~ Starting a Rock and Mineral Collection ~

In The Beginning
In order to begin any type of collection the first step necessary is to obtain a guide or catalogue so that we can identify the pieces that will be part of our collection. Get a book that has clear, color pictures and detailed descriptions. You need to be able to recognize and to classify your specimens. You may want to invest in a "field guide" with more concise information and smaller pictures that you can easily take with you on collection expeditions and a more complete guide to keep at home.  

There is some basic equipment necessary for collecting specimens in the field.

• A notepad and a pencil to write down the date, the place, comments on the trip and the mineral samples found.  An easy way is to number each found sample and make a corresponding numbered card with all the information for it.
• A magnifying glass to observe smaller details and help with identification.
• A map of the area and a compass.
• Newspaper to wrap your specimens in and protect them until you return home.
• A geologist hammer, or a hammer and a cold chisel or rock chisel to break the rock to obtain the mineral samples wanted.
• Protective goggles to wear when using hammer and chisels. 
• Gloves for protection.
• A knapsack to load and to take all the tools and the mineral samples found.
• Appropriate shoes and clothing, including a hat.

You can start your collection by takings some filed trips to well-known deposits. Before you begin, always ask permission to hunt rocks on land that you do not own and always observe the "rock collectors code of ethics". An excellent way to field collect is join an area rockhound or lapidary club and go out with experienced collectors.  At this time you may or may not know what you want to collect. Some collectors focus on a particular family or group of minerals. Others collect only one type of mineral in all its different colors, forms and locations. Most of us start by collecting rocks and minerals that just appeal to us and refine the collection as it and our knowledge grows.

You can also begin your collection by acquiring a mineral box already prepared with a set of samples of the most common minerals. These appear identified with their names which can help us learn to identify them in the field. Another advantage of this type of collection is that it is easily expandable by acquiring other boxes that contain different samples of minerals or by acquiring additional minerals individually from other collectors, lapidary stores, rock and gems shows, and similar sources. In fact It is very common to find in the minerals stores and shops samples in the typical small 4x4 cm. cardboard boxes which allow us to increase the variety of minerals in our collection very economically.

Storage and Conservation of Your Collection
Once you identify the rock type or mineral you will want to make sure and label it. It is customary to put not only the name of the specimen but the location it was obtained from. As you identify and add to your collection you will naturally start sorting it to organize it more. How you sort is entirely up to you: by color, mineral family, location found, etc. Now is also the time to consider how to store and and conservation of your specimens. As your collection grows in number and variety of specimens you will need to find suitable storage. What you choose will depend on the characteristics of each specimen and where you are going to display or store your collection.

Plastic boxes are a great solution in those cases that we have delicate minerals or crystals that are susceptible to be deteriorate or to be broken. They make it easy to observe the piece from all angles without having to touch it directly. These boxes are available in square or rectangular form, with white or black bases, and in a variety of sizes.

Special supports are available for exhibition of minerals in display cabinets, bookcases and tables. They show the specimens in a position that facilitates observation, to emphasize prettier details, and at the same time provide a support base that assures stability. There are many different types of supports, many dedicated specially to the support a particular type of specimen. For example rings used to display mineral eggs and spheres.

Display Cabinets are a way to to show off and to admire the pieces of your collection. As the collection grows you will find not only an increasing in the number of specimens but also the size of the minerals that we like to collect. It is common at this stage to construct or acquire a display cabinet or bookcase. 

Advanced Collecting
There are many different places to go to look for minerals. However the best sources are not always near our homes and often not accessible due to restrictions, extraction techniques, ownership rights, etc. The collection goal then becomes about having the best possible specimen. That means acquiring them from their better deposits. At this point you may look to a professional mineral retailer. Many times these minerals have their own support with name and source deposit. As you increase your contacts in the lapidary world you may also encounter other expert collectors with good specimens for sale or trade at shows, swaps, their owns stores or through websites.

After years and years of collecting you will have acquired a wide knowledge of mineralogy and related areas. It is often at this stage that the collector pursues the specialization of the collection. They decide on collecting just fluorescent minerals or micromounts or create a systematic collection from a particular area. Some collectors focus on the various forms of a single mineral or collecting samples fro deposits around the world.

Article sources: www.mineraltown.com