Micromount is term used by

mineral collector Mineral collecting is the hobby of systematically collecting, identifying and displaying mineral specimens. Mineral collecting can also be a part of the profession of mineralogy and allied geologic specialties. Individual collectors often sp ...

s and

amateur geologists An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, self-taught, user-generated, DIY, and hobbyist. History Hist ...

to describe

mineral In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. ( ...

specimens that are best appreciated using an optical aid, commonly a hand-lens or a binocular

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisibl ...

. The magnification employed ranges from 10 to 40 times. A micromount is permanently mounted in some kind of box and labelled with the name of the mineral and the location from which it came. Proper mounting both preserves delicate crystals, and facilitates their handling. Micromount specimen collecting has a number of advantages over collecting larger specimens. :Micromount specimens take up less space and cost less than larger specimens. :Small

crystal A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...

s are usually more perfect than larger ones. :Micromount material can often be readily collected at locations that rarely if ever yield specimens with large crystals. :Crystals of many rare species are only found in microscopic sizes. Micromounting is a craft, as much as it is a collecting activity. Two English language books on micromounting have been published, by Milton Speckels in 1965, and by Quintin Wight in 1993.

External links

The British Micromount Society

Micromounters of New England (USA)
* http://www.njminerals.org/micro.html * http://rocky-mountain-micromineral-association.com/how_to_mount_micros * http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/micro_top_ten.html

References

Mineralogy {{mineral-stub