Specimen Certificate

A Record for One Individual Specimen

Every selected specimen from EARTH RIVER is accompanied by an individual Specimen Certificate.

Unlike a generic certificate containing only a mineral name and basic information, our certificate includes a photograph of the actual specimen.

This makes it easier to identify which certificate belongs to which piece, even years after purchase.

Each certificate is created for one individual specimen and linked to its unique catalogue number.

 

The Specimen Itself Is Part of the Record

Mineral specimens are individual objects.

Even specimens of the same mineral, from the same locality, can differ considerably in shape, color, crystal formation, matrix, and surface characteristics.

For this reason, we believe a useful certificate should identify the actual specimen, not simply describe the mineral species.

The photograph printed on the certificate provides a direct visual reference to the piece in your collection.

 

Individual Catalogue Number

Each documented specimen receives its own EARTH RIVER catalogue number.

For example:

SC-MN-0140

This number connects the physical specimen, its certificate, and its digital record.

It also provides a simple reference if the specimen is stored, displayed, photographed, or transferred to another collection in the future.

 

Online Specimen Record

A QR code on the certificate leads to the specimen's individual record at specimen.cards.

The online record may include additional information that would not comfortably fit on a small printed certificate, such as:

Mineral and specimen information

Locality

Dimensions and weight

Catalogue information

Reference links

Notes and additional documentation

The web address is also printed directly on the certificate, so the record remains accessible without using the QR code.

 

Physical and Digital Records, Together

Paper has advantages.

It can remain with the specimen, be stored in a collection box, or accompany the piece when ownership changes.

A digital record has different advantages.

It can contain more information, provide references, and remain easy to access without making the physical certificate unnecessarily crowded.

EARTH RIVER therefore uses both.

The certificate identifies the specimen.

The online record preserves its extended documentation.

 

Created in Japan for Each Specimen

EARTH RIVER has been selecting and documenting mineral specimens in Japan since 2017.

Every Specimen Certificate is prepared as part of that documentation process rather than produced as a generic insert.

The aim is simple:

to leave a clear record of what the specimen is, and which individual piece the record belongs to.

 

About the Certificate

The EARTH RIVER Specimen Certificate is a record of the individual specimen and the information available to us at the time of cataloguing.

It is not intended to replace an independent gemological or laboratory report where such testing is required.

When independent analysis or additional documentation is available for a specimen, this may be noted separately in its listing or specimen record.