What is Micromounting?
by Carolyn Weinberger

"Micromounting is the same as a field trip without the travel."

A Micromount is any single or group of crystals that requires some degree of magnification in order to view it properly and has been securely mounted in a box for protection.

Why collect microminerals?
There are several reasons that people collect micromounts -- space, cost, variety of minerals available, etc.
Consider:
     - You can store about 100 mounted specimens in a box measuring approx. 8 1/2 x 11 inches x 1 inch.
     - Micro crystals are perfectly formed and undamaged far more often than larger sized specimens. Often protected in vugs, they survive!
     - You can purchase prepared micromounts from dealers for far less cost than larger specimens
     - Micromount collectors are always willing to give away extra specimens or trade extra specimens to increase their collection
     - Almost all the newly identified minerals today are found only as microscopic crystals. Pity the larger specimen collector - only a few hundred of the now 4100+ specimens survive in larger sizes!
     - Micro crystals often exhibit unusual forms such as twisted rods or crystals growing within other crystals.                                                      

 

An Invitation to Micromounting
By Michael Seeds

Micromounting is the study and collection of mineral specimens that require magnification to be appreciated. The typical micromount is a group of crystals only a few millimeters in diameter, mounted in a small box and properly labeled with species and location. Collectors study and enjoy their minerals under low-power stereo microscopes.
Micromounters are famous for being friendly and generous, and that�s because the best way to find micromounts is to trade raw rock, unmounted specimens or finished micromounts with other micromounters. All around the world, micromounters hold conferences to swap stories, give away extra material, and have a good time. The best way to start micromounting, it find a conference near you and attend. See the list of conferences below. You will be welcome.

Why would you want to collect micromounts?
Space: You can store 3000 micromounts in one cubic foot of space. Your equipment would fit on a card table. If you are pressed for space, micromounting will allow you to enjoy the beauty of minerals and the fun of collecting without a workshop or hobby room.

Beauty: Larger crystals are often cracked and dinged, but microscopic crystals are often perfect. Small minerals often form in vugs where they are protected from damage, and mounting a specimen in a micro box protects it and makes it easy to view. Micromounters are accustomed to seeing flawless crystals and undamaged formations.

Variety: Most minerals do not form large crystals. If you collect larger specimens, only a few hundred are available. Of the 4000+ minerals known, the vast majority form only microscopic crystals. Add to that, nearly all newly discovered minerals are available only as microscopic crystals. It is not unusual for a micromounter to have over 1000 different species, and at least one micromounter has 80% of all known minerals in his micromount collection.

Activity: Micromounting is a way of working on your minerals instead of merely admiring them. On cold winter nights and rainy days, micromounters study their rocks, find the best specimens, trim them down to size, glue them on cork supports, put them in boxes, and write labels. Some micromounters explore quarries and mines and others never leave their chairs. Micromounting has been described as a craft and an art. However you pursue it, it is an active way to enjoy mineralogy.

Cost: Nearly all micromounters are anxious to swap minerals, and micromount conferences traditionally have "Giveaway" tables where collectors put their extra rock free for the taking. Fantastic specimens come routinely from giveaway tables. Dealers sell micromounts for a few dollars with rare or unusually beautiful specimens going for tens of dollars. The value of one good cabinet specimen would buy an entire micromount collection.

How do you get started?
The Book: The best source of information about micromounting is the book The Complete Book of Micromounting by Quintin Wight, Mineralogical Record, 1993. 
 
Your Scope: You need a stereo microscope with magnification between 10 and 20 times. A zoom scope is best and many go up to 40 times. Higher magnification is not necessary but can be useful. You can find used microscopes by asking other mineral collectors, and a few companies sell both new and used scopes.  Scan the ads in mineral magazines for dealers.
 
Light Source: Micromounts must be illuminated from above, so you need a light source. Many micromounters use bright light sources with fiber optic arms that pipe the light directly to the mineral, but others use desk lamps, home made illuminators with LEDs, and so on. All you need is a bright light on the mineral. Most companies that sell microscopes also sell light sources.
 
Tools and Supplies: You probably have hobby knives and forceps, but you may want to buy a small rock trimmer to crack specimens down to size. You also need the microboxes (23x23x19 mm) and corks used to mount specimens. Boxes, tools, and supplies are available from a number of dealers.
 
Rocks: Many micromounters are avid field collectors, and you can find micromount material in surprisingly mundane places. Almost any rocky place is a possibility. Nevertheless, one of the best places to find rocks is other micromounters, so don't hesitate to locate someone near you and introduce yourself. The International Directory of Micromounters is available from editor Carolyn Weinberger ([email protected]). If possible attend a micromount conference. See the list below. You will come home with lots of specimens. 
 
A list of sources and references is available from Mike Seeds ([email protected]).
 
The Rules of Micromounting
Rule number one is, - There are no rules.  Most micromounters try to produce neat, clean specimens carefully mounted so that the cork and glue underneath do not show, but some collectors stick their specimens in boxes with stickum or even hot glue. Some collectors use various size boxes and some use only one size. Come collectors photograph every specimen and catalog it carefully in a data base and double entry card catalog. Others hardly keep records at all. It just fun. Do it your way.
 
 
North American Micromount Conferences
•Pacific Micromount Conference
     Late January
     San Bernardino County Museum
     Redlands, California
     http://www.mineralsocal.org/micro/pmc.htm
 
Arthur Roe Micromount Symposium
February
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
http://www.tgms.org/2010show.htm
 
Winter Micromounter�s Gathering
Late February
Dowling Park, Florida
[email protected]
 
Micromount Show, Sell & Swap
March
Fairless Hills, PA
[email protected]
 
Atlantic Micromount Conference
March 26-28, 2009
Elkridge Maryland
Steve Weinberger [email protected]
 
Rochester Mineralogical Symposium
April 15-18, 2009
Rochester, NY
[email protected]
 
Annual Symposium of the Canadian Micro Mineral Association
First Weekend in May
Brock University
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
http://canadianmicrominerals.ca/
 
Reunion of the Micromounters of New England
May
Hudson, Massachusetts
http://www.micromountersofnewengland.org/
 
Northern California Mineralogical Association Annual Symposium
June
El Dorado, California
[email protected]
 
Paul Desautels Micromount Symposium
First held in 1957 � The first micromount conference
First weekend of October
Elkridge Maryland
http://www.baltimoremineralsociety.org
Symposium of the Micromineral Society of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
November
Cleveland, Ohio
David Saja [email protected]
 
Micromineral Fall Workshop
November
Burlington, Ontario
http://canadianmicrominerals.ca/