Rocks & Minerals
OPEN: Thursday – Saturday:
10am – 4pm
Rocks & Minerals Gallery
The Rocks & Minerals Gallery at the Alaska Museum of Science & Nature exhibits one of the widest collections of rocks, minerals, gems and fossils on public display in the state of Alaska. Below are just some of the items we have on display.
Amazonite
Amazonite is a variety of feldspar. It is named after the Amazon River, which has historically been a source of green stones — though the stones there are not necessarily amazonite! Its green-blue color may be a result of lead found in the mineral.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a variety of quartz, just like rose quartz and citrine. Its color can range from pale lavender to deeper shades of purple like this one. It is common for the deepest color on amethyst to be concentrated where the crystals terminate — you can see some of that if you look closely at this specimen. This phenomenon is called color zoning.
Goethite
This strange bubbly-looking mineral is goethite. Rich in iron, goethite has been used since ancient times as brown ochre. It has been found in cave paintings at archaeological sites, including the famous cave paintings at Lascaux, France. Goethite occurs around the world, often in boggy areas, cave bottoms, and under lakes and creeks.
Smithsonite
Smithsonite is rarely found in well-formed crystals. This piece from our geology room is a good example of the botryoidal crystal habit common to smithsonite. “Botryoidal” comes from the Greek word “botrus,” which means “bunch of grapes.”
Wavellite
This wavellite from our geology room shows the mineral’s characteristic radial cluster pattern. Wavellite’s name comes from the British naturalist who discovered it in the early 1800s. It is often found in low-grade metamorphic rocks.
Getting Here
By Road:
The museum is located at 201 N. Bragaw, just north of the Glenn Highway (6th Avenue as it leaves Anchorage). From either direction, take the Bragaw Street, and turn north onto Bragaw. Cross Mountain View Drive, and the museum and adjacent parking are located on the left side of the street.
By Bus:
Anchorage People Mover Public Bus Route 45 provides access from downtown Anchorage right to our door.
Parking:
The museum offers free off-street parking, located adjacent to the building.