What are Mineral Specimens?

We love our customers whether you have been collecting for 30 years or are just starting out! Those who are new to the world of mineral collecting may be wondering just what are crystallized mineral and gold specimens and why are they so desirable?

What is a Mineral??

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure formed by geological processes. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals whereas a rock may also include organic remains and mineraloids. Some rocks are predominantly composed of just one mineral.

These are ROCKS

These are crystallized minerals

So what makes one specimen more valuable than another?

Think of it like collecting baseball cards. It is about a combination of the rarity, quality, demand, and perceived value of the card which determines its price. This is a similar concept to collecting high-end crystallized minerals and gold specimens.

Therefore, the price for a crystallized piece of gold will not always align with the current global gold price because crystallized gold in its natural state is much rarer.

In fact, the value of crystallized gold is determined by its physical characteristics (such as crystallization, brightness, size), history and provenance (Is it from a famous or unusual locality? Is the mine now closed? Was it previously in a well-known collection?), and aesthetics.

You can read more about crystallized gold here and here