Orlando Lyman Mineral Display
While spending two
weeks in Hilo, Hawaii in October, 2009 I had a chance to visit the Lyman
Museum. This is a natural and cultural history museum relating much
information about the Hawaiian islands and the big island in particular.
There is also a very fine group of minerals on display that you would not expect
to see in a place like this. They are professionally and
carefully set out on display and the displays contain a surprising
amount of quality information about minerals including chemistry and
crystallography. They are arranged by crystal system.
Entrance to the
mineral collection.
The isometric
minerals.
A 25 cm gold
specimen most likely from the Eagle's Nest mine.
A 60 cm specimen of
crystallized copper from Michigan!!
One of the largest
specimens of Jeffrey Quarry garnet I have ever seen - 45 cm across at
least!!
The tetragonal
minerals.
A stunning
uranocircite from France that is 30 cm across!
A fine cabinet
specimen of wulfenite and mimetite from the San Francisco mine.
There it is 50 cm
of triangular joy from the Benitoite Gem Mine. The largest crystals are 2.5 cm +
across.
A 1.5 cm crystal of
gemmy red beryl.
A very nicely
arranged display of fluorescent minerals.
One case is
dedicated to carvings of stunning beauty.
In addition to
minerals there is an exceptional display of shells. I am not a shell nut
but I see where nature invented fractal geometry with things like
shells.
The mineral
orlymanite is named in honor of Orlando Lyman.
I highly recommend a stop
at this museum should you find yourself in Hilo. It is worth the price of
admission.
All text,
specimen images, and graphics are copyrighted © 2001-2009 -
John
Veevaert
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