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Second Geeses

@secondgeeses.bsky.social

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 2

It's a #MinCup25 side quest thread!

I went to the @smithsonianmag.bsky.social Museum of Natural History to scope out some of our contenders and will add to this thread until my ADHD runs out or someone tells me to stop!

I will use #MinCup25SideQuest hashtag if you would like to mute this thread.

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Reposted by Second Geeses

dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 19d

michael?
peter.

Page from fox in socks by dr seuss. Drawing of weird little four legged bugs with faces.
Text reads:
What do you know about tweetle beetles?
Well
When tweetle beetles fight, it's called
a tweetle beetle battle.

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 21d

Have minerals you want to see run in #MinCup26? The nomination form is open! www.mineralcup.org/nominations

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · 21d

I also really loved this #Geothite.

#MinCup25SideQuest

Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · 21d

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

A large, shiny, bubbly, blue Smithsonite

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Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 23d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Spooky Season Post Monger @dwaynefuhlhage.bsky.social · 23d

#TeamPoison needs your vote!

"Copper-rich #dioptase dust is toxic, leading to vomiting and liver or kidney damage if accidentally ingested."

#MinCup25

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 24d

#MinCup25 Semifinals 2: Beautiful optics are in play for our last semifinal round between reindeer blood #tugtupite and desert queen #dioptase.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r4...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Semifinal 2 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Tugtupite vs Dioptase Photo credits: Parent Géry and Michael Roarke

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · 27d

Go vote #Tugtupite!!!

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 27d

With 4 hours left to vote, #perovskite is leading by 53 votes over #tugtupite. Your campaigning and recruiting of new voters will decide this match!

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · 28d

#MinCup25 Quarterfinal 2: It's #perovskite and its intriguing structure against #tugtupite's collection of optical tricks for this quarterfinal match!

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Reposted by Second Geeses

Nadine, Haunter of Rocks 👻 @nadwgab.bsky.social · 28d

Team hematite! Because sometimes it forms an ominous orb. Hematite is well known for its botryoidal (lumpy, grape-like) habit #minerals #MinCup25

A dark brown hematite hemisphere with reddish tint and smooth surface with curving lines. It's sitting on my nitrile gloved hand.

From the Natural History Museum, London's collections.

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · 29d

I don't boil them first when I pan fry and they come out golden brown and delicious!!

Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · 29d

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

10 samples of radioactive minerals on public display. They range in color from brown to greenish to bright yellow.

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 23

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

5 pieces of kyanite, the one on the left is tall and rough. The other four are much smaller and cut into rectangular gems.

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 23

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 7: It's high-pressure #kyanite against deep-space #taenite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Round 2 Match 7 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Taenite Photo credits: Harold Moritz

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 20

For #carpathite vs #tugtupite I don't have photos exactly but I want to share the florescents display!

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest

The lights are turned off and a UV light illuminates neon green and oranges in a collection of florescent minerals

With the lights on, this display looks like a basic collection of grey and brown rocks.

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 20

#MinCup Round 2 Match 4:
It’s a battle of mineralogical oddities as organic mineral #Carpathite battles against vs #Tugtupite, a mineral that looks like reindeer blood!

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2...

Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Round 2 Match 4 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Carpathite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: Michael Roarke

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 19

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

White flaky-looking layers at odd angles with dark specks throughout

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 19

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 3: It's a heavyweight match between industrial powerhouses as soft #baryte competes against rusty red #hematite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Round 2 Match 3 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Baryte vs Hematite Photo credits:

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 18

How is #stibnite losing???

#MinCup25
#MinCup25SideQuest

Two samples of stibnite, on the left is taller with dark grey/black columns and on the right is shorter, covering a brown rock like a bed of moss.

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 18

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 2: It's all about how minerals interact with humans as dramatic #stibnite faces off against futuristic #perovskite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Round 2 Match 2 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Stibnite vs Perovskite Photo credits: Gianandrea Ghirri and Enrico Bonacina

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 17

Thank you! Still feeling well enough to pun, so that's a good sign!

Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 17

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

A very neat gray rock with the middle kinda hollowed out and crystals growing inside!

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 17

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 1: It's a pair of striking blue beauties as #pectolite the uncrushable faces off against #hauyne, the phoenix from volcanic ashes!

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

www.mineralcup.org

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 12

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

A small 3.7 carat, blue gem cut kyanite.

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 12

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

A large gem cut, light blue sparkling topaz. 146.4 carats.

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Second Geeses @secondgeeses.bsky.social · Sep 12

#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

A white rock with some darker pointy crystals near the top center. The sign includes the name Zuynite, the chemical formula and "Electric Meatball mine, Quartzite, Arizona"

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Reposted by Second Geeses

Mineral Cup & Ore Cup @mineralcup.bsky.social · Sep 12

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 12: It's the visually-unmistakable #zunyite vs the physically funky #molybdenite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Round 1 Match 12 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Zunyite vs Molybdenite Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution

www.mineralcup.org

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