Preserving Inorganic Diversity.

Over the years, many observers of my mineral collection, from invited guests to appliance repairmen, have literally stared, open-mouthed, at the spectacle that confronts them. Mostly, the comments resemble, "Are those real?" or "I've never seen anything like that." Unfortunately, the latter statement is true. Unless you have an interest in minerals or happen to wander in to that section the Smithsonian or comparable museum, witnessing the dazzling beauty and symmetry of quality mineral crystals is just not a part of our experience. In my opinion, that is just a shame.

Dioptase.

The subject of biological diversity and the destruction of the rainforests are familiar to the general public because of the justifiable intense media attention to the devastation of habitat, not just in rainforests, but worldwide. Most are familiar with the concept of undiscovered plant and animal species that may be lost if this trend is not reversed. But where is the concern about mineral sites, many of great fame and antiquity, that are closed down or no longer accessible? And where is the outrage about valuable mineral resources that are never discovered due to the inexorable paving over of sizeable parts of the world? What about mineral species that may never be discovered? If the number of newly described species being described every year is an indicator, untold numbers of fascinating, beautiful or economically valuable species may never be known. For the collector, a closed site leads to increased rarity, desirability and value, but to the world at large, it is a lost opportunity to appreciate some of the finest examples of one of our most valuable natural resources. It is my contention that all of us with an interest in minerals should profess righteous indignation about the loss of these sites and energetic conservation of those still available. We should also promote continued exploration for new sites to fully expand our knowledge and appreciation of what I call "inorganic diversity." After all, minerals are among the most beautiful and useful categories of our natural heritage.

Don't misunderstand the above. I am also a student of botany, dendrology, and evolutionary biology and am, by profession, in the field of life sciences. My "green" credentials are beyond question. I wholeheartedly support the conservation of biologic diversity. I just happen to think that preservation of our best-known mineral sources, to say nothing of those localities still unknown, deserves similar attention.

In the field of biologic conservation, it has been learned by painful experience that preservation will not occur unless it is made economically desirable. Slash and burn subsistence will not yield to altruism. There must be a real and personal incentive for those who would exploit our resources to preserve them or to use them in a manner that is sustainable: hence the development of "eco-tourism" and other promising tactics.

Similarly, the world's best mineral localities will be exploited to the point of exhaustion unless some incentive to the preservation of specimens exists. By necessity, there will be utilization of our mineral resources, through mining, to supply the raw materials of our civilization just as agriculture must continue to utilize our biologic resources. But there is a middle ground between sustainable yield and wanton destruction.

Part of the great value of our mineral resources is their utility but that should not cause us to overlook the transcendent beauty and spiritual epiphany attendant to experiencing the visual impact of the best crystals of these "useful minerals." The ability of crystals to mesmerize ranks with that of waterfalls and campfires and has given rise to a whole phenomenon of "metaphysical" specimens. While I don't subscribe to any of the more extreme healing claims, I can certainly attest to the calming effect of being "drawn into" a beautiful crystal. This attribute alone is sufficient reason to preserve beautiful specimens. There is, however, also a profound scientific value to such preservation. Just as one can marvel at the extraordinary specialized physiology of a complex marsupial such as the koala that can subsist solely on a diet of eucalyptus leaves, so also is there a reason to marvel at perfectly dipyramidal anglesite or beta-quartz or any of hundreds of equally fascinating crystalline examples in the mineral world. Both biologic and inorganic complexities encourage an appreciation of God's world as well as abundant opportunity to advance scientific knowledge. After all, what is the fundamental difference between the processes of biologic evolution and mineral paragenesis? There is much to learn in both arenas.

One method of encouraging the preservation of beautiful specimens is to foster knowledge of their mere existence to the masses of people who have "never seen anything like that." The recent trend toward mining for specimens, exemplified no better than the spectacular accomplishments of Bryan Lees and others at The Collector's Edge, as well as efforts at Tsumeb, Broken Hill and elsewhere, is wonderfully encouraging. Perhaps specimen mining is on its way to becoming a reality..

Most of us cannot begin to undertake an effort of such a grand scale, but we can help by becoming evangelical in our zeal for mineral appreciation, creating an incentive for preservation. As in biologic conservation, this will require making it economically desirable to protect quality specimens. Economic incentive involves making mineral specimens valued by and available to the general public. The Internet is helping to disseminate the visual spectacle of these treasures but we can reach beyond the collector who already shares our appreciation. One way is to encourage the use of mineral specimens in home décor, taking advantage of the popularity of "natural" objects. This is already being done with huge specimens, such as amethyst cathedrals. But why can't a cabinet sized mineral specimen grace a secretary or vitrine? Why can't a Sweet Home Rhodochrosite be considered an objet d'art---a masterpiece by the Master?

I believe this is an attainable goal and have constructed this Website to appeal, not only to collectors, but also to interior decorators and anyone with a sense of beauty. The more popular such specimens become, the greater the economic incentive to preservation of inorganic diversity.

In this vein, (see, there's another biologic-mineralogical parallel) I ask you to view my simplistic classification of mineral specimens by such an inconsistent characteristic as color, as a way to invite the world to participate. Not many of the mineralogically naïve will be enticed by categories such as "phosphates, arsenates, and vanadates" but everyone can appreciate "red" and perhaps stop to take a look. Only then will they appreciate the thrill of a Sweet Home Rhodochrosite. Lets all invite the world into our world of beautiful crystals!