INTERVIEW
Why Due Diligence in the Mineral World Has Become Essential
Curated by GVO – Geo Veritas Observatory
Introduction
Today, for our series dedicated to analysing developments in the international mineral market, we interview Dr. Luca Sasdelli, International Legal Consultant specialising in Art, Cultural Property Law & Provenance Compliance.
For more than twenty years, he has assisted museums, collectors, foundations, auction houses and global operators in the legal management of artworks, cultural property and high-value objects.
His expertise in due diligence, provenance research and cross-border compliance makes him a key voice in the rapidly evolving fine minerals market, where values, risks and expectations have escalated at remarkable speed.
Interview
GVO
Dr. Sasdelli, the fine minerals market is expanding rapidly. Why has due diligence become such a central issue today?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
Because the market has grown faster than the regulations governing it.
Until recently, minerals were considered scientific specimens or niche collectibles. Today, certain pieces command prices comparable to major artworks.
When a single specimen can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions, provenance and legality are no longer details — they determine whether a purchase is secure or whether it carries immediate financial and legal risk.
GVO
Many collectors do not associate minerals with provenance problems. Is this risk truly real?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
It is, and it is growing.
We have seen cases involving museum thefts, illegal extraction from protected areas, seizures at international shows, and documentation that is incomplete or inaccurate.
A specimen from a historic mine or an environmentally restricted zone requires proper verification.
Purchasing without checks exposes the buyer to seizures, loss of value, and legal disputes that may surface years later — often when the piece is already part of a collection.
GVO
What has changed the perception of the market in recent years?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
Three main shifts.
First, absolute rarity: many iconic mines are closed or no longer producing high-grade material.
Second, new collectors entering the field, often coming from the art and luxury markets.
Third, the exponential rise in values, which has turned minerals into true assets.
This has shifted the focus from the specimen’s beauty to its history, its legitimacy, and its future marketability.
GVO
From a legal perspective, what risks do buyers tend to underestimate?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
Three risks stand out.
The first is acquiring material that was extracted illegally or without required authorisations.
The second is encountering fabricated or incomplete provenance histories, artificially inflating value.
The third is discovering that the specimen cannot be insured, exhibited, or exported, causing a dramatic drop in value.
In most cases, collectors realise the problem only after the purchase — and that is always too late.
GVO
Some consider due diligence a bureaucratic step. What does it represent in reality?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
Due diligence is a protective tool.
It means reconstructing the history of a specimen, assessing legal risks, consulting institutional databases, reviewing alerts, analysing export issues, and verifying documentation.
It produces a dossier that accompanies the specimen over time and ensures its credibility.
Moving forward, high-end transactions will increasingly require this level of transparency. Those without documentation will be pushed to the margins of the market.
GVO
How do you see the sector evolving? Will demand for services like Geo Veritas continue to grow?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
Absolutely.
The fine minerals market is becoming more international, more competitive and increasingly aligned with the dynamics of the art world.
Auction houses, museums, foundations and major collectors are already introducing stricter verification policies.
Geo Veritas responds precisely to this need: it offers independent checks, a structured archive and a clear methodology.
The demand for transparency will grow — and those who can provide it will play a central role in the market’s future.
GVO
A final message for collectors?
Dr. Luca Sasdelli
A great mineral specimen is more than a natural object. It is an aesthetic, scientific and cultural asset.
Protecting it through proper due diligence means safeguarding its long-term value.
Transparency is not a cost — it is an investment in the solidity of one’s collection.
