Arts and Entertainment

State College Oolite part of mineral exhibit

A visiting display showcasing State College's own local gemstone material will be exhibited July 2 and 3 in the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum, on the ground floor of Deike Building, University Park. This exhibit features light-to-dark, blue-gray siliceous material with small spherical inclusions, called ooids. It is called State College Oolite, and it is part of the 500-million-year-old Cambrian Gatesburg Formation. It has received scientific study, including by the late P.D. Krynine of the Department of Geosciences, and has also been used by local jewelers.The display features a collection of rough oolitic rock from around the area, cut slabs, tumble-polished stones, polished cabochons and finished jewelry by local artists. The display also includes magnified images of individual ooids from published petrographic studies, a regional map with collection sites marked, pictures of a Nittany Lion carved from State College oolite, and images of a broach pin by a local jeweler, which won a Spectrum Award during 2001 from the American Gem Trade Association. This display has been assembled as part of the Nittany Mineralogical Society's second annual Nittany Gem and Mineral Show, which will be June 30 and July 1 at the Mount Nittany Middle School.

Last Updated March 19, 2009

Contact