Prez Says...
by Dan Teich, MSDC President
Welcome to June! This month we are honored and excited to have Dr. Gabriela Farfan, Curator of Gems and Minerals of the Smithsonian, present on the Winston Red Diamond and other recent additions to the museum’s collections. Of course many thanks to Dr. Farfan, continuing the tradition of the Curator presenting to MSDC regarding their interests, museum updates, and the ever-evolving national collection. As is tradition at MSDC, will take a summer break, returning on September 3, with Thomas Hale presenting!
Last month we were taken from macro to micro with Dr. Scott Braley, leapfrogging across New Mexico. What may look like a drab pile of rocks becomes a different world under a microscope. Fantastical crystalline formations, colors that bewilder, and whole other worlds of beauty unfold right in the palm of your hand. During breaks in his presentation, I grabbed a few related minerals, including several from New Mexico, and looked carefully with magnification. I have a new appreciation for these rocks!
On a recent trip to Arizona, we could not pass up the opportunity to explore and hunt for minerals. About 90 minutes north of Phoenix lay the town of Camp Verde, famous for glauberite, halite, selenite, and associated minerals. In rock-collecting lingo, I call the location freshman collection: fascinating and neat minerals are right at your feet! No digging or significant effort required.
We explored the old salt mine within Prescott National Forest, known since before antiquity to the Native peoples. Eroding out of the hillsides are a plethora of minerals with convoluted crystalline shapes. The deposit is an ancient lakebed, where over time salts precipitated, leaving behind a thick mineralized layer.
Pictured are several halites (they passed the lick-test, they are salt), glauberites, and selenite. The large white hill is nearly pure salt! On the side of the valley, near the crest of the hill, is a lens of selenite and halite. In the photos below, the white rocks are glauberite and the clear specimen is halite.
The area is a playground for collecting and geology. Down the road I may present on this location, as I’m certain to revisit within a year or so.
Rock on everyone and again, special thanks to Dr. Farfan.