💎 EXCLUSIVE REVEAL: At the Bologna Mineral Show 2026 we will present the Ratti Collection, a historic private mineral collection that has never been publicly exhibited before.

With the Ratti Collection we share an extraordinary snapshot of classic mineral collecting. The collection was assembled by Italian collector Giuseppe Ratti in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and preserved privately by his family from the late 1980s until now.

Within this collection we find specimens from iconic Italian localities such as Traversella and Valmalenco, together with important material from Sardinia, Tuscany and a remarkable selection of international specimens gathered over decades.
For the first time we are bringing this collection outside the private home where it has been preserved for more than thirty years.

📍 Where to find us: Bologna – UNIPOL Arena – @bolognamineralshow
📅 March 13th – 15th, 2026
👉 Come visit us and discover a hidden chapter of Italian mineral collecting.
👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab – selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Ph. and Video by @federico_picciani

#bolognamineralshow #mcpitaly #mineralcollection #geology #finegemstones #fineartminerals #mineralshow #mineralrestoration #minerals #crystals #gemstones #italy #museums #mineralcollector ...

We are proud to unveil a remarkable historic mineral collection for the first time at the Bologna Mineral Show 2026, one of the most important mineral events in Italy.

💎 EXCLUSIVE REVEAL

During the show we will present the Ratti Collection, a historic mineral collection assembled over decades by Italian collector Giuseppe Ratti and preserved privately by his family from the late 1980s until now.

In this collection we find specimens from some of the most celebrated classic Italian localities such as Traversella and Valmalenco, alongside important material from Sardinia and Tuscany, as well as high‑quality international specimens collected during a remarkable period of mineral collecting.

For more than thirty years this collection has remained completely private. With this exhibition we finally bring it to the public for the first time.

📍 Where to find us: Bologna – UNIPOL Arena – @bolognamineralshow
📅 March 13th – 15th, 2026

👉 Visit our stand and discover with us a collection that has remained hidden for decades.

👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab – selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video by @federico_picciani

#bolognamineralshow #mcpitaly #mineralcollection #geology #finegemstones #fineartminerals #mineralshow #mineralrestoration #minerals #crystals #gemstones #italy #museums #mineralcollector ...

We’re thrilled to announce our presence at the Bologna Mineral Show 2026, one of the most important mineral events in Italy!

💎 EXCLUSIVE REVEAL

During the show, MCP will unveil a newly acquired historic collection — a significant addition to our vision and to the international mineral scene. This important acquisition represents a new chapter for MCP and reflects our ongoing commitment to research, preservation, and excellence.

Stay tuned for more details — the full reveal will happen in Bologna.

📍 Where to find us: Bologna – UNIPOL Arena – @bolognamineralshow

📅 March 13th – 15th, 2026

👉 Don’t miss this opportunity! Visit our stand and be among the first to discover what’s next for MCP.

👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab – selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Ph. and Video by @federico_picciani

#bolognamineralshow #mcpitaly #mineralcollection #geology #finegemstones #fineartminerals #mineralshow #mineralrestoration #minerals #crystals #gemstones #italy #museums #mineralcollector ...

MCP returns to Tucson, bringing the world’s leading mineral preparation laboratory to one of the most important international events in the field.

From January 29th to February 14th 2026, MCP will be present at the @tucsonfinemineralgallery , With the largest laboratory facilities in the sector and a globally recognized expertise in preparation, restoration, and specimen evaluation, MCP represents a reference point for museums, private collectors, and major international collections.

Tucson is not just a fair, but a global meeting place where excellence, research, and high-level collecting converge. For the 2026 edition, MCP will once again be present with its full technical and scientific vision.

New developments and exclusive updates will be revealed directly in Tucson.

👉 Meet us in Arizona and contact MCP. Find us at Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery and Westward Look Resort.

📍Tucson, Arizona, USA
🗓 January 29th – February 14th, 2026

👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab, specimen selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Video @federico_picciani

#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #tucsonshow #tucson2026 #westwardlook #mcplab #fineminerals #usa ...

Once the detached crystals were isolated and cleaned, work shifted to their reintegration. Modern, non-yellowing resins were selected to restore structural continuity while ensuring long-term stability and visual neutrality.

Each repositioning was verified against historical documentation, maintaining absolute consistency with the specimen’s appearance at the time it entered the Mineralogy Museum of Florence. No adjustment was made beyond what was necessary to recover stability and readability.

This is a restoration that does not aim to impress. It aims to be faithful.
An intervention that does not alter the specimen, but allows it to continue its trajectory through time as a documented museum object.

👉 MCP Lab — restoration, consolidation, and preparation for public and institutional collections.
👨🏼‍🔬 Conservative restoration and museum preparation.
🔬 Museum specimen — Intervention phase: selective detachment and chemical cleaning
📍 Grotta d’Oggi, Elba Island, Italy
💎 Polychrome tourmaline – Museum specimen – Selected by Federico Pezzotta and Alessandro Paladini

🏛️ Collection: Mineralogy Museum, University of Florence

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #museumrestoration #heritagecare #tourmaline #elba #mcpitaly ...

The first operational phase involved selectively detaching only those crystals that had been reattached during past interventions. This was carried out using a localized solvent, carefully applied to avoid any interaction with the original matrix.

The procedure required a slow, calibrated approach, with virtually no margin for error. Each action was designed to isolate compromised materials without introducing new stress to the structure.

Once detached, the specimen underwent a controlled cleaning phase. Non-aggressive chemical agents were selected to remove residues and surface alterations while fully preserving color, surface texture, and crystallographic integrity.
This phase is essential to restore a neutral and stable base before any reintegration can be considered.

👉 MCP Lab — conservative cleaning is a structural, not aesthetic, process.
👨🏼‍🔬 Conservative restoration and museum preparation.
🔬 Museum specimen — Intervention phase: selective detachment and chemical cleaning
📍 Grotta d’Oggi, Elba Island, Italy
💎 Polychrome tourmaline – Museum specimen – Selected by Federico Pezzotta and Alessandro Paladini

🏛️ Collection: Mineralogy Museum, University of Florence

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #museumrestoration #heritagecare #tourmaline #elba #mcpitaly ...

Preparing a museum specimen follows a different logic than working on a piece from a private collection. In this context, every gesture must remain faithful to a history that predates the intervention itself.

The guiding question is not “how can it be improved?”, but “how can its readability be restored without altering it?”.

This distinction defines one of the most delicate areas of laboratory work.
This large cluster of polychrome tourmalines from Grotta d’Oggi, Elba Island — over 30 centimeters in diameter, with main crystals exceeding 7 cm — carried a long history of previous restorations. Old adhesives, yellowed resins, and consolidations no longer suitable had accumulated over time.

The challenge was clear: intervene without modifying the specimen’s morphology, as its shape has been documented since 1883 and is itself part of the specimen’s historical heritage.

👉 MCP Lab — museum-grade restoration begins with historical and material analysis.

👨🏼‍🔬 Conservative restoration and museum preparation.
🔬 Museum specimen — Preliminary assessment and conservation planning
📍 Grotta d’Oggi, Elba Island, Italy
💎 Polychrome tourmaline – Museum specimen – Selected by Federico Pezzotta and Alessandro Paladini

🏛️ Collection: Mineralogy Museum, University of Florence
📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #museumrestoration #heritagecare #tourmaline #elba #mcpitaly ...

The final result restores the specimen’s original harmony, allowing the crystal group to recover its structural integrity and visual readability.

The intervention remains stable, documented, and fully respectful of the specimen’s original morphology.

In cases like this, the goal is not to improve the specimen, but to preserve it. Restoration is applied only where necessary, with the sole intention of returning coherence to a structure that would otherwise remain fragmented.

👉 MCP Lab — contact us to evaluate the most appropriate restoration options for your specimens.

👨🏼‍🔬 Mineral preparation and restoration.
🔬 Restored specimen — Intervention: reassembly of fragments with high-tech resins
📍 Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
💎 Cerussite — twinned aggregate – Specimen worked in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #restoration #crystalrepair #cerussite #tsumeb #mcpitaly ...

Only after verifying geometries, angles, and optical compatibility could the bonding phase proceed.

Each fragment was repositioned according to the original crystallographic orientation, with constant control of alignment and contact pressure.

This type of work is measured in hundredths of a millimeter and requires stable positioning, controlled movements, and continuous visual verification. The objective is to restore structural continuity without introducing stress or artificial tension within the crystal group.

At this stage, precision is not a choice, but a requirement.

👉 MCP Lab — fragile materials demand controlled techniques and dedicated protocols.

👨🏼‍🔬 Mineral preparation and restoration.
🔬 Restored specimen — Intervention phase: fragment bonding with high-tech resin
📍 Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
💎 Cerussite — twinned aggregate – Specimen worked in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #restoration #crystalrepair #cerussite #tsumeb #mcpitaly ...

Once cleaning was completed, the study phase began.

This stage involves a patient and methodical analysis aimed at identifying the original position of each fragment and establishing the correct sequence for reintegration.

With cerussite, precision is mandatory. Contact points are extremely thin, the tolerable pressure is minimal, and the high-tech resins used for bonding, while offering excellent mechanical strength, are irreversible once cured. Any misalignment at this stage would compromise both stability and readability.

For this reason, no bonding is attempted before the geometry of the entire structure is fully understood.

👉 MCP Lab — every repair begins with analysis, not action.

👨🏼‍🔬 Mineral preparation and restoration.
🔬 Restored specimen — Study phase: fragment mapping and reintegration planning
📍 Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
💎 Cerussite — twinned aggregate – Specimen worked in MCP Lab – Selectedby @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #restoration #crystalrepair #cerussite #tsumeb #mcpitaly ...

Cerussite is one of the most unforgiving minerals to work with.

Soft, impact-sensitive, and intrinsically fragile, it tolerates no margin of error. A minimal involuntary movement, an unbalanced placement, or an inattentive transport can cause a perfectly formed crystal to fracture into multiple fragments.

In this twinned aggregate from the Tsumeb Mine, Namibia, several crystals had been accidentally broken. Before any intervention could be considered, the specimen required a controlled and delicate cleaning phase, aimed at removing dust, residues, and superficial crusts that could interfere with the accuracy of the reassembly.

This preliminary step is essential to ensure a clear reading of fracture surfaces and contact points.

👉 MCP Lab — contact us for a technical assessment of fragile specimens.

👨🏼‍🔬 Mineral preparation and restoration.
🔬 Restored specimen — Preliminary phase: surface cleaning and condition assessment
📍 Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
💎 Cerussite — twinned aggregate – Specimen worked in MCP Lab – Selected by @pezzottafederico and @urban_strahler

📸 Photo @federico_picciani

#mineralpreparation #restoration #crystalrepair #cerussite #tsumeb #mcpitaly ...

✨ A new year begins.

What has been preserved, studied, and protected over time does not always announce itself immediately. Some projects require silence before disclosure, and some collections are meant to be understood before being seen.

The coming year will bring clarity to what has been quietly prepared, without haste and without noise.
2025 will reveal what has been patiently taking form.

👨🏼‍🔬 MCP Lab, @pezzottafederico @urban_strahler
📸 Ph. and Graph @federico_picciani

#minerals #crystals #gemstones #geology #mineralcollection #newyear #mcpitaly ...