Inspired by the book “Der Micromounter” by Alex Kipfer—who popularized this “hobby within a hobby” in Europe during the early 1970s—Hans Erich Bluth discovered an interest in “micromounts” (miniature mineral specimens). At the time, collectors who focused on these tiny specimens—constantly handling their handheld magnifiers—were often viewed as eccentrics, frequently met with a smirk by “serious” collectors. However, some soon realized that space in their basements was becoming increasingly limited, and that the mineral universe, when viewed through a stereomicroscope, offered entirely new perspectives. Old mine tailings and long-abandoned localities could, in a sense, be brought back to a new “mineral life.”
Consequently, he—along with Heinrich Uhlendorf, Hans Wagner, Eveline Hagen, and others—founded a “micromounter” working group within the Frankfurt branch of the VFMG (Association of Friends of Minerals and Geology). The group gradually established a network of exchange partners across the globe. There was significant interest in European micromounts, particularly from the United States—the “cradle of micromounting”—as well as from South Africa. Collecting specimens based on systematic mineral classification also gained importance. Through these efforts, he built a collection of over 6,000 micromounts.
A brief but passionate interlude occurred when the opportunity arose to excavate fossils at the nearby Messel oil shale pit. From the middle to the end of 1974, a true “gold rush” atmosphere took hold there. By collaborating with other amateur enthusiasts, he contributed to the refinement of the “transfer method,” which, for the first time, allowed for the robust preservation of fossils from the Messel site. In his article “Messel near Darmstadt,” published in the magazine Lapis (Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 26 et seq.), he issued a passionate appeal for the preservation of the Messel fossil site, which at the time was slated to be converted into a large landfill.
In the mid-1980s, he helped establish what could be described as a “hobby within a hobby”: the collecting of sands. Through the lens of a binocular microscope, he—and many others—discovered entirely new worlds. Until then, few people were aware of the vast array of interesting minerals and microfossils that could be found in the sands of our planet. His publication, “Collecting Sands: Crystals and Fossils Under the Magnifying Glass,” which appeared in the mineral magazine Mineralienmagazin (issue 9/1983, p. 403 et seq.), served as a significant contribution to this field of collecting.
In his final years, hampered by health issues, Hans Erich Bluth spent much of his time at the computer. Teaching himself the necessary skills, he transferred the contents of over 6,000 index cards from his collection into an electronic database—a system that remains the foundation for managing the collection to this day. He passed away in 1999.
The text above was provided by his son, Joachim Bluth, who continued and expanded upon his father’s collection. Through the Mineralienatlas (Mineral Atlas), he learned about the “Lithothek”—a collaborative collection maintained by the Münchener Micromounter (Munich Micromounters) group. He was so taken with the concept of this collective resource that he began reviewing his father’s collection—which he had further developed—to identify specimens that might be of interest to the Lithothek. Ultimately, he selected over 800 items from his own collection, photographed them, and donated them to the Lithothek. He did so for two primary reasons: to honor the memory of his father and to support the vision behind the Lithothek. The analysis of the collection is continuing.