Mineral Cup & Ore Cup

Which mineral is the best of them all? Campaign & vote in #MinCup each September. Founded in 2017 by Eddie Dempsey, admin Mika McKinnon (npub1nxw…96zg). DM to volunteer!

#MinCup2025 Champion: Kyanite
Avatar & Header credit: Mika McKinnon
Next event starts: November 3 (Ore Cup)
Next #MinCup starts: September 1 (Mineral Cup)

Public Key

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NIP-05 Address

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Profile Code

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Author Public Key

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Last Notes

2025-11-10 12:00:47 UTC

We’re in the final stretch of #OreCup!
Native #Copper is an ore so integral to our history that we named several eras after it and its alloys
#Molybdenite spent centuries tricking us into thinking it was something else entirely
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/vote-r3m1

2025-11-06 12:00:23 UTC

#OreCup R1M4: It’s a pair of copper ores from hydrothermal veins for cobalt-rich #Carrollite vs peacock rock #Bornite.
vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/vote-r1m4
results: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/results-r1m4

2025-11-06 08:01:01 UTC

#OreCup R1M4: Will you be entranced by #Carrollite’s octahedral crystals and cobalt ore? Or will the rainbows of peacock rock and its heftier copper content lure you to #Bornite?
vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/vote-r1m4
results: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/results-r1m4

2025-11-03 16:02:15 UTC

Are you cheering for cubes of #Galena or tendrils of native #Copper in #OreCup?
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/vote-r1m1
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/vote-results/results-r1m1

2025-10-02 08:16:14 UTC

We have a #MinCup25 champion!!
Congratulations, #Kyanite!
https://www.mineralcup.org/2025
After eight years of competing, another few hours to verify votes was nothing, right?
Amazing first run, #Tugtupite, and better luck next year.

2025-09-29 00:20:20 UTC

#MinCup25 Semifinals 1: It's a battle of classic minerals for red #hematite vs blue #kyanite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r4m01
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r4m01

2025-09-25 00:32:06 UTC

#MinCup25 Quarterfinal 1: Colourful phoenix #Haüyne goes against heavyweight industrial powerhouse #Hematite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3m01
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r3m01

2025-09-23 00:30:20 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 7: It's high-pressure #kyanite against deep-space #taenite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2m07
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r2m07

2025-09-22 00:01:37 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 6: It's more exciting versions of familiar favourites as emerald #dioptase is pitted against silvery #molybdenite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2m06
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r2m06

2025-09-19 00:02:27 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 2 Match 3: It's a heavyweight match between industrial powerhouses as soft #baryte competes against rusty red #hematite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r2m03
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r2m03

2025-09-16 00:10:13 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 16 - It's a battle of the tiny as bright green #paddlewheelite goes up against jet black #mannardite. Both are small yet mighty minerals, but only one can win!
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m16
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m16

2025-09-15 00:03:36 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 15 - It's a mineral found mostly in the farthest reaches of space vs one so common an exhaustive list of localities is nigh impossible as alloy #taenite faces off against clay #nontronite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m15
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m15

2025-09-12 00:08:27 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 12: It's the visually-unmistakable #zunyite vs the physically funky #molybdenite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m12
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m12

2025-09-10 00:08:00 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 10: It’s a green, green world for kiwi #Wavellite vs desert emerald #Dioptase.
Will it be revenge or a repeat in this rematch of the 2024 quarterfinals?
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m10
Check results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m10

2025-09-09 00:13:51 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 9: It’s a battle of green vs blue as rare but vibrant chromium-bearing #kosmochlor up against the deep blue copper alteration mineral #azurite.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m09
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m09

2025-09-08 00:00:28 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 8: It’s the cesium #pollucite against the optical changeling #tugtupite for this match.
Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m08
Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m08

2025-09-01 00:23:00 UTC

- reply

We’ll run an All-Star Champions Cup one day!

2025-09-01 00:04:49 UTC

#MinCup25 Round 1 Match 1: Hazardous (but useful!) #Chrysotile faces off against stunning gem #Pectolite. Do you pick the forbidden cotton candy, or the anti-pulverization beauty?
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r1m01
Check RESULTS: https://www.mineralcup.org/2025/results/r1m01

2025-08-31 18:55:05 UTC

- reply

It's the champion of 2021, so it does not take part anymore...

2024-09-28 05:12:01 UTC

#MinCup24 R3M4: #Kyanite versus #Topaz
Blue blades of Kyanite are a classic mineral found in rock shops, introductory geology classrooms, eroded mountains, and geological research laboratories. Topaz is a jeweler’s dream mineral, blending toughness with beauty, and has exceptional clarity, brilliance, and versatility.
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2024/vote/r3m4
⚒️🧪 geology

2024-09-22 05:02:23 UTC

#MinCup24 R2M6: #Omphacite versus #Kyanite
Omphacite tells the tale of high-pressure subduction and the tectonic forces that brought it back. Kyanite whispers of the great mountain ranges under which it formed, and are now eroded away. Which mineral’s story moves you?
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2024/vote/r2m6
⚒️🧪 geology

2024-09-20 05:00:08 UTC

#MinCup24
⚒️🧪 geology
Congratulations #stibnite! Your acicular dark-metallic crystals and dramatic flare have taken the day. Farewell #howlite. Your eerie bone-white, black-veined masses may have scared some voters.

2024-09-16 05:32:28 UTC

#MinCup24 R1 M16: #Topaz versus #Spodumene
In a battle of the biggest stones, these minerals are ready to rumble.
Topaz forms some of the largest gemstone crystals in the world, famous specimens weighing more than a teenager. The largest crystal of Spodumene ever found is the size of a Right Whale.
Which one will you choose?
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2024/vote/r1m16

2024-09-14 05:05:28 UTC

#MinCup24 R1 M14: #Cacoxenite versus #Charoite
"Bad guest" Cacoxenite returns as a fragile fluffball of translucent orange.
Newbie Charoite is such a striking purple, people once thought it was dyed.
They're both beautiful with unusual shapes, but only one moves on to Round 2!
VOTE: https://www.mineralcup.org/2024/vote/r1m14
⚒️🧪 geology

2024-08-14 04:21:28 UTC

How is it this late into August already?!
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR #MINCUP2024!!!
Suggest minerals for this year's competition before we put the bracket together: www.mineralcup.org/nominations
#science #geology #scicomm