Maine’s pegmatites have produced some of the most celebrated mineral and gem discoveries in North America. This presentation explores how those discoveries shaped industries, inspired collectors and artisans, and ultimately helped give rise to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Through stories of discovery, historic photographs, extraordinary specimens, and a look inside the museum’s galleries, attendees will see how geology and history come together to tell a uniquely Maine story. The talk will also highlight the museum’s collections and internationally significant meteorite exhibits, revealing why the museum has become a destination for visitors from around the world.
Myles Felch is a Curator at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel, Maine. He holds degrees in geology from the University of Maine at Farmington and the University of New Orleans, and has spent more than a decade studying Maine’s pegmatites through research collaborations with scientists in the United States and abroad. At the museum, he oversees the stewardship of the museum’s collections and develops exhibits that explore the connections between Maine’s extraordinary minerals, the people who discovered them, the history of the region, and the geologic processes responsible for their formation.