A Curator's Dream Come True - Part 2

Back in 2014, we received a generous donation of hydrothermal vent material - aka black smokers - from the Juan de Fuca Ridge. As a geologist, this was a donation that thrilled me. Well, I'm happy to report that these incredible specimens are finally on permanent display, in the Mineral Gallery of our Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre.

It was a dream come true to receive this generous donation from the Soregaroli family. Immediately I knew that putting these specimens on display was the next step. Hydrothermal vents are relatively common on the ocean floor, but as collected specimens they are quite rare. Few museums around the world can claim to have some on display.

It is therefore with sincere thanks to grant funding from the Jérôme H. Remick III Endowment Trust Fund via the Canadian Geological Foundation, that we were able to have a display case fabricated, allowing us to put the best of the specimens on display. Additional funding from the Canada Cultural Spaces fund allowed for interpretive content to be displayed digitally.

The specimens illustrate both the metal-rich minerals that abound in these vents, as well as the chimney-like structures that form as the hot metal-rich waters emit from the ocean floor into the cold, dark depths of the ocean. 

This is one happy geologist and curator signing off!