About us...
Mmmm... what can I say, other than what's in the history page. We're completely nuts, subterranean creatures, and have mining in the blood. One change from the old days though - I'm very comitted to conservation of mining heritage these days, and don't like people who just rape and pillage mines for specimens, and give nothing back... It's those people who spoil it for the rest of us - no names of course, but a certain collecting trio, one of whom recently got badly hurt underground, are responsible for a lot of the bad feeling up north. Their abuse, threats, nasty letters and emails to numerous people only serve to underline just how low some people can stoop. Go away guys, and leave the collecting to people with a conscience.
These days we have to present mineral collecting as a responsible occupation - with conservation, preservation, education and science all being high on the list. I have suggested to various bodies that a 'Minerals for Kids' organisation would help promote minerals and encourage young collectors. I would like to promote this idea by involving all dealers and collectors and asking them to donate spare material which can be kept and handed out to kids at shows, and used to provide educational materials for schools that are interested. Please feel free to contact me about this - I'm hoping we may be able to launch something formal at Bakewell this year.