Hi to all

I am a retired chartered accountant and have been an amateur Mineral Collector since the early 1960s.

I have a particular interest in Australian Minerals (especially New South Wales).

Do I have any particular favourites? No, but I do have a liking for Cassiterite (any locality - worldwide) and Smithsonite from Broken Hill, NSW (in fact anything from NSW).

I sometimes try and "adopt" a mineral for one year and add a few of that species to my collection, particularly in miniature/thumbnails. Previous years have included Zeolites, Feldspars, Galena, Hematite, Baryte, Ferberite, Fluorite, Quartz and Sphalerite.

In 2016, I was hoping to start a collection of micro minerals. I started at least, but did not get very far. I only succeeded in "making" two micromount specimens and then I wasn't able to photograph them very well.

My challenge for 2017 was to improve my micro mounting ability and to successfully photograph at least one micromount, but I failed!

I always try to add a couple of different (especially locality wise) Cassiterite specimens each year and any Wheal Coates specimens. The last Wheal Coates specimen was added in 2025.

My aim for 2026 is to try and complete my ongoing 2016-2025 micromount challenges which I keep failing !!!!!.

I also like to look up at the night sky and know that I'm sponsoring a mineral locality that I can always see!

I am also an avid collector of mineral books, including many in foreign languages.

As for my photographs, they are not perfect but provide a suitable record for my collection, but also I think, species and locality.
My photos are all freely available for use by anyone, provided there is suitable / appropriate acknowledgement.

In the event of my passing I hope that my mindat collection catalogue will be made freely accessible (hopefully it will be up-to-date by then) - as of 2026 only about halfway there.