2014, Saddle Stitch
32 pages
Dimensions: 9.25 x 12.75 in
ISBN: 978-0-9836323-6-8
$6.00
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| Small Wonder |
2015 Microminerals Calendar
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 Language: English
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Author: Dona Leicht
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Edited by: Aleksandra Puhalo, Michael Bainbridge, Iva VeselinovaMike Jensen
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Illustrations by: Frédéric Hède, Robert O. Meyer, Enrico Bonacina, Petr Fuchs, Kenneth G. Libbrecht, Jean-Marc Johannet, Stephan Wolfsried, Matteo Chinellato, Honorio Cócera-La Parra, Philippe Font
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Micromounting is the study and collection of mineral specimens that require magnification. The typical micromount is a group or single crystal that is only a few millimeters in diameter. Specimens are mounted in small boxes (usually less than 1 inch square) and are best viewed though a low-power, stereo microscope.
Mineralogists and collectors have for centuries delighted in what they saw under a microscope. Micromounting enables one to view a mineral in its highest state of perfection: the forms found in these tiny crystals are unmatched in larger specimens. Famed collectors such as George Fiss, George Rakestraw, Lazard Cahn, and Clarence Bement are among those who enjoyed this aspect of mineral collecting.
Rarity and diversity are probably among the more rational cases for micromounting — most minerals do not form large crystals; only a few hundred of the more than 4,000 described species occur in crystals large enough to be seen without magnification. Indeed, most newly described minerals are microscopic. Economy is another factor: even the rarest microminerals can generally be had for a small sum, and a collector can store as many as 3,000 micromounts in a single cubic foot!
One of the most delightful aspects of micromount collecting is the camaraderie that affects this segment of the hobby in which money is rarely discussed. This international group of collectors routinely trade among one another, share their finds, and attend annual symposiums and events. The Baltimore Mineral Society, formed in 1951, is among the oldest mineralogical (or micromount) groups in the United States and over the years has counted among its ranks mineralogical personalities including Paul Desautels, Neal Yedlin, Paul Seel, and Lou Perloff. The Desautels Symposium is held each year in Baltimore, Maryland, and huge numbers of micromounters from around the world gather annually at the famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show for another symposium.
Many of micromineral enthusiasts have developed the specialized skills and techniques necessary to photographing their tiny treasures, and are thus able to share them with an even larger community. This calendar showcases just a handful of these collectors, their passion and talent. We hope that you will enjoy this glimpse into the magnificent world of microminerals and invite you to learn more about these Small Wonders.
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