How to Mount Mineral Specimens

Collect several pieces of mounting material. Use found materials such as spare pieces of stained wood, or purchase items specifically as mounts. Clear acrylic mounts can be purchased from mineral companies. Acrylic is sturdy and the absence of color allows you to display any mineral.

Plug in a a hot-glue gun and allow it to heat up. Apply a small amount of hot glue to the side of the specimen that will rest on the base. Press the side with the hot glue onto the mount and hold it in place until the glue has cooled. This should take about a minute.

Insert a support rod for very large minerals. Ascertain if the mineral will stay upright before gluing. If it tips to one side, glue an acrylic support bar into place. Mark where the support bar goes on the mount base. Glue it into place before gluing the mineral specimen. The specimen will rest on the support bar.

Create a label to go with the mineral specimen. The label can contain the entire mineral name or a number that refers to the name on an information placard. Create the label from paper or use plastic tags.