Caring for mineral specimens

Most specimens need very little: a stable shelf, little handling, and the right kind of cleaning.

Handle the matrix, not the crystals

Pick pieces up by the host rock. Fine crystal tips, especially on dioptase, fluorite or kyanite, break easily.

Dust with air or a soft brush

A blower or a soft makeup brush is enough for most pieces. Avoid wiping across crystal faces.

Water is not for everything

Soft or water-sensitive minerals such as gypsum, chrysocolla, azurite, malachite, rhodochrosite and calcite should stay dry. Sulfides like pyrite and chalcopyrite also prefer dry air.

Light and humidity

Kunzite, celestite, amethyst and some fluorite can fade under strong sun. Pyrite can decay in damp rooms; a dry cabinet helps.

Keep the label

A specimen's locality and size are part of its value. Keep the listing details with the piece.

Namaste Fine Minerals is a brand of Wealth Edge Ventures Inc.