There will be several different exhibitions to visit during the 2025 Crystal Days in Lubań (short descriptions below). The exhibitions will be presented at the Regional Museum in the Lubań City Hall and the historic Bracka Tower and will include a few thousands of unique specimens from Polish and foreign collectors.
Colors of Lower Silesian QuartzMain Exhibition
Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's crust-known and valued since prehistoric times. Today, it has a wide range of uses, including in glass and ceramics manufacturing, electronics, construction, and jewelry making. Well-formed quartz crystals are highly prized by mineral collectors around the world.
Lower Silesia - the "capital" of Polish mineralogy - is particularly famous for its quartz deposits. The mineral occurs in dozens of locations across the region, some of which yield truly spectacular speciments: rock crystal, smoky quartz, morion, prasiolite, amethyst, and agates.
The main exhibition, "Colors of Lower Silesian Quartz", presents the full color spectrum of this mineral - featuring specimens from both well-known and less obvious localities. Among the exhibits are some of the most beautyful quartz samples ever discovered in Poland. Photo by J. Scovil. Col. Mineral Museum in Szczawno-Zdrój.
Agates and jaspers from the collection of Johann ZenzA collector from Austria
Johann Zenz became interested in minerals at a young age and soon focused his passion on agates. What began as a hobby gradually evolved into a scientific approach to the subject, and over time Johann became the author of numerous articles on agates. Between 2005 and 2011, he created the most extensive and complete encyclopedia of agates ever published. "Agates" Vol. I, II, and III are hefty volumes totaling over 2,000 pages and containing more than 6,000 photograps! Johann also developed an "encyclopedic" website dedicated to agates: http://www.agates.click/
His collection includes over 7,500 agates, primarily from Germany, Mexico and the USA. He also owns a vast systematic collection of agates and jaspers from around the world. Those interested in his work can visit: http://www.achate.at/
The festiwal will feature a selection of the finest speciments from Johann Zenz's collection.
Uranium Glass and Fluorescent Mineralsfrom the Podgórze Mine Collection
During the Sudetic Mineral Festival, the Bracka Tower will host an exhibition of uranium glass on loan from the Podgórze Mine. The displayed glass collection contains uranium minerals that glow intensely green under UV light. The exhibition also features fluorescent minerals from the Regional Museum in Lubań, which shine in various colors under ultraviolet light. The WOW effect is guaranteed!
Minerals of the West SudetesExhibition by the Regional Museum in Lubań
This exhibition, showing the mineralogical abundance of the West Sudetes including the region of Lubań, will be presented in Bracka Tower. There will be over 500 mineral specimens on display in 18 cabinets with quartz, calcite, fluorite as well as agates and unique Fe quartz specimens from the region of Jelenia Góra, and recently discovered high quality calcites from a basalt quarry in Leśna near Lubań. This exhibition will be prepared by the Regional Museum in Lubań and will become the museum’s permanent collection.
The competition exhibitions
During the 2025 Crystal Days, a competition for the best exhibition from private collectors will take place. The private collectors will display their showcases with their selected minerals under a chosen exhibition theme. The international jury will then evaluate the quality of specimens as well as their visual arrangements and the contents. For the public participation, visitors will vote for their favorite showcases and the collectors will receive audience awards and also valuable prizes. There will be abundant of specimens of gemstones, agates and rare minerals displayed in this exhibition from Poland as well as abroad.
Information about other exhibitions is coming soon!
Interviews with collectors
Andrzej Korzekwa
Joanna Gajowniczek-Praszkier
Ireneusz Niemczyk
Janusz Zajdel
Sławomir Błądek
Jacek Szczerba
Dariusz Jończy
Zapowiedź wywiadów
USEFUL INFORMATION
Exhibitions will be open from Friday from 12.00 until Sunday until 19.00,
Admission to all exhibitions is free of charge,
“The competition exhibitions” will be presented in the City Hall building (NOTE! 3 various entrances),
The exhibition "Minerals of the West Sudetes" will be presented in a park near the Tower.
