CSMS Luke Sattler Learn Mineral Curation Process



Cripple Creek
District Museum

CSMS  Earth Science Scholar, a division of the Pikes Peak Pebble Pups, spent today at the Cripple Creek District Museum learning the entire process of mineral curation at the museum.  Luke has been participating in the CSMS program for four years. Luke worked with some of the most valuable and important minerals in the mining district.



Luke is working at the labeling station where each specimen
is assigned a unique number. Luke paints a stripe with
archival paint on the specimen. When it dries Luke writes
the number on the specimen with archival ink. After a
period of drying the label is painted with a clear protective
coating.

Dr. Bob Carnein is examining a specimen through a
microscope. As he describes it, Luke enters the data associated
with the specimen.

Luke is being instructed by Dr. Canein on how to photograph
each specimen.
 

The final process is to photograph some of the more important
specimens with a microscope, making a photomicrograph.
The yellow mineral is carnotite, a radioactive mineral and
a very unusual mineral to be associated with Cripple Creek.
Photomicrograph © S. Veatch and L. Sattler.

Luke will be receiving a certificate of training from the Cripple Creek District Museum to certify his training. These skills can be used in working for museums and the training is also important in learning how to apply curation techniques for your collection to make it scientifically important.