In his own words
I began collecting minerals early on. In a youth annual I found instructions for growing crystals yourself. The result of my own experiments was a beautiful alum crystal – I was delighted. Later, at exhibitions that were not mineral shows, I found among the objects on display a few smaller mineral specimens that I was able to buy or have given to me. After that my interest faded; other priorities such as career and family were more important.
In 1980 I attended a geology lecture at the adult-education centre. There I met my friend Olaf Spranger. We arranged a joint collecting excursion to the Fichtelgebirge, and since then we have driven to northern Bavaria to collect many times every year. I got to know Bavaria, many localities and, gradually, the minerals of that stone-rich corner of my home region. I bought books on the subject, a microscope, a rock splitter and everything else that belongs to the equipment of a mineral collector.
I began to attend mineral shows regularly. At the Munich Mineralientage in 1990 I received an invitation to the lecture events of the GMI (Geologisch-Mineralogische Interessengemeinschaft, a geological and mineralogical interest group). In this way I also came into contact with the Münchener Mineralienfreunde. I have been a member of the GMI since 1991 and of the Münchener Mineralienfreunde since 1994, where I took over the office of librarian in May 1996.
Around 1992 I heard of a swap day that a member of the society had organised. I went along and so met the organiser, Dorothea Kulicke, who was already a member of the micromounter working group at the time. Since then I have been a regular member of the micromounter group.
Since I left working life in 1997, the importance of mineral collecting in my life has risen markedly. In 1998, because of an illness, I lost my left leg. It seemed as if my love of collecting would suffer a severe setback. But that was not so: among my mineral friends I found backing and support. They helped me to put collecting on a new footing.
Today I am one of the most active members of the group. Wherever possible I miss no group evening and, whenever I can, I take part in the excursions. I enjoy working at our working group’s stand at the Munich Mineralientage, and I am actively involved in the design and construction of our Lithothek.