Maine Mineral & Gem Museum
September 4, 2024
By Chris Munkholm
A COSMOS Discovery in the Middle of Maine
99 Main Street, Bethel Maine — Open every day except Tuesday
To learn more about the lunar collection: It’s Bizarre To Think That Maine Is Home To The World’s Largest Collection Of Lunar Meteorites, But It’s True (onlyinyourstate.com).
While perambulating the vicinity of our Air B&B in Harrison, Maine, we stumbled upon the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. And discovered an entry portal into the inner earth of mineral excavation, an historical industry in Maine. We were astounded by the curated contents of natural and cut specimens. Never has a region’s history produced such a visual tour de force. The elegant galleries tell the history of mining in Maine through a stunning display of gorgeous mineral rocks, in all sizes, colors, and crystal formations, each representing a pure state of physical and chemical aggregation. To see how the forces of nature can produce one crystal emerging from a different and unique crystalized substance is a sight to marvel at.
The museum also possesses the world’s largest collection of lunar meteorites as well as many from Mars. During our visit a museum scientist in the gallery invited us to hold meteorites from both Mars and the Moon. Nothing quite expands one’s sense of presence in the cosmos more than holding an off-planet rock.
Upon departing, we carefully perused the museum shop, discovering their intriguing line of jewelry fashioned from meteorites. Paul acquired a tote bag labeled Gneiss Day, and COSMOS selected a ring made from an octahedrite meteorite found in Norrbotten, Sweden in 1906 and estimated to be 100,000 years old.
It’s nice to wear a piece of the solar system.
Meteorite: Karavannoe Respublika Kareliya, Russia Pallasite (PES) Found 1960s.
Meteorite: "Stromboli" Stone Northwest Africa Ordinary chondrite (probable) Found 2013.
Left: Gallery with off-planet meteorites and artifacts. Right: Paul Munkholm, Son of COSMOS, and Chris COSMOS holding meteorites from Mars and the Moon, respectively. A museum scientist explained how oxygen isotope patterns are used to identify the origins of off-planet meteorites, all of which are recovered on Earth after hurling through space.
The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum also offers in-depth information on the industrial history and commercialization of mined minerals, many of which are used by fine jewelers the world over. The value proposition, "To Cut or Not to Cut" has generated many heated discussions and even altercations.
Beryl v. aquamarine, Barbour Prospect, Stoneham, Maine.
