These Terms & Conditions apply to purchases made through the Rare Minerals Earth website.
Please read them before placing an order.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts any statutory consumer right which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
- About Us
Rare Minerals Earth Ltd is a private limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 16179991.
We specialise in natural mineral specimens and related collector material.
References in these Terms to “we”, “us” and “our” mean Rare Minerals Earth Ltd. References to “you” and “customer” mean the person placing the order.
- Products and Natural Mineral Specimens
Our mineral specimens are natural objects rather than manufactured products. Unless expressly stated otherwise, each specimen is individually photographed and the customer will receive the specimen shown.
Natural characteristics may include, without limitation, inclusions, internal fractures or fissures, contact points, matrix, crystal irregularities, interrupted or incomplete crystal growth, colour zoning, variations in transparency, natural surface features and other characteristics resulting from natural formation.
The existence of such a characteristic does not, of itself, constitute damage, a defect or a failure to correspond with the specimen’s description.
- Photography, Colour and Optical Characteristics
We take reasonable care to photograph and describe specimens accurately.
Minerals may nevertheless appear different according to viewing angle, natural or artificial lighting, transmitted or reflected light, background, UV illumination, photography and individual screen settings.
Certain minerals may exhibit pleochroism, colour zoning, fluorescence, phosphorescence, transparency variations, backlighting effects or other optical characteristics which can materially alter their appearance under different viewing conditions.
Customers should review all available photographs, videos, measurements and descriptions before purchasing.
Where the appearance of a particular feature is important to your purchasing decision, we strongly recommend requesting further information before ordering.
We are happy, where reasonably practicable, to provide additional photographs or videos before purchase, including natural daylight photographs, alternative viewing angles, backlit photographs and UV photographs where relevant.
A difference in personal expectation, perceived colour or appearance under different lighting or viewing conditions does not, by itself, establish that a specimen is faulty or not as described.
Nothing in this section affects statutory rights where goods materially fail to conform to the contract.
- Measurements and Weights
Dimensions and weights are provided as accurately as reasonably practicable.
Measurements of irregular natural specimens may vary slightly depending upon the points from which measurements are taken, and minor measurement or weighing tolerances may occur.
Any such minor variation does not, by itself, constitute a defect or misdescription.
Where an exact measurement is material to your purchasing decision, please contact us before ordering and we will, where reasonably practicable, confirm it.
- Mineral Identification, Locality and Provenance
We take reasonable care when identifying and describing specimens, including their mineral species, locality, mine, deposit, pocket or other provenance where this information is available.
Provenance and locality information may originate from miners, suppliers, previous collectors, historic specimen labels or other established sources within the mineral trade.
Where provenance information supplied by a third party is presented as such, it represents the information available to us at the time of sale.
We do not knowingly provide false or misleading provenance information.
Where locality, provenance or attribution is material to your purchasing decision, you are welcome to contact us before purchase for any further information reasonably available to us.
Nothing in this clause excludes statutory rights where a specimen materially fails to correspond with the description under which it was sold.
- Orders and Formation of Contract
Submitting an order constitutes an offer to purchase the goods concerned.
An automated acknowledgement that we have received an order does not necessarily constitute acceptance of that order.
A contract is formed when we expressly accept the order or dispatch the goods, whichever occurs first.
Before acceptance, we may decline an order for a legitimate reason, including:
- the specimen no longer being available;
- an obvious pricing or listing error;
- inability to obtain payment authorisation;
- suspected fraud or unauthorised payment;
- legal or regulatory restrictions;
- inability to ship the specimen lawfully or safely to the destination; or
- the absence of a suitable delivery service.
Where payment has already been taken for an order which we subsequently cannot accept, sums due to the customer will be refunded.
- Availability and Unique Specimens
Many specimens offered by Rare Minerals Earth are unique individual pieces.
Specimens may occasionally be offered through more than one legitimate sales channel. Although we take reasonable steps to maintain accurate stock information, exceptionally an individual specimen may become unavailable before website inventory has updated.
If this occurs, we will contact you and refund any sums due for the unavailable item.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the unavailability of a unique specimen does not create an obligation for us to supply a substitute or purportedly equivalent specimen.
- Prices and Payment
Prices displayed on the website are those applicable at the time the order is placed, subject to correction of obvious errors before a contract is formed.
Delivery charges and any other charges payable to us will be displayed or calculated before the customer completes the purchase.
We reserve the right to change prices for future orders at any time.
If an obvious pricing or technical error is identified before an order has been accepted, we may decline the order and refund any payment already taken.
We will not increase the agreed price of goods after a contract has been formed merely because our prices subsequently change.
- Statutory Cancellation / Change of Mind
Where a statutory right to cancel an online purchase applies, the customer must inform us of the decision to cancel within 14 days after receiving the goods.
Following cancellation, the goods must be returned without undue delay and in any event within 14 days after the customer informs us of the cancellation.
For a change-of-mind cancellation:
(a) the customer must arrange the return;
(b) the customer bears the direct cost of returning the goods;
(c) Rare Minerals Earth does not provide or pay for a return shipping label;
(d) the customer is responsible for adequately protecting and packaging the specimen for return; and
(e) we strongly recommend using a tracked shipping service with insurance appropriate to the value of the specimen.
The exact specimen supplied must be returned.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or the customer supplies evidence that they have been sent back, whichever occurs first, to the extent permitted by law.
- Refund Amount
Where a statutory change-of-mind cancellation is valid, we will refund the sums required by applicable law.
Where the customer paid for delivery, our obligation to refund the original delivery cost will not exceed the cost of the least expensive standard delivery method offered for the order.
Any additional amount paid for express, expedited, enhanced, premium or other optional delivery will not be refunded except where required by law.
We do not reimburse the customer’s change-of-mind return postage.
No additional discretionary compensation, reimbursement or consequential expenses will be payable except where required by law or expressly agreed by us.
- Condition of Returned Specimens and Diminished Value
A customer may handle a specimen only to the extent reasonably necessary to establish its nature and characteristics.
A returned specimen must not have been cleaned, polished, treated, repaired, glued, mounted, modified or otherwise altered.
Where handling has gone beyond what is reasonably necessary and has diminished the value of the specimen, we reserve the right to reduce the refund by an amount reflecting that diminished value to the fullest extent permitted by law.
This may include physical damage, alteration, contamination, residues, damage to or loss of associated specimen labels, or other handling which materially reduces the specimen’s resale value.
- Exchanges
We do not offer exchanges as a contractual service.
A customer wishing to purchase another specimen should place a separate order and, where entitled to do so, return the original specimen in accordance with these Terms.
This does not affect any statutory remedy applicable to goods which fail to conform to the contract.
- Goods Alleged to be Faulty, Damaged or Not as Described
If a customer believes that a specimen is faulty, has been incorrectly supplied, has been damaged in transit or materially differs from the description under which it was sold, the customer should contact us as soon as reasonably practicable and provide details together with appropriate supporting photographs or other evidence.
A difference in personal expectation, perceived colour, appearance under different lighting conditions or viewing angles, or the presence of a disclosed or naturally occurring mineral characteristic does not, by itself, establish that a specimen is faulty or not as described.
In assessing such a claim, regard will be had to the complete product information applicable when the order was placed, including the written description, photographs, videos, stated measurements, disclosed natural characteristics and any additional information or imagery supplied to the customer before purchase.
For alleged transit damage, customers are requested to retain the specimen and all original packaging and provide clear photographs showing:
- the specimen and alleged damage;
- the internal packaging;
- the external packaging; and
- the shipping label.
We request that visible transit damage is reported within 48 hours where reasonably practicable so that any carrier or insurance claim can be investigated promptly.
Failure to report within 48 hours does not remove any statutory rights.
Where the goods do not conform to the contract and applicable consumer law requires Rare Minerals Earth to provide a remedy or bear reasonable return costs, we will do so in accordance with those requirements.
Customers should contact us before arranging the return of goods alleged to be faulty or non-conforming so that an appropriate return method can be discussed.
Nothing in this clause excludes or restricts any statutory consumer right.
- UK Delivery
Standard UK delivery is £4.95 for orders under £80 where the packed parcel weighs no more than 2kg.
Free standard UK delivery applies to orders of £80 or more where the packed parcel weighs no more than 2kg.
Orders exceeding 2kg, exceeding applicable parcel dimensions or requiring a different service because of their size, weight or value will be charged at the delivery rate displayed at checkout.
We may use Royal Mail, Parcelforce or another appropriate carrier having regard to the weight, dimensions, value and destination of the shipment.
The applicable delivery charge will be displayed before the customer completes the order.
- International Delivery
International delivery is available only where an appropriate delivery service is available for the destination and shipment concerned.
Delivery charges are calculated according to destination, packed weight, packed dimensions and delivery service.
Royal Mail International, Parcelforce Worldwide, DHL Express and/or another appropriate carrier may be offered.
Available services and applicable charges will be displayed before the order is completed.
Any international delivery timeframe is an estimate unless the selected service expressly provides otherwise.
Customs clearance, border controls, local authorities, carriers and circumstances outside our reasonable control may affect delivery.
Nothing in this section excludes liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.
- Customs, Import Taxes and International Restrictions
The customer is responsible for the cost of applicable customs duties, import taxes and customs-clearance charges, subject to applicable law.
United States orders sent by Royal Mail: We collect estimated import duty and applicable handling charges at checkout because Royal Mail requires us, as the sender, to pay these charges when purchasing postage. The customer pays these amounts as part of the order total, and we use them to pay Royal Mail when arranging delivery.
Other destinations: Unless expressly included at checkout, applicable import duties, taxes and clearance charges are payable by the recipient directly to the customs authority or carrier, where permitted by the destination’s rules and the delivery service.
Any import charges collected by us will be identified at checkout before payment.
Nothing in this section overrides mandatory obligations applying to Rare Minerals Earth as the seller or exporter, or affects your statutory consumer rights.
Customers are responsible for checking any import restrictions or requirements applicable at their destination before ordering.
We reserve the right not to dispatch an order where we reasonably believe that shipment would breach applicable law, carrier restrictions or export/import requirements.
Where a shipment is returned because the recipient refuses delivery, fails to collect it, fails to pay applicable import charges or supplied incorrect or incomplete delivery information, any refund will be determined in accordance with applicable law.
To the extent permitted by law, reasonable direct costs or losses incurred as a consequence may be deducted from any amount otherwise refundable.
- Delivery Information
Customers are responsible for providing complete and accurate delivery information.
Please contact us immediately if an error is discovered. We cannot guarantee that delivery details can be amended after an order has been processed or dispatched.
To the extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for additional costs or losses resulting from incorrect or incomplete delivery information supplied by the customer.
- Mineral Safety and Appropriate Handling
Mineral specimens are sold primarily as collector specimens and should be handled appropriately for their mineralogical composition and physical characteristics.
Minerals should not be ingested, tasted or deliberately inhaled.
Customers should not cut, grind, drill, sand, crush or otherwise process mineral specimens in a manner capable of generating dust without first understanding the composition of the specimen and taking appropriate safety precautions.
Some mineral species may contain elements or compounds which require particular care when handled or processed. Specimens may also have sharp points, edges or fragile crystals.
Where appropriate, customers should wash their hands after handling and keep specimens away from young children and pets.
Any specimen-specific safety information or warning provided with a listing should be observed.
Mineral specimens are not sold as food, medicines, cosmetics or products intended for ingestion.
Nothing in these Terms permits the sale or use of a product contrary to applicable product-safety legislation.
- Metaphysical, Historical and Cultural Information
Any reference to historical, cultural, spiritual, metaphysical or traditional beliefs associated with a mineral is provided for general interest only.
Such information is not presented as scientific fact and does not constitute medical, psychological, therapeutic or other professional advice.
Mineral specimens are not sold as treatments, cures or substitutes for professional medical care.
- Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, photographs, videos, written descriptions, graphics, branding and original website content produced by or for Rare Minerals Earth remain the intellectual property of Rare Minerals Earth Ltd or the relevant rights holder.
Purchase of a specimen does not transfer intellectual-property rights in photographs, descriptions or other content associated with that specimen.
Content may not be reproduced commercially without permission except where permitted by law.
- Liability
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or statutory consumer rights which cannot lawfully be excluded.
Subject to those rights and requirements, Rare Minerals Earth is not responsible for losses which were not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was formed or which result from use of a specimen contrary to these Terms or any specific safety information supplied with it.
Where a consumer purchases a specimen wholly or mainly for personal purposes, nothing in these Terms seeks to exclude rights or remedies provided by applicable consumer law.
If goods are purchased wholly or mainly for business purposes, different legal rights may apply.
- No Additional Voluntary Returns Rights
Except where expressly stated otherwise, Rare Minerals Earth does not provide any return, refund, exchange or cancellation right beyond those required by applicable law.
Any goodwill refund, credit, shipping contribution, exchange or other concession offered beyond our legal obligations is discretionary.
Providing a concession on one occasion does not constitute a waiver of these Terms or create an obligation or precedent requiring the same or a similar concession in another transaction.
- Changes to These Terms
We may amend these Terms from time to time.
Changes will apply to future orders only. The Terms applicable when a contract was formed will continue to apply to that order.
- Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms and contracts entered into through this website are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
If you are a consumer resident elsewhere, this provision does not deprive you of any mandatory consumer protections which apply to you and which cannot lawfully be excluded by agreement.
Nothing in this clause prevents either party from exercising any right to bring proceedings in a court which has jurisdiction under applicable law.
- Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or competent authority to be unlawful or unenforceable, that provision will apply to the greatest extent legally permissible and, where appropriate, be treated as severed.
The remaining provisions will continue in effect.
- Entire Terms and Statutory Rights
These Terms, together with the product information, price, delivery information and other terms expressly presented and accepted in connection with an order, form the contractual terms applicable to that order.
Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy which cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under applicable consumer law.
Republic of Ireland delivery: where shown at checkout, estimated import VAT and customs duty are collected to pay Royal Mail when booking sender-paid delivery. These are separate from postage and the GBP0.50 handling charge per parcel. Once prepaid through Royal Mail, the same VAT and duty should not be charged again on arrival; contact us before paying a duplicate demand. We will refund any amount collected above the import charges actually paid. This arrangement applies only to orders showing prepaid import charges at checkout.
Royal Mail delivery to Germany and Luxembourg: checkout shows postage, handling (GBP 1 per parcel), and estimated import VAT and customs duty separately. We collect the import estimate to pay Royal Mail when booking sender-paid delivery. With import charges prepaid through Royal Mail, you should not have to pay the same import VAT or duty again on arrival. Contact us before paying any duplicate demand. We will refund any amount collected above the import charges actually paid. This arrangement applies only where prepaid import charges are shown at checkout; it does not transfer responsibility for other destinations to us.
