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@salvaterra.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 3:07 PM

BW version of the minerals.

I'll be uploading these as stock art on my Patreon next year, 4 minerals per bimester.

But the entire set is already available for purchase if you don't want to wait: salvaterra.itch.io

Also, art prints: www.inprnt.com/gallery/salv...

#mincup #mincup26 #minerals

black and white illustration of 32 minerals competing in the 2026 mineral cup. we have here rocks, crystals and metallic minerals. azurite, cuprite, quartz, talc, halite, vesuvianite, graphite, pyromorphite, julianite, andalusite are just some of the minerals that compose the list.

@salvaterra.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 2:01 PM

💎 the stages of the cup 🏆

#mincup #mincup26 #minerals #sciart

colourful illustration of 16 minerals eliminated in the first round of the 2026 mineral cup. smithsonite, erythrite, anorthite, bournoite, orpiment, asagiite, monazite, talc, hafnon, gypsum, calcite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, riebeckite, xocolatite and cassiterite. blues, grees, yellow, silver hues.

colourful illustration of 8 minerals eliminated in the second round of the 2026 mineral cup: azurite, vesuvianite, andalusite, stichitte, putsinite, cylindrite, chrysocolla and gadolinite.

colourful illustration of 4 minerals eliminated in the quarterfinals of mineral cup 2026: sphalerite, skutterudite, julienite and pyromorphite.

colourful illustration of the four minerals in the semifinals and final match of the mineral cup 2026: quartz, the champion, cuprite, second place, halite and graphite.

@salvaterra.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 1:29 PM

This year, the champion is Quartz! 🏆

Here is my 2026 bracket.

#mincup26 #mincup #minerals #sciart

a cup bracket of the 32 minerals competing in the 2026 mineral cup. they from deep red, greem, to blue, white and grey, as we have here rocks, crystals and metallic minerals. azurite, cuprite, quartz, talc, halite, vesuvianite, graphite, pyromorphite, julianite, andalusite are just some of the minerals that compose the list. the champion is quartz, who beat cuprite in the final.

@salvaterra.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 1:26 PM

💎 Here is the final art of all the minerals competing in the Mineral Cup 2026, at last. 🧵

#mincup26 #mincup #minerals #sciart

colourful illustration of 32 minerals competing in the 2026 mineral cup. they from deep red, greem, to blue, white and grey, as we have here rocks, crystals and metallic minerals. azurite, cuprite, quartz, talc, halite, vesuvianite, graphite, pyromorphite, julianite, andalusite are just some of the minerals that compose the list.

@tanterei.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 10:59 PM

For a future #mincup or #orecup.

Though, correct me if I'm wrong, but that solution is used to chemically etch circuit boards.

@vickyveritas.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 11:33 AM

I can’t think of a more appropriate ending for the 10th Anniversary of #MinCup than Quartz winning, the mineral that started it all! Thank you to @mikamckinnon.bsky.social and the team for all the tireless work you do! The ballot stuffers can stuff it, though!

@bkania.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 6:42 AM

🤯🤣👍
Psst...you should volunteer for next year's #MinCup @mineralcup.bsky.social
👆😎

@bkania.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 5:48 AM

If nothing else, a tenacious individual. When I choose to be. Eddie's #MinCup was a dream come true for me. That is why I campaigned fairly rigorously for #Quartz this year especially. #QuartzDeservesThis
I wish to thank anyone and everyone who put up with me. This is part of my #MinCupStory

@bkania.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 5:21 AM

He waited until I was home before he took his legal supervised *life ending cocktail*. I was determined then that I would campaign ferociously 4
#TeamFlourite in the 2022 #MinCup We were beaten ( just barely😉) in the finals in 2021. We were soo close. In 2023, organically, ##TeamFlourite unified

@mineralcup.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 12:06 AM

Congratulations, Quartz!

After a decade of #MinCup, this key rock-forming mineral of optical tricks is the #MinCup26 Champion!

Due to intense manipulation attempts in the final hours, the exact winning margin is still being audited. Please join us tomorrow for celebration!

A clear double-terminated quartz crystal with petroleum inclusions. Credit: John Sobolewski

@eos.org Oct 1, 2026, 8:17 PM

Quartz was the original inspiration to start #MinCup, and (anecdotally) it's an inspiration for many kids to fall in love with the big beautiful world of minerals.

#Quartz has done a lot for us! And so, the least we could do is cast our final vote for this abundant—and abundantly stunning!—mineral.

@obialik.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 7:00 AM

Ha... you can still vote for #MinCup - go and vote for quartz. ⚒️

@mikamckinnon.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 1:12 AM

Things that make me laugh:
Every time #Quartz has been in the #MinCup finals, it’s been against a mineral with the composition X₂O.

This is particularly funny as ice and #Cuprite are the only two minerals with this composition, & ice took #MinCup19.

Win some, lose some?
Or history repeats?

@maiainmi.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 12:18 AM

#TeamQuartz #MinCup #MineralCup2026

Amethyst geode, a rough brown exterior with deep purple amethyst cystals inside, surrounded by white crystals.

@lorib.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 12:42 AM

Knew the correct response on my Jeopardy game just now, all thanks to #Mincup!

Q-What is talc?

Woot!

@maiainmi.bsky.social Sep 29, 2026, 3:16 PM

Vote for halite. #StaySalty

#MinCup #MineralCup2026