Articles about Gemstones, Minerals and Fossils
Removing rust from your jewellery making tools
The UK is a fairly humid, wet country, and we have many jewellers and other craftsmen and craftswomen who work in sheds or home workshops. A question was asked in the Society of British Jewellers facebook group recently by a lady whose tools have gone rusty due to a...
Pyrite rot: What is it and how can it be stopped?
Pyrite is a mineral common to many mineral collections and to collectors - otherwise known as 'iron pyrite' or 'fools gold', due to an occasional superficial appearance to gold. The unusual crystal formations of many Pyrite specimens make it a really popular...
Fakes, scams, and tricks: Another fake Rutile in Quartz
I'm sure some of you, if you're familiar with me and my business, will know I have a little collection of just... bad fakes. Some of the inventive things created to make a fake mineral or gemstone - half the time of a material so cheap it couldn't possibly be worth...
A list of my favourite books on gemstones, minerals, and fossils
I've been asked for a recommendation on a few books recently, and decided it was high time I actually wrote a post on the subject. It should be made clear that this is not in any way a comprehensive list of every book you should buy, and that I have not read every...
Repaired and restored sharks teeth
A quick post showing a few common repairs to fossilised teeth - in this case, Otodus teeth from Morocco, which are commonly restored/repaired. I have used Otodus teeth as an example here as I have a few hundred in stock to pick out some obviously repaired specimens....
Make your own Christmas ornaments – and our Christmas competition
Looking for a creative, fun Christmas activity? How about making your own Christmas ornaments from our wood slices? They're reasonably cheap, and can be decorated in a range of ways - I didn't have any paint or glitter handy, but I've had a pretty poor attempt with...
We are no longer shipping to Germany
"Every company that places packaged goods on the German market has to register in the public LUCID Packaging Register by no later than 1 July 2022, providing details about the type of packaging. Otherwise they must no longer distribute the goods in question." As...
Fake Foredom Motors / Flexible Shaft tools
A warning to jewellers - fake Foredom motors This issue has come up a few times in the past, but has raised its head a little more of recent. I'm sure a lot of people are aware, but Chinese fakes of Foredom motors/flexible shaft tools are very common - to the extent...
Fakes, scams, and tricks: (Some) Gemstone certificates of authenticity
I get questions fairly often asking if I provide a certificate of authenticity with the items I sell.I don't, and its largely due to a personal belief that the majority of the time they aren't worth having. In the assorted mineral, crystal, fossil, and gemstone...
Dangerous Minerals: ‘Swiss Opal’
Yeah, I know. I know. Sometimes you just want me to shut up and let you have nice things.
I was offered some ‘Swiss green Opal’ by a seller I’ve dealt with a few times based out of Jaipur, India. I was already buying a few items so figured I’d take a look – but I forgot to do what I normally do, which is ‘have a clue what I’m buying’.
Fossil Hunting: Tilton Railway Cutting, Leicestershire
Tilton railway cutting is an abandoned railway cutting near the village of Tilton-on-the-hill, Leicestershire. The railway was dug in the 1870s and closed in 1965, leaving only the route of the railroad visible, alongside a bridge. It can be found relatively easily by...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Agni Manitite
Don't get scammed! What is 'Agni Manitite'? Following on from the recent explosion in popularity of Moldavite, a new material has reared its somewhat mysterious head. There are posts on every mineral sales group I'm a member of offering "Agni Manitite". The sellers...
What is slag, anyway?
If you’re a regular on mineral identification or discussion forums or groups, you’ll have seen posts with photos of an unusual material, followed by a dozen comments of “SLAG!”. So what is it?
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Moldavite
The tektite known as Moldavite has been a frequently faked item for years - and recently, the prices have risen further.To be perfectly clear - there is genuine Moldavite; it is a green tektite glass from the Czech Republic. The largest mine in Czechia is currently...
What is *inside* this Ammonite?
This Ammonite came to me in a lot with other Ammonites - from experience, I can say it is probably from the Inferior Oolite of Dorset or at least South England. What jumped out was that tiny circular inclusion - I didn't have a clue what it was - a tooth from a...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Rainbow Calsilica
Rainbow Calsilica is one of the more insidious fakes on the market today. It exists in a range of colours, shapes, and styles, and is intended to mimic genuine minerals and stones. The material was originally introduced to the public at the Tucson mineral show of 2002...
Fossil Hunting: Charmouth and Lyme Regis
When I go on fossil hunting trips, I tend to try and avoid knowing too much about the location. That probably seems nonsensical, but I can buy and sell fossils all day, and the real fun is in the hunt and finding one of your own. I spent a few hours walking between...
Dangerous Minerals: Bumblebee Jasper
'Bumblebee Jasper' / 'Mustard Jasper' An attractive orange, white, and black mineral - the contrasts of this piece make it a popular eye-catcher. However, it has a dark secret. First of all, this material is not a form of Jasper at all. Dripping acids onto the surface...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: ‘Trapiche’ inclusions
Another post to begin with a preface - there are genuine 'Trapiche' included stones. Trapiche stones are uncommon - and could be easily confused with 'star' stones. However, a 'Trapiche' included stone has visible inclusions formed in a radiating pattern, either from...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Rutile or Tourmaline in Quartz
The first thing to point out is that genuine Rutile in Quartz and Tourmaline in Quartz are relatively common minerals. Inclusions in Quartz are hugely popular - I personally love them. Lower end pieces are not particularly expensive. However... I do like to hunt out...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Synthetic Snowflake Obsidian
A quick analysis of some synthetic Snowflake Obsidian cabochons, compared to their real counterparts.
Mineral Scams, Fakes, and Tricks: Calcite or Onyx?
This one has been coming for a while. I see it on Facebook groups on an almost daily basis... the posting of a picture, a request for identification, and the stream of "onyx" "Mexican onyx"... a misidentification and commonly used 'trade name' for banded Calcite from...
Testing and Identification: Easy Specific Gravity testing at home
Specific gravity testing is a tremendously useful testing method used in mineralogy to identify the density of a material from the known density of another material, generally water. It is one of the most effective tests that can be done at home, but it does have its...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Amethyst with Pyrite
I'm going to preface this post by saying that this does not appear to be common - and that Pyrite does naturally occur with Amethyst. This post is written as a reminder to look a little closer. This could be an art piece, a one off. I just don't know. I saw it...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: ‘Quartz Selenite Geodes’
They appear if you search for 'selenite geode' on various nameless shopping channels or search engines. Now, it is possible to find genuine geodes containing gypsum selenite. They are quite rare, and almost always colourless. These geodes, however.. Well, they're dyed...
Coronavirus
Please note that until further notice, orders from Albion Fire and Ice will only be dispatched twice weekly. Orders can still be placed and your items will be reserved, but they will not be shipped until either Tuesday or Friday. I recommend washing your hands after...
Bizarre bits: Derpy Dinosaur Toys
Terrible dinosaur toys from museums, gift shops, etc... I started noticing these a few years back. Tacky Chinese dinosaur toys that not only look like unrealistic dinosaurs, but frankly don't really look like... anything. Some of them are really just bizarre. There...
Testing and Identification: The Mohs hardness test
So, what is the Mohs hardness scale? The Mohs hardness scale is, unsurprisingly, a hardness scale, invented by someone called Friedrich Mohs. Specifically, it defines hardness by the ability to scratch, or to be scratched by other minerals. This gives us a very quick...
Fossil hunting: Llandudno and the Great Orme
Another fossil collecting post with no actual collecting, eh? I'm getting rather good at those. The Great Orme is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and collecting rocks, fossils, plants, etc is not permitted! Where these fossils are concerned, look, touch,...
Fossil hunting: a riverbed in Wales
You might be wondering why I would write an article about a collecting trip, and not actually tell you where. Have a look at the photos and read on to find out. I managed to find some quality fossils, including brachiopods, bivalves, coral, and crinoids - however, I...
DON’T put crystals in your water (or your vagina…)
Please... don't put crystals in your water. Or your vagina. Okay, so, weird post. I originally wrote this in 2019 and never got around to publishing it. It was intended to address two growing fads that I'm really not comfortable with supplying crystals for (and never...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Glass as a Gemstone
Some of these pieces are more 'fake' than others. Goldstone and Opalite are often sold as glass by trustworthy merchants - but not always.Some are easy to spot, but unfortunately, some are not. This page just lists a few common fakes. Andara AKA: "Golden Light...
Mineral scams, fakes, and tricks: Identifying and Testing Fake Turquoise
Identifying and testing fake Turquoise Turquoise is actually quite a rare gemstone - but there are many fake Turquoise pieces for sale across the internet. It can be extremely difficult to identify these fake pieces from images, even for experienced collectors. Having...
Gemstones and minerals at war!
Gemstones and Minerals and their use in wars and combatI haven't actually read a post quite like this before, so I decided to write one. It focusses on two of my favourite subjects; minerals, and military history.The information in this post is backed up by various...