Minerals and Gems of Arizona Shine at the 2019 Arizona Author Series
PHOENIX –Dr. Raymond Grant will present “Minerals and Gems of Arizona” as part of the State of Arizona Research Library’s 2019 Arizona Author Series.
The event begins at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 29, at the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building, 1901 W. Madison St., Phoenix. Admission is free and open to the public. After the talk, there will be time for questions from the audience. The latest edition of his co-authored book “Mineralogy of Arizona” can be found at www.ReadingArizona.org.
“I have been interested in minerals since I was a kid, and Arizona is one of the best states to collect and study minerals,” Dr. Grant said.
Arizona has a tremendous wealth of gems and minerals, with over 950 mineral species. The state is also known for its millions of dollars’ worth of gemstones, mainly turquoise, petrified wood, peridot and copper minerals such as malachite and azurite. These minerals and gems formed over millions of years of geologic time. Dr. Grant’s audience will learn about the geological history and conditions that led to the formation of these gems and minerals, and where they are found in Arizona.
Dr. Grant is a retired professor of geology, founder and curator of the Pinal Geology and Mineral Museum, founder and president of the Pinal Gem & Mineral Society of Arizona, and past chairman of the Flagg Mineral Foundation. He is a mineralogist, author of The Checklist of Arizona Minerals, first edition (1982) and second edition (2007), co-author with Anthony, Williams, Bideaux, and Wilson of Mineralogy of Arizona, third edition (1995), and Thumbnail Mineral Collector, Florence, Arizona.
Dr. Grant has mineral species “RAYGRANTITE” named in his honor and is featured in Mineral Collections in Arizona (May-June 2013 supplement). He received his Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard University (1968) and was Professor of Geology at Mesa Community College (1975 - 2001) and part-time (2001 - 2006).
The Polly Rosenbaum building has free parking and is conveniently located near several Valley Metro bus routes. Please be advised that no food or drink is allowed in the building. For more information, contact the State of Arizona Research Library at 602-926-3870 or visit the website at (https://azsos.libcal.com/). The library also provides information on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/StateLibAZ/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/StateLibAZ). This program is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
