I made my first visit to the University of Arizona Flandrau Science Center this year. I have heard from people around Tucson and in the mineral magazines about Rob Lavinsky's amazing display being featured in the University of Arizona Flandrau Science Center, so decided to check it out. This was my first time here, and it was well worth the visit. The museum has their own permanet exhibit of minerals, with a special emphasis on Arizona minerals. This museum hall is located downstairs, and although it has some impressive specimens, is definitley an older and dated exhibit. Upstairs is where the special exhibits are located. The museum does a yearly rotation of their special exhibits, and this year's exhibit is the Chinese mineral collection of dealer Rob Lavinsky. This collection is extremely impressive and very diverse, and shows the incredible range of beautiful minerals now coming from China. The exhibit is also top-notch in terms of organization, with excellent lighting and a very modern design approach.
Please click the images below for larger detail.
The downstairs permanent exhibit with a special emphasis on Arizona minerals
The temporary exhibit upstairs of Chinese minerals
A better view of the side cases.
Side cases with larger specimens and hexagonal case in the middle of the floor with smaller specimens
Another view of some of the larger cases
