Mineral collecting
Encyclopedia
Mineral collecting is the hobby
of systematically collecting, identifying and displaying mineral
specimens. Mineral collecting can also be a part of the profession of mineralogy
and allied geologic specialties.
, the local mining industry and/or local geology
. Some simply enjoy exploring the outdoors and socializing and trading with other mineral collectors.
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
of systematically collecting, identifying and displaying mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
specimens. Mineral collecting can also be a part of the profession of mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and allied geologic specialties.
Motivations
Mineral collectors find a variety of reasons to collect minerals. Many minerals are strikingly beautiful and collected for their aesthetic value. Others collect to learn more about mineralogyMineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, the local mining industry and/or local geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. Some simply enjoy exploring the outdoors and socializing and trading with other mineral collectors.
Notable public mineral collections
- Geological MuseumGeological MuseumThe Geological Museum is one of the oldest single science museums in the world and now part of the Natural History Museum in London...
, Mineral Collection, London - National Museum of Natural HistoryNational Museum of Natural HistoryThe National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
, Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collection, Washington, D.C. - Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyThe Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA in 1913 as the Museum of History, Science, and Art. The moving force behind it was a museum association founded in 1910. Its distinctive main building, with fitted marble walls and domed and...
, Hall of Gems and Minerals - Houston Museum of Natural ScienceHouston Museum of Natural ScienceThe Houston Museum of Natural Science is a science museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, USA. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston...
, Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, Houston - Carnegie Museum of Natural HistoryCarnegie Museum of Natural HistoryCarnegie Museum of Natural History, located at 4400 Forbes Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, was founded by the Pittsburgh-based industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1896...
, Hillman Hall of Minerals and GemsHillman Hall of Minerals and GemsThe Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems is a notable mineral and gem collection within the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... - Australian MuseumAustralian MuseumThe Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
, Albert Chapman Mineral Collection, Sydney - Musée de MinéralogieMusée de MinéralogieThe Musée de Minéralogie is a museum of mineralogy operated by the École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris . It is located in the 6th arrondissement at 60, boulevard Saint Michel, Paris, France, and open daily except Sunday and Monday; an admission fee is charged.The school was established in...
, École nationale supérieure des mines de ParisÉcole nationale supérieure des mines de ParisThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
, Paris
Notable mineral collectors
- Andrew Ketcham BarnettAndrew Ketcham BarnettAndrew Ketcham Barnett was a mineral collector and dealer in Penzance, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. He was Principal of the Penzance School of Mines , lectured on mining, and helped to build their mineral collection. He also served as Mayor of Penzance for some years.Cooper writes of...
(1852–1914), principal, Penzance School of MinesCamborne School of MinesThe Camborne School of Mines , commonly abbreviated to CSM, was founded in 1888. It is now a specialist department of the University of Exeter. Its research and teaching is related to the understanding and management of the Earth's natural processes, resources and the environment... - Walter Frederick FerrierWalter Frederick FerrierWalter Frederick Ferrier was a Canadian geologist and mining engineer.He graduated from McGill University’s school of mining engineering. He was a tireless mineral collector and was known for walking straight into mining offices to request specimens. Consequently, he created large collections of...
(1865–1950), Canadian geologist and mining engineer - George Frederick KunzGeorge Frederick KunzGeorge Frederick Kunz was an American mineralogist and mineral collector.- Overview :Kunz was born in New York City, USA, and began an interest in minerals at a very young age. By his teens, he had amassed a collection of over four thousand items, which he sold for four hundred dollars to the...
(1856–1932), gentleman scientistGentleman scientistA gentleman scientist is a financially independent scientist who pursues scientific study as a hobby. The term arose in post-Renaissance Europe but became less common in the 20th century as government and private funding increased.-History:...
, VP of Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
, "special agent" for the US Geological Survey (1883–1909) - Abraham Gottlob WernerAbraham Gottlob WernerAbraham Gottlob Werner , was a German geologist who set out an early theory about the stratification of the Earth's crust and coined the word Neptunism...
(1749–1817), pioneering German geologistGeologistA geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
See also
- RockhoundingRockhoundingAmateur geology is the recreational study and hobby of collecting rocks and mineral specimens from their natural environment.-Collecting:...
- Fossil collectingFossil collectingFossil collecting is the collection of fossils for scientific study, hobby, or profit. Fossil collecting, as practiced by amateurs, is the predecessor of modern paleontology and many still collect fossils and study fossils as amateurs...
- LapidaryLapidaryA lapidary is an artist or artisan who forms stone, mineral, gemstones, and other suitably durable materials into decorative items such as engraved gems, including cameos, or cabochons, and faceted designs...
- Lapidary club
- Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the world's largest.
- MineralientageMineralientageIn the Bavarian city of Munich , a few weeks after the world famous Oktoberfest, they celebrate the biggest Mineral Show in Europe: Mineralientage München. It began in the early sixties .-Overview:...
, the MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Mineral Show, Europe's largest.
External links
- Getting Started in Rock and Mineral Collecting, a brief introduction.
- Beginning Guide to Mineral Collecting at mindat.orgMindat.orgMindat.org is a non-commercial online mineralogical database, claiming to be the largest mineral database and mineralogical reference website on the internet....
- Tips for collecting minerals in the field, by the Mineralogical Society of AmericaMineralogical Society of AmericaThe Mineralogical Society of America is a scientific membership organization. MSA was founded in 1919 for the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and petrology, and promotion of their uses in other sciences, industry, and the arts...
.- Collector's Corner, at MSA
- The American Federation of Mineral Societies, with links to regional and local clubs in the USA.