Below is a list of common questions you may have. If you still can't find the answer, please ask us directly by phone or email. We are happy to help and will get back to you as soon as we can.
How do I order a specimen or specimens?
You order each specimen by simply clicking the 'Add to Cart' button. This action will place your chosen specimen in your shopping cart.
Please repeat for each specimen you wish to purchase.
The contents of your shopping cart can be viewed at any time by clicking the 'My Cart' button on the Main Menu.
When you are ready to place the order, click the My Cart' button and select 'Checkout.'
You can change or delete the contents of your shopping basket at any time.
If you are a NEW customer, you will have the choice of checking out as a 'Guest' or you can 'Register' for an account.
You will be asked to enter your details, including your name, address, and contact details. If you wish to register an account, you will also be asked to create a username and password.
If you are a RETURNING customer, you will be asked to enter your username and password.
You will then be asked about your shipping preferences, if available, and lastly your payment details.
Please note that you will be asked your payment details every time you use this website as we do not store this information on our site for security reasons.
What is the Wish-List?
If you wish to select specimens for later, you can put them in your Wish-List by clicking the Wish-List button.
Please note that you must have a registered account to use this function.
You can recall your list of specimens at any time by clicking the Wish-List tab on the main menu.
You can then decide if you wish to buy the specimens or to clear them from your list.
Please note that your Wish-List is saved and can be viewed next time you visit the website - you will need to log in.
IMPORTANT—if a specimen in your Wish-List is no longer there on your next visit, it means that it has been bought by another customer. Please see the next FAQ below.
What if I have recently seen a specimen but now I can't find it on your website?
All specimens are removed from the website when they are sold.
If you have seen a specimen that is no longer displayed or is missing from your Wish-List then someone else has bought it first. Sorry!
However, if you are still interested, please email us. We carry a large inventory and may have a similar specimen available.
You may also wish to join our mailing list to receive regular updates so that you don't miss specimens when they are added to the website.
What shipping methods do you offer?
All UK orders are shipped FREE of charge.
The cost of international shipping is based on the total weight of the package and your specimen or specimens inside.
We use a variety of shipping companies, including Royal Mail, Parcelforce, FedEx, DPD, Yodel, DHL, and Evri.
Wherever possible we chose the most economic tracked option. We also aim for the fastest possible delivery time.
We keep shipping costs to a minimum while ensuring acceptable delivery times and buyer protection. We do NOT make any profit on postage.
What payment methods do you accept?
We use PayPal because of the security such transactions offer—both to you and us. The key benefit is that your payment details never pass through our servers, which means that there is far less opportunity for anyone to intercept and misuse your data.
We also use Paypal to keep our prices as low as possible—we do not have to pay a monthly payment gateway subscription fee. The only cost to us is a fixed percentage cost on each PayPal order.
You DO NOT have to have a Paypal account - you can just use their "Guest" option when entering your payment details.
However, by setting up a Paypal account you will not have to enter your payment details each time.
Orders are processed immediately when the transaction is approved by Paypal.
We can also accept other payments including direct bank transfer or a payment gateway such as TransferWise. Please contact us first if you would like to use one of these alternative methods.
Importantly, please note that your order will not be processed or specimen(s) sent out until such payment arrives in our bank account.
Will I have to pay customs duty?
Customs duties may apply to any order placed from outside of the UK. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to pay all customs and duties applied at their local port of entry.
Should I register even if I don't want to place an order this time?
We recommend registering an account or subscribing to our mailing list even if you have not placed an order. This is because our returning customers and subscribers are regularly offered special promotions, discounts and specimens that may not be available to other visitors.
Can I return a specimen I bought if it is not what I expected?
We comply with the Distance Selling Regulations which entitle customers to a cooling-off period. The legal requirement is to provide a 14-day period from receipt of the specimen(s). Please see the returns section for instructions on how to do this.
Outside of the 14 day period, we cannot accept returns.
IMPORTANT - If the returned specimen(s) were part of a larger order which was discounted on the basis of a volume or other offer, you may receive less than the value you paid after we have recalculated the discount or offer.
What happens if the specimen was damaged in transit?
In the very unlikely event that a specimen is damaged during shipping please inform us immediately. It is important that you also take a photo of the packaging and specimen in the condition they arrived.
Sending this will help us understand the reason for the damage and assist us with any insurance claim.
In all instances, please return the specimen(s) to us for a full refund. Instructions for returning specimens are given on the Refunds page.
What if you think the specimen or its location has been misidentified?
We work very hard to ensure that all our specimens are identified correctly. However, if you believe that the specimen or its location has been misidentified, please provide us with the details of why you believe this to be the case.
IMPORTANT—In all instances, please ensure that you notify us within the 14-day cooling-off period and return the specimen to us using the procedure in the Returns instructions.
If the specimen is found to be as described, it will be returned to you. However, you will be responsible for all additional postal charges and the cost of any analysis.
If the specimen is found to be misidentified, we will provide you with a full refund.
How large will my specimen be?
The description of all our specimens contains details of their size. This is measured across the specimen's largest dimensions. In addition, we may use a descriptive term such as micromount, thumbnail, or museum size. A summary of these descriptive terms is given in the table below:
Micromount (MM) Less than 1cm Less than 3/8 inch
Thumbnail (TH) 1 to 2 cm 3/8 to 7/8 inch
Miniature (MC) 2 to 5 cm 7/8 to 2 inches
Small Cabinet (SC) 5 to 12 cm 2 to 4 3/4 inches
Large Cabinet (LC) 12 to 30 cm 4 3/4 to 12 inches
Museum (MU) More than 30 cm More than 12 inches
Will the specimen look the same as your photos when it arrives?
We take great care to take accurate photos of our specimens. The photos are not enhanced in any way, and we describe specimens truthfully, including details of any repairs or damage.
However, please be aware that whilst we try to capture the colour of the specimen(s) correctly, the colour may sometimes differ slightly in real life compared to your computer or device screen.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the specimen(s) you may return it to us for a full refund under the 14-day cooling-off period. Please refer to the Returns section.
How do you take your photos?
We have our own mineral photography studio and have taken many thousands of specimen photos. Taking good photos is a mix of art and science.
Each specimen is different and therefore requires a different blend of light, focus, orientation, and balance. Our basic setup consists of Canon and Samsung cameras, fitted with fast macro lenses. Photos are taken on a purpose-built platform using a mix of static and flash lighting.
I have specimens or a collection to sell; would you be interested?
Absolutely, yes! We are well known for buying both entire collections and single specimens. If you have items for sale, please contact us by phone or by using email.
It is helpful if you could briefly describe what you are selling and also send digital photographs. We will then see if the items are of potential interest and arrange to view the collection or individual specimens in person. We are cash buyers so can arrange the transaction very quickly.
Can you identify specimens for me?
Regrettably, we cannot routinely help with identification, especially based on photos. There are many online resources where you can ask questions, find similar specimens, or seek mineralogical analyses.
I run a mining operation and have specimens for sale. Are you interested?
YES! By working directly with local miners, we can offer them the best prices for quality specimens and yet offer our customers specimens at affordable prices.
We already work with miners in India, Russia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Morocco, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mexico and China. Get in touch to see if we can work together to market specimens that you mine.
Do you run promotions and special offers?
We offer our regular customers discounts and special offers. These are based on either the number of orders placed or the cash value of specimens bought.
Once you qualify, we will send you a voucher code that can be entered at checkout to get your discount on your next order.
At times we run special offers or promotions for the fun of it.
Registered users will be notified by email when an offer or discount is available—that's why we recommend registering with the shop, as only those who do will be notified.