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Archive for the ‘What's New’ Category
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Are you fascinated by rocks and minerals? Find yourself picking up pebbles? Drawn to shiny things? You may in fact be a rock geek. Join us at Mineral World and discover a whole world of ways to indulge your interest.
As a member of our team, you will be responsible for greeting visitors, answering rock-related questions, selling rock-related stuff, creating rock-related merchandise, and cleaning up rock-related messes. Some research, writing, and marketing activities are also a part of our work.
We need mature responsible individuals who want to work 2 – 4 days per week every week. Shifts are 9:30 to 5:30 and available days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday and/or Monday. Retail experience is an asset. Extensive knowledge of rocks and minerals is not a must, but enthusiasm is.
If you think you’d be a good fit, please email us your resume at info@mineralworld.ca. Questions are welcome at 250-655-4367.
Tags: Jobs
Posted in What's New
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
Why not flex your creative muscles? Take advantage of our “Make Your Own Jewellery Days” every THursday in July and August. Choose from hundreds of semi-precious gemstone beads and silver findings to create your own unique piece. We’ll provide the tools, show you how to use them, and our experienced staff can help you choose the stones that are just right for you.
You can make your own jewellery in-store on any Thursday in July and August, starting July 15th. Our store is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, but jewellery-making will only be available between 10:a00 am nad 4:00 pm. Must be at least 10 years of age to participate and kids under 12 must have adult supervision.
Posted in What's New
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
 Oh, guys. We got the most amazing Labradorite specimens in the store today. Seriously, I almost moaned as I unwrapped each piece because they were so beautiful. You gotta check them out!
Tags: Labradorite
Posted in What's New
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
 Schober family after winning Mineral World's large amethyst geode draw. Congratulations to Tim Schober and his family, winners of our large amethyst geode. They were very excited and we were happy to see it go to a good home.
Didn’t win? You can still buy one. Mineral World’s amethyst geodes are from Brazil and they range in price from $300 to $1750.
Posted in What's New
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Mineral World is now hiring. If you have a particular love for all things “rock,” enjoy learning more about them, can talk to people, and are available to work full or part-time over the summer, we’d love to hear from you! Send your resume to info@mineralworld.ca.
Tags: Hiring, Job
Posted in What's New
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Did you know? Bottle-green Moldavite is a tektite believed to have been formed by a meteorite impact in Germany over 15 million years ago.
The event which gave birth to Moldavite was one of tremendous power. The force of the impact explosion has been estimated at six trillion megatons, far more than all the atom bombs on earth. The heat was high enough to vaporize rock, and the main body of the meteorite is believed to have passed entirely through the Earth’s crust.
Its bottle-green glass colour led many to believe it was an artificial product, but we now know that pieces of Moldavite are widely distributed in Tertiary and early Pleistocene deposits in Bohemia and Moravia. It was once believed to be a form of obsidian, but its fusibility and chemistry argue against a volcanic origin.
Though Moldavite has been promoted by some as extraterrestrial, that is probably not the case. According to tektite theory, a meteorite impact melts material from the Earth’s surface and catapults it up to several hundred kilometres away from the impact site. The molten material cools and solidifies to glass. On this theory, a meteorite impact causes their formation, but the precursor material of tektites is primarily of terrestrial origin, as determined from isotopic measurements. Today, the terrestrial origin of tektites is widely accepted based on the results of geochemical and isotopic studies.
High quality Moldavite stones are often used in hand-crafted jewellery.
The total amount of Moldavite scattered around the world is estimated at 270 tons. There are now only four Moldavite mines that are in full operation in the Czech Republic. It is anticipated that commercial mining of this gemstone will cease within the decade.
In modern times, Moldavite has emerged as one of the stones most prized for metaphysical purposes. Many claim a physical reaction to Moldavite — the “Moldavite Flush.” It is thought to be a strong transformational stone.
Tags: Jewellery, Meteor, Moldavite
Posted in What's New
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
“Boulder opal” is a term used for a rough or a cut  gemstone that displays opal within its surrounding rock matrix. Opal often forms within voids or fractures in its host rock and specimens of boulder opal reveal this aspect of opal’s origin. The contrast of color can be striking when a bright flash of opal is seen within the surrounding rock material. Many people enjoy the natural appearance of boulder opal and find these gemstones to be beautiful, interesting and educational.
Boulder opal is found in Australia where precious opal forms in veins and patches within brown ironstone boulders. When opal intrudes into cracks and seams in the host rock (usually ironstone),
it is called SEAM boulder opal. When the opal is mixed through the ironstone it is called MATRIX opal. Hardness ranges between 5.5 and 6 on the Moh’s scale.
Boulder opal is very durable due to the ironstone backing the opal forms on. Because water content within the opal is very low it almost never cracks as it ages.
Boulder opal is believed to aid inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight and helps recall past lives.
Come check out the Boulder Opal specimens, pendants, and drilled pendants at Mineral World!
Posted in What's New
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Have you always wanted to own your own large amethyst geode, but couldn’t afford to buy one? Now’s your chance! Come into Mineral World before April 30, 2010 and you can enter to win our draw for a beautiful large amethyst geode (retail value $1250).
There’s no purchase necessary, but you do have to be 18 years of age to enter. If you are the happy winner, you will be responsible for picking up your new geode or paying for any shipping costs.
For those of you not familiar with amethyst or geodes, here is a little more information:
Amethyst has been prized for its beauty and its legendary energies for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks believed that amethyst would prevent intoxication, calm anger, and relieve frustrated passion. It is the provinical stone of Ontario and is also found in chevron bands in Nova Scotia. The world’s major supplier is Brazil. It is the birthstone for February and the most valuable from of Quartz.
Geodes are formed when hot liquid rock (magma), rick in quartz, fills an empty hole (or vug) in the host rock. This host is relatively cool, so the geode hardens from the outside towards the middle, leaving solidifying rings rather like a retreating tide leaves lines in the sand. This process takes thousands of year. As each layer is deposited, different chemicals add different colours (Amethyst’s colour is due to cobalt). Because of shrinkage, a void may form in the geode’s centre, into which crystals can grow.
Tags: amethyst, geode, Win
Posted in What's New
Monday, March 8th, 2010
Yesterday ended another successful “Be A Tourist” weekend. This wonderful promotion from Attractions Victoria is a great opportunity for locals to check out some of the hotels, restaurants, and attractions that millions of tourists enjoy each year. At Mineral World we welcomed almost 2000 visitors and a great time was had by all.
Now we are turning our attention to Spring Break. Make sure you include us in your holiday activities. The Scratch Patch is filled with fresh stones and we’ve got all kinds of cool new stone-based items from our annual buying trip.
Posted in What's New
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
 We’re back from the 2010 buying trip in Tucson and working hard to get all of our beautiful new gemstones out on the floor for your viewing (and buying) pleasure!
First out of the gate has been Larimar. While we’ve had this unique gemstone at Mineral World before, the quality of this year’s Larimar (including jewellery, beads, and raw specimens) is so stunningly beautiful, it’ll make you cry.
For those of you not familiar with Larimar, let me fill you in. This blue beauty of the Caribbean, exists in only one region in the world, close to Baoruco, province of Barahona, Dominican Republic, not far from the border to Haiti. Only workers from the local villages are allowed to mine the stone.
In beautiful shades of soft aqua-blue and green it gets its colour from the copper content. It has a dappled appearance with white cloud-like patterns or cobweb-like reticulate patterns on the surface. The fabulous sea colours evoke the Caribbean waters – no other gem is quite like this. Its hardness varies from a five on the Moh’s scale to an eight and this depends on the colour of the stone; that is, the more intense blue or green the piece is the harder Larimar is.
The rarity of this beautiful stone and the skill required to work with it dictates its high price. There are different qualities of cabochons available, the best having no impurities (grey or brown marks). Our own selection of Larimar is made using premium quality stone.
In Europe in the 1980s, Larimar was commonly known as the Atlantis Stone and even today, customers at mineral and gem shows often refer to and seek the Atlantis Stone, rather than Larimar.
Larimar purports to increase speech and communication skills, support the healing process (thymus), and increase the possibility of regulating thyroid gland malfunction. Larimar enables the flow of energy within a person and helps promote an open mind to changes and improvement. It also softens the stress and tension that problems bring.
Larimar is used in cabochon form in rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets and earrings but only 10% of the stone mined is suitable for jewellery.
Coming from an island with much humidity, Larimar can be placed in clean fresh water for a few hours to be cleaned and also to absorb some water; you might be surprised of the outcome, specially if your piece has become somewhat clear due to, for example, too long sun exposure.
Tags: blue gemstone, Caribbean, Larimar, new arrivals, Tucson 2010
Posted in What's New
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