Mineralogy

The Museum's Mineralogy Collection is a systematic archive of crystal, ore and gemstone specimens that illustrate the diversity and beauty of worldwide minerals.

 

The polished surface of a mineral.

Fun Facts

The collection totals greater than 5,000 items ranging from native elements such as gold and copper to colorful minerals such as fluorite, dioptase and azurite.

The majority of the top quality mineral specimens are from the Al Buranek collection that was donated by Merlin J. Norton in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

O.C. Tanner Company provided support for the current exhibits, and a Browning Foundation grant funded storage cabinets for the mineral collection and for a special educational collection in the Museum's Earth Lab.

Future departmental goals are to (1) assemble a comprehensive collection of minerals from Utah and (2) prepare an educational web-based interactive photo archive and database that will allow the public and especially school students to view and study specimens in the collection.