Just like snowflakes, the Rausch Mineral Gallery at the University of Massachusetts is proving that no two rocks are alike.

Located in Morrill Hall, the gallery, which formally opened on Saturday, Oct. 19, is home to over 200 minerals from the collection of former UMass chemistry professor, Marvin Rausch, who died in 2008, according to a press release.

“These minerals are so unusual in that they are large and so eye catching that you can’t walk by without looking at them,” said Mike Williams, professor of geology at UMass. “The hope is that many people just walking down the halls of Morrill will see the minerals, even if they are not going specifically to look at them, and be interested in them.”

According to Sheila Seaman, another geology professor, the gallery was made possible by the many acquisitions made by Rausch, who had been collecting minerals since junior high school and later decided to donate some to the geology department where they would be on display at UMass. Following his death, many friends who had bought his minerals earlier came forward to donate the rest of his collection.

“He had an incredible mineral collection. One of the best mineral collections certainly in New England and probably one of the best on the east coast,” said Seaman.

According to Williams, Rausch took great pride in his collection, not just because of his love for science, but because of its aesthetic appeal. When Williams went to visit Rausch in his home, he found that all the gems and minerals were out on display, organized by country, as opposed to chemistry or composition.

“I think he was interested in them for their beauty and interested in the places in the world they came from,” Williams said. “He was clearly proud of the minerals.”

For Williams and Seaman, the gallery of minerals stands as a reminder of our earth and where we come from.

“These all grew in nature, in exactly the same form they are now,” she said. “The minerals are sort of fingerprints of the geologic situation where they grew.”

Some of the more intriguing, naturally produced specimens include clear, green beryl emeralds and a purple fluorite crystal, which if rearranged into a cube, would be about 20cm long on each side.

“These minerals that are in these cases are anomalies,” said Seaman. “You know you don’t go out and find minerals like these. These are the real treasures of the mineral world.”

But despite the beauty and rarity of some of these specimens, Williams adds that what people should really take notice of are some of the more common forms of minerals on display.

“Everyone has heard of quartz, but when you see them with these big beautiful crystals, it’s hard to believe they actually are quartz,” Williams said. “These are common things in a very special form that are just interesting to look at.”

And there will be more treasures added to the gallery soon.

According to Seaman, two more cases of minerals will be added to the exhibit, at least one of which will be devoted to Rausch’s collection of florescent minerals which absorb light radiation and then readmit it, so that when the lights are turned off and ultraviolet radiation is shone on them, they show off bright, neon colors.

With the mineral gallery easily accessible and so eye catching to students, Williams and Seaman hope that having this collection will attract students and encourage them to broaden their horizons.

“We’re hoping that they will maybe interest more people in studying science or taking a course or two in science,” Williams said. “My hope is that it ultimately gets people interested in the natural world.”

Jaclyn Bryson can be reached at [email protected].