Minerals, Ores & Fossils: Oh My!

Wanting something different to do on this gorgeous day, I googled "Free things to do in Reno." I won the jackpot with my discovery of the W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum.

A visit to Nevada's oldest geology museum was more exciting than I ever thought it would be. Located in the Mackay School of Mines Building at the University of Nevada, Reno, the Keck Museum houses an outstanding collection of minerals, ores, fossil specimens and photographs, in addition to mining related relics.
In 1906, the $100,000 project began. Architect Stanford White, renown for building Madison Square Gardens, designed the Mackay School of Mines Building and the grounds. White modeled the quad after the quadrangle designed by Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia. 
Mackay Mines is named for John W. Mackay (1831-1902), one of the "Big Four" mining magnates of the Comstock Lode bonanza. In 1908, this building, and subsequent endowments, were presented to the University in John Mackay's honor by his widow, Marie Louise, and his son, Clarence H. Mackay.
The unique statue of John Mackay, in front of the building, I discovered upon thorough examination, was created by renowned sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who is best known for his work on Mount Rushmore, which he did 30 years after Mr. Mackay. How very, very cool and important.




This was not just a place to explore the astounding collection. It was also a place to learn...For instance about Mineral Properties.
Minerals can be distinguished from each other by specific characteristics. Some of these properties include crystal habit, color, hardness, luster, cleavage, and streak.
Crystal habit is a description of the shapes and aggregates that a certain mineral is likely to form. When a mineral crystallizes without impediment to its growth, it assumes a characteristic shape or euhedral crystal habit that reflects its internal crystal structure. Although most minerals do have different forms, they are sometimes quite distinct and common only to one or even just a few minerals. This Barite, an example of Rosette Crystal Habit blew me away. It is a stone rose. Wow.
This clear chart showed how minerals make a rock. "Matter becomes more complex from elements to minerals to rocks. The elements that make up minerals are like the letters that make up words. A rock is made up of one or more minerals just like a sentence is made up of words. In the example below, granite (a rock), is made up of several different minerals. Each of the minerals is made up of elements. Comparing it to a sentence made sense for this geologically challenged museumgoer.
How fun are these thumbnail specimens? "A thumbnail specimen, or thumbnail, is a specimen that is approximately 2.5 cm, or 1 inch, in size. They are collected because one can get very well-formed crystals of this size, they do not take up much space, and many times they are cheaper than larger specimens. Souvenir sized if you ask me.


Mesolite has to be one of my favorites. How fragile and beautiful.
This Pyrophylite came from Indian Gulch, California. I think I need to go there.
Pseudomorphs are when one mineral is replaced by another yet maintains the original shape. Wild.


Doesn't this Wulfenite look like wrappers from the butterscotch candies we had as children? It is so beautiful.

Interestingly, when Nevada became a state in 1864, the state constitution mandated a mining engineering school as part of the University of Nevada. The first mining program was created in 1882, totaling nine students and lasting three months. It certainly has grown.
While offering programs in geology, geography, geophysics, geological engineering, hydrogeology and mining engineering (with options in underground and quarry mining), Mackay has expanded its scope to include research and degree programs in other critical earth science disciplines including seismology, environmental engineering and hydrology.

A highlight for me was the spectacular Mackay Silver Collection, created by Tiffany & Co., for John Mackay (1878).
John W. Mackay commissioned New York's premiere jeweler to design and produce an elaborate silver service for his wife Marie-Louise. The result was a unique 1,250 piece set of sterling silver dinner and dessert service completed in 1879 and made from a half ton of silver directly out of the Comstock Lode.
Author Charles Carpenter notes in his volume Tiffany Silver that the Mackay's order was the largest, the grandest, the most elegantly ornate and most famous set of its time, the Mackay service epitomized the sumptuous dining table of Victorian America.

Accompanying the collection is the Tiffany invoice, listing all pieces. There were spoons for sugar, olives, eggs, and mustards. There were tongs for every conceivable need. They even had special grape scissors. It was not uncommon for each diner to be provided with a 24-piece place setting. Up to 8 different forks, 8 different knives, various spoons, and multiple drinking glasses were set out for individual guests.
Remember the dining and dessert had 1,250 pieces. The Mackays needed two crumb trays and knives for a total of 43 troy ounces of pure silver each (the pure silver is $1,075 in today's dollars, not to mention what Tiffany would have charged for the craftsmanship). Wow.
As exceptional hosts, there were two cigar stands complete with four separate lighters. Wow. 
Silverware was placed on each side of the plate, with the exception of the dessert spoon which was brought out once dessert was served. Multiple wine glasses, water goblets, a salt cellar, a nut dish, and a menu were set at each seat. To the right of the plate, from the outside in were placed the oyster fork, a soup spoon, a fish knife, a meat knife, and a salad/fruit knife. On the left side, from outside in were the fish fork, meat fork, and salad/fruit fork. "Lifestyles of the rich and famous!"

These two pieces seemed the most extravagant of all the silver tools. What a nice pair of Victorian silver ham bone holders, with tightening screw mechanism, to hold ham joint in place. Everyone must need one of these. So dang cool.

The Keck Museum has been free since it opened in 1908. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the First Saturday of the Month from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. I highly recommend a visit to this very unique museum on the gorgeous 149 year old UNR campus!

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