| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
 Posted: Mar 01, 2012 13:57 Post subject: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Greetings!
My name is John Cornish and it is my pleasure to share a visual and text oriented virtual tour of The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.A., this museum is the Pacific Northwest's finest Earth Sciences institution and features a stunning world-class collection of magnificent treasures. While a photo heavy report, I'll try to accompany photographs with concise and accurate descriptions, but please know, these photographs were never taken with the idea of compiling a report. Thus, their quality may be less than exemplary. Additionally, as the collection is managed, many of the specimens herein photographed may no longer be on current display and an accurate representation of displays available to present day visitors.
It is my hope that this report will offer an introduction to the scope and grandeur of the museums collection while inspiring and enlightening enthusiasts to visit!
For your additional consideration, I have included below a list of links relevant to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals...
Sincerely, I hope you enjoy! All the very best,
John Cornish
PS For scale, museum labels are 8.4 cm wide!
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals website... https://www.ricenorthwestmuseum.org/
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals @ Wikipedia... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_Northwest_Museum_of_Rocks_and_Minerals
Rock & Gem magazine Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals issue link... https://www.rockngem.com/TOCImage/004_mr_RG0507.pdf
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Gold theft... https://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2010/04/police_accuse_museum_founders_kin_of_stealing_gold_nuggets_from_rice_nw_museum_of_rocks_minerals_nea.html
and...
https://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2010/07/man_who_stole_gold_nuggets_from_rice_museum_gets_32_months_in_prison.html
Moss Man...
https://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2010/10/washington_county_sheriffs_deputies_arrest_man_clad_in_camouflage_suit_on_burglary_charges.html
(links normalized by FMF)
| Description: |
| Within a large blue and white shield-like blaze of custom flooring gloriously complimented by emblematic miners picks and shovels, the Rice family name welcomes visitors into the museums main Mineral Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51619 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:08 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals main building. Originally the residence of museum founders Richard and Helen Rice, this beautiful facility is surrounded by a picturesque wonderland of towering trees and lush ever-green grounds. |
|
| Viewed: |
51602 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Adjacent to the main building, the Northwest Mineral Gallery features specimens endemic to the northwest and the prestigious Rudy Tschernich collection. |
|
| Viewed: |
51568 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:12 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| As visitors enter into the main building, they are greeted by this informative display sharing glimpses into the vibrant history of museum founders Richard and Helen Rice. |
|
| Viewed: |
51610 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Awards and trophies grandly reflect Richard and Helen's outgoing nature and their willingness to share their treasures. |
|
| Viewed: |
51611 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A wonderfully detailed display of meteorites. |
|
| Viewed: |
51592 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:18 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Alright, where do meteorites come from? |
|
| Viewed: |
51584 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Chondrites are samples of the solar nebula. That seems easy enough! |
|
| Viewed: |
51608 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Dhofar 309 is an anorthositic impact melt breccia! |
|
| Viewed: |
51634 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:25 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| A photograph of the famous Willamette meteorite found in Oregon and now on display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The 6th largest meteorite known and one lacking an impact crater, leading scientists to conclude that the fall actually occurred elsewhere and that the meteorite had been transported to its discovery location as a glacial erratic during the Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age. |
|
| Viewed: |
51597 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another view of the Willamette meteorite. |
|
| Viewed: |
51631 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A beautifully carved vase featured within the Lapidary Arts Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51571 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another beautiful vase in the Lapidary Arts Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51554 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:29 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| One of the Lapidary Arts Gallery display cases featuring a varied selection of art forms and lapidary mediums. |
|
| Viewed: |
51555 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Gorgeous, intricate and variegated soft purple-colored jade figurine. |
|
| Viewed: |
51577 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Under normal lighting conditions, a part of the museums Fluorescent Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51656 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Fun surprises await in the Man-Made crystal display... |
|
| Viewed: |
51609 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:34 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Exceptional examples of laboratory grown specimens, some of truly exceptional size and quality! |
|
| Viewed: |
51613 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
51581 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
51585 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
51606 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
51593 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:40 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Tucker the baby Psittacosaurus. The museums featured exhibit in its Fossil Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51695 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A clutch of Montana dinosaur eggs. |
|
| Viewed: |
51592 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Exquisitely preserved Russian cave bear bones. |
|
| Viewed: |
51572 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Washington State pseudo-coprolites. |
|
| Viewed: |
51546 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:47 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| An exceptional example of a Washington State fossilized crab. |
|
| Viewed: |
51539 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The south and west walls of the spacious main Mineral Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
51520 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The main Mineral Gallery south wall. |
|
| Viewed: |
51533 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The main Mineral Gallery west wall. |
|
| Viewed: |
51522 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Several shelves where wulfenite takes the main stage. As is typical for the collection, some of these specimens, and those following, are truly monstrous in size and an absolute glory to behold! |
|
| Viewed: |
51527 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Big beautiful blue and green examples of Arizona copper minerals, the biggest specimens all over 30 cm across. |
|
| Viewed: |
51508 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Sensationally displayed are many spectacular specimens recovered from the famous mines of Bisbee, Arizona! A personal favorite of mine is the center bottom malachite stalactite/stalagmite. It was recently displayed at the 2012 Tucson Show featuring the theme Arizona Minerals. It is a mind-boggling treasure approximately 45 cm tall! |
|
| Viewed: |
51490 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another all-time favorite specimen of mine is the monstrous Brazilian beryl variety morganite found on the bottom shelf right. While difficult to make out, the crystal is approximately 30 cm long by 10 cm in diameter and features a 35 cm bright, colorless quartz crystal group sprouting fantastically from its left side. |
|
| Viewed: |
51459 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 14:53 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| The luscious color and size of this specimen really makes it sing, and that from clear across the room! |
|
| Viewed: |
51530 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The fireplace with its inlaid treasures and complimentary log of petrified wood. |
|
| Viewed: |
51504 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The Alma Rose is one of the worlds premier rhodochrosite specimens. From the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado, this fantastic specimen stands approximately 45 cm tall. Associated minerals on the specimen include yellow calcite, purple fluorite, quartz, tetrahedrite and apatite. |
|
| Viewed: |
51523 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals gold collection prior to its theft (see links regarding the theft of these golds within the introduction of this thread) with museum employee Linda. |
|
| Viewed: |
51511 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Detail. Some of the specimens from this display were lost and never recovered. |
|
| Viewed: |
51536 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Gargantuan, bright and shiny octahedral pyrite specimen from Peru approximately one meter long! |
|
| Viewed: |
51517 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another exquisite monster, this time a Brazilian gypsum. A sharp delicately perched gigantic crystal approximately 40 cm long. |
|
| Viewed: |
51511 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:06 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Pinch me, I must be dreaming! A dream come true! A pure homogenous mass of gem chrysocolla that must weigh 5 kg plus! Gorgeous! |
|
| Viewed: |
50342 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Big Bisbee, Arizona azurite and malachite over 40 cm. |
|
| Viewed: |
50343 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Chrysocolla specimen from the Inspiration Mine well over 30 cm wide and tall. |
|
| Viewed: |
50296 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| 30 cm Glove Mine wulfenite from Arizona. |
|
| Viewed: |
50322 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Killer large Bisbee, Arizona malachite slab. |
|
| Viewed: |
50291 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Large exquisite benitoite plate. Dallas Gem Mine. Claifornia. |
|
| Viewed: |
50314 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Tree Root Pocket microcline variety amazonite and smoky quartz from Colorado! Approximately 30 cm of the finest, richest blue-green amazonite you can imagine. |
|
| Viewed: |
50296 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The finest large matrix copper included calcite I've ever seen from Michigan's Quincy Mine. Over 30 cm! |
|
| Viewed: |
50335 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Ah the gorgeous red color explosion that is Argentinean rhodochrosite! Another behemoth over 40 cm. |
|
| Viewed: |
50321 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Perfect dissimilar examples of stalactites of rhodochrosite from Argentina over 30 cm in length. |
|
| Viewed: |
50296 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A less than inspiring photograph of the Mineralogical Record cover beryl variety emerald from V. 25, No. 3, May - June 1994. |
|
| Viewed: |
50335 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another monster is an old-time, inspiring Les Farges Mine pyromorphite over 30 cm from France. |
|
| Viewed: |
50342 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Gorgeous unique pinky-orange colored Japanese rhodochrosite over 30 cm. |
|
| Viewed: |
50377 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another challenging shot of a former Mineralogical Record cover specimen. This time an incredible sperrylite on chalcopyrite from V. 29, No. 2, March - April 1998 |
|
| Viewed: |
50355 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:11 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| What a crazy patterned Mexican agate! Over 30 cm across. |
|
| Viewed: |
50326 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Sphaerocobaltite. This REALLY is the color... Intense! I love it! |
|
| Viewed: |
50322 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Looking into the enormous Petrified Wood Gallery. Representing one of the worlds most diverse and extensive petrified wood exhibitions. This display is largely due to, and on loan from the Murphy family, 'Northwest Petrified Wood Legends' of Tigard, Oregon. |
|
| Viewed: |
50349 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another shot of this expansive and impressive Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
50326 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Large exceptional examples of a multitude of species amaze and await visitors. |
|
| Viewed: |
50343 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| If slabs are good, logs are better! |
|
| Viewed: |
50392 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:18 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| The colors, the patterns, the quantities and the size of the specimens all combine to inspire. |
|
| Viewed: |
50290 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Monster-sized slices of exotic and exceptional petrified woods. |
|
| Viewed: |
50353 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Beautiful Brazilian fossilized tree fern. |
|
| Viewed: |
50356 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A display of Jurassic Argentinean fossilized cones. |
|
| Viewed: |
50262 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Florida fossilized limbs. |
|
| Viewed: |
50278 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another gorgeous Brazilian tree fern. |
|
| Viewed: |
50274 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A close-up showing the detail found in one of the collections other specimens. |
|
| Viewed: |
50301 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A spectacular grouping of large petrified wood slabs as displayed in the Petrified Wood Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
50297 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:25 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| A gorgeous 60 cm plus cut and polished slab of Arizona petrified wood. |
|
| Viewed: |
50321 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another as impressively sized from Arizona. |
|
| Viewed: |
50317 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The trio of gigantic Arizona slabs complete. |
|
| Viewed: |
50292 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Geologic Walk! |
|
| Viewed: |
50283 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Northwest Mineral Gallery! For many of us here in the northwest, this building contains many of our favorite, local iconic specimens. Always a must see. For me personally, it's always my first stop when I visit! |
|
| Viewed: |
50294 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50253 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Retired Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Curator Rudy Tschernich beside the scolecite vug he constructed from specimens mined in India. |
|
| Viewed: |
50269 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A comfortable relaxing area ideal for visiting within the Northwest Mineral Gallery facing a portion of the north and west wall displays. |
|
| Viewed: |
50263 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Portions of the Northwest Mineral Gallery south and west walls. |
|
| Viewed: |
50268 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:34 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Portions of the Northwest Mineral Gallery south and east walls. |
|
| Viewed: |
50251 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A portion of the Northwest Mineral Gallery south and east walls focusing on the museums world-class thunderegg exhibit. |
|
| Viewed: |
50265 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The thunderegg in the foreground must weigh over 90 kg! |
|
| Viewed: |
50227 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| From Opal Butte, near Heppner, Oregon. This gigantic thunderegg has the potential to be filled not just with agate, but with precious fire opal! |
|
| Viewed: |
50236 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| An even larger opalized thunderegg from Opal Butte partially polished with one of the museums interns for scale. |
|
| Viewed: |
50268 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A location map in the Northwest Mineral Gallery showing many of the regions finest specimen producing localities. |
|
| Viewed: |
50251 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| One of the displays featuring two of Oregon's premier lapidary localities... On the left, the Morrison Ranch area with its world famous jasper variety morrisonite. On the right is Graveyard Point, renowned for its fantastic plume agate... |
|
| Viewed: |
50226 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Offers two photos of the surrounding Morrison Ranch collecting area where the jaspers are recovered. Below, a generous selection of specimens illustrating the coloration and patterning that makes these jaspers famous the world over. |
|
| Viewed: |
50220 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Things don't change much, dig hard and dig deep! Recovering Graveyard Point vein agate rich in colorful and fantastic plumes. |
|
| Viewed: |
50306 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| White, yellow and golden-brown colors enrich this 30 cm cut and polished slab of Oregon plume. |
|
| Viewed: |
50295 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The fun and the glory, digging for treasure! |
|
| Viewed: |
50198 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Soft-tinted pastel-colored pink compliments the other tones and colors seen in this exceptional large 30 cm cut and polished slab of Graveyard Point plume agate. Impressive! |
|
| Viewed: |
50181 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:42 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Specimens from my claim, the Rat's Nest Mine, of Custer County, Idaho, are well represented in the museums collection and some of the claims finest specimens can be found displayed here. |
|
| Viewed: |
50205 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Me, John Cornish, posing before the display highlighting my Rat's Nest Mine. |
|
| Viewed: |
50177 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Easily the finest mordenite I've ever dug and the finest ever produced from my Rat's Nest Mine. A large cabinet-sized specimen perfect and pristine and all a' bristle with its delicate hair-like crystals. A gift from me to my friend Rudy Tschernich. |
|
| Viewed: |
50208 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Examples showing the wide ranging colors found in heulandite crystals from my Rat's Nest Mine. |
|
| Viewed: |
50201 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A spectacular approximately 30 cm hollow geode-like specimen of mordenite with minor accessory heulandite. The best of two such specimens known from my Rat's Nest Mine. |
|
| Viewed: |
50218 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A true monster-sized pseudomorph specimen! This from my Summer Storm claim near Challis in central Idaho. Here, quartz has faithfully replaced apophyllite crystals up to 6 cm long by 3 cm wide with associated yellow calcite fans overgrown by more drusy quartz. The entire hollow jelly-bean candy-shaped specimen weighs 67 kg and is the largest pseudomorphic specimen of its kind known. Self collected and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50238 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The finest known calcite from Washington State. A 4.5 kg floater I collected from a 3 meter long tube-like pocket. I documented the find in the Rocks & Minerals article, Minerals from the Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry, Lewis County, Washington, V. 73, No. 4, July - August 1998. Self collected and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50177 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Natrolite and apophyllite in a 30 cm plus plate from the Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry, Lewis County, Washington. Exceptional in every way, this find, one made by Rudy Tschernich two years after I made my 1996 discovery, truly sets a quality standard for the northwest and these species. |
|
| Viewed: |
50169 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A 30 cm plus plate of calcite overgrowing natrolite and apophyllite from Rudy Tschernich's 1998 Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry find. The experience of collecting this exceptional pocket was captured in the Tschernich article titled Extraordinary Natrolite-Lined Pockets at the Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry published within the Microprobe newsletter of the Northwest Micro Mineral Study Group, V. 8, No. 7, pages 10 - 16. |
|
| Viewed: |
50185 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another stellar natrolite and apophyllite crystal specimen from the Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry, Lewis County, Washington. On specimens from Rudy's 1998 find, natrolite crystals reach lengths up to 8 cm and are all a' bristle with colorless apophyllite crystals hanging suspended like multi-faceted little gems. |
|
| Viewed: |
50172 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The best calcite specimen recovered during Rudy's 1998 Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry dig, approximately 24 cm in diameter and truly exceptional in every way. Easily one of the best large cabinet-sized calcite and associated species specimens known from the state of Washington. |
|
| Viewed: |
50197 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Warren S. collecting large natrolite and apophyllite crystal plates from a 4 meter long pocket using custom made tools specifically designed and constructed for this dig at the Weyerhaeuser Lincoln Creek Quarry, Lewis County, Washington. |
|
| Viewed: |
50206 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 15:58 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| A photograph I took displayed within one of the exhibition cases in the Northwest Mineral Gallery building featuring the finest pocket of natrolite crystals I've ever found and dug from a local Mason County, Washington quarry. The pocket was closer to a full meter in width and produced two monstrous natrolite matrix plates nearly 40 cm across which are still in my collection. |
|
| Viewed: |
50178 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A 10 cm calcite and natrolite from the same Mason County, Washington quarry as mentioned in the photo before. This is the finest combination specimen I've ever seen from the locality. Self collected and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50217 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| From Robertson Pit, Mason County, Washington, this specimen features analcimes that are among the largest known from the locality at just over 2.5 cm associated with stout terminated natrolite crystals. Self collected and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50194 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| One of the finest specimens I've ever collected from Robertson Pit, Mason County, Washington (or anywhere else for that matter) and 100% unique. Natrolite included by black clay over a field of white analcime crystals. Self collected, 14 cm and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50169 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Displayed within one of the cases of the Northwest Mineral Gallery, this photo shows me, John Cornish, collecting at the famous thomsonite locality of Jaquish Road, Goble, Oregon. |
|
| Viewed: |
50199 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Displayed within one of the cases of the Northwest Mineral Gallery, this photo shows me, John Cornish, collecting at the Gopher Valley Quarry, near Sheridan, Oregon. This time showing my good side! |
|
| Viewed: |
50214 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| One of the finest combination plates of calcite, natrolite and analcime known from the state of Oregon. Recovered from a 2 meter long crystal-lined pocket. I described this discovery in the Microprobe newsletter of the Northwest Micro Mineral Study group, V. 8, No. 6, pages 8 - 13. At the time this photo was taken, it was on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50199 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| My best specimen from the Gopher Valley Quarry, near Sheridan, Oregon and the finest calcite known from Oregon. It sat against the pockets back wall and when seen for the first time, it glowed a deep golden color as it lit-up in the light reflected from my hard hat. It is 45 x 30 x 30 cm and weighs just over 18 kg and features unbelievably a 3 cm wide two-phase gas bubble that travels 8 cm through the center of the biggest crystal! Self collected and, at the time this photo was taken, on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50184 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Detail of one of Oregon's finest crystal specimens. A spectacular 30 cm (as shown) natrolite, apophyllite and stilbite specimen from the Two Hug Quarry. Glittery and bright and spectacular! |
|
| Viewed: |
50198 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The entire 40 cm specimen of natrolite, apophyllite and stilbite from the Two Hug Quarry in Oregon, part of the Rudy Tschernich collection displayed in the Northwest Mineral Gallery of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. |
|
| Viewed: |
50217 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 16:07 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| And if possible, this specimen is even more spectacular. From the fantasy-like dream-come-true locality known as the Two Hug Quarry. Natrolite and analcime, nearly 30 cm wide. |
|
| Viewed: |
50184 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A close-up of the breath-taking natrolite and analcime Two Hug Quarry specimen seen in the previous photo. |
|
| Viewed: |
50185 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A great 10 cm specimen of orange-colored chabazite with associated mesolite from the abandoned F-Line Quarry of Lewis County, Washington. Part of the Rudy Tschernich collection. |
|
| Viewed: |
50177 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| The finest known thomsonite from the entire northwest. Found during a Friends of Mineralogy field trip I was leading to one of my local Olympic Peninsula quarry's. My friend Keith Ikerd hit the pocket of all pockets when he found the rock that produced this wondrous 7 cm hemisphere. Truly, this is an exceptional specimen! On loan from Keith Ikerd. |
|
| Viewed: |
50211 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Rudy Tschernich's Crystal Cave. An awesome crowd-pleasing bejeweled cave where Rudy created the illusion of a large scolecite and stilbite crystal lined cavity well over a meter wide, tall and long. |
|
| Viewed: |
50207 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A neat 12 cm pin-cushiony sphere of Indian mesolite. |
|
| Viewed: |
50160 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A 30 cm long thomsonite from India. |
|
| Viewed: |
50201 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A photograph of me, John Cornish, drilling at Montana's PC Mine as displayed within the cases of the Northwest Mineral Gallery, this time working for Japan- law twinned quartz. |
|
| Viewed: |
50230 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| At 30 cm, this insanely spectacular Green Monster Mine, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska specimen is among the finest known. This epidote, calcite and quartz specimen is just too good, like I said, spectacular! Collected by Doug Toland and Tom Hanna. |
|
| Viewed: |
50174 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A poor photograph of a wonderful 14 cm tall Alaskan example of the classic calcite after ikaite type of pseudomorphic replacement more commonly seen from other localities, such as Russia's Taimyr Peninsula. Donated by Dave and Jan Hill. |
|
| Viewed: |
50202 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A sensational large cabinet specimen from the Black Pine Mine of Montana featuring a ton of species; quartz (including a couple of tiny Japan-law twinned crystals), heubnerite, stolzite, azurite, and tetrahedrite in a visually striking arrangement. At the time this photo was taken, I had it on long term loan. |
|
| Viewed: |
50195 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 16:15 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
| Aaron Weiting found and has loaned this incredible, unique specimen of crystallized octahedral black fluorite on petrified wood to the museum! A surface find from an undisclosed locality in Oregon. |
|
| Viewed: |
50202 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A photograph of a large 1 meter plus quartz crystal-lined pocket found during one of my collecting trips to Montana's P C Mine as displayed within one of the cases of the Northwest Mineral Gallery. |
|
| Viewed: |
50155 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A wonderful cabinet-sized geode section from one of Washington State's premier crystal collecting localities; Walker Valley. This specimen is a terrific representative example of the treasures hoped for when collecting this locality, slightly amethystine colored quartz with white rosettes of calcite and inter-growing with the quartz, brilliant little bundles of goldeny-brown goethite needles. Wonderful! Donated by Dan Vandenburg. |
|
| Viewed: |
50190 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Specimens of meta-autunite from Washington State's Daybreak Mine are historic rarely seen treasures and this is a monstrous, exceptional 40 cm specimen. |
|
| Viewed: |
50222 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Of all the quartz known from the northwest, among the massives, it's not the jaspers or the carnelians that garner center stage, rather it's Washington State's, Kittitas County, Ellensburg Blue. Hard to describe and more difficult yet to find, these free-formed and polished sterling silver set examples offer a wonderful example of just how good this material can be. On loan from Betty Warrington. |
|
| Viewed: |
50182 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A pretty 30 cm wide amethyst-lined quartz geode from Oregon. Donated by Dennis Murphy. |
|
| Viewed: |
50183 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A monstrous 30 cm plus Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho, miarolitic cavity plate from one of the state's more spectacular and remote collecting areas. Donated by Sharleen Harvey. |
|
| Viewed: |
50168 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Another Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho specimen! On loan from Randy Becker. |
|
| Viewed: |
50164 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| A fantasy quartz specimen from Washington State's Denny Mountain. The ears of the Japan-law twin alone are approximately 30 cm long! A fantasy made real! King County is among the finest areas for crystallized quartz in the entire world. On loan from Lew Landers. Following is a sensational sampling from Denny Mountain, King County, Washington... |
|
| Viewed: |
50159 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50258 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| One of the finest quartz scepter plates I've ever seen. Over 30 cm across! Insane and 100% Denny Mountain, Washington! On loan from Lew Landers. |
|
| Viewed: |
50196 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Cornish
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 127
Location: Port Angeles
|
| Posted: Mar 01, 2012 16:24 Post subject: Re: A visit to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon |
|
|
...
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50195 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50196 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50208 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| It's really that good too! |
|
| Viewed: |
50187 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Or maybe this sweet 15 cm perfect treasure! On loan from Randy Becker. |
|
| Viewed: |
50236 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50209 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Viewed: |
50185 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Or how about this 30 cm enhydroed amethyst sceptered, specular hematite associated floater specimen! On loan from John Lindell. |
|
| Viewed: |
50195 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
| Here's another killer cabinet-sized specimen, amethyst sceptered quartz from Denny Mountain, King County, Washington. On loan from Randy Becker. |
|
| Viewed: |
50126 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ 
Register
Log in
Forgotten your password?
