On the evening of Feb. 20 the Nevada State Museum in Carson City will unveil to Members and VIP’s the opening of the new Geology Exhibit. This exhibit was funded by the Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources with support from the Nevada Division of Minerals and the Nevada Mining Association.
The previous Plate Tectonic exhibit which was an anchor of the Changing Earth Gallery for decades featured a global view of plate tectonics from the 1990’s. This new exhibit is very interactive, it has a more Great Basin focus to plate tectonics, and it shows where different commodities are extracted to support day to day life.
Some of the highlights of the new exhibit include an interactive map showing where different types of rocks form, a microscope so guests can get a very close up look at mineral samples, and an interactive diagram of a house showing what minerals go into different everyday items and which counties those materials are mined from. The final component is a virtual mine tour where guests can get a flavor the workings of a modern mine.
This project is the first in an effort to upgrade the Natural History offerings of the Nevada State Museum. Much of the original natural history displays of the museum were decommissioned in the 1990’s for asbestos abatement and then due to funding never fully restored. The Museum has a phased plan in place to build out brand new exhibition galleries and to update existing ones. This exhibit will be open to the public Friday Feb. 21 in the Changing Earth Gallery on the second floor of the Museum.
“As a geoscientist by academic training I am very grateful to our partners at the Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, the Nevada Division of Minerals, and the Nevada Mining Association for coming together and executing this project,” said Director Bonde. “The updated materials and interactive nature of the exhibition make this a modern and impactful representation of geology to the public. The important message that our day to day lives are directly impacted by obtaining materials from the Earth is a theme which is also central to the new exhibit.”
