Hobby of systematically collecting, identifying and displaying mineral specimens
A collection of identified rocks and minerals on display. The black stones on the left are obsidians; the lighter, hollow rocks are geodes.A collection of smaller mineral samples stored and displayed in clear casesAzurite specimen from the Morenci mine, Morenci, Arizona, USA. Morenci is the largest copper mine in North America, and Morenci copper mineral specimens are visually appealing, abundant, and relatively inexpensive.Creedite specimen, 11 x 7 x 3 cm, from Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico; formerly in the Perkins D. Sams collection
Mineral collecting is the hobby of systematically collecting, identifying and displaying mineral specimens. Mineral collecting can also be a part of the profession of mineralogy and allied geologic specialties. Individual collectors often specialize in certain areas, for example collecting samples of several varieties of the mineral calcite from locations spread throughout a region or the world, or of minerals found in pegmatites.
