What makes a mineral a favorite? In this fun and down-to-earth episode, John and Shannon swap stories about the minerals they love most — and why. Along the way, they unpack cool crystal habits, formation environments, fieldwork memories, and the aesthetic appeal of minerals from museum specimens to muddy boots.

Shannon shares her appreciation for:

Hematite – With its metallic luster and planetary significance. 
Goethite – A subtle but important iron oxide-hydroxide. 
Smithsonite – Beautiful colors and a fascinating history in ore geology.

John counters with: 
Ulexite – “TV rock,” with fiber-optic properties that never fail to wow. 
Uraninite – A dense, radioactive reminder of geologic power and energy. 
Tourmaline – A colorful, complex favorite of mineral collectors and scientists alike.

<h2>Fun Paper Friday</h2>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade3d3/pdf" rel="nofollow">James, C. W., et al. &quot;A nanosecond-duration radio pulse originating from the defunct Relay 2 satellite.&quot; The Astrophysical Journal Letters 987.1 (2025): L16.</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Contact us:</h2>

Show

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/dontpanicgeo" rel="nofollow">Support us on Patreon!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dontpanicgeocast.com" rel="nofollow">www.dontpanicgeocast.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/dontpanicgeo" rel="nofollow">@dontpanicgeo</a></li>
<li><a href="mailto:dontpanicgeocast@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">dontpanicgeocast@gmail.com</a></li>
</ul>

John Leeman

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.johnrleeman.com" rel="nofollow">www.johnrleeman.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/geo_leeman" rel="nofollow">@geo_leeman</a></li>
</ul>

Shannon Dulin

<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonDulin" rel="nofollow">@ShannonDulin</a></li>
</ul>

<description>What makes a mineral a favorite? In this fun and down-to-earth episode, John and Shannon swap stories about the minerals they love most — and why. Along the way, they unpack cool crystal habits, formation environments, fieldwork memories, and the aesthetic appeal of minerals from museum specimens to muddy boots.
Shannon shares her appreciation for:
Hematite – With its metallic luster and planetary significance.
Goethite – A subtle but important iron oxide-hydroxide.
Smithsonite – Beautiful colors and a fascinating history in ore geology.
John counters with:
Ulexite – “TV rock,” with fiber-optic properties that never fail to wow.
Uraninite – A dense, radioactive reminder of geologic power and energy.
Tourmaline – A colorful, complex favorite of mineral collectors and scientists alike.
Fun Paper Friday
James, C. W., et al. "A nanosecond-duration radio pulse originating from the defunct Relay 2 satellite." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 987.1 (2025): L16. (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade3d3/pdf)
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/dontpanicgeo)
www.dontpanicgeocast.com (http://www.dontpanicgeocast.com)
@dontpanicgeo (https://twitter.com/dontpanicgeo)
dontpanicgeocast@gmail.com
John Leeman
- www.johnrleeman.com (http://www.johnrleeman.com)
- @geo_leeman (https://twitter.com/geo_leeman)
Shannon Dulin
- @ShannonDulin (https://twitter.com/ShannonDulin) 
</description>

In this episode of Don't Panic Geocast, John and Shannon dive into their favorite minerals, sharing what makes these crystalline companions so captivating. From shimmering hematite to vividly colored tourmaline, they explore mineral properties, formation quirks, and the stories behind their top picks. Whether you're a rockhound or just curious, this episode is sure to spark your inner mineral nerd.

Don't Panic Geocast

Episode 418 - "I like the crystal habit"

Episode 418 - "I like the crystal habit"

Description