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MINERAL OF THE WEEK
News and CommentsI hate cotton-filled boxes. Why do collectors use cotton-filled boxes for storing mineral specimens? They have absolutely no advantage over ANY alternative. Cotton-filled boxes are made for the jewelry and gift industry for packing purchases. They are not intended for minerals. Period. Invariably the cotton fibers get snagged by the matrix or fine crystals on a mineral specimen. The worst is a mineral like crystallized silver where the fine crystals are strong and easily become entangled in the cotton fibers. Once they are entangled it is almost impossible to remove the cotton fibers. The best way I've found is to use a small ball of mineral tack or duct tape and try to grab the cotton fibers to pull them off. Some specimens simply defy removing the cotton fibers. There are several alternatives to use in the bottom of storage boxes for your mineral specimens. Most widely used today are dry-cleaning bags (lightweight polyethylene bags) that have a Moh's hardness of 2 and are readily available from many sources. I buy my bags from Cleaner Products (1-800-818-1234) for about $38. Another alternative padding are the various polystyrene foams used for packing delicate items. They are available in various thicknesses and come in white or natural. Lastly, I question the need for any padding in boxes. Unless you are packing for a move (where cotton filling provides inadequate protection) there is no need for ANY padding in the storage box for a mineral specimen. Remember, we are only the temporary caretakers of the minerals in our collections. Our credo should be "Do no harm". Storing minerals in cotton-filled boxes violates that principle. John Betts, 8/16/2022 Click here to read past news and commentaries...
Customer Feedback:"Hi John, I received the fluorites today! I just wanted to reach out and thank you sooo much for amazing service, quality and price. I was blown away at the Elmwood specimen! Absolutely rich in color and condition is 100! The size of Minerva fluorite is amazing, the condition, color, zoning (which surprised me when backlit) is so nice!! I'm so please to add these to my collection! Thank you so much John!" Jon W. "On 7th December we ordered a Fluorite Crystal from you. It arrived at our address in the UK today, less than one week ago. That is amazing service and the crystal itself is magnificent. Thank you so much" Michele and Stuart Click here to see other comments about this site by customers. Also add your feedback...
Pledge to My Customers:Customer satisfaction is my primary goal. I pledge:
John H. Betts, owner
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