And we’re back! Springtime in the woods! Rochester! Except… of course we are not fully back. Stay-at-home orders, lockdowns and closed borders continue. No worries – we figured this out last year! So, the 48th annual Rochester Mineralogical Symposium was once again an online event, the eRMS 2021.

I’ve added beautiful new specimens from the Pete Richards collection.  These are great tourmaline crystals from localities around the world, including Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Namibia and Myanmar.

I’ve posted great new specimens from the Pete Richards collection. This is the first of two tourmaline updates: Tourmaline I – U.S, with beautiful tourmaline crystals from across the United States.

I’ve added great new specimens from the Steve Szilard Collection – these are beautiful pieces from some remote localities in northern and western Canada.

I’ve added more great U.S. specimens in this new Pete Richards Collection Update. These include beautiful specimens from classic American localities from across the country.

I’ve posted great specimens in the new Nova Scotia Thomsonite update. These are from the small 2020 thomsonite find at Cap D’Or – they are very fine Nova Scotia thomsonites.

I’ve added some absolutely superb specimens from the collection of John S. White. These are mixed international highlights from the display case in John’s library/study – they are exquisite pieces!

I’ve added an update with great new specimens from the Steve Szilard Collection. These are beautiful specimens from Quebec and Eastern Canada. This is the first of many more Canadian minerals that will grace the website this year.

Steve Szilard is a well-known and highly respected mineral collector from Ontario, Canada. He built an excellent collection, with beautiful specimens from Canada and around the world. An active field collector, he has also contributed generously in the mineral collecting community.

I am excited to tell you that the Pete Richards collection is here! Over his lifetime, Pete has built a remarkable large mineral collection with great diversity and great specimens. This first of many Pete Richards collection updates to come features excellent U.S. specimens.

Pete Richards is one of the world’s foremost experts on crystal shapes and the phenomena that influence them. He has published many writings on a wide array of mineralogical topics and his crystal drawings are featured in publications around the world. And… he has been a lifelong avid mineral collector, with an extensive and diverse mineral collection.

I’ve posted some beautiful specimens in the new Brazil Update. These include gorgeous spessartine crystals (one from a rare locality), dravite crystals, blue topaz, rutile and hematite roses, among others.