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New York State Museum at Albany: Part 4 - New York City Minerals

This post shows the minerals of New York City at the New York Museum in Albany. New York City has a surprising variety minerals, with 130 species confirmed. Many of the mineral finds have occurred in the vast construction projects, especially in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.


Minerals of New York City Case
Minerals of New York City Case

Schorl in Quartz from Manhattan
Schorl Tourmaline in Quartz from Manhattan

Dravite Tourmaline in Mica Schist from Manhattan
Dravite Tourmaline in mica schist from Manhattan

Almandine Garnet from Manhattan
Almandine Garnet Crystals from Manhattan

Chrysoberyl Crystals in Quartz from Manhattan
Chrysoberyl Crystals in Quartz from Manhattan

Calcite from Woodside, Queens
Calcite from Woodside, Queens

Radiating Stilbite from the Bronx
Radiating Stilbite from the Bronx

New York State Museum at Albany: Part 3 - Individual Minerals Continued

This post is a continuation of the previous post on the individual minerals on display in the New York State Museum in Albany. There is no particular order to the photos other than the sequence that I took the photos in as I approached the displays.


Pyrite from Nedrow, Onondaga Co., NY
Pyrite from Nedrow, Onondaga Co., NY

Travertine Calcite from Litchfield, Herkimer Co., NY
Travertine Calcite from Litchfield, Herkimer Co., NY

Chalcopyrite and Quartz from Ellenville, Ulster Co., NY
Chalcopyrite and Quartz from Ellenville, Ulster Co., NY

Corundum from Warwick, Orange Co., NY
Corundum from Warwick, Orange Co., NY

Tremolite from Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Tremolite from Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Richterite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Richterite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Fluorian Tremolite from Macomb, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Fluorian Tremolite from Macomb, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Tremolite var. Hexagonite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Tremolite var. Hexagonite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Gemmy Tremolite from Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Gemmy Tremolite from Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Blue Phlogopite Mica from Talcville, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Unusual Blue Phlogopite Mica from Talcville, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Lazurite from the Edwards Mine, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Lazurite from the Edwards Mine, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Yellow Sphalerite from the Hyatt Mine, Talcville, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Yellow Sphalerite from the Hyatt Mine, Talcville, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Colorless Halite from the #4 Mine, Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Colorless Halite from the #4 Mine, Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY

New York State Museum at Albany: Part 2 - Individual Minerals

When I visited the New York State Museum in Albany in August, I took many photos of the individual minerals in the display cases. This second post on the New York State Museum shows some of those minerals that I had photographed. Click the photos to enlarge them.


Molybdenite from Star Lake, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Molybdenite from Star Lake, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Calcite Iceland Spar from Lyon Mountain, Clinton Co., NY
Calcite "Iceland Spar" from Lyon Mountain, Clinton Co., NY

Chrysotile Asbestos from Thurman, Warren Co., NY
Chrysotile Asbestos from Thurman, Warren Co., NY

Drusy Quartz on Calcite Plates from Anthony's Nose, Cortlandt, Westchester Co., NY
Drusy Quartz on Calcite Plates from Anthony's Nose, Cortlandt, Westchester Co., NY

Blue Apatite from Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Blue Apatite from Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Rounded Dolomite Balls from Antwerp, Jefferson Co., NY
Rounded Dolomite Balls from Antwerp, Jefferson Co., NY

Purple Calcite from Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Purple Calcite from Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Quartz Herkimer Diamond from Stone Arabia, Montgomery Co., NY
Quartz "Herkimer Diamond" from Stone Arabia, Montgomery Co., NY

Sphalerite from Root Glen, Clinton, Oneida Co., NY
Sphalerite from Root Glen, Clinton, Oneida Co., NY

Chrome Tremolite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Chrome-Tremolite from Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Very Large Spinel Octahedral Crystal from Monroe, Orange Co., NY
Very Large Spinel Octahedral Crystal from Monroe, Orange Co., NY

Tremolite from N. Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Tremolite from N. Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Danburite from Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY
Danburite from Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY

Poker-Chip Style Calcite from Anthony's Nose, Cortlandt, Westchester Co., NY
Poker-Chip Style Calcite from Anthony's Nose, Cortlandt, Westchester Co., NY

New York State Museum at Albany: Part 1 - Exhibits

The New York State Museum is a large museum in Albany, located in the Empire State Plaza complex, near the State Capital and other government buildings. The museum contains art, relics, and specimens that reflect the cultural, natural, and geological development of the State of New York.


The museum was founded in 1836, and is the oldest and largest state museum in the country. Its collections rank among the finest in many fields, and according to the museum's website, it contains more than 16 million scientific specimens, and over a million cultural objects.


The museum has the world's largest and most complete representation of New York State minerals, as well as the largest public exhibit of minerals specific to New York. It has a large mineral hall, with a public displays showcasing some of exemplary minerals from New York state. The display specimens have been selected based on their significance and aesthetics. The exhibits are broken down by several different categories or collections. Some examples of themed displays include Minerals of New York City, minerals of the Adirondack region, minerals of the Hudson Highlands, pegmatite minerals of New York, amphiboles of New York, and minerals from the Oren Root collection.


In addition to the minerals on display, the museum also has a very large collection in their private vaults that is not visible to the public. The entire collection totals about 35,000 specimens, with more than 11,000 minerals of New York; the remainder being worldwide specimens. 

The museum is not well-known among many mineral enthusiasts, due to its lack of representation and marketing within the significant mineral shows and events. However, visiting this museum is highly recommended, especially for regional mineral collectors. In addition to the significant mineral collection displays, there are many other interesting exhibits and sections within the museum that are worth visiting. 


Click the pictures below for larger images:


New York State Museum at Albany
New York State Museum at Albany

Minerals of the Adirondack Highlands
Minerals of the Adirondack Highlands

Minerals of the Adirondack Lowlands
Minerals of the Adirondack Lowlands

Quartz & Calcite
Quartz & Calcite

Minerals of New York City
Minerals of New York City

The Oren Root Collection
The Oren Root Collection

Minerals of the Hudson Highlands
Minerals of the Hudson Highlands

Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 1
Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 1

Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 2
Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 2

Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 3
Large Cabinet Display of New York Minerals 3

Minerals of the Franklin Marble
Minerals of the Franklin Marble Region

Pegmatite Minerals of New York 1
Pegmatite Minerals of New York 1

Pegmatite Minerals of New York 2
Pegmatite Minerals of New York 2

Amphibole Minerals of New York
Amphibole Minerals of New York

Minerals from the Balmat-Edwards Mining District
Minerals from the Balmat-Edwards Mining District