Here is a description of some of our more popular auction ''Formats'':

''STANDARD'' AUCTION FORMAT

With our ''standard'' auction format the auctions all have specific starting and ending times.  Each    specimen has a ''starting'' bid and you may bid on any specimen as often as you wish (provided that you are not the current high bidder), however, each bid must exceed the previous bid by a set amount called the ''bid increment''.  At the end of the auction the highest bid wins the specimen.  The exact closing time is somewhat variable.  The auction will ''officially'' close ten (10) minutes after the last bid is received on a specimen AFTER the ''OFFICIAL specified (listed)'' closing time has been reached.  This feature insures that everyone has the opportunity to purchase a particular specimen that they ''truly'' want.  No one will ''loose out'' because of a specific ''time limit''.

This auction format in NOT intended as a ''competitive'' type of auction format.       

INVERSE AUCTION

Our inverse auctions run for a three (3) day interval.  In our inverse auction the ''starting bid'' will be the actual ''suggested retail'' price for that particular item.  This ''price'' will be reduced by a 1% increment every hour until either it is bid on or the auction closes.  Once the specimen is bid on it is SOLD and no further bids will be accepted.  Over the three (3) day period the price will decrease to a minimum value of 31% of the original retail price. This is less than 1/3 of the original cost!! 

This is a very ''competitive'' type of auction where ''strategy'' is important.

SEALED BID AUCTION

With our SEALED BID auction you can place as many bids as you wish, however, all bids must meet the ''minimum'' bid set for each item.  All of the bids are ''sealed'' from all other bidders.  The total number of bids that each item has will be displayed so that you can ''monitor'' all bidding activity for each item.  At the auction''s close, the highest ''offered'' amount wins the item.  If more than one person has the ''high'' offer then the first one to submit the amount wins the item.

This format is also a competitive type of auction.

SPECIALTY AUCTIONS

From time to time we will run ''specialty'' auctions.  Specialty auction are auctions that ''emphasize'' special themes such as minerals from a famous or single location, minerals of a particular species, or more ''expensive'' minerals. 

This auction is similar to our STANDARD auction and is not meant as a competitive format.

VARIABLE ''CLOSING TIME'' AUCTION

On occasions we like to run auctions that add ''mystery and fun'' elements to our auctions to make them more interesting and fun.  With our ''variable closing time'' auction the auction''s ending time is predetermined and ''set'', BUT not shown!!  This means that bidders will never know for sure when the auction will end.  We do give and show a specific ''time limit'' for each auction.  This means that the auction COULD end at ANYTIME within the range of the specified ''time limit''.

This auction format is one of our most competitive formats.