GIA Symposium Poster: for Gem Dealers who want to sell Mineral Specimens.

Last week I attended the 6th GIA Symposium, which was about research and business of gem materials. I mainly attended the research track, especially colored stone and pearl research. I also was able to attend the field trip to some Pala mines prior to the Symposium.

My poster, intended for gem dealers, explains what mineral collectors are looking for in a specimen. Some gem rough can be sold as mineral specimens, but the proper material must be recognized and marketed appropriately.

The images are from Rock Currier, and are copyrighted by him. These can also be found on the mindat.org website.

Email me at mlj@cox.net if you would like a copy of the PDF file.

Collection Management VII: What else belongs in your records?

Some information belongs in your collection records, but not on the card accompanying the specimen. In the pre-software era, collections also had log books and catalog cards. The log book (register or catalog) usually told you, for any catalog number, the item species, location, source, and date acquired. The catalog card for each specimen contained the same information as the specimen label, with some additions:

• Dimensions of the specimen (English, metric, or both) and of its largest crystal(s);
• Source information: from whom, his/her address, date, price [or trade or field collection information]. If the specimen's history could be traced further back, often this was provided in the source information (or in the detailed description)
  
• Detailed description of the specimen: color, minerals present, why notable. etc.
• History of the specimen in your possession (e.g., exhibition dates)
• Photographs or other images, or links thereto.
  
• Any relevant references, to the specimen itself, the locality, the mineral species, etc.

In the computer era, various collection management software is commercially available to hold this information. Simple searchable versions can be made using Excel, or comparable spreadsheet software.

Collection Management - II

Each item in a collection needs:

• a unique descriptor (e.g., specimen number),
  
• an accompanying label,
• a permanent record,
• and safe, accessible storage.
  

In this post, I will discuss the unique descriptor.

Typically, this is a unique number assigned to the specimen. It may also be an alphanumeric character string, a bar code, etc.; but a symbol that requires a sophisticated scanner to read assumes that scanning system will be available for the useful life of the specimen (which may be centuries).

For minerals, this number is usually affixed to the specimens, either by writing or painting it on the specimen, or by attaching a printed label with permanent glue.

For loose gemstones, typically each gemstone has its own box, and a label with the descriptor is affixed to the box. As the label is not physically attached to the stone, it helps to include the gemstone weight on its label as a quick (but not exact) check for its identity.

Every record for this specimen should include the descriptor. Descriptor should not be used for more than one specimen (except in the case of bulk samples, where each bulk sample needs a unique descriptor, and individual grains in the sample only need separate descriptors when they are separated out for some purpose, like research or display). Descriptors should never be reused, since even if a specimen is destroyed, lost, or traded away, its records should remain with the collection.


I provide collection management services professionally, so feel free to contact me!