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Second Geeses
@secondgeeses.bsky.social
Just some second gooses
I also really loved this #Geothite.

#MinCup25SideQuest
October 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I am stoked that #Kyanite won #MinCup25!

I also got to see so many cool minerals at the Smithsonian that weren't a part of the bracket this year. #Smithsonite maybe takes the cake and I hope to vote for it next year!

#MinCup25SideQuest
October 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Either #mannardite has no votes or the results are glitchy :(

I don't have either #cuprosklodowskite or mannardite, but I do have the #radioactive minerals display from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Smithsonian has a bunch of #kyanite! A lot of it is cut like gems but there is also this cool tall piece.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 23, 2025 at 3:00 AM
For #carpathite vs #tugtupite I don't have photos exactly but I want to share the florescents display!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I promised a closer look at this #baryte if it moved on to Round Two and I keep my promises to this self-imposed side quest.

I would love to hear how professionals would describe the flaky layers and speckling. I'm sure "halva" isn't the right comparison?

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
September 18, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Mental health is still rocky but improving. I haven't yet been back to the museum, but! I found #haüyne a couple of days after its first match and grabbed a photo.

Round TWO!!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Also the world's smallest(?) kyanite. There are more of these too, so whichever moves on will get brand-new photos for Round 2.

I'm not gonna post over the weekend, I hope everyone has a great one.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Posting Round 1 Match 13 early because I need to spend time away from social media, but these are REALLY good ones!

So much #Topaz! There is so much topaz and I'm a sucker for gems.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 12

Just #zunyite today! I think this is the best mine name I've seen yet.

Someone tell me if I should look again for #molybdenite but I don't think it's on display.

#MinCup25SideQuest
September 12, 2025 at 1:07 AM
After finding #titanite I thought my luck was going to run out, but #thortvietite was waiting in a display near the back of the gallery.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 11

I was so stinking excited to find BOTH of today's minerals at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

#titanite is displayed in this gorgeous circle of cut stones (and there's more if it moves on!)

#MinCup25SideQuest
September 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
And #MinCup25 Round 1 Match 10, #wavellite

I am loving the habit of the crystals in this, looking like rays coming out of a star!

#MinCup25SideQuest
September 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Catching up on #MinCup25 Round 1 Match 10, sneaking in under the wire!

Contender #dioptase with a two-for-one sample sale!

Both beautiful deep green crystals! I'm a fan!

#MinCup25SideQuest
September 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Bonus because I couldn't find kosmochlor

I didn't realize that #talc could be so pretty!?
September 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I couldn't capture just how deep blue this #azurite is.

And although I couldn't find #kosmochlor I am FOR SURE voting for it.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
One example of cool but not the actual contender

Is "hairy" how geologist describe #actinolite?

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
OK here's the question - if I can't find one of the contenders, should I post something else that is cool but unrelated or just post the one mineral that the Smithsonian has on display?

#tugtupite
#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
For the second match in a row, I could only find one contender at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. #sanidine was elusive, however #hematite wasn't too tough to find. I love the layers on this!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 7, 2025 at 12:40 AM
And for Round 1, Match 6 I could only find #leucite which I will share along with its neighbors spodumene, ilvaite, and cancrinite.

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 6, 2025 at 12:39 AM
It looks like #silver might be on the way out, so I'll share the silver and copper display.

I'm starting to learn the words for the different shapes that crystals make, so shout out to silver and copper for being (sometimes) dendritic!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 6, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I need you to know that you are all getting *bespoke* *hand-selected* *customized for the moment* photos. I'm just weird enough to do this for (maybe) a month.

Anyway, I'm getting photos for the next two rounds, in the mean time MORE #calcite

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 5, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The Smithsonian does have several very cool #baryte pieces. We'll start with this large piece and if it makes it through I'll have more to share including a closer look at the piece directly above.
September 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
OK, one last #calcite for the road before we move onto tonight's face off!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest
September 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM