Mineral Museum New Mexico
Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, New Mexico June 8, 2023
PHOTO GALLERY CLICK ON A PHOTO TO DISPLAY A LARGER IMAGE
The Welcoming Reception took place in the Mineral Museum of the New Mexico
Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, a Research Division of the New Mexico
Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech).The museum, known by some as Coronado’s Treasure Chest, provided a
spectacular venue for the start of the 2023 MHA conference.A tasty buffet was served along with a variety of libations to suit every
taste.It was a great opportunity to
renew acquaintances with fellow mining history buffs and to make new ones.However, the museum provided such a powerful attraction that none of our
loyal MHA photographers took people pictures at the event.Not to worry, there are plenty such photos of MHAers enjoying the other
social events.This gallery is
devoted to showcasing many of the colors of the mineral Smithsonite from the
Kelly Mine and other mines of the Magdalena Mining District visited on the MHA
tour on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
A colorful display of flowers greeted the MHAers as they entered the NM Tech
campus.
The fountain at the Mineral Museum is surrounded by an array of rocks and
petrified wood from locations in the state.
The
Sunday field trip was to the Kelly Mine in the Magdalena Mining
District, just outside Magdalena, NM.The mine produced silver and zinc but may be most famous for
producing rare blue Smithsonite like the beautiful specimen shown above.
Smithsonite
is a carbonate ore mineral of zinc.It was named in honor of James Smithson, the Englishman
who left £300,000 in his will to create the Smithsonian Institution in
Washington, DC, in the newly independent United States of America.
The Magdalena District is actually home to several mines in
the same geologic formations.Smithsonite was found in many other more common colors, like this
yellowish specimen from the Waldo-Graphic Mine a short distance north
from the Kelly.
The Waldo-Graphic Mine also produced brown Smithsonite…
…and white Smithsonite.
The Juanita Mine, located a short distance south from the Kelly produced
Smithsonite of a grey color.
(Above)
The museum collections extended beyond New Mexico minerals.Specimens on display came from mines all over the World.There were plenty of mining artifacts, too, including this
example of rather dubious mine safety equipment.
(Right) Well, it was a reception with excellent food and beverages.Some of the MHAers took the opportunity to sample the local
brews.
Photos Courtesy of Pat and Mike Kaas, and Silvia Pettem.
