With the holiday season behind us and a long cold winter ahead of us, now is the time to engage in some mineral collecting tasks that you may not have had time for – but now ‘what else is there to do’?
Collecting ‘Gear’
When it comes to field collecting, now is a great time to get collecting gear ready for next spring – clean and repair any tools, add any tools that you will need, check on your support items such as insect repellant, bear spray (if needed), compass, packing materials and pails/packs and of course maps and mineral field guides.
Collecting Locale Scouting
Speaking of field guides and maps, it is a great time to do some internet ‘scouting’ for new or forgotten collecting locations. In addition to the field guides series “Rocks and Minerals for the Collector” by A. Sabina, published by the Geological Survey of Canada (https://science.gc.ca/site/science/sites/default/files/img/2022/175_88a.jpg), the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) has fantastic, 'searchable' on-line resources at https://www.hub.geologyontario.mines.gov.on.ca/ . The OGS database includes abandoned mines, claims, Ontario Mineral Inventory (known deposits) and much more. These resources are invaluable and reviewing them is a great way to spend a winter evening – you might find that little known location for further field scouting in the spring.
Join a Club
Join a local Ontario Mineral Club. In addition to great club benefits, you can check out other mineral clubs for their field trip itinerary. As a local club member, you are a member of a Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CCFMS) club and are eligible to participate in other CCFMS club events and field trips.
Curate Your Collection
The one task that many of us struggle with is curating our collections – keeping an up-to-date catalogue with all the pertinent information. Specimens need to be numbered (small # label on the specimen - use a small paper label affixed with water soluble Elmer’s glue) and details as to location, size, value etc. recorded in a catalogue. There are many mineral specimen catalogue formats available on-line at websites such as Mindat (https://www.mindat.org) and a newer one ‘Colido’ from the U.K. (https://www.colido.de/en-gb). Many collectors prefer using Excel spreadsheets and the categories of information can be developed by looking at the online versions. Having photos of each specimen is worthwhile if the specimen is stolen or needed for insurance coverage. Speaking about insurance – if you have valuable specimens either individual specimens or the quantum of your entire collection, you may want to consider insurance. Check your homeowner’s insurance to see if you might be covered for the loss of a collection and if not, whether you can get affordable protection with a policy rider.
It is important not to overlook two items – labels and storage. Firstly, make sure to save specimen labels from previous owners and affix your specimen number to the back. Specimen provenance is becoming a more important aspect of collections. Labels are usually paper-based and will deteriorate over time so consider storing them in glassine envelopes (various sizes) that are commonly used for stamp collections and are available from many on-line sources. Secondly, make sure your specimens are protected and stored properly. They need to be protected from dust accumulation, kept away from direct sunlight and kept in secure containers. Many collectors use small jewelry or fold-up specimen boxes with various types of liners. If you are concerned about long term storage, consider that the Canadian Museum of Nature lines their specimen boxes (bottom and sides) with a material called ‘Volara’. Volara can be obtained in various sizes and thicknesses then cut to size for bottoms and sides.
The Easy Solution
Lastly, the best way to deal with cold snowy nights and mineral collecting is to go to someplace warm and sunny where you can collect for three months!