AMHERST—Dr. Marvin Rausch, an accomplished UMass Amherst chemistry professor, maintained a dual existence. In one life, he worked as a postdoctoral associate for Professor E.O. Fischer, a scientist who won the Nobel prize in 1973 for pioneering work in the organometallic chemistry field. In private, Rausch spent years amassing one of the finest mineral collections in New England.
“His collecting life was a little different than his chemistry life,” said UMass Geology Professor Michael Williams, a longtime coworker of Dr. Rausch. “On his mineral cards, he didn’t have the chemical formula. His collecting life was more about the splendor of minerals.”
Located on the second floor of the Morrill Science Center, the Rausch Mineral Gallery, an amassed collection of Rausch’s minerals, remains open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m on weekdays. When visiting the exhibit, gallery goers can expect to become entranced within the black walls of the 14 feet wide by 21 feet long space. With two lights beaming on each rock specimen, the minerals shine collectively in an awe-inspiring display. Against the back wall, set between a collection of watercolor paintings, lies an interactive glass case holding color-changing rocks and minerals. With a mechanized push of a button, the specimens light up in a fluorescent glow.
This part of the collection was a particular favorite of Dr. Rausch. Visitors can find minerals from the local Massachusetts area, across the U.S., and throughout the world in the gallery. With each mineral unique in size and shape, Rausch gathered an amazing collection worth seeing.
“No pun intended, but it’s a hidden gem of UMass,” said UMass student Cyprien Dzialo.
Professor Williams said he enjoys seeing new non-majors visiting daily. Additionally, the exhibition room hosts undergraduate and graduate labs, birthday visits, high school field trips and even wedding ceremonies.
“One day we were looking at the TV camera, and there were two people getting married,” said Williams. “They had two witnesses and someone performing the ceremony. They just said, ‘we love minerals so we decided to get married in the mineral gallery.’”
Outside the Rausch Mineral Gallery lies a guest book containing hundreds of signatures alongside numerous positive reviews. Although some UMass students might need to familiarize themselves with the gallery, those who visit come out with a memorable experience. This, according to Williams, was what Rausch wanted.
“[Rausch and I] were really talking about minerals as a way for people to be more interested in earth processes,” said Professor Williams.
Rausch’s fascination with minerals began after writing about moissanite – colloquially referred to as the “fake” diamond— for a high school paper. From that moment, a lifelong passion for mineral science began. Throughout his lifetime, Rausch won numerous awards from one of America’s most notable mineral competitions, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in Arizona. He also provided a valuable impact at the state level, helping run the East Coast Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show.
Professor Williams recalls visiting Rausch’s home, bearing witness to his sizable mineral display and first-place prizes.
“There were all these pennants. Best of show, best this, best that. He won all of these awards taking these minerals to Tucson,” said Williams. “It takes a lifetime to amass a collection like that. His collection was in the millions [of dollars], and we have a fraction of that.”
With over 250 minerals, the Rausch Mineral Gallery stands as one of the finest collections in the local area. Yet, the minerals on display represent only 25% of his original collection, according to Professor Williams.
While in retirement, Rausch discussed opening a mineral gallery at UMass with Williams. Unfortunately, the chemistry professor developed a fast-progressing version of Alzheimer’s disease. The internationally known teacher and collector died on May 2, 2008, at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. Although he never got to see his collection on public display, his legacy casts a large shadow amongst collectors and mineral aficionados.
“A group of mineral collectors who were colleagues of Marvin Rausch purchased part of the collection to donate to us,” said Williams. “They didn’t want their names on it. They wanted Marvin Rausch’s name because [the minerals] were part of his original legacy.”
