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Friday, 8th February 2008 (2852 views)

A dinner plate-sized gold nugget found near the Mother Lode, the mineral vein that sparked the California Gold Rush in 1849, is part of a new exhibition of specimens hosted by the University of Arizona Mineral Museum.

The nugget, one of the largest specimens to be recovered from the area, is part of the $7 million (£3.59 million) Hubert C Monmonier Collection, which is on display at the Flandrau Science Centre from February 9th.

In total over 300 specimens from all over the world, including examples of gold, quartz, tourmaline and silver, will be on show - some for the first time.

Alexis R Faust, executive director for the Flandrau Science Centre, said: "This is a unique opportunity for the public to see a collection that is truly global, containing minerals from every continent, excluding Antarctica."

Over 300 rare books on mineral exploration and related topics, some dating back to 1558, are also included in the collection. Among those featured in the exhibit is a 1912 translation of De Re Metallica by former US president and mining engineer Herbert Hoover and his wife, geologist Lou Henry Hoover.

The Monmonier collection will be on display until May 31st.

 

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