The number painted on the back of this mineral corresponds to an index card with information on that specimen. The identity of a specimen never gets lost this way.

To label specimens this way, the mineral must be painted with india ink or a similar paint, and when the ink dries write out an identification number on it. The best way to label a mineral is to give every mineral type a number, and each specimen of that mineral a letter of the alphabet. For example, if one labels the mineral Hematite #27, and he wants to label his fifth specimen of Hematite, he would give it a label saying " 27-E ".

A mineral should be labeled only on a sturdy area on the back of a specimen as not to depreciate it. Fragile, small, and other minerals that cannot be labeled with ink should have an identification number on a piece of paper in the box where the specimen is kept.

Copyright © 1997 - 1999 Hershel Friedman, all rights reserved