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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 3h

Here is a photo of rabejacite, a uranium phosphate named after a place I used to hang out near my old home in Montpellier, France. I bought in Béziers, which is yet another reason to connect this mineral to my own personal life—I love it when that happens. #mineral #crystal #macro #focusstacking

cristaux jaunes de rabejacite en provenance des environs de Lodève dans l'Hérault en France

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

For this #MineralMonday, I’m continuing to celebrate Quartz’s victory at #MinCup26, and to photograph the quartz specimens in the collection. Here is a prase flower, a leek-green variety of quartz, with its characteristic slender crystals. #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

fleur de quartz dit prase de couleur verte

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A second photo of the specimen, where the effect is visible on a larger number of cubes, which are, even so, quite weathered. I wonder how long this specimen had been lying about in the seller’s pockets. But you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

cubes de fluorine jaunes teintés de violet par l'irradiation

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A quick snap of a small yellow fluorite given to me by a dealer; it’s not in very good condition, but it has a lovely violet radiation colouration on the terminal faces of the cubes. #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

cubes de fluorine jaune aux surfaces supérieures violettes

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I’m delighted that Quartz won the cup, though I’m not so keen on the ballot box stuffing. Congratulations and long may Quartz go, because… #QuartzDeservesToWin www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... Another quick photo to celebrate! #MinCup26

mineralcup.org

Congratulations, Quartz! — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Congratulations to our 2026 Champion Quartz! Please check back tomorrow for full celebration.

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The final stretch! One last photo to encourage you to vote for the quartz – a classic specimen of quartz with rutile running right through it #TeamQuartz #QuartzDeservesToWin Vote Quartz ! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

cristaux de rutile doré traversant un grand cristal de quartz

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It’s the year of quartz, and here’s another photo to convince you: quartz can produce magnificent massive crystals, but also delicate lace-like formations as this beautiful cluster of micro-quartz coloured by chlorite. #QuartzDeservesToWin www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

micro-cristallisation de quartz teinté de chlorite

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The time for quartz has come. Only quartz offers us such beauty as this chlorite quartz, where a plant world seems frozen for eternity. #QuartzDeservesToWin www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

chlorites intégrées dans un cristal de quartz géométrique

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Close your eyes... breathe in... when I snap my fingers, you’ll wake up and vote for Quartz!! Quartz is versatile: here’s a photo of fossilised bark completely covered in shiny brown quartz #QuartzDeservesToWin www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Final choices, and you know what’s right. Only quartz can bring so much joy to so many people in the world of mineralogy. My best quartz specimens from these next two days, starting with a smoky quartz veined with tourmaline. #QuartzDeservesToWin www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

cristal de quartz fumé traversé d'un tourmaline verte

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I like halite and cuprite as well, but let’s be serious at this point: only quartz offers such a wealth of shapes and colors—and so much enjoyment for amateur mineralogists like myself. #QuartzDeservesToWin #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Let's not forget that it's Monday, as the final contestants in #MinCup26 face off in nerve-wracking do-or-die showdowns. For this #MineralMonday, here's a yellow specimen of Uranocircite, a uranium-barium phosphate with a striking yellow color. #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

petits cristaux d'uranocircite dans une cavité

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A wonderful and versatile halite that everyone will, of course, prefer over its upstart competitor. A specimen from Silesia, Poland, just for your viewing pleasure. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

bloc de halite translucide rétroéclairée par une lumière bleutée

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Quartz is quartz (lala la lala) and deserves to win. But here’s a photo of skutterudite I just took for you anyway. Choose wisely! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I love both minerals, and I’m neither copper nor zinc. Cuprite for its rich burgundy color? Sphalerite for its hidden and often mind-blowing shimmer? Here’s a photo of sphalerite for you. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

My state of mind tonight: - Sphalerite, cuprite, skutterudite, halite and quartz: may the best one win. - Pyromorphite: (#Teamrevenge)² - Julienite: (#Teamrevenge)³ - Gadolinite/graphite: we’ll see tomorrow #MinCup26 In the meantime, here’s a photo of a silicone cast I’ve just made

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Today it’s time to pay tribute to this long-standing culinary companion of humankind, and to pay the ‘gabelle’ (an old French term for the salt tax). A photo of halite with magnificent translucent qualities, taken from a NL video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J1L... Vote for Halite! #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Cylindrite deserves a good thrashing, no doubt about it, but I’m still mourning the loss of gypsum, so I won’t be voting. As for julienite, it’s #TeamRevenge² A bit of lead all the same with this photo of galena, a mineral that’s abundant in the Naturae lapide collection. #MinCup26

cristaux tabulaires de galene couleur plomb

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It’s #MineralMonday, by the way. Far from the hustle and bustle of the #MinCup26 (vote for Putnisite), here’s a creamy, yellow and delicate specimen of Cocoinoite, a hydrated uranium phosphate that you’d be wise not to lick! #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

masse de cocoinoite, présentant un aspect crémeux, soyeux, humide, jaune clair

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

No, I’m not trying to influence your vote. But purple minerals like Putnisite are absolutely stunning. Just look at that grape agate! Its colour doesn’t hold a candle to Putnisite. Oh, how sad it would be if Putnisite didn’t win... #TeamRevenge www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The old favourite, the one that always comes first alongside pyrite in every collection: the magnificent and versatile quartz. Join the vast ranks of crystal enthusiasts, lovers of clean lines, transparency and shimmering colours. Vote for quartz! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Have you ever seen the reddish glints of a fine Bordeaux in a crystal glass, by candlelight in the evening? Cuprite has the colour of that elegance. Vote for Cuprite: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Cuprite is a difficult mineral to photograph, s its burgundy, red and dark pink sheen – which is magnificent to the naked eye – is subtle. Here is a photo of a specimen from China In short, you know which way my heart leans! Vote for Cuprite: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Don’t let Vesuvianite get the better of us! Vote for Skutterudite’s beautiful, menacing metallic sheen and we’ll toast our opponents’ skulls! (before dying from arsenic, cobalt and nickel, #TeamPoison) www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 2 Match 2 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Skutterudite vs Vesuvianite Credit: James St John and Enrico Bonacina

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Yep, definitely #TeamSkutterudite Because #TeamPoison Vote : www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I love vesuvianite – its clarity and the clean lines of its crystals, which sometimes display such beautiful transparency. Here is a fine example from the collection. But I haven’t made up my mind yet; I’m torn by my attraction to beautiful metallic minerals. #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Well, azurite… I’ve seen far too much of it, and its blue isn’t all that marvellous, even though I live near Chessy. Bad faith mode activated. Because today it’s #teamSphalerite! Here’s a photo full of subtle reflections to win you over! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I don’t know, I don’t know. Is it basic graphite, the foundation of everything, so obvious? Or is it magnificent cassiterite, humanity’s companion, whose very name evokes adventure and thanks to which we had the Bronze Age and can now preserve food? www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 1 Match 16 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Cassiterite vs Graphite Credit: Domenico Preite / M. Castello and Carles Millan

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I really love chocolate, but let’s be honest, who can resist the blue of chrysocolla? I don’t have a photo to hand, but here’s a little flash of azurite blue – a companion mineral – that will subtly influence you… #MinCup26 #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

To take a break from the frantic pace of the #MinCup26 and to celebrate #MineralMonday, I’d like to share these lovely andorite crystals with their beautiful, shiny metallic grey lustre, paired with quartz and golden sphalerite. #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

cristaux gris d'andorite, sphalérite et fleur de quartz

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I must admit that #TeamPoison has some strong arguments. So here’s a bit of support for this sulphide, my favourite mineral family. A little photo from the Naturae Lapides collection. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

chaos de cristaux réguliers d'arsenopyrite

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A little support for the first candidate, who doesn’t really need it, with two examples from the collection. www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0CQ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J1L... www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

youtube.com

03.AA.20 - Halite ‐ #B87 - Minéraux

YouTube video by Naturae Lapides

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Bye bye, pyrrhotite. I’m starting to think I’m a jinx for every mineral I support. I’m not saying another word, especially when it comes to a sulphide versus halide showdown. Vote for ArsenoHalite! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 1 Match 13 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Arsenopyrite vs Halite Credit: Harold Moritz and Corentin Desseux

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Unlike the aloof cylindrite, pyrrhotite gets on well with its friends pyrite and sphalerite. In this photo, they’re cheering up a calcite sphere that can’t get over being eliminated. #VotePyrrhotite! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

calcite, boulangerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

How could the elegant Pyrrhotite possibly lose to a blackish mineral shaped like fish sticks? I’m still reeling from Calcite’s defeat – don’t push me too far. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

etoile de quartz sous une tente de pyrrhotite

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It’s the home stretch, #TeamCalcite! Vote for #Calcite, the only one to produce such a variety of wonders as this delicate little sphere! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Come on, #TeamCalcite! We’re catching up – let’s not let the wonderful Calcite fall behind. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... A beautiful calcite flower to keep you motivated! #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Despite a fine comeback, Gypsum were defeated; such is the glorious unpredictability of sport! Now it’s the turn of another giant: calcite – vote for it! Don’t let yourself be moved by the heart-wrenching story of Julienite. www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

mineralcup.org

Vote in Round 1 Match 11 — Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Vote in Calcite vs Julienite Credit: Harold Moritz and David Hospital

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Come on, Gypsum, you can do it #TeamGypsum! A fascinating mineral – and it’s fluorescent too! Vote for it: www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Hafnon suffered a heavy 3–1 defeat yesterday, despite a rock-solid defence. Pressure from the supporters... Today, don’t be taken in by that pyromorphite and its alluring charms – vote for Gypsum, humanity’s long-standing companion! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup26

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Please say Haf-oui (yes I'm french)

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Today it’s #teamTalc for the Mineral Cup. Talc, that tender and soft representative of the Mohs scale! www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aucg... #MinCup26 #MinCup #mineral #crystal

youtube.com

09.EC.05 - Talc - #D35 - Minéraux

YouTube video by Naturae Lapides

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Two photos of delicate Franklinite crystals for this #MineralMonday, showing their striations and the contrast with the white matrix. And don’t forget the Mineral Cup! #MinCup26 www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup #mineral #crystal #macrophotography #focusstacking

Cristaux métalliques de Franklinite noire sur une matrice blanche, arêtes arrondies et stries de croissance

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Naturae Lapides @naturaelapides.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

No one can do that to the venerable quartz! #MinCup26 www.mineralcup.org/2026/vote-re... #MinCup #mineral #crystal

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Reposted by Naturae Lapides

CatWithRocks @catwithrocks.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Bournonite has my vote today! It is a mineral species I have fallen in love with over the years! #MinCup26

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