Mineral seller guilty of damaging rocks at protected sites with hammer before selling at Glasgow store

A mineral collector has been convicted of using a hammer to break rocks at three renowned Scottish geological sites and then selling them at her store in Glasgow.

Dagmara Lesiow Lasczcewski was found guilty of three charges of causing reckless damage at protected sites at Paisley Sheriff Court on July 28, in the first conviction of its kind in Scotland.

Specimens from the vulnerable sites had been broken and advertised for sale at Ms Lasczcewski’s shop, the Caledonian Rock Shop.

The Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) targeted by Lasczcewski are covered by a high degree of protection.

Two of the sites targeted, Fountainhead, near New Cumnock, and Talnotry Mine, near Newton Stewart, are historic mining locations containing limited amounts of mineral-bearing spoil.

‘Irreplaceable aspect of nature’

The Court was shown evidence of social media posts which placed Lasczcsewski at the sites showing her intent to break rocks and extract minerals using hammers.

Colin MacFadyen, a geological advisor with NatureScot, described her actions as “exploitative collecting”.

“Scotland’s internationally important mineral heritage is an irreplaceable aspect of our nature with the best and most representative locations protected as SSSIs”, he said.

“We support mineral collecting for research, education and recreation, provided it is done responsibly, legally and in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

“However, exploitative collecting from vulnerable sites is unsustainable especially if it is commercially driven. Rare and important minerals can become lost to science and put beyond public sight.”

Minerals removed from the Fountainhead site included rare stibnite, which is a silvery-grey blade-shaped mineral that contains antimony, a type of semi-metal not found elsewhere in Scotland.

The specimens were found to have been advertised for sale at the Caledonian Rock Shop. © Google Maps 2025

Fountainhead is described as “nationally important for understanding the geological processes” in this area of Scotland.

“In this case, we have seen some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and important protected mineral sites being targeted and damaged”, Mr MacFadyen added.

“We therefore welcome the verdict in this case and expect that it will serve as a deterrent against further damaging and illegal mineral collecting activity. We want to make sure that everyone can benefit from Scotland’s world-class mineral heritage both now and in the future”.

Efforts are now being made to return minerals, removed illegally from the SSSIs, to their rightful owners.

New code

NatureScot believes up to 20 other protected mineral sites in Scotland may be affected by damaging and exploitative mineral collecting by unknown individuals.

The nature agency is working to find out the extent of this, and how these nationally important sites can be safeguarded while supporting sustainable and responsible amateur mineral collecting.

NatureScot is considering developing a mineral specimen collecting code, akin to the Scottish Fossil Code.

The Code would provide enthusiasts with best practice guidance on how to collect minerals legally and responsibly.

Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “It is highly important to preserve Scotland’s natural heritage, including the geology that forms part of it. As such, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are given strict protection by our law.

“COPFS takes offences in relation to damaging SSSIs seriously and action will be taken against those who commit such offences, where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the overall public interest to do so.”