01
Trimming
A thorough mechanical process with the goal of unleashing the specimen's full potential — structure, fractures and crystal stability assessed before anything is removed.
Discover more →For private collectors, museums & dealers
Professional mineral specimen preparation
A skillful combination of technical knowledge and sense of aesthetics — every specimen studied individually before it undergoes any treatment.
Studied before it is treated
Highlighting each specimen without altering its nature
Led by Francesco Guzzo and supported by an experienced team of geologists and art experts, The Mineral Studio carefully studies each specimen individually and before it undergoes any treatment. The goal is to provide the best possible result by best highlighting the unique features of each specimen whilst not altering its very nature.
Every specimen is intrinsically unique, and it also holds an irreplaceable value for its owner, either economic or sentimental. The Mineral Studio is fully aware of it, and treats all specimens with the same level of care and professionalism.
More about the studioServices
Four ways we work on a specimen
02
Chemical cleaning
Clay, oxides, patinas, stains and residues from previous treatments removed in a targeted and safe manner, each species on its own protocol.
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03
Repair & restoration
Fragments repositioned to their original geometry and crystallographic orientation; conservative restoration that stays minimally invasive, compatible and reversible.
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04
Other services
Coming soonCustom acrylic bases — a perpetual socket for the specimen instead of hot glue or modelling clay — and professional mineral photography with Mark Mauthner.
Discover more →True professional preparation
From assessment to finished specimen
STEP 01
Assessment
First, we understand the specimen.
We examine its structure, fractures, stability, mineral species and any previous interventions.
STEP 02
Proposal
Then, we determine what should and should not be done.
You receive a clear explanation of the proposed treatment, expected outcome, timeframe and price before any work begins.
STEP 03
Preparation
The specimen is treated according to its specific requirements.
Mechanical preparation, cleaning, chemical treatments and precision work are carried out using controlled procedures adapted to the material.
STEP 04
Return
The finished specimen is checked, stabilised and documented.
We perform a final quality check before carefully packaging and returning the specimen with its original identification and treatment record.
About us
A studio built on trust at every stage
The Mineral Studio adopts a client-centric approach, fueled by core values rooted in trust: confidentiality and discretion, timing and quality, transparency and communication. The studio works internationally, and constantly invests in R&D — internally and through collaborations with universities and top-class experts.
Private collectors · Museums · Dealers
About the studio
The laboratory · Vaulx-en-Velin, Lyon
Latest from the journal
Notes from the laboratory
01 April 2026 · Cleaning
Why fluorite hates your ultrasonic bath
Cleavage, cavitation and the three cases where the bath does more harm than the clay it removes.
Read →18 March 2026 · Restoration
Reversible repairs, and why disclosure sells
What a treatment record should contain, and how buyers actually read one.
Read →02 March 2026 · Trimming
Where to cut: reading a matrix before the saw
Composition, balance and the one millimetre that decides how a piece displays.
Read →What people say
Collectors on the work
★★★★★A quartz group I had written off came back with the whole front face clear. The treatment sheet told me exactly what had been done.
★★★★★We send our fragile Moroccan material here before every show. Nothing has arrived back damaged in four years.
★★★★★Advice first, work second. I was told to leave two of my five pieces exactly as they were — that is why I came back.
★★★★★Documentation at museum standard, and the mounts they built for our display cases solved a problem we had for years.
Get in touch
Interested in our service?
Send us a photo and details of your specimen for an initial assessment. We'll contact you to arrange an appointment.
Studio
22 rue Marius Grosso, bat A (Cristosud)69120 Vaulx-en-Velin, France
Visits
By appointment only