Gems & Minerals...Nature's Underground Treasures

Gems & Minerals…Nature’s Underground Treasures, opening January 31 and running through April 18, 2004, is a collaborative exhibit between the Reading Public Museum and the Berks County Mineralogical Society. The exhibit will feature over 200 of the finest specimens from both collections and will be highlighted by a moon rock on loan to the Museum from the Goddard Space Science Center. Many of the Museum’s specimens have not been seen for over 30 years. Michael Feyers, Science Curator states, “We have a large quartz crystal geode, numerous samples of banded agates, a large fan calcite that looks like a house of cards, quartz samples with unusual inclusions and a huge desert rose unlike any I’ve ever seen.”

Gems & Minerals…Nature’s Underground Treasures is supported by the Friends of the Reading Museum, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Regular Museum admission is $7 adults and $5 children 4 to 17. Museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday 11am to 5pm, Wednesday 11am to 8pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

This exhibit features only a fraction of what the Museum has in storage. Like many of the Museum’s treasures, the nucleus of the gem and mineral collection was donated by Museum founder Dr. Levi Mengel in 1927. It has grown over the years and now has over 25,000 specimens. Most of the mineral collection is used for scientific research. In addition to the minerals, the Museum has a substantial gem collection, many of which will be on display. Gems are also minerals, but because of their rarity and beauty they have been given a special status called a gem.

The Berks Mineralogical Society has been invaluable to Gems & Minerals…Nature’s Underground Treasures by providing knowledge and specimens. Berks Mineralogical Society President Barry Gehret, Jr. comments, “This exhibit has been on the minds of the members of the Berks Mineralogical Society and what a great time to do it, the 100th Anniversary of the Reading Public Museum.” The Mineralogical Society was formed in 1957 and offers programs and field trips to its members and the general public. They hold monthly meetings at the Museum and also sponsor an annual gem show.

The Museum is excited to bring an actual moon rock, on loan from Goddard Space Science Center, to its visitors. The lunar sample on display was picked up by Apollo 17 Astronaut Harrison Schmitt near the landing site in the Taurus-Littrow Valley region of the moon. When collected, the entire rock weighed 5,765 grams (12.7 pounds). The piece on display at the Museum weighs 64 grams (2.25 ounces). The collision that produced the large circular basins visible from Earth produced this rock about 3.7 billion years ago. The rock is called a mare basalt. Scientific research is being conducted on the balance of this sample at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and other research centers in the United States and in certain foreign nations.

Related Programming for Gems and Mineral…Nature’s Underground Treasures
Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 1:00pm - Collecting Earth’s Natural Treasures Video. For all ages. Shown in Auditorium. Free with admission.

Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 2:00pm - Fluorescent Mineral Demonstration. This program will provide instructions on how to find, identify and view fluorescent minerals. For all ages. Auditorium. Free with admission.

Sunday, February 29, 2004 at 1:00pm – The Hunt for Fern Fossils Workshop. Learn how to find those rare fern fossils hidden in their rock matrix. Presented by Frank Herceg, Berks Mineralogical Society. Safety glasses and gloves are provided and must be worn during workshop. Ages 8 to adult. $5 Members, $10 Non-members. Pre-registration required, call 610-371-5850 ext. 235.

Sunday, March 7, 2004 – Panning for Gold workshops. Presented in greenhouse by Tom Prachar, Berks Mineralogical Society. Ages 8 to adult. $5 Member, $10 Non-Member. Pre-registration required, call 610-371-5850 ext. 235. Please indicate which workshop time you want to attend – 1:00pm, 2:00pm, or 3:00pm.

Sunday, April 4, 2004 – Cabochon Demonstration (a Cabochon is a gem without facets that is highly polished and has smooth, round edges). Presented in auditorium by Diane Gehret, Berks Mineralogical Society. Safety glasses, gloves and aprons are provided and must be worn during workshop. Ages 8 to adult. Choose from 1:00pm, 2:00pm or 3:00pm – limit 15 per session, first come, first served. Free with admission.