Unlocking the Collections: getting comfortable with next-level access to museum minerals

A museum mineral collection is a vast repository of Earth and planetary materials. It is a resource for researchers looking to gain access to the rarest minerals and gems, and those that are looking for intricate details in species variation. Some researchers need access to common minerals, but don’t have the means to acquire specimens themselves. More importantly, in my opinion, a museum mineral collection can be used to inspire wonder to our visitors, inform the public of current issues in a safe and comfortable space, shape their world view if they trust us, or just allow them to appreciate Nature’s creations. The collections need to be accessible at all levels.When it comes to unlocking the museum’s mineral collection, what we are talking about is accessibility, and are there only two groups of people to which this mainly concerns. They are the professional researchers and the general public.