Mark your calendars for the return of Mystery Mineral Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2021 in the Northwest Gallery. The always-anticipated event runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Every year, the Museum organizes a panel of experts in the fields of rock & mineral identification, fossil study, and meteorite analysis. We bring together experts from multiple fields to inspect your “mystery” finds and tell you what you’ve found. The event is FREE with paid general admission. We encourage you to schedule an appointment. Limit 5 items ID’d per person. Capacity will be limited.
OUR EXPERTS:
Greg Carr
Local Amateur Paleontologist Greg Carr is an active member of the North American Research Group (NARG), a frequent contributor and member of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and has volunteered for years at OMSI. Greg has prepared, loaned, donated, or conserved many impressive specimens for the museum, including “Bernie” the Thalattosaur, a large Brontothere skull, and an impressive plate of local Crinoids.
Jill Johanssen
Jill describes herself as “one of those kids who loved rocks”. For as long as she can remember she was picking up rocks, putting in her pockets, (and one up her nose), then stashing them in a large shoe box under the stairs in her father’s garage. It was a hobby Jill studied on her own and though she took some Geology in college, it was only the rock science that really had her interest. Jill attended the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and turned her hobby into a career. Her goal is to one day teach Gemology and share her passion with others. Nothing makes her happier than seeing people of all ages get excited to learn and knowing she can help inspire rock lovers everywhere.
Garret Romaine
Garret holds a geology degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in geography from the University of Washington. Garret is a Fellow in the Society for Technical Communication, and he has been a writer, editor, instructor, manager, and author in the Portland area for the past 30 years. He wrote a regular column for the Gold Prospectors magazine for 15 years, and he is the author of numerous guide books and magazine articles regarding geology, rockhounding, prospecting, and other field studies.
Daniel Sheikh
Daniel Sheikh is a Portland State PhD Student working at the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory (CML). While completing his M.S., he worked with both meteorite collectors and scientists to identify and classify meteorites into the Meteoritical Bulletin Database, and he hopes to continue that work over the next few years to help expand their scientific repository.
Tom Wilson
Tom is a lifelong rockhound and a member of Tualatin Valley Gem Club in Forest Grove, OR. Intimately familiar with northwest materials, he was an avid thunderegg collector at Richardson’s Rock Ranch and other locations. Some of his other specialties are plume agate and petrified wood. Tom has contributed many outstanding self-collected rocks and minerals to the Museum.