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This article is an introduction on how to start your own collection of microminerals. Included are Do’s and don’t on how to start your own micromineral hobby. Appreciation of such minerals can only be enjoyed under a Darkfield Compound Microscope. Hobbyist can start with a low priced Darkfield Compound Microscope, enough to enjoy the beauty of these minerals. A Darkfield Compound Microscope would cost about $200. The article recommends a few Darkfield Compound Microscopes and provides helpful links on where to buy one.
Franklin minerals is as example of mineral which commands a high price, although the article is against such manner in which hobbyist or a collector enters in micro mineral collection one cannot avoid being awed by the beauty of the mineral. Hobbyist in this field who trade microminerals are called micromounters. Where to start? With a Darkfield Compound Microscope in hand micromineral formation can usually be found in the most common area of your environment, depending on the place you live in this microminerals form in metamorphic rock environments and in sedimentary environments. Quartz can be found almost anywhere; zircon and pyrite micro crystals are also common.
How do microminerals form? Let’s take Quartz for example. Quartz is part of the Mineral sand category. Mineral sands are formed by what is known as weathering or the exposure of mineral to external forces of the environment. Weathering is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of a rock or igneous which is plutonic or volcanic, metamorphic or sedimentary rock. What weathering does is it separates or frees rock fragments from the other material. Depending on the type of weathering a mineral is subjected to and the type of mineral in relation to the weathering event. Going back to Quartz, in order to form, a quartz mineral only needs low temperature of crystallization and usually found in molten magma and lava. In order to form other minerals such as zircon, mica or garnet these minerals are subjected to different temperature and pressure. This is because different minerals have different degree of stability when exposed to the environment. Feldspar on the other hand is commonly found in the earth’s crust. Feldspar has a structure which composes of calcium, sodium and potassium. Lastly other factors may contribute to weathering besides the mineral stability. Abrasive activity of a glacier may produce fragmented rock particle size friction.
Another type of micromineral collectors sought after is those are biogenic. Biogenic sands or also known as organic or biological sands, this is because this are usually remains of living organisms. This are among the most interesting microminerals if one is to start a hobby. Biogenic sands also go by the name carbonate sands because a large part of the mineral composition is of mineral calcite. One can truly appreciate the beauty of these minerals and why they are highly prized by collectors. Biogenic sand can contain coral, foram, bivalve shells and marine tubes. To know more about on how to start a hobby on micromineral collection, where to start, equipment needed (a Darkfield Compound Microscope is definitely a must), what to look for, what to avoid, this site provides an overview on micromineral collection.
