Enjoy our Mineral Mondays- Online Edition! to learn more about rocks, minerals, and fossils.
To see specific Mineral Mondays-Online Edition!, please click the links below:
- May 2020- Igneous Rocks with Jayne Aubele and Dr. Larry Crumpler
- June 2020- Trace Fossils with Dr. Spencer Lucas
- August, 2020- Sedimentary Rocks with Nicole Volden
- November 2020- Fossilization with Justy Alicea
Mineral Mondays has now moved online*!
We are still hard at work at the Museum and our experts in Paleontology, Geology/Mineralogy, Volcanology, and Space Science are ready to examine your specimens.
In order to have your specimen reviewed, please send an e-mail with the following information to volunteer.nhm@state.nm.us
- Please send at least 3 views/photos of the specimen with a ruler next to it for scale
- Please describe where you found it (location or general area) or where it sources from if you purchased it
- Please note the size in centimeters (Length, width, and height)
- Please describe the color and any features such as translucent, iridescent, chalky, etc.
- Please include an e-mail so we can respond to you.
*Please note that not all specimens can be identified via photos. Some specimens do require in-person inspections and tests to determine hardness or other qualities. Submission of a specimen does not guarantee an identification. Any photos submitted may be used on social media or the website as part of Mineral Monday.
All Submissions must be received by the Wednesday prior to the first Monday of the month to be considered for Mineral Mondays.
Please collect responsibly and abide by all international, national, state, and local laws.
Learn how to identify different minerals, rocks, and fossils in a series of videos produced by museum researchers.
Want to try your own hand at Mineral Identification? Then check out these sheets to help you test your specimens. Click on the links below to open the worksheets to help identify minerals and rocks.