Even if you have the wealth to buy expensive minerals, if you are not knowledgeable about minerals, start small.
You can enjoy minerals with out knowing chemistry but to understand how minerals form you will need to know a little chemistry. I had one year of high school Chemistry; there is a lot I do not understand. But then, I get the impression there are a few minerals that even Mineralogists have a hard time understanding how they occur naturally in the earth. Many individuals enjoy rocks and minerals for their form and color with out having an in-depth knowledge of their formation.
It takes no chemistry to apply standard test to identify many minerals.
What is a mineral? - Minerals are, naturally occurring, pure, chemical compounds or elements. Example - Table Salt. Table salt is a chemical compound, composed of Sodium and Chloride ( NaCl). When found as a sedimentary deposit, salt is a mineral that goes by the name of Halite.
The hexagonal geometric shape of this aquamarine is a good example of what most people think of as a mineral crystal. Usually, when individuals speak of a “crystal” they are referring to a mineral showing a ‘viewable’ geometric form.
What is a crystal? The crystal form occurs when the individual atoms or molecules of the mineral arranged themselves in a regular pattern. The outward form of a crystal is essentially a representation of the internal arrangement of the mineral at the atomic level. Crystal forms are influenced by the environments in which they are created. As atoms arrange themselves, layer on layer, the chemical conditions, temperature, pressure and the available space can all effect the final shape of the crystal.
The definition of mineral crystal structure is that, in the solid state, the atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern through the material.
Most of us likely think of a crystal having a geometric form i.e. cubic, hexagonal, etc. It is rare for crystals to show a nice geometric shape. In nature, most crystals form in mass; with no space for growth, individual crystals may stay very small and intertwine in to a compact structure; as individual crystal faces are not readily viewable, these massive crystalline forms, may not be easily recognized as crystalized.
A rock is a naturally occurring compacted mass of mineral fragments or particles.
Next: Dig your own Minerals
or try: Where I can I find a crystal like this?
Mineral Collecting Basics - know your rocks
1/4/11
Do the research before you buy. Yes, there are fossil replicas being sold as the real thing and there are synthetic minerals being sold as natural. Even the experts are having a hard time telling the real from the artificial.
The important short list of Collecting Basics:
Whether you are field collecting or buying; document!
When you field collect document the location of your find either by GPS, mine name, or other location descriptor. When you buy a specimen (or trade) make certain you get the location of the find. The more precise the information the better. Minerals with good location information are more valued in the market than those with poor locality information. You need more than just the country the mineral came from. Ask for all the old labels.
Some of the factors that influence Mineral Values:
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1.Aesthetics – it is all about being pretty. Beauty; it is subjective but yet over and over different people will pick one item consistently over another as more attractive. It is about the interplay of shape, texture and color.
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2.Form – crystal forms of a mineral are considered more valuable than non-crystal forms of minerals. I find crystal forms in their matrix more pleasing than crystals not in a matrix. For me, the matrix provides a context for the crystal.
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3.Crystal Size – All things being equal, the larger the crystal the more valuable it is.
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4.Specimen Size - Large cabinet size minerals are generally more valuable than their smaller counterparts; but a large mineral may be no more valuable than its value as a collection of smaller specimens. For it to demand a premium, a large size mineral must exhibit a special aesthetic quality separate from its largeness.
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5.Rarity – Rarity factors include mining location, the mineral’s innate rarity (i.e. gold is rarer than quartz), its unique association with other minerals, unusual form, and other factors I am not that well versed on.
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6.Perfection – The more perfect the mineral the more valuable it is. When it comes to the crystal form, chips, fractures and cloudiness will decrease a mineral’s value. Crystals that stand straight up on their matrix, have high clarity, purity of color, and have terminated ends free of defect, command the top prices.
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7.Hardness and Durability
Join your local Rock, Mineral and Gem club; they can help you acquire the knowledge you need. You need to join a Club in particular if you plan to field collect. Clubs often have access to collecting sites that individuals find imposable to obtain. Clubs can also help you understand land use laws as they apply to the field collecting of rocks and minerals.
Why are you in to rocks?:
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1. Treasure Hunter
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2. Art, Jewelry
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3. A Spiritual connection
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4. A mystery I need to solve
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5. I am fascinated by nature
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6. An activity for the whole family.
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7. Investor
