Emitter (activity)

In Switzerland in particular, the Alpine crystal and mineral seekers are called emitters . More recently, the term has also been used for mineral collectors outside of Switzerland.

description

Crystal seekers from the Alps have been known from the scientific work of Pliny the Elder since Roman times . The emitters usually work as a sideline or as a hobby ("hobby emitters"). The most important tool of the spotlight is the jet stick , a kind of crowbar, which is also used as an extended chisel, hook or walking aid.

The name radiator is derived from the expression "rays" (singular "ray") for crystals. As a result, “radiate” (or “shine”) denotes the verb for the activity of the radiator, “radiant”, crystal rich, and so on. The term “rays” appears in the literature for the first time in 1547 in a trial protocol from Brunnen (SZ). The etymology of "ray" in connection with crystals is not completely clear - according to F. Maissen, especially "Strähl" (Alemannic "comb", some crystal groups are similar to combs) or "radiant" (reflecting light), "crystal" ( Short form) and other origins possible. The Swiss Idioticon provides the word to Strâl, ray.

Some of the finds ended up in natural history museums, with which the emitters made a significant contribution to the understanding of the geology of the Alps . Crystals that are not recovered by emitters will sooner or later be destroyed by erosion and ultimately end up as sand in the sea.

Legal

In some cantons in Switzerland you need a so-called emitter patent in order to collect minerals or gold . There are no patents for this in Austria, and the collecting of minerals is only prohibited in certain places ( national park , property owners).

literature

• Flurin Maissen : Mineral crevices and emitters of the Surselva. Fuorns e cavacristallas. Universitätsverlag, Freiburg 1955/1974, DNB 200604163 .
• Peter Amacher: spotlights, crevices and crystals. Verlag Geo, Uri 1982, DNB 943519497
• Michael Wachtler: Surselva: Crystals, Fissures, Cavacristallas. (= ExtraLapis. 31). Christian Weise Verlag, 2006, OCLC 890547308 .

Video

• “El Fuorn” (with Giusep Venzin) by Peter Kreiliger, 2000, Televisiun Rumantscha (in Romansh with German subtitles), VHS, 21.5 min; can be ordered from the Museum Regional Surselva ( http://www.museumregiunal.ch/ ).

Web links

• Kristalle.ch: rays
• Strahl.org
• Swiss association of emitters, mineral and fossil collectors
• Traditional emitter areas
• http://www.kristallsucher.ch/

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Strâl. (Condition 4). In: Schweizerisches Idiotikon . Volume XI Col. 2208.