's that time of the year again! A new year and a brand new show at Tucson. Quick plug for the new minfind mobile app being launched today. Go to AppStore or Google Play and search for minfind ...
- 5th November 2016 - LIVE REPORT Mindat.org 4th International Conference - MyanmarA little late to start with the live report due to time an internet constraints but 45 adventurous mineral people are about to leave Mandalay this morning to travel to Mogok for the 4th International ...
- 28th October 2016 - LIVE REPORT Munich 2016 - Live ReportAnd for the twelfth year in a row I'm at Munich for the annual mineral show. Let's start the live report!Big layout change this year with the international mineral pavilion moved to the center of A6 ...
- 27th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT GSA 2016 - Day 3This morning is an important session about the mineralogical evidence for the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere.Daniel Hunmer - quantifying change of mineral chemistry over time.Shauna ...
- 26th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT GSA 2016 - Live report day 2Here I am day 2, if you want a place to sit down and plug in your laptop to work you have to get here early.Presentations on the geology of dwarf planet Ceres. Isn't it amazing we live in an age when ...
- 25th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT GSA 2016 - Live Report day 1I'm back in Denver for the Geological Society of America's major annual conference. I'll be reporting on the mineralogically-related presentations here. Right now I'm waiting for the first ...
- 18th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - "main show" - day 3Today I will try and catch up with things I missed in previous reports. Firstly I already showed the new Indonesian Grape Agate but The Uncarved Block have a huge selection direct from the mine. One ...
- 17th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - "main show" day 2Today I'll mostly be concentrating on the displays but I'll also cover any of the interesting dealer finds i missed yesterday. We're giving out old mindat magazine issues here next to Minerakogical ...
- 16th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - Denver Gem & Mineral ShowThe 'main' show has started and I'll be doing two reports, one with the dealers and a separate report on the amazing displays.Pat McMahan is selling his new agate book based on agates in his ...
- 15th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - School of Mines MuseumEvery year the museum has an open night/party.Busy eventMinerals of the Pikes Peak Batholith"The Legend"FluoriteCabinets for each countyNew acquisitionsBryan Lees from Collector's Edge and Lois from ...
- 14th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - Fine Mineral ShowAt the fine mineral show - for those who don't like coarse minerals.Ludmila and Anna from mineralogical almanacThe latest issue.Barnett Fine Minerals have this blue wulfenite from TsumebSkeletal ...
- 13th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - Coliseum ShowI'm now at the Coliseum show, starting with the tents outside.Big Quartz - oceanic linkways'Canyonlands' malachiteMostly wholesale material at the tentsJars of opal. Opalos RomeroHave you got any ...
- 11th September 2016 - LIVE REPORT Denver 2016 - Ramada ShowI'm back in Denver for the first time since 2011 so it's time for a live report from the mineral shows. Starting at the Ramada Plaza. This is the last year this show will be at this venue - all ...
- 20th July 2016 - LIVE REPORT Visit to the Natural History Museum, LondonI'm up today for a meeting later here at the museum, it's somewhere I have visited hundreds of times but I have never done a live report from here. So I will guide you round and show some highlights ...
- 1st July 2016 Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines 2016 - Day 1SMAM 2016 - DAY ONE
2015 was our first visit to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (further mostly referred to as SMAM) and we were impressed. So much so that we wanted to see the fair from the beginning... ...
- 1st July 2016 Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines 2016 - Day 2SMAM 2016 - DAY TWO
Day two should be less a rush than the day before. We want to visit all the outside dealers and then the big halls. we're leaving the Piscine (swimming pool), le Theatre and ...
- 23rd June 2016 - LIVE REPORT Hong Kong mineral show - live reportAnd here we are in Hong Kong walking to the mineral show which opens today.Getting our passes sorted nowFloor planExhibitor listSorry about slow updates - still waiting for passes!We just got in and ...
- 13th May 2016 - LIVE REPORT Santa Ana - West Coast Gem & Mineral ShowIt's my last day in Los Angeles today so time for a quick visit to the Santa Ana showIn the wholesale room, here is Jewel TunnelKyanite coated with something!... And coated coral!Alvaro Lucio ...
- 9th April 2016 - LIVE REPORT Sinkankas Symposium 2016 - Roger Merk tribute - ...Today I'm in San Diego st a special Symposium to honour the life of Roger Merk, who was involved in the organization of the Sinkankas symposium for many years.Reprint of article from The Pegmatite, ...
- 20th March 2016 - LIVE REPORT The Nautilus Show, Ghent, Belgium - Live ReportYou might be mistaken by reading our show reports that we are only interested in Tucson, Munich and the other big shows. This is certainly not true. The majority of the world's mineral shows are ...
- 14th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live reports Saturday evening eventSo busy today - so no report. Preparing for the mindat.org silent auction.Most people are waiting for dinner but there are still bidders wandering around.Geo-Literary society also have their silent ...
- 14th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live report final day TGMS showThis is the final day of the main show and I'll be running around taking photos now after the stress yesterday of preparing forvour auction. We raised well over $5000, I will post a full report on ...
- 12th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live report TGMS day 2Day 2 of the show and I'm stuck at the mindat booth for now which limits my reporting somewhat. We are giving away duplicate copies of American Mineralogist from our archives.Fine Art Minerals gave ...
- 11th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live report TGMS show day 1It's the first day of the main show and people are flooding in.Demonstrating minIDCome up to the mindat booth on the upper level and see minerals in 3D with our 50" 3D display and glasses!The show ...
- 10th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Cameras and mineral photography dayWe recently ran a successful campaign to raise funds for new lenses for our new Canon 5DSr digital camera. Today I have a chance to use this in anger with an opportunity to photograph specimens from ...
- 9th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live reports day 4And once again I find myself at HTCC. I just came back from a brief visit to Westward Look where I spoke briefly on behalf of mindat.org to the board of the Mineralogical Record. And in 20 minutes we ...
- 8th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live report day 3Back at the HTCC for some meetings and to prepare for tonight's mindat meeting (7pm at HTCC ballroom all welcome). I will catch up with the dealers I missed here tooRocks and Minerals magazineBlake ...
- 6th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live Report from U of A eventBrief break and now time for the launch of the exhibits at thr university of arizona museum Racquel from Harvard, Gail and Jim Spann. The harvard museum has loaned a number of great specimens for a ...
- 6th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live reports day 3Today I'm back at the Hotel Tucson City Center to carry on to see the people and rocks that I missed on the first day. For those of you suffering from sticker shock after yesterday's report today may ...
- 5th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - Live reports day 2Today is the first day of the Westward Look mineral show. Brian Kosnar and his minerals. Ps I promise my descriptions will become more interesting as I wake up properly.Two rocks that Brian has. No, ...
- 4th February 2016 - LIVE REPORT Tucson 2016 - first live reportWelcome to the first of my Tucson live show reports. I'll be photographing and posting as I walk around the shows. If you're not in tow sit back and keep this page loaded to see new photos as they ...
- 29th December 2015 - LIVE REPORT Mindat presentation in HawaiiI've been invited to give a presentation to the Rock and Mineral Society of Hawaii. This is a live report and I'll add some more photos through the evening to test this new live report system. Bryan ...
- 23rd November 2015 Mindat/SMLS Mineral Weekend 2015Following on from a successful three-day event last year, we repeated exactly the same combination this year, a tour to the Natural History Museum on the Friday afternoon prior to the Sussex Mineral ...
- 29th October 2015 Munich Show 2015 - PreviewThe 2015 Munich Show officially opens tomorrow and I was in today to get a sneak preview of what's on offer. I did some quick photos of things that interested me.
Spirifer Minerals had some ...
- 29th September 2015 Denver Gem and Mineral Show, September 18-20Here are a few photos from the Denver Gem and Mineral Show, held September 18-20, 2015 at the Denver Mart (formerly Denver Merchandise Mart). I attended on the second and third days, noting what ...
- 17th September 2015 Three New Minerals - for three Mindat.org ...I am very happy to announce that three of our mindat.org managers today received the honour of having a new mineral species named for them.
In alphabetical order we have:
Named for Andrew G. ...
- 1st July 2015 The Ste Marie-aux-Mines Mineral Show 2015For only my second time (the first visit was in 2009) I went to the Ste Marie-aux-Mines mineral show this year. This is the first of two major reports on the show.
Ste Marie-aux-Mines is almost ...
- 18th May 2015 360 degree Spin Mineral Photography
One of the new features introduced on mindat.org this year has been the ability to upload 360 degree spin animation files to show a mineral specimen from all angles. If you haven't seen them yet ...
- 13th May 2015 The Oxford Mineral Show May 2015
It's been some time since I last visited the Oxford Mineral Show, which is now held five times a year close to Oxford (that's Oxford, England, for those who weren't sure), about 1hr 30 drive from ...
- 1st May 2015 Thank you! Tucson Mindat Auction donorsThank you
At the TGMS Show in Tucson earlier this year we held a fundraiser auction for mindat.org that raised over $4000 for our mindat.org campaign funds and to help with out Tucson 2015 ...
- 6th April 2015 Mindat.org in 3DMindat in 3D
For many years people have been taking stereoscopic photos of minerals - that is two photos which when viewed by crossing your eyes (or relaxing your eyes, depending on the method) ...
- 15th March 2015 Two new magazines to downloadTwo new magazine issues - free downloads
At Tucson two new magazines were made available - the latest issue of Spirifer Minerals' newspaper called "Minerals" and the latest issue of the Mindat.org ...
- 27th February 2015 Tucson 2015 - A quick photo tourTucson 2015
The Tucson Show has been over for nearly two weeks - and this is the first chance I've had to put together a report. It's going to be a very quick photo report with few comments. Enjoy ...
- 11th January 2015 The new mindat.org!All Change!
I have been working full-time on mindat.org since late 2013 (thanks to the generous donations for many of you), for the last six months I have dedicated my time to building a new ...
- 25th December 2014 What's new on our 21st anniversary?On Christmas Day 1993, I went up to my room bored with what was on TV and decided to start writing a mineral database.
Now, 21 years later we have come quite some way...
As you know, for the ...
- 24th December 2014 3rd International Competition of Mineral ...Mindat.org is proud to support the 3rd International Competition of Mineral Photography.
Entries may be made in any of three categories
1. Microminerals of USA or Greece
2. Minerals of ...
- 10th December 2014 STOLEN - Major specimens stolen from the Desmond ...On the evening of Sunday 7th December 2014 sixty world-class specimens were stolen from the home of Desmond Sacco, well-known mineral collector in South Africa.
Here is a photo taken in 2007 ...
- 22nd November 2014 Mindat - SMLS - NHM Events November 2014Mindat/SMLS/NHM Events November 2014
In November 2014 Mindat.org, in cooperation with the Natural History Museum, organized two days of events to coincide with the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary ...
- 29th October 2014 The Munich Mineral Show 2014Munich Mineral Show 2014
And for the tenth year in a row I made the pilgrimage to Munich to visit the world's largest single-venue mineral and gem show.
Looking over one of the four ...
- 27th October 2014 Roman's first show report - Munich 2014Roman's first show report - Munich 2014
Roman has visited his very first mineral show and wanted to share some of his experiences
The first person I met in the show was Dona Leicht of ...
- 3rd September 2014 Mindat.org Show Special - FREE DOWNLOADMindat.org Show Special - Denver 2014 Issue
The latest issue of our show special magazine is now available to download.
Cover image - "Saturn's Rings, inclusions in agate" - Copyright ...
- 17th July 2014 Mindat.org UK Mini-Symposium - November 2014Mindat.org UK Mini Symposium - November 2014
** DETAILS CONFIRMED - SEE BELOW **
Mindat.org are proud to announce that in cooperation with the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society and the ...
- 4th July 2014 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 8Minerals Newspaper - Issue 8
The eighth issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praszkier is published twice a year, and given out free ...
- 19th May 2014 2nd Changsha Mineral and Gem Show, China 20142nd Changsha Mineral and Gem Show, China 2014
This year I was unable to travel to Changsha for the show, so Peter Megaw kindly volunteered to send photos from the event. Here are his photos and ...
- 15th April 2014 The NY-NJ Mineral and Gem Show 2014The NY/NJ Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show 2014
I have just returned from the third NY/NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show, held in Edison, New Jersey. With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands ...
- 26th March 2014 The NY-NJ Mineral and Gem Show - Coming SoonComing soon: The NY/NJ Gem and Mineral Show 2014
Mindat.org will be visiting 3rd NY/NJ Gem and Mineral show to be held in Edison, NJ.
The show will be held between April 11 and April 13 at the ...
- 26th February 2014 Tucson 2014 - The TGMS showTucson 2014 - The TGMS show
It's been just over a week since the TGMS show finished and we're finally back in the UK - so a very quick rundown of what we saw at the show with a few ...
- 15th February 2014 Tucson 2014 - 3rd UpdateTucson 2014 - Third Update
Tucson remains as busy as always, and with so much going on and so little time to report it, I've decided to put everything left in the run-up to the TGMS show in one ...
- 8th February 2014 Tucson 2014 - "The Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show"Tucson 2014 - "The Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show"
No, the Pueblo Show isn't just about big quartz spheres! For the last few years the Fine Mineral pavilion has been hosting real mineral dealers with ...
- 3rd February 2014 Tucson 2014 - "Inn Suites Show"Tucson 2014 - Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show ("Inn Suites Show")
Another year, and here we are, back in Tucson. And our first stop is the show that everyone still refers to as the "Inn Suites" ...
- 1st February 2014 Mindat Tucson Show Special 2014Mindat.org Tucson Show Special Magazine
We are very proud to announce the first Mindat.org Show Special magazine, for Tucson 2014, is now available for free download.
It is available for ...
- 6th December 2013 NEW! Mindat Show Special magazine to be launchedMindat Show Special magazine to be launched at Tucson 2014
Mindat.org are proud to announce that we will be launching a FREE magazine at Tucson in Feb 2014 to be given away at major gem and ...
- 30th October 2013 The Munich Mineral Show 2013The Munich Mineral Show (Mineralientage München) 2013
Show Entrance
The Munich Mineral Show is the largest single-venue mineral and gem show in the world. Spread across four huge halls in the ...
- 20th October 2013 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 7Minerals Newspaper - Issue 7
The seventh issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praszkier is published twice a year, and given out free ...
- 16th October 2013 The MIM Museum opening, LebanonThe MIM Museum - official opening, 12th October 2013
by Peter Lyckberg
The MIM Museum, newly opened in Beirut, Lebanon
The Museum is situated at the Saint-Josephs University Entrance on ...
- 2nd September 2013 3rd Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium3rd Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium, August 2013
Katya and I were delighted to be invited to attend the 3rd Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium this August, even more so as I was asked to give ...
- 17th July 2013 Mindat Crystal Days Meeting Lwówek Śląski 2013Mindat Crystal Days Meeting Lwówek Śląski 2013
Following on from our most successful 1st International Mindat.org Conference in Lwówek Śląski in 2011, we decided it was time to return to the ...
- 20th June 2013 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 6Minerals Newspaper - Issue 6
The sixth issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praszkier is published twice a year, and given out free of ...
- 25th May 2013 1st Changsha Mineral and Gem Show, China 2013The First CGMS (Changsha Mineral and Gem Show), China 2013
The long-awaited First Changsha Mineral and Gem Show has now been and gone - and Katya and I were there (as paid guests of the show ...
- 5th May 2013 Changsha Show - next weekComing soon... the Changsha Mineral and Gem Show
Billed to be the biggest mineral event ever in Asia, the organizers of the Changsha show have been working hard now for a very long time to build ...
- 14th April 2013 NY-NJ Gem and Mineral Show 2013NY/NJ Gem and Mineral Show 2013
Katya and I were happy to be invited to the 2nd NY/NJ Gem and Mineral show held in Edison, NJ. Today was the 2nd day, tomorrow the show continues so hopefully we ...
- 31st March 2013 Coming Soon: NY-NJ Show and beyondThe NY/NJ Show and Mindat.org's Tour of the North East US
(or at least part of it)
This coming month, Katya and I will be embarking on our first major trip to the Eastern US.
I must thank ...
- 20th March 2013 Tucson 2013 - The TGMS ShowTucson 2013 - The TGMS Show
Finally, a little overdue but better late than never, the TGMS photo report from last month's Tucson Show.
The show prepares to open the doors to the public.
And ...
- 23rd February 2013 Tucson 2013 - Westward Look ShowTucson 2013 - The Westward Look Show
Now that I'm back in the UK I can finish my show reports for the Tucson Shows. Firstly, we have the Westward Look show.
As I know you're far more interested ...
- 10th February 2013 Tucson 2013 - Crystalline Treasures of China ...Crysatlline Treasures - The Mineral Heritage of China - Launch Party
Every year a new temporary exhibition of minerals unveiled at the University of Arizona Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium ...
- 9th February 2013 Tucson 2013 - "Inn Suites" ShowThe Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show, held at the Hotel Tucson City Center is generally known to most collectors as the 'Inn Suites' show after the original name of the hotel.
The hotel was invaded ...
- 8th February 2013 Tucson 2013 - The Pueblo Gem and Mineral ShowAfter arriving in Tucson yesterday, our first stop was the Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show at the Riverpark Inn hotel, not far from the Convention Center downtown.
One tent at the Pueblo Show. More ...
- 24th January 2013 Tucson 2013 - Don't miss these events
The Tucson Shows are just about to start - so now is a great time to put some dates in your diaries for some very important events that are happening during showtime.
Wednesday 6th February ...
- 20th November 2012 Mindat.org Conference 2012 - MoroccoThe Second International Mindat.org Conference - Morocco, November 2012
After the great success of our First International Conference (see here, here and here) we decided on a more ambitious ...
- 29th October 2012 The Munich Mineral Show 2012I returned to the Munich Show for the seventh straight year, although just a two day flying visit this time as we have a lot to prepare for Morocco.
The Munich Show
The main theme this year is ...
- 18th October 2012 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 5Minerals Newspaper - Issue 5
The fifth issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praszkier is published twice a year, and given out free of ...
- 26th July 2012 The Weardale Giant - An exceptional Fluorite ...An exceptional British fluorite specimen - UPDATED.
A world-class specimen of fluorite was unearthed last week from the Rogerley mine in County Durham, Northern England.
LATEST NEWS It was not ...
- 17th July 2012 Ste Marie Aux Mines 2012As many of you know, the Ste Marie Aux Mines mineral show has been a popular mineral show in France for a number of years. It started in 1962 as Mine Day and in 1966 became Stones. Then, in 1982, ...
- 12th June 2012 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 4Minerals Newspaper - Issue 4
The fourth issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praskier is published twice a year, and given out free of ...
- 9th February 2012 Tucson 2012 - ReportTucson 2012 - Report
I'm back in Tucson again for another year, and finally have time to write a report.
John White was sitting outside the Inn Suites, it was so sunny that only tourmaline ...
- 20th December 2011 Defending the freedom to collect minerals.DEFENDING THE FREEDOM TO COLLECT MINERALS
By Dr Stephen Moreton
December 2011
“History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” Dwight D. Esienhower, inaugural ...
- 19th November 2011 SMLS - Haywards Heath Mineral Show 2011Haywards Heath Mineral Show 2011
A quick photo report of last weekend's mineral show at Haywards Heath organized by the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society (SMLS)
The main hall at the ...
- 3rd November 2011 The Munich Mineral Show 2011Munich Mineral Show 2011
For the sixth year running, mindat.org visits the Munich Mineral Show in Germany. The Munich Mineral show is the biggest single-venue mineral and gem show in the world. ...
- 17th October 2011 The 48th annual Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree, 2011Well okay, it's not exactly breaking news anymore, but with almost 10 months until the next one, I figure it's still worth talking about why you should plan to go to the Bancroft Gemboree. ...
- 17th October 2011 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 3Minerals Newspaper - Issue 3
The third issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praskier and Scott Werschky is published twice a year, and ...
- 2nd October 2011 Denver Symposium and Field TripDenver Symposium and Field Trip
Last month I was fortunate enough to be invited to talk at a symposium in Denver about Russian Mineralogy. Here is a quick photo-report from the symposium and the ...
- 16th August 2011 Pocket Mindat Catalogue - Now AvailablePocket Mindat Catalogue now available for smartphones
If you have been using the Mindat.org Catalogue system for your collection (and if not then click on 'My Home Page' and then 'My catalogue') ...
- 11th August 2011 New Book - Agates from Ploczki Gorne
The new English edition of Spirifer's book on agates from Ploczki Gorne, Poland, is an excellent reference to this classic agate locality in Poland.
The Ploczki Gorne agate fields are famous ...
- 25th July 2011 Mindat Conference 2011 - Conference and WorkshopsMindat Conference 2011 - Conference and Workshops
The final four days of the Mindat Conference (Thursday to Sunday) were the conference sessions and workshops - and Friday to Sunday was also the ...
- 21st July 2011 Mindat Conference 2011 - Field TripsMindat Conference 2011 - The Field Trips
Photos for this report were provided by Ida Chau, Miranda Yu, Slawomir Szlinke, Reiner Bode, Roger Lang as well as myself - Thank you all! As there are so ...
- 10th July 2011 Mindat Conference - Registration DayMindat Conference 2011 - Registration Day
The Mindat Conference in Lwowek Slaski, Poland begins! Sunday 10th July and registration for the conference starts.
Lwowek Slaski,
Italians Chris ...
- 11th June 2011 Tokyo Show Report 2011 (TIMA SHOW)Tokyo gem and mineral show, June 2011
Reported by Yuko Tanaka; photos by Yuko Tanaka
Tokyo show 2011
Considering the recent huge magnitude 9 earthquake in Japan, followed by catastrophic ...
- 4th June 2011 Minerals Newspaper - Issue 2Minerals Newspaper - Issue 2
The second issue of MINERALS, the newspaper for collectors, is now available. This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praskier and Scott Werschky is published twice a year, ...
- 16th May 2011 Exciting News from Poland!Exciting news from Poland!
I've just come back from a quick weekend trip to Poland to help organize our field trips and conference in July (10th - 17th).
In case you haven't heard - we're ...
- 1st May 2011 Visit to Russia - Part 2 - St PetersburgVisit to Russia - Part 2 - St Petersburg
After my visit to Moscow - read here - we took the fast train to St Petersburg to visit some more important mineral collections and shows. And of course, ...
- 27th April 2011 Visit to Russia - Part 1 - MoscowVisit to Russia - Part 1 - Moscow
I've been to Moscow twice before, but I was delighted to be invited back this year - primarily to attend two different mineral shows, but also to visit more ...
- 13th March 2011 Review: Mineral Perspectives - Thumbnails (DVD)Mineral Perspectives - Thumbnails (DVD)
I thought I would give a quick review of the latest DVD released by Blue Cap Productions, who have been producing an excellent series of DVD titles for ...
- 7th March 2011 Oxford Mineral Show - March 2011Oxford Mineral Show 2011
I've just come back from the small but popular UK mineral show in Oxford. Here are a few photos from today.
Oxford Mineral Show
Mike Brooke from Broadstone ...
- 20th February 2011 Tucson 2011 - The TGMS ShowTucson 2011 - Part 3
And now the third and final part of my Tucson 2011 reporting - The TGMS show (and associated events). The TGMS show has been running now for fifty nine years, and is the ...
- 19th February 2011 Tucson 2011 - Inn Suites, etc.Tucson 2011 - Before the Main Show
After the start of the Westward Look Show, and before the start of the TGMS show, there is always time to visit some of the other important mineral shows in ...
- 6th February 2011 Tucson 2011 - Westward Look Mineral ShowTucson 2011 - The Westward Look Mineral Show
It's Tucson time again, and first off I visited the Westward Look Resort for the opening day of the Westward Look mineral show. Tucson is slowly ...
- 29th December 2010 NEW - Minerals Newspaper (free download)Minerals Newspaper - Issue 1
We are happy to announce the publication of a new mineral newspaper - MINERALS, Newspaper For Collectors! This newspaper edited by Tomasz Praskier and Scott Werschky ...
- 23rd December 2010 Exploration of the Hollowed GalenasI first saw the hollow Bulgarian galenas at the Springfield Mineral Show in 2009 and I was not initially suspicious. Shortly thereafter, I read the Mindat forum thread about these “reverse-skeletal ...
- 14th November 2010 2010 Sussex Mineral Show, Haywards HeathThe 27th Sussex Mineral Show, Haywards Heath, Sussex, England. November 13th 2010
Yesterday was the 27th annual Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society show, held ever November in Haywards Heath, ...
- 6th November 2010 Nature's Treasures 3 - London, 12th DecemberNature's Treasures 3
The third annual "Natures's Treasures" event is being held at the Flett Lecture Theatre, Natural History Museum, London, on Sunday, 12th December 2010 at 10.00 ...
- 3rd November 2010 Munich Mineral Show 2010Munich Mineral Show 2010
It's that time of the year ago, my sixth annual visit to the Munich Mineral Show.
The Munich Show
A growing problem at the Munich Show is the increasing number of ...
- 10th October 2010 Mindat.org - 10 years online todayMindat.org - 10 years online today
Today, 10th October 2010, is the 10th anniversary of the public launch of the mindat.org website. Although the mindat project dates back to late 1993, it was on ...
- 9th October 2010 Bakewell Mineral Show 2010Bakewell Mineral Show 2010
I've just returned from the Bakewell Show, one of the best mineral shows in the UK. Here are a bunch of photos!
Bakewell Show 2010
Geological ...
- 19th September 2010 Warsaw mineral show September 2010Warsaw Mineral Show, September 2010
This weekend I visited the Warsaw Mineral Show, a large show held here, in the Palace of Culture. The palace was built in the 1950s as a 'gift' from Stalin, and ...
- 14th September 2010 Lwówek Śląski Crystal Days - More PhotosBack in July I visited the Lwówek Śląski Crystal Days Festival in Poland.
I took a lot of photos, and Asia from Spirifer took a lot too, which she kindly sent me. I didn't have time to put ...
- 31st August 2010 Visit to DallasVisit to Dallas, August 2010
My latest trip has been to explore the mineral world in Dallas, Texas, at the request of Rob Lavinsky, who invited me for the opening of his new gallery. I took the ...
- 25th July 2010 Mineral Treasures of the World - Beijing 2010I was so excited to flying to Beijing on behalf of mindat.org to see the new mineral exhibition from Collector's Edge, in conjunction with the Geological Museum of China - “Mineral Treasures of the ...
- 16th July 2010 XIII Lwóweckie Lato Agatowe - UpdatedI'm in Poland in the town of Lwówek Śląski which is hosting the annual Lwóweckie Lato Agatowe exhibition, street fair and rock/mineral/agate/gem show. The format is very similar to Ste Marie, ...
- 8th June 2010 Stephen Hui Geological Museum, Hong KongThe Stephen Hui Geological Museum, Hong Kong
While visiting Hong Kong, I went to see a brand new Geological museum at the Hong Kong University (HKU), named in honour of the late Dr Stephen Sze Fun ...
- 23rd February 2010 Mindat 10 years Anniversary Celebration - Mineral ...2010 is the 10th anniversary of the launch of the mindat.org website. We're going to be doing a whole bunch of exciting things throughout this whole year in order to celebrate this and to continue ...
- 22nd February 2010 Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows 2010 - Part 3 - TGMSThe Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
The final event in the annual Tucson calendar is the TGMS (Tucson Gem and Mineral Society) show, also known slightly more simply as the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, ...
- 20th February 2010 Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows 2010 - Part 2Fine Minerals International Show
Continuing on with the mineral shows in Tucson, my next stop was the mineral gallery of Fine Minerals International.
First, a nicely-arranged display of African ...
- 9th February 2010 Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows 2010 - Part 1Tucson Mineral Show 2010
It's time again for the Tucson mineral and gem shows, and here is the first mindat report, looking at some of the Hotel shows. These shows take over local hotels with hotel ...
- 18th January 2010 Tokyo International Mineral Show, December 2009Tokyo International Mineral Show, December 2009
by Amir C. Akhavan
A view of parts of the main show room on the first floor
Stands in the main show room.During my holiday trip to Japan in ...
- 9th December 2009 Nature's Treasures II: Sunday 13th Dec, London UK"Nature's Treasures II: The Wonder of Minerals and Gems" Conference, Sunday 13th December 2009
Flett Lecture Theatre, Natural History Museum, London.
Following the success of last year's event ...
- 2nd December 2009 GEMS museum, MoscowThe GEMS Museum, Moscow
Earlier this year I visited several museums in Moscow, Russia. The first of these I'm reporting on for mindat.org is the "Samotsvety" or "GEMS" Museum (or музей ...
- 16th November 2009 Haywards Heath Show 2009Once again, it's time for my local show, the Haywards Heath show, probably the best UK mineral show. It's run every year by the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society, which I have been a member of for ...
- 5th November 2009 Munich Show 2009Once again it's time for the biggest mineral show in Europe, and the biggest single-venue mineral show worldwide, the Munich Mineralientage.
Munich Hall A6. There were three other halls of ...
- 13th October 2009 Bakewell Show 2009Once again it's time for the annual Bakewell Mineral show here in the UK, organized by the Peak Lapidary and Mineral Society.
The Main hall at the Bakewell Show
One of the two major UK mineral ...
- 29th September 2009 Jolyon's Travels - Part 3 - Devon and CornwallJolyon's Travels - Part 3 - Devon and Cornwall
Not content with simply driving all the way up to Scotland, across to the other side of Scotland, back again and back down to London, I thought it ...
- 29th September 2009 Denver 2009 Show ReportBy David Von Bargen.
The Denver show has been expanding like the Tucson shows in that it consists of a club (actually a group of clubs) gem and mineral show as well as dealers selling in other ...
- 28th September 2009 DVD Review - What's Hot in Tucson 2009
The third annual "What's Hot in Tucson" DVD is now available, published by Blue Cap Productions (who have the excellent good taste in using a pink tourmaline with a blue termination as their logo). ...
- 27th September 2009 Book Review - Agates II
Johann Zenz has released the eagerly-awaited follow-up to his previous 'Agates' book of 2005, which quickly sold out (as I am sure Agates II will as well). I picked up a copy of this ne book at the ...
- 16th September 2009 Jolyon's Travels - Part 2 - The Isle of EiggThe Isle of Eigg, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
After Rogerley, I was fortunate to be invited to join a small field trip organized jointly between National Museums of Scotland and the Fersman ...
- 15th September 2009 Jolyon's Travels - Part 1 - The Rogerley MineJolyon's Geological Travels in the UK - August 2009
August gave me the opportunity for a whirlwind tour of some interesting geological and mineralogical UK places.
The Rogerley Mine, County ...
- 7th September 2009 Springfield, Massachusetts August 2009 Show ...This is my Springfield Mineral Show show report! The show was huge and crowded.
Here is a view from above of the whole show that shows how huge it was:
View from above
Kristalle has a very nice ...
- 30th July 2009 The Hong Kong Mineral FairThis year Mindat will bring you all more Asia side mineral shows experiences sharing, hope you all enjoy it, let's starting from “ Hong Kong Mineral Fair 2009”.
The Hong Kong Mineral Fair was ...
- 5th July 2009 Ste Marie-aux-Mines Show (Euromin) 2009 This year, for the first time, I visited the Sainte Marie-aux-Mines mineral show in France, and as usual at shows I took plenty of video and photos for mindat, so here is my slightly-delayed show ...
- 2nd July 2009 Scottish Gemmological Association Conference 2009 ...A long overdue report of my little trip up to Scotland in May
A long slow drive up the M40 and M6 eventually brought me to Perth, Scotland for the inaugural conference of the Scottish Gemmological ...
- 29th June 2009 Ste Marie-aux-Mines Show (Euromin) 2009 - VideoI've just got back from the Ste Marie-aux-Mines mineral show in France (The Euromin show) and I thought I'd upload a video I took of me wandering around to give you a taste of what the show is like. ...
- 29th April 2009 Rochester Symposium 2009The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium 2009
Last Thursday (23rd April) I was fortunate enough to find myself again back in the US, this time as an invited speaker at the 36th Annual Rochester ...
- 28th February 2009 Tucson Show 2009 Review - Part 3 - TGMSTucson Show Report - Part 3 - the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
The final event in the Tucson show calendar is the TGMS (Tucson Gem and Mineral Society) Show, or more simply "The Main Show".
The ...
- 19th February 2009 Tucson Show 2009 Review - Part 2 (or Air Mindat ...Tucson 2009
Report by Jolyon Ralph
First, wrapping up some of the interesting things I saw at the Hotel Shows:
Russian Minerals in the Quality Inn show had slices of Clinochlore or ...
- 17th February 2009 Tucson Show 2009 Review - Part 1Well, only two things tend to stop me writing show reports as I'm going along at mineral shows - one is lack of internet access, and the other is if I'm having far too much fun. I'm pleased to say ...
- 25th December 2008 Mindat's 15th Birthday and a present for everyoneWell, it's that time again, December 25th, which those of you who've been around here long enough will know as Mindat's birthday. I started the mindat project as a personal database on December 25th ...
- 19th November 2008 Hayward's Heath Mineral Show 2008The Hayward's Heath Mineral Show 2008 - Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society
It's that time of the year again. Time for the...
The Sussex Mineral Show
The Sussex Mineral Show at Haywards ...
- 5th November 2008 Munich Show 2008The Munich Mineral Show 2008
Report by Jolyon Ralph.
For the fourth year in a row, I found myself in autumnal Munich at the largest single-venue mineral show in the world - the Munich Mineral ...
- 14th October 2008 Bakewell Show 2008The Bakewell Mineral Show 2008
Saturday saw us making the drive up again to Bakewell for the Bakewell Mineral Show, this time taking Mike Rumsey from the Natural History Museum along for the ride. ...
- 19th September 2008 Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show 2008Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show (The "Holiday Inn" show)
I've just returned from a fun-filled long weekend at Denver where I spent time at two shows, the Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show at the ...
- 19th September 2008 The Denver Gem and Mineral Show - September 2008The Denver Gem and Mineral Show - September 2008
The main show, the Denver Gem and Mineral Show, is held in the Merchandise Mart
Table of Contents
Alfredo Petrov
Alfredo had his usual ...
- 21st August 2008 2008 Southeast Cartersville Show2008 Southeast Cartersville Show
I traveled from Charlotte to Atlanta to Cartersville to scope out the new Marty Zinn production. It is 280 miles from Charlotte to Cartersville but Interstate all ...
- 17th July 2008 Minerals of Britain and Ireland - Book ReviewFor several years those of us with an interest in the mineralogy of the UK and Ireland have been eagerly awaiting the new reference on the mineralogy of these isles, written by Andy Tindle, a Senior ...
- 12th July 2008 Wonderful World of Agates, WisconsinFor a weekend in July 2008, the town of Menasha, Wisconsin became the center of the world for agates of all descriptions. The UW Fox River Valley campus was turned over to all things agate. 40 ...
- 5th July 2008 The world's largest Emerald on Matrix specimenToday I visited an exhibition in Hong Kong showing what is claimed to be the world's largest specimen of Emerald on Matrix. Excavated in July 2007 in Morafeno, Madagascar from an emerald mine - the ...
- 26th June 2008 What's Hot in Tucson 2008 - DVD ReviewWhat's Hot in Tucson 2008
Reviewed by Jolyon Ralph.
It semeed that wherever I went in Tucson at this year's show, famed mineral collector Dave Wilber was already there with a film crew, talking ...
- 18th May 2008 Oxford Mineral Show, May 2008A mini-report on the Oxford Mineral Show.
Here is Mike Brook from Broadstone Minerals at his table:
Mike Brooke, Broadstone Minerals
Amongst the nice pieces Mike had to offer was this very ...
- 22nd April 2008 Sponsorship
YOU can help mindat.org - please read on to see how!
Mineral and Locality pages can now be sponsored in mindat.org
Please read these terms and conditions fully in order to understand how this ...
- 30th March 2008 TGMS 2008 - The Crater of DiamondsThe Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas
The Crater of Diamonds is unique in being the only diamond-producing locality in the world operated as a fee-paying public collecting site. Anyone who visits can ...
- 15th March 2008 TGMS 2008 - Pikes PeakThe Amazonite and Smoky Quartz specimens from Pikes Peak and other areas in and around Teller Co., Colorado:
PikesPeak.flv
Amazonite and Smoky Quartz from the Tree Root Pocket, Two Point Claim, ...
- 14th March 2008 TGMS 2008 - The Tourmaline Queen MineBill Larson in front of the case (which he organized) of Blue Cap Tourmalines from The Tourmaline Queen Mine, California - Tucson Show 2008
The Tourmaline Queen Mine, San Diego County, California ...
- 2nd March 2008 TGMS 2008 - BisbeeBisbee.flv
I did a second video, because I wasn't sure how the first one came out. Try them both!
BisbeeTucson08-2.flv
The minerals of Bisbee dominated a major floor-standing case - here we ...
- 1st March 2008 TGMS 2008 - California GoldCalifornia Gold
CaliGold2008.flv
Wayne Leicht, organizer of this display, in front of the display cabinet of California Gold
Centerpiece of the gold display was this incredible and famous ...
- 22nd February 2008 Tucson 2008 TGMS Show report - Part 3 - Dealer ...An update on dealers and specimens for sale at the TGMS show 2008
Ausrox
Ausrox had the 'shoe' on display that I reported on from the Westward Look show a week ago, but this time I was able to ...
- 21st February 2008 Tucson 2008 TGMS Show report - Part 2 - American ...The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show 2008
I gave a brief report while I was at Tucson with a video walkthrough - but I waited until now to start my main reports because there is simply too much to talk ...
- 17th February 2008 Tucson 2008 TGMS Show report - Part 1This is part 1 of the TGMS show report - the first of MANY reports that will be posted over the next few days - with over 1000 photographs and 2 hours of video to sort through, I want to take my time ...
- 16th February 2008 Desautels Trophy - Tucson 2008Congratulations to mindat.org regulars Gail and Jim Spann for winning the 2008 Desaultels Trophy at the Tucson show 2008 for their outstanding cabinet of minerals.
Gail and Jim in front of their ...
- 14th February 2008 The Inn Suites Show - Tucson 2008 - Part 2Part two of our Inn Suites Show report
Rocksaholics
Aisha and Arif from Rocksaholics pulled out some hidden treasures for me to show in this report - and despite having an expensive specimen ...
- 13th February 2008 The Inn Suites Show - Tucson 2008 - Part 1The Inn Suites Hotel Show
The Inn Suites hotel is the first location for most mineral collectors wanting to visit the show, with dealers from around the world hiring rooms to display their stock. ...
- 12th February 2008 The Westward Look Show 2008The Westward Look Mineral Show 2008
Actually, here we're looking northwards
My first show visit for the 2008 season was the Westward Look show - a small show for high-end dealers to exhibit their ...
- 7th February 2008 Tucson Show 2008 Preview!Welcome to a quick preview of the Tucson Show 2008. I write this inbetween packing, as I'll be heading off myself to Tucson on Friday to report back on mindat.org about everything that's happening in ...
- 28th November 2007 The Vault - Natural History Museum LondonI've just returned from the launch party of the new permanent gallery at the Natural History Museum called "The Vault".
Alan Hart, curator of Mineralogy (and described by one newspaper recently ...
- 17th November 2007 Hayward's Heath Mineral Show 2007We're back again at the 24th Hayward's Heath Mineral Show organised by the Sussex Mineral and Lapidary Society (which happens to be my local mineral club).
View of the main hall, before the crowds ...
- 5th November 2007 The Munich Mineral Show (München Mineralientag) ...The Munich Mineral Show Report 2007
by Jolyon Ralph
Welcome to my new-style show report for the Munich Mineral Show 2007. I'll try and give a taste of what the largest single-venue mineral show ...
- 14th October 2007 Bakewell Show 2007Yes, it's time for another show report - and the first in the new system on mindat.org (so you can add comments!).
The Bakewell Show
The Bakewell Show has been running for 25 years - and is ...
- 9th May 2006 Mindat.org will be at Tokyo Mineral show, June 2nd - June 6th 2006
- 31st Mar 2006 MinVision Launches
- 12th Mar 2006 Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show Report
- 10th Mar 2006 Bologna Mineral & Fossil Show Report
- 12th Feb 2006 Tucson Convention Center Video Report (Requires Broadband)
- 6th Feb 2006 Tucson Westward Look Show Report
- 6th Feb 2006 Tucson Clarion & Smuggler's Inn Report
- 6th Feb 2006 Tucson Inn Suites Report
- 5th Feb 2006 Tucson Video Report (Requires Broadband)
- 12th Nov 2005 Haywards Heath (UK) 2005 Show Report
- 31st Oct 2005 Munich 2005 Show Report