Some short notes on my mineralogical curriculum vitae.
I was born 1964 and started collecting minerals 1976. My first experiences were very impressive to me. We were a group of 3 friends who went underground in many different, long abandoned mines in Austria almost every weekend, resulting in a large collection within few years.

After those fascinating beginner years I realized that I have to specialize in my hobby. I bought a stereo microscope, a simple Euromex from the first money I earned. Funny fact -I still use it for quick overviews over fresh cut material. I also started with precise documentation of my fast growing collection and trips.

From 1983-86 I attended the Mining University of Leoben, Styria, but changed to chemistry afterwards. I`m still very thankful for my working duty during that time in the famous lead mine of Bad Bleiberg, Carinthia, (was still active then!) which was a great experience for me.

My collecting method nowadays is very specific and organized. I like to search for unknown places in Austria; places that never before have been researched by a micromounter (we have hundreds of those here in Austria), mainly historic (long forgotten) mines, especially with rare ore parageneses. I prefer systematical collections from such places, I`m NOT interested in the best or the most! ID is always a major problem (right now I have 4 definitely new species in my collection) but thanks to my friends Dr.Franz Bernhard - Graz and Dr.Uwe Kolitsch - NHM Vienna I can handle it.

Normally I don`t attend any mineral show as its almost impossible to get specimen I like and don`t own already. In 2011 I was able to buy major parts of two micro collections from Austria (coll.Metzger and Indra - together about 12.000 specimen). Many micros and thumbnails are absolutely unique and I`ll try to add pics from them here on mindat.

In 2004 I bought a better stereomicroscope, a Wild M8 with plan optics which I use as standard scope. I`ve added a Wild M420 photo macroscope with apozoom lense, a Nikon D200 camera and a stackshot rail to make pictures of my specimen.

I`m more than thankful to my wife Eve that she accepts my maniac hobby :-)