Stabilized/Repaired/Restored

Collector’s Edge Specimen Preparation Standards

Collector’s Edge Minerals Inc. operates its own laboratory for the purpose of processing mineral specimens for cleaning, trimming, stabilization, repair, restoration, and documentation. Our laboratory work has helped set the standards for our industry.  Our laboratory customers have confirmed what we believe; that the quality of the service received from the Collector’s Edge specimen preparation lab is without equal.  We are proud of the superior work done by the Collector’s Edge laboratory staff.    

Collector’s Edge Minerals, Inc. has always taken the lead in documenting and disclosing to customers all stabilization, repair, and restoration work performed or found on specimens coming through our lab. It is our policy to disclose whether a specimen has been stabilized, repaired, or restored in the description of the individual specimens on our website, on our invoice, and on the specimen label.

Stabilized

The matrix rock or crystal-to-crystal contacts of some specimens are so friable/fragile that the mineral specimen may require reinforcement with an adhesive substance.   Stabilization will help to preserve delicate mineral specimens during shipping and during handling and display in your collection.  When stabilization is performed on a specimen we make every effort to ensure that the stabilizing adhesive is “invisible” on the finished specimen.  Stabilization is disclosed in the description of the individual specimens on our website, on our invoice, and on the specimen label.

Repaired

The repair of a mineral specimen can be defined as the simple gluing of broken pieces back together in their original growth positions. No attempt is made to change the orientation of the reassembled pieces in order to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the specimen. Repairs are typically made using long-lasting, high-purity adhesives. When repairs are made, we make every effort to ensure that the areas being repaired are as “invisible” as possible on the finished specimen. Repairs are disclosed in the description of the individual specimens on our website, on our invoice, and on the specimen label.

Restored

A restored specimen is one of which a high-purity adhesive or other substance has been used to replace a missing crystal fragment during the repair process. Generally, replacement of small fragments lost from an otherwise complete crystal with an adhesive or other substance will be viewed as restoration provided that the area to be restored is constrained by the geometry of the original crystal. When restoration work is performed, we make every effort to ensure that the areas being restored are as “invisible” as possible on the finished specimen. This may include the “carving” of striations into the replaced crystal section that align with the striations observed on the adjoining natural crystal faces. Restoration is disclosed in the description of the individual specimens on our website, on our invoice, and on the specimen label.

Contact Information

Please contact CEMI at [email protected] with any questions regarding stabilization, repairs or restoration.