Sometimes even the most clearly labelled specimen will have you scratching your head in trying to find out what it is or where it is really from!
Working with old collections and labels it is possible to encounter changes in mineral names via reclassification, odd names or variety names, mispelling or just illegible/faded handwriting.
The same goes for localities where changes in country or regional boundaries can be as hard to decipher as an abbreviation that only means something to the creator.
If you encounter both together things can become really arduous.
Getting items referenced and correctly catalogued can be very satisfying but also extremely frustrating if all avenues explored lead to nowhere.
If all else fails getting a second opinion can sometimes help, as it did with our mystery malachite item.
The piece was clearly labelled, but it was not going to up the truth to me. Without any luck on my own I decided to send the pictures to Roger Lang and Carsten Slotta.
Within minutes of receiving both had replied with Brixlegg in Austria. Roger in fact sent me a Mindat link, which I must have been past already and missed.
This offers proof to the adage that often "two heads are better than one", three in this case.
Here at TVM we have a little pile of "homeless" minerals, and it is quite surprising after some time or another information source arrives how many mysteries do get resolved.
