BRISBANE.- One of Australia’s largest and most significant mineral collections, by a private individual, has found a gem of a new home at Queensland Museum.

This exceptional private collection with more than 8000 objects was amassed over 50 years by the late Joe Francese, from North Queensland, who was an avid amateur mineralogist.

Aptly named the Joe Francese Collection, it is one of the largest private collections amassed by an individual collector, and features a wide range of Australian and international minerals, gemstones, jewellery and carved stones that were accumulated through collecting, exchanging and purchasing specimens.

Queensland Museum Network CEO Dr Jim Thompson said the mineral collection ranks among the most comprehensive, well documented and scientifically substantial collection of its kind in Australia.

“Queensland Museum is delighted to secure this collection on behalf of the people of Queensland as it’s one of the most significant mineral donations to any museum in Australia in the last 50 years,” Dr Thompson said.

“One of the outstanding features of the collection is the detailed locality information and collection records that Joe maintained, and it’s this exceptional documentation, which makes this collection so important.”

Queensland Museum Network Head of Geosciences Dr Andrew Rozefelds said the collection was extraordinarily diverse and of high quality.

“The collection includes many rare mineral species and varieties, including a significant number of micro-specimens consisting of exceptionally rare minerals,” Dr Rozefelds said.

“Many of these specimens will be invaluable as research and educational tools, and it was Joe’s wish that these collections would be used, and were accessible, for both research and education by the researchers and students involved in geology and mineralogy, and also for the enjoyment of the public.”

There are several rare and interesting specimens within the collection including a smoky quartz studded with ‘ruby’ spinel crystals from Mogok, Myanmar. This specimen was highly valued and housed in a Buddhist shrine in the home of a Mogok miner who found it. The association of quartz and spinel is an extremely rare occurrence.

Another rarity is very large cassiterite and quartz crystals from Aberfoyle Tin Mine, Storeys Creek, Tasmania. The specimen showing a plate of crystals of both minerals and was collected many years ago, and are now rarely collected.

One of Australia’s most respected mineralogists, Dr Andy Christy, has been working with Queensland Museum scientists and researchers for the past several months to document this incredible collection.

Dr Christy says of particular significance is the large number of rare mineral species represented, and the representation of material from classic localities in Queensland and Australia.

“These localities, including those like Broken Hill, are largely no longer accessible or productive,” Dr Christy said.

“Some of the specimens are also from internationally significant mineral sites, that are likewise no longer accessible, or are no longer producing quality mineral specimens.

“The mineral collections from South East Asia are particularly significant as they were acquired by Joe through collecting trips to these countries. Joe visited many countries in South East Asia and established good relationships and purchased directly from the miners involved.”

Joe Francese’s family said they are delighted that the collection could be maintained in its entirety at Queensland Museum and that Joe’s collection will now be shared with the public and research communities.

“He was a discerning collector who developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of mineral species, was well informed and above all was highly selective in choosing specimens that were high quality specimens,” according to Dr Christy.

“His goals were to establish a comprehensive collection detailing different mineral species from Australia and around the world, which he has achieved, thus leaving a lasting legacy.”

Key specimens from the Joe Francese Collection will go on display at Queensland Museum in late December alongside mineral specimens from the Mineral Heritage Museum, and other private collections.

Minerals: Inspirational Treasures from the Earth display will open to the public on the Mezzanine level on 18 December 2021.