Mineralogy

Validity of the mineral species is based on the International Mineralogical Association - Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification rules and reports. Species from most classic, depleted or new collection sites are represented. The mineral collection contains specimens used for public display, research, and reference. Multiple specimens of a given species from the same locality may be present in the collection to allow for study material.

News Articles

rock collections

New Acquisition to the Mineralogy Collection

Published November 30, 2016 | Mineralogy

The Museum's mineralogy collection constitutes the world's largest and most complete array of New York State minerals. However, the collection also contains thousands of non-New York specimens, including minerals from Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America. 

A recent...

Marian Lupulescu in the mineral collection

Behind the Scenes in the Mineralogy Collection

Published January 14, 2016 | Mineralogy

From rocks to gems to minerals, there are thousands of specimens in the Museum's mineralogy collection. "Every mineral can tell you a story," says Dr. Marian Lupulescu, curator of geology at the State Museum.

Many New York pegmatite rock minerals (igneous rocks with large crystals) are...

Jamborite detail

First occurrence of Dissakisite-(Ce) and Jamborite in New York

Published August 11, 2015 | Mineralogy

Dissakisite-(Ce) - Ca(Ce,REE)(Mg,Fe2+)(Al,Fe3+)2Si3O12(OH) - the magnesium analogue of the more common allanite (Ce), was found in a specimen from the Henry Rudy Farm, in Orange County. It occurs as millimeter-size pink crystals...