Magnesite is not the most popular mineral for collectors but it can form outstanding specimens and crystals. However, its principal use is as a magnesium ore and a special refractory - a material where resistance to extreme temperatures is fundamental to an industrial process.
Dolomite is calcium magnesium carbonate, which can form outstanding crystals with wide variety of colors, often associated with other minerals. Less aesthetic dolomite rocks can build a whole mountain ranges.
Outside well known collecting areas, the tiny Ústup village offers a little secret collecting spot with huge almandine garnets. And what is even more interesting, they were really used as the cannon balls!
Olivine is the most common mineral on Earth and very important rock forming mineral. The common term olivine refers to olivine group minerals and to IMA valid mineral forsterite. This article will focus on forsterite, which is very popular gem and forms crystals popular among collectors.
Anatase is rare and highly aesthetic form of titanium oxide, which occurs almost exclusively in Alpine environment. It's great combinations with adularia and quartz are very popular among collectors. But it also has some unique physical properties, which are used in hi-tech applications.
Høydalen is a very interesting hybrid LCT-NYF pegmatite in southern Norway, about 40 km NW from Kragerø. It is famous for it's amazonite and lepidolite, as well as many REE minerals. It still provides excellent collecting opportunity.
It is that time of year again – autumn is here and also the Munich show. For those unfamiliar, this is the biggest mineral show in Europe and probably the second most important show after Tucson.
Wavellite normally occurs as a secondary product in the near-surface environment in phosphate-bearing rock. Specimens can be spectacularly beautiful as radiating starburst or spherical clusters. Wavellite spheres - and especially the colored varieties - are very popular among mineral collectors.
The small town of Lom is located in southern part of Norway, just next to the famous Jotunheimen National Park. A very interesting mineral museum Fossheim Steinsenter is located at the western end of the town.
Anhydrite is a common mineral, widely found in desert environments. It is also found on the tops of salt domes piercing the younger sediments in oil-rich compressional mountain belts and in evaporite deposits.
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