Mineral-Deluxe

23/08/2026

15/08/2026

Dutch minerals & fossils — yes, they really exist.

The Netherlands probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind when you think of mineral collecting.

And there is a geological reason for that.

Much of the Dutch landscape is built from relatively young sediment: enormous deposits of sand, clay, gravel and peat. Unlike countries with exposed mountain belts, volcanic rocks or ancient crystalline bedrock, we have relatively few places where mineral-rich solid rock reaches the surface.

So large, well-formed collector crystals are uncommon.

But uncommon does not mean absent.

In Winterswijk, Triassic limestone has produced celestine, calcite, pyrite and strontianite.

In South Limburg, Cretaceous marine sediments contain fossils such as belemnites and other remains of the ancient seas that once covered the Netherlands.

And the former Limburg coal mines opened a temporary window into much older Carboniferous rocks, producing minerals including sphalerite, quartz, calcite and pyrite.

That is also what makes old Dutch specimens so interesting.

Some localities are no longer accessible. Some mines disappeared decades ago. Sometimes all that remains is the mineral itself — together with a handwritten label telling us exactly where it came from.

Not the most mineral-rich country in the world.

But geologically? Far more interesting than our flat landscape might suggest.

Which Dutch mineral or fossil locality should I show next?

14/08/2026

Two minerals. Two completely different colors. Both impossible to ignore.

💚 Uvarovite — the intense green chromium-rich garnet, usually forming as sparkling crystal coatings.
❤️ Crocoite — famous for its vivid orange-red crystals and dramatic appearance.

Which one would you choose for your collection: Uvarovite or Crocoite?

Natural mineral specimens • collector minerals • crystal collection • fine minerals

12/08/2026

30 augustus Maastricht. Mineral show Come Watch all my new minerals for this season!

12/08/2026

Golden rutile quartz with natural golden needle inclusions.

Three unique rutile quartz specimens, each with its own structure, clarity and pattern of golden rutile needles. In direct light, the inclusions really come alive and show the depth inside the quartz.

Which one would you choose?