I started collecting minerals in 1987 when I was a student at the geography-biology faculty of the Moscow Regional Pedagogical High School. Upon graduating I taught geology at the school for three years, and now work for the Museum of Geology and Mineralogy at this same institute.
I have always been interested in collecting crystals with odd or unusual
characteristics - those that are split, distorted, or have different
inclusions. I find it a challenge to reconstruct a particular crystal's
"private history" from it's present form and structure.
I have acquired most of the minerals in my collection during numerous field trips throughout Russia and other CIS countries. Recently I have started purchasing and trading for specimens at shows, which helps me acquire new minerals from rare and exotic locations. I am especially interested in collecting giant crystals of rare minerals.
