Listing Items on e-Rocks.com

General Notes for your Guidance

Published/Unpublished Content:

The e-Rocks site allows you to add content/items for your own use only, or for displaying and or sharing. We classify these as unpublished and published.

When something is unpublished only you will be able to see the information added.

When something is published we also provide some optional sections such as catalogue information, which are private (only you can see), or public, or can be seen by people you allow.

So if your collection item is published, people will be able to see it but not see the information that is personal to you.

An item for sale will not be viewable on the site until it is published.

Photographs:

You do not have to add photos with your items on e-Rocks, it is possible to add/import items first and add photos later.

For your mineral catalogue you will be able to see and use everything via your user account as unpublished items.

For other uses on the site such as displaying, selling and sharing we do need photos for you to be able to publish.

We have a choice of category for your photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please use the categories to present your photos in the correct places. It is ok to include Label images in the Item images but this will use some of your 10 images allocation, and there is a special Tab for Labels in the saved page. Please do not duplicate pictures in different sections.

In the item page we provide a media viewer for your Item images and Spins plus separate Tabs for Labels Analysis and Video if added.

Photo Size/Scaling

For ease of uploading images should not be greater than 500KB in size (png gif jpg jpeg format.) 

The pixel width should be set to 1250 pixels either tall or wide, with the other side up to 1250 pixels.

Our website will automatically resize photos (proportionally) down to fit 1250 pixels on the longest edge, we recommend you do not post photos that are smaller than 350 pixels on the longest edge.

We recommend you do the sizing yourself as although the photo-sizing system is sophisticated we can not be held responsible for any degradation that might arise.

The photos will be displayed in the order they are uploaded - though you can change the order once uploaded

First Photo/Thumbnail or Gallery Picture

The intended Thumbnail should be made roughly square and uploaded as the first image (moved to the first image position).

By default the system will take the first image and make it the thumbnail. If the picture is not square the system will crop it to shortest dimension and resize the image down to fit the site.

(A long thin first photo eg a tourmaline will result with the middle section shown as the TN, it is better to use a square photo of the termination.)

Photo-editing

Please use Photo-editing software to resize, sharpen, compress your image. We recommend you use the software to autocorrect white balance and brightness.

Always make other enhancements with moderation (over use of these tools can ruin a good photo) Keep colours realistic.

Photographic backgrounds should always be black, white or shaded grey. Brightly coloured or manufactured backgrounds are not allowed!

If you have a big blob of Rock-tack, a finger or a stand on view – please feel free to “airbrush” it out, but please never use this technique on negative aspects of the specimen!

Also please never use applied scales, insets, or scripts on your photos.

Please also see our page on Photography and Copyright for further guidance.

Item Fields:

The item upload form has been designed to be intuitive and minimise time spent adding data. After adding photos the form is divided into sections to guide you through logically.

Presets

There are presets to each section that allow you to temporalily hold a value in a field for your session, or until you overwrite or update a different value. This is really useful if you are adding a flat of calcite specimens to Tsumeb mine for your Tsumeb Calcite Auction. All of those fields can be entered once - preset and will be completed ready each time the form is opened.

Section 1: WHAT ARE YOU ADDING?

Sets up the page for the item you are adding and tells the website where you want to see it

Channels

We have one upload form that switches around depending on where you want the uploaded item to appear. Presettable simple tick boxes let you set the channel you want.

*Any item can be listed in a collection and another channel by ticking the Collection box first.

When the channel selections are set up - one or two further presettable drop down boxes appear.
 

(You can set up Collections, Fixed Price or book Auction pages via the page set up or ask Admin.)

Once selected you are now ready to post your item into the correct page of the website. The input form will detect your choices and offer different options tailored to your needs. If you save the preset these will remain in place for the duration of your session or until you change

Always use your description in conjunction with your photos.

The Upload form allows you to add locality and specimen information via these fields.

Section 2: NOW ADD GENERAL INFORMATION

This section contains the most important indexing data for your item, your mineral title (and the minerals described) and the locality.

The website will check your mineral title and make all the assignments for you as it saves. It will fix errors, and if we detect something unknown will ask you to check and/or input a new "Mineral".

Our background database system is huge but we are always adding new, better revised information - especially mineral varieties, habits and localities. New mineral names are autochecked in the background with Mindat.

Tip: If you are adding several items, or using the site repeatedly it is useful if your browser "autocomplete" is enabled. This will recognise and offer lists of previous titles as you type - click one matching, or similar and edit - saves time.

If you are adding a batch of minerals all with the same details make sure you set the preset and these fields will remain completed each time you open the form.

Once something new is added we will cross check, approve/merge edit according to each entry.

In this section there are additional optional fields to allow you extend this information in more detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*If your locality or region is not present on the database you can add a new one - please see Adding New Localities.

Section 3:  HISTORY & LABELS

This section is not compulsory and can be collapsed/hidden by clicking the arrow in the header.

e-Rocks has a Provenance section, this section allows you link your item to a named collector/collection/institution or historic dealer.

Once a catalogue is indexed a Tab linked to the catalogue information will show on your item page.

 

Section 3:  DIMENSIONS & DESCRIPTION

This section is contains compulsory size and description information as well as optional additional descriptive fields.

 

 

Description Freeform: the textbox in the upload form allows you to create freeform text to describe your specimen

You may also switch to use raw HTML code. This will allow you to use basic enhancements, text effects or tables to your description.

 

Never add your own page templates, scripts or logos/advertising/offsite links within this field.

For Selling:

• Make the wordage of your description informative, educational and relevant to what is being described.
• Include information about the locality or the mineral which makes it of interest.
• Make sure you point out any damage or impairments to the piece, anything that might not be to the customer’s enjoyment should be there in the description. This will in the long run save you money in returns, lost sales and possible loss of reputation.
• Always mention if the specimen has been sawn, repaired or otherwise treated (calcite removal, galena “brightening” spring to mind)

For general content guidelines refer here

We do need to point out that under our Moderation scheme – we will find it difficult to credit a selling fee if the customer is returning any item because an impairment (above) is not mentioned in the specimen description.

If you are adding a collection item it is worth considering these points as it will save editing if you ever come to sell your item.

Other things to think about adding, Selling or Collecting:

Provenance, locality or history of the piece: If the specimen belonged to someone known, or is old or comes from a locality that is now a landfill site it is always good to tell the story. This goes also for how you acquired the piece. We also have the supporting History Database if you want to record your item against this.

Labels: Relate your description to these, and add photos, (if selling don’t forget to include when you post the specimen off!!)

Mineral/Paragenesis information: if you are listing something that is rare or of an unusual composition always mention this. The website automically adds a Tab containing a breakdown of the minerals listed with basic information - with links to the full database information.

Fluorescence: if the piece is fluorescent make sure the buyer knows what colour, what intensity and UV band. Also phosphorescence. Add photos of the fluorescence to the images.

Odd or unusual associations/formations: if the specimen is a pseudomorph make sure you add type and “of what?” ie chalcedony after fluorite.

Our database will generate reports for mineral pseudomorphs based on the title information Mineral A Psm Mineral B - the description will support this.

Crystallography: especially odd modifications and multiple generation/recrystallised.

Anything Else: explain anything that is not already accounted for that makes the specimen either valuable or desirable to own. Suggest aesthetics, colour, lustre, transparency and ways to display.

Conditional Sections Depending Whether You Are Selling or Adding a Collection Item

Depending on how you have set your channel at the top of the upload form you will see sections specially set up for your needs.

Selling

Selling gives you all the fields need to post your item for sale - prices, postage costs etc

See Selling Details here

Collection

Collection allows you to add all your personal data about your item - and whether you want this published, shared or private.

See Collection Details here