Some say that "great things come in small packages"! Such is the case with our first state, Delaware. This tiny state, which has no income taxes or sales taxes, derives most of its income from tolls levied on out-of-state travelers who drive up and down Interstate 95, which runs from Florida to Maine. Every time a family travels down to Disney World, or drives up to New York City from Washington, DC (or vice versa), they eventually pay for the privilege of driving on the 15 or so miles of Interstate 95 that runs through Delaware. Hopefully, some of them stop at the University of Delaware Mineral Museum in Newark to admire the Du Pont collection of world-class mineral and gem specimens.

On March 3, 2013, we visited the Mineralogical Museum, which is located in Penny Hall on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, at 255 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716. Most of the specimens in this outstanding collection were donated by the Du Pont family or were acquired with funds from their endowments. The campus is located right off of Interstate 95 just several miles from the Maryland border. There is a small parking lot right next to Penny Hall, the building that houses the collection. On weekends, especially on Sunday, there is usally a parking space or two available. During weekdays, when classes are in session, you should park in the lot designated for visitors which is very near the museum. The museum's website will give you further instructions. The museum is generally open from Wednesday to Sunday during the hours of 12PM to 5PM and on Thursdays from 12PM to 8PM. Please call ahead at (302) 831-8037 to make sure the musuem is open on the day you visit. http://www.udel.edu/museums/

According to the Museum's website "The minerals exhibited here are from the collection of Irenee du Pont, Sr. (1876 – 1963), whose collection was gifted to the University of Delaware in 1964. Du Pont purchased much of his collection from George Kunz, Vice-President of Tiffany & Co., in 1919. This display emphasizes minerals from extinct localities – deposits that have been mined out or even mines that have vanished into later open pit mining operations."

The University of Delaware Campus.



This photo is a wide view of about half of the mineral display cases:



As you enter Penny Hall you are greeted by a large mural (dedicated to mining) on the left side of the museum entrance. The museum is staffed by students who will be happy to answer your questions.

This is the first case of minerals on the right which is dedicated to miscellaneous showy specimens of large size. For example, the large rhodchrosite slab from Catamarca, Argentina is almost 50 cm in width. The large azurite stalactite from Bisbee, Arizona is equally impressive.



This is a close up of the smithsonite specimen in the first case which features rare slices of yellow smithsonite from Sardinia, Italy.



This next case contains specimens from varied locations. Please note, (in the bottom row) the large chalcopyrite from French Creek Mines, Chester County, Pennsylvania and the large prehnite from Paterson, New Jersey which is over 20 cm in width.



This is a close up of the French Creek, Pennsylvania chalcopyrite. This specimen is around 15 cm in width.



Red is the theme in this case of Colorado rhodochrosite on loan from Colorado mineral dealer Dave Bunk. This display will be at the museum until around May 2013.




This is a closeup of a large matrix rhodochrosite from the Good Luck Pocket, Sweet Home Mine, Alma, Park County, Colorado on loan from the Dave Bunk collection until May 2013.


A rare 12 cm topaz crystal from Mason County, Texas.



A large specimen of benitoite from San Benito, California with crystals at least 4cm in width.



A huge specimem of cuprite crystals from Onganja, Namibia



A large specimen of azurite altering to malachite from the legendary mine in Tsumeb, Namibia



A large specimen of native silver from Kongsberg, Norway about 15 cm tall.



A large specimen of wulfenite from the Stevenson-Bennett Mine in New Mexico about 30 cm wide. When you take into account how fragile wulfenite is, this remarkable and rare specimen becomes extraordinary.



A case of mixed specimens from a variety of localities.



A display case of elbaite tourmaline from California in the Du Pont Collection.



A case of Kunzite (spodumene) with crystals showing an exceptional saturation of pink color from Pala, San Diego County, California



A case of large beryl crystals in all varieties from varied locations. The large aquamarine in the center is approximately 20 cm in height.



This is not the complete collection of minerals at this fine museum. There are other cases that contain minerals and gems of the same high quality that you see here. Don't forget to stop by if you are in the area and be sure to check in advance to verify that the museum is open. Have fun and enjoy this feast for the eyes.

---

In order to leave comments to this article, you must be registered