84 Boston Society of Natural History 



or comparison without reference to the catalogue. This collection 

 has for its aim a representation of every mineral and rock from each 

 locality where it occurs in New England. 



The great variety of New England minerals as well as the strik- 

 ing beauty of many species is well brought out in the Systematic 

 Collection. This is amplified by the collections from the famous 

 mineral localities, in which are displayed the gorgeously colored 

 tourmalines from Maine and Connecticut, accompanied by the wide 

 variety of quartzes ranging from clear rock crystal to the deep 

 purple amethyst. Many rare and unique specimens are contained 

 in this collection which was described by the Keeper of the Mineral 

 Collections of the British Museum as the best arranged and dis- 

 played collection he had seen in America. The New England Gem 

 Collection shows the great beauty and variety of these stones — 

 which for some reason or other do not seem to have been discovered 

 and appreciated by the local population. Here one may see a large 

 number of cut stones showing every color-phase, and locality of 

 origin, side by side with the uncut crystals of the same material. 



The Economic Collection is usually a big surprise to our visitors, 

 as the six New England states are not generally given due credit for 

 their mineral wealth. The non-metalliferous section shows the many 

 varieties of the king of building stones — granite. Our New England 

 quarries have produced some of the most beautiful varieties of this 

 famous building stone in the world. Vermont has been well known 

 for her marble industry, and a complete set of polished slabs of this 

 useful stone in its many colors is here to be seen. Slate and sand- 

 stone ai*e also important building stones, while other important 

 products are clay, for brick-making; talc, which has many uses and 

 is extensively mined in Vermont ; feldspar, used on porcelain, garnets 

 and other abrasives, soapstone, mica, lime, and many other useful 



