In-depth collector guides for the species every serious collection includes — properties, famous localities, quality grading, and display tips.
Discover why vanadinite is our April 2026 Mineral of the Month. Learn about its fiery red-orange hexagonal crystals, famous localities like Mibladen Morocco, collecting tips, care instructions, and where to buy quality vanadinite specimens.
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Everything about collecting gypsum. Learn about selenite crystals, desert roses, satin spar, the Naica Cave of Crystals, quality evaluation, and care tips for this soft but stunning mineral.
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Everything about collecting barite. Learn about Elk Creek golden crystals, blue Cumberland specimens, desert roses, quality evaluation, and how barite compares to celestite.
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Everything about collecting native sulfur. Learn about Sicilian specimens, temperature sensitivity, care challenges, famous volcanic and sedimentary localities, and display tips.
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Everything about collecting hemimorphite. Learn about blue botryoidal Chinese specimens, Mexican crystal fans, quality factors, and care tips for this stunning zinc silicate mineral.
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Everything about collecting kyanite. Learn about its unique directional hardness, Brazilian and Himalayan specimens, rare orange kyanite, and the Al₂SiO₅ polymorph story.
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Everything about collecting agate. Learn about fortification, moss, crazy lace, fire, and iris agates — famous localities, quality evaluation, natural vs. dyed specimens, and display tips.
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Everything about collecting aragonite. Learn about sputnik clusters, Spanish cyclic twins, Moroccan specimens, care tips, and how aragonite differs from its polymorph calcite.
read moreEverything about collecting chalcopyrite and peacock ore. Learn about iridescent specimens, Chinese and Peruvian localities, natural vs. acid-treated tarnish, and display tips.
read moreEverything about collecting chrysocolla. Learn about gem silica, Arizona and Congo localities, quality evaluation, care for this delicate copper mineral, and display tips.
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Everything about collecting celestite. Learn about Madagascar geodes, Ohio crystals, color preservation tips, quality evaluation, and how to display this heavenly blue mineral.
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Everything about collecting sphalerite. Learn about its extraordinary fire, famous localities from Elmwood to Spain, quality evaluation, and how to display this brilliant zinc mineral.
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