Recovery and assistance
Support for locating, identifying, and returning stolen or missing mineral specimens
Our mission
Geo Veritas assists owners, collectors, museums, institutions, insurers, and authorities in the recovery of stolen, missing, or provenance-disputed minerals.
Each case is handled with confidentiality, technical rigor, and a multidisciplinary approach combining:
- legal expertise
- mineralogical knowledge
- scientific and documentary analysis
- investigative methods
The aim is to rebuild the history of the specimen, identify it correctly, and enable its return or the resolution of any dispute.
Who can request assistance
Geo Veritas provides support to:
- users who have registered a stolen or missing mineral
- private collectors
- museums, archives, and foundations
- insurance companies
- public or customs authorities
- entities requiring technical verification or assistance with restitution
What our intervention may include
The Geo Veritas team can handle:
- analysis of provenance data
- iconographic and historical comparison of the specimen
- documentary checks with experts and laboratories
- reconstruction of the collecting history
- discreet outreach to holders or intermediaries
- private negotiations for return
- technical-legal assistance in complex cases
Post-registration monitoring
Once a mineral is registered:
- it remains archived and active in the system until it is located or the case is closed
- the record can be updated with new information, photos, and documents
- Geo Veritas performs ongoing market monitoring, collaborating with fairs, museums, collectors, and institutions
- if a match emerges, the owner is contacted immediately
When needed, Geo Veritas facilitates communication between the owner, the holder, and the competent authorities.
Full recovery assistance
Users who want operational and legal support from Geo Veritas may appoint the team to:
- coordinate with authorities, lawyers, and institutions
- prepare technical documentation and comparative reports
- manage negotiations for return
- oversee the entire process until the specimen is handed back
Registration fees
(for stolen or missing minerals)
Administrative fee (VAT excluded):
- €25 per single mineral
- €15 per mineral (up to 5 items)
- €5 per mineral beyond 5 items
The fee covers management, validation, and archiving of the report.
Fees in case of recovery
Location fee
If a registered mineral is identified through the Geo Veritas system:
5% of the net recovery value
Charged only upon a successful outcome. It covers:
- information on the mineral’s location
- verification of identity and lawful possession
- contact with all involved parties
Full recovery assistance
If the user entrusts the entire process to Geo Veritas:
20% of the final net value of the recovered item
In this scenario, the location fee is not charged.
Professional competencies
The Geo Veritas team includes:
- cultural and natural heritage law specialists
- mineralogical experts
- historians and researchers
- provenance and traceability consultants
This integrated approach allows us to handle complex cases with technical accuracy and scientific sensitivity.
Cooperation with authorities
Geo Veritas collaborates free of charge with:
- law enforcement
- customs authorities
- public institutions
- museums and cultural bodies
We support identification, restitution, and verification activities involving seized, held, or investigated minerals.
Geo Veritas operates according to principles of rigor, traceability, and transparency.
Our goal is to protect the market and ensure that every mineral – historical or contemporary – is accompanied by clear and verifiable provenance.
For more information or assistance with preparing your submission, please contact the Geo Veritas team directly.
