Pyrite is much more commonly known in laymans terms as fools gold. This is because, when gold mining was popular, pyrite could often be mistaken for gold due to its shining gold exterior. Of course, they are actually quite different minerals, but to the untrained eye, the mistake could be an easy one to make.
Rožná is the European Unions last operating uranium mine. Although the mine is located in Dolní Rožínka, its underground span reaches under several other localities. Being one of the last european ore mines, the Rožná is a great place to see a classic example of underground mining.
Gypsum is the most commonly found form of sulfate in the world. It is used in the creation of cement, plasterboard and in sheet rock. And in some forms, such as alabaster, it is a frequent component in pottery. Some people even include gypsum into their fertilizers. This mineral is popular with collectors, but it is not often used in jewelry due to its softness.
Feldspars are alumosilicates of alcalic metals and form a significant portion of many volcanic and metamorphic rocks. As such, they are one of the most important mineral groups on the Earths surface: some estimate that they form between 50-60 % of the Earths crust. Their content in most sedimentary rocks is much less significant.
Successful mineral collecting usually strongly depends on your tools. Starting out with quality tools will save you time and money and are much safer. The tools you choose will often limit what you will be able to dig or chisel out of the ground.
Topaz is a very popular mineral and gemstone, particularly for use in jewelry. Most nice crystals come from various pegmatite pockets around the world and are highly sought by mineral collectors. Finding topaz is quite tricky quest - and even more tricky is faceting topaz into gems.
Quartz is an incredibly common mineral that can manifest itself in all kinds of environments. It forms a very beautiful crystals, and it is highly versatile, as it comes in many different colors that go by several names.
Creating good mineral collection requires certain experience and it usually takes years. Here are ten tips to properly start your collecting. Some tips may seem odd but they will help you to avoid most common mistakes every beginner does.
