Mineral News       July 2005

A Reaction to "Observations By a Pessimist"

By P. Powhat

Upon reading James E. Rumrill's small piece, entitled "Observations by a Pessimist," in your last issue (Mineral News,  vol. 21, no. 5, p. 15) I decided to write to you with some ideas of my own. While I agree with Mr. Rumrill concerning the domination of leisure time by television and the Internet, I see this as only one aspect of the decline of mineral collecting in general. As a starting point for my views I refer to David E. Jensen's revised edition of George L. English's wonderful book "Getting acquainted with Minerals." Jensen remarks in the preface "...interest in the hobby of mineral collecting in all its phases has increased to place it third among all of the hobbies in this country." This was written in 1958, sadly mineral collecting as a hobby has declined in this country and others since then. How did this happen?

GEORGE L. ENGLISH
1864-1944

One striking difference between the collecting scene in 1958 and that scene today is the dramatic decline in the mining industry in this country. Mines and quarries are undoubtedly the best sources of mineral specimens, but these mines have closed either because they have been worked out or cheaper foreign sources became available. Another major difference between 1958 and today is the increased litigiousness of today's society. In 1958 you were responsible for following the rules and regulations put forth by the mine management, or the property owner, where you wanted to collect. Today those mines, quarries and private properties that remain active will not permit collecting on their sites by private individuals because they are now responsible for (our stupidity. Any specimens coming out of active mines, quarries and private properties are mainly the result of the owners contracting professional firms, such as Collectors Edge and Geoprime, to collect and market the specimens. There are some properties where you may still collect on a fee basis, but don't expect to get anything but mediocre specimens at best from them. What all this means is that sources of ostensibly free specimens for retention in one's personal collection and for exchange have all but dried up. It also takes away another pleasant aspect of collecting back in 1958 - exercise in the great outdoors.

Also, 1958 was near the end of the great uranium prospecting boom. After the end of WW II the United States was actively seeking uranium ores for use in the nuclear weapons industry. Along with uranium, metals such as lithium, beryllium and the semimetal boron, also vital to national security, were actively prospected for. Citizens started weekend prospecting trips looking to get rich just like Forty-niners of old. I am sure a few of you remember magazines such as Popular Mechanics and Popular Science running articles dealing with how to build your own scintillation counter, how to recognize uranium ore and how to stake out a claim. Very few of these weekend prospectors found uranium ore, but many of them got hooked on mineral collecting.  Today we have nothing like this to spur interest in minerals, and keep in mind that those uranium boom prospectors are becoming less and less active.

Another striking difference between collectors in 1958 and those today is the lack of knowledge concerning the science and lore of mineralogy, crystallography and geology of collectors today. Today's collector is far too concerned with price paid or future price to be realized or what trophy can be won with what combination of expensive specimens or which major collector/museum owned the specimen before. There is no longer an awe of the wonders that have been created within the Earth. There is no longer a curiosity about how and why minerals form. On a certain level mineral collecting has gotten to be like collecting rare stamps and coins. The advice "Buy the best you can afford!" has become twisted into meaning "The best is always the highest price!" This attitude has unfortunately trickled down to the collectors without the means to afford these "ultra" specimens. Anybody can shop for specimens by examining the price tag and walk away with some fine pieces. However, the astute collector with a solid background in basic mineralogy will be able to assemble a very fine collection at a modest cost. These are the collectors that can recognize the "sleepers" that are still available, either underpriced or mislabeled; you just have to know what to look for, and a knowledge of basic mineralogy can help. Everybody cannot have the best of the lot, but most collectors can have decent examples from the lot. The great micromounter, Neil Yedlin, always said "Buy and use a good mineral book." There is a plethora of books available to guide the beginning and mid-level collector in the study of minerals. Don't want to avail yourself of "hard copy?" Then there are also many Internet sites that can be used to help.

Mineral collecting is a fascinating hobby for a number of different reasons. A study of minerals is an excellent introduction to chemistry, physics and mathematics [and meteoritics]. They are the building blocks of the rocks that compose the earth's crust [and all planetismals], and thus can help us understand how the earth formed [as well as the solar system], how it continues to be a dynamic planet. Then there are the historical aspects, in many cases the minerals are all that is left of many famous mines and mining districts. The history of the discovery of the chemical elements, and thus of early chemistry in general, revolves around the chemical analysis of mineral specimens. Nevertheless, one always comes back to the aesthetically pleasing colors and crystal habits. How can we start to explain our fascination with what we consider to be the most interesting of natural history objects? How can we as collectors, dealers and museum personnel develop a greater interest in minerals in young people?

Mineral clubs may or may not be the answer. Many of the clubs I've had occasion to encounter seem so ossified by Robert's Rules that they are boring and unsatisfying. This is not to say that all clubs are bad. There are quite a few good organizations in this country; the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society is a premier example. However, for many clubs, less Robert's Rule and more hands on demonstrations and lectures would be a step in the right direction. Have a beginner swap/give away table where senior club members have duplicate specimens and/or books for the uninitiated only.

Collectors could contact the local high school and talk with the earth science teacher there. Work with the teacher to develop a section on mineralogy that would be interesting and stimulating, not just a rote recitation of the Mobs Hardness Scale. A guest lecture by the collector with some his more interesting specimens could be arranged. If there are places near by that a field trip can be undertaken then help the teacher plan one and help chaperon it. Invite the teacher and interested students to visit you at home to show them your collection and talk about it.

Dealers can also help by stocking cheap specimens for children and beginners. On Kids Day at a show have those specimens instead of rock candy available. Pay attention to the children, some of them are actually interested in what you have and what you have to say. There are some interested teachers as well, make a free pass available to them so they can come back on their own.

Take an active interest in your local natural history museum. Volunteer to be a docent and escort school or other interested groups through the mineral displays. If you follow the suggestion I made earlier and work with an earth science teacher, plan a trip to the museum with the class or just the interested students.  Contact the curator or the education division of the museum and see if arrangements can be made for a behind-the-scenes tour for this group. Make donations of specimens or time to the mineralogy or education department of the museum. While there is currently an uproar concerning the possible sale of the Philadelphia Academy collection, I wonder where the uproar was when the collection was moth-balled. Do not sit blithely by and let what happened to the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences collection happen in your town. Be proactive if something like that is in the wind, don't be silent.

In conclusion, I realize that a few of these suggestions have become cliché among some of us. However, I wrote this letter because the state of the mineral collecting hobby, one that is not only a hobby but a career for me, has been on my mind for some time. If this letter stirs up some controversy all the better, at least then we can start taking steps to fix the downward spiral I see the hobby going into.