ABSTRACT
People have always been fascinated by rocks, minerals and fossils. Specimens can be found in the homes of ancient peoples from China to Rome. Rocks and minerals as souvenirs have always been common and provide conversation pieces. Mining and mineral exploration open the earth to visitors attracting the serious collector and the curious. Industries that build up around mines and communities that grow and fade with the fate of the resource are important additional elements to the sites’ appeal and an important part of a region’s heritage. Mineral exploration, even if no mine is opened, leaves maps, specimens, descriptions, and stories that can interest heritage tourists and collectors.
