Young Mineral Collectors

06/04/2026

YMC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION!

The hobby of collecting rocks and minerals originates from a scientific endeavor, but is nowadays more commonly being promoted from an aesthetic perspective instead. What's your opinion on this change in focus to rocks and minerals being pretty objects?

We’d love to hear your thoughts, so write your replies in this post! Please try to limit responses to around 150 words, though longer responses may periodically be accepted. Select comments may be featured in YMC’s “The Spotlight” Newsletter! (Comments may be edited at the discretion of staff.)

05/21/2026

Welcome to the twentyfirst episode of Under the Radar where we feature outstanding members of the mineral community with a focus on young talents and beyond!

Our next guest is Tama Higuchi, a young mineral (thumbnail) collector and watercolor mineral artist (though she is not limited to that medium). In this video, Tama shows some of her favorite paintings and gives an insight into an artists' life.

The host for the show is young collector and mineral photographer, Matthew Parshchikov from Bonn, Germany.

Check out Tama here:
https://www.instagram.com/tamaminerals/
https://www.instagram.com/tama.mineral.art/

Watch here: Welcome to the twentyfirst episode of Under the Radar where we feature outstanding members of the mineral community with a focus on young talents and beyond!

Our next guest is Tama Higuchi, a young mineral (thumbnail) collector and watercolor mineral artist (though she is not limited to that medium). In this video, Tama shows some of her favorite paintings and gives an insight into an artists' life.

The host for the show is young collector and mineral photographer, Matthew Parshchikov from Bonn, Germany.

Check out Tama here:
https://www.instagram.com/tamaminerals/
https://www.instagram.com/tama.mineral.art/

Watch here: https://[youtu.be/-308YMDr99w?is=7VaS55_KC2SOKnRp](youtu.be/-308YMDr99w?is=7VaS55_KC2SOKnRp)

Welcome to the twentyfirst episode of Under the Radar where we feat...

05/13/2026

YMC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION!

What's a hobby without a community to share your interests with? Often the best way to get new people into the rock and mineral hobby is to share your enthusiasm and geek out about what you enjoy about it. Share some ways you've managed to get others interested or even addicted to rocks and minerals!

We’d love to hear your thoughts, so write your replies in this post! Please try to limit responses to around 150 words, though longer responses may periodically be accepted. Select comments may be featured in YMC’s “The Spotlight” Newsletter! (Comments may be edited at the discretion of staff.)

05/12/2026

Digging into adventure with the Young Mineral Collectors at Pinnacle 5 Minerals private Topaz Mountain Gem Mine. 💎⛏️
Join us for our second Colorado field trip on Saturday, June 13, 2026. It’ll be a day of topaz hunting, mineral discoveries, and unforgettable memories in the Colorado Rockies.
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All Ages welcome. Be sure to visit the link for additional information and instructions to planning your visit.

Link in bio!

05/06/2026

Our next YMC photo contest winner is Michał Ulikowski 🎉

Native Copper
Kazakhstan
29mm

"The specimen exhibits a dendritic structure typical for the species and presents an uncommon, vivid colouration attributed to the layer of secondary compounds containing copper at various levels of oxidation."

04/21/2026

Our next YMC photo contest winner is Joel Lopez Dominguez 🎉

Zeolite Var. Natrolite.
Pórticos de San Antonio, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Matrix: 4 x 3.5 cm, best formed xtl: 8 mm.

"I don't think I've seen this mineral reported in Tijuana before, which makes it interesting.

This specimen was revealed when a massive piece was broken apart; upon separating the piece, nature showed us this beauty."

04/20/2026

Welcome to the twentieth episode of Under the Radar where we feature outstanding members of the mineral community with a focus on young talents and beyond!

Our next guest is Chris Carmichael. Together with his wife, Teresa, they own a mineral business "Gold Country Crystals". In this video, Chris talks about how a dream can become reality and what he did to achieve success.

The host for the show is young collector and mineral photographer, Matthew Parshchikov from Bonn, Germany.

Check out Chris here: https://www.instagram.com/goldcountrycrystals/ https://www.goldcountrycrystals.com

Watch here: https://youtu.be/7Xuy55s1LaU

Under the Radar: Christopher Carmichael; Mineral Dealer, Gold Country Crystals

04/08/2026

Our next YMC photo contest winner is Ray Galeza 🎉

Azurite
Morenci, Greenlee County, Arizona
~2-3mm each

"Here's a fun grouping of vibrant blue azurite rosettes, each about 2-3mm across. [...] In the right lighting, the edges of the rosettes are translucent."

04/04/2026

YMC ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION!

Local Shows

Some of the major rock and mineral shows include Tucson, Denver, and Munich, but it's smaller, local shows that have always been the backbone to our hobby's community engagement. What is a local show you've attended? Let's talk about it!

We’d love to hear your thoughts, so write your replies in this post! Please try to limit responses to around 150 words, though longer responses may periodically be accepted. Select comments may be featured in YMC’s “The Spotlight” Newsletter! (Comments may be edited at the discretion of staff.)

03/27/2026

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of Under the Radar where we feature outstanding members of the mineral community with a focus on young talents and beyond!

Our next guest is Matt Metzler, Vice President of the Young Mineral Collectors organisation. In this video, Matt talks about his rise to the top of YMC and this year's YMC TGMS cases as well as his own experience in competitive display.

The host for the show is young collector and mineral photographer, Matthew Parshchikov from Bonn, Germany.

Check out Matt here:
https://www.instagram.com/matt.metz2/

Watch here:
https://youtu.be/L7ng0_72bdc

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of Under the Radar where we feature outstanding members of the mineral community with a focus on young talents and beyond!O...