While working on his graduate degrees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, he met his friend and mentor W. L. "Bill" Roberts who furthered his enthusiasm for minerals and mineralogy.  During the course of his research on pegmatites with Bill, he discovered three new minerals (tiptopite, fransoletite, pahasapaite) and co-described eight other new species.  Tom also co-authored the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Minerals with Bill along with George "Rip" Rapp, jr.  Through the years, Tom has developed additional expertise in the geology and mineralogy of orogenic lode gold deposits, iron ore and various gemstone deposits.

[A picture containing logo Description automatically generated]Friends of Mineralogy-Virginia Chapter Speaker Series Gem crystal pegmatite pocket formation and survival Speaker: Dr. Thomas Campbell, Arkenstone, Richardson, Texas Date: 26 May 2022 Time: 7:00 pm ET Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsduigqzgvHdyKH7FnYt8romQmu4AJFSLl Mineral specimens from gem-bearing pegmatites represent some of the most profound display pieces in both private and public collections with the finest pieces constituting natural art and investments. What some collectors and the general public may not appreciate is how uncommon single gem crystals and combination specimens containing tourmaline, aquamarine, morganite, topaz and yes, rare species such as amblygonite, herderite, beryllonite, petalite, and others actually are! When we see them on display we tend to take their beauty for granted and sometimes forget about the complex journey they have made to make it to their final destination. This journey includes the complexity of their evolution from granite melts, miarolitic cavity (pocket) formation, and the process of gem crystal growth, not to mention their survival in the Earth’s crust for many millions to sometimes over a billion years! And then there is the excitement of discovery and the fastidious extraction process which makes us appreciate how wondrous these gem crystals truly are! Tom Campbell, Arkenstone Staff Mineralogist, has had a life-long passion for minerals which was fueled by his father, a research chemist, as well as Sandy and Gloria Ludlum of What on Earth, and they helped refine his taste in collecting fine minerals. He has over 35 years of experience in exploration geology, mining, and applied mineralogy, and many more as a collector. While working on his graduate degrees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, he met his friend and mentor W. L. "Bill" Roberts who furthered his enthusiasm for minerals and mineralogy. During the course of his research on pegmatites with Bill, he discovered three new minerals (tiptopite, fransoletite, pahasapaite) and co-described eight other new species. Tom also co-authored the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Minerals with Bill along with George "Rip" Rapp, jr. Through the years, Tom has developed additional expertise in the geology and mineralogy of orogenic lode gold deposits, iron ore and various gemstone deposits. == This presentation will be recorded and posted on YouTube. It, and all previous Speaker Series talks, can be found online at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVXiDsPBpOIZ2Qw3L8XH3VQ/videos including the four recent talks: * Bob Hazen: Mineral Informatics: Visualizing the amazing mineral kingdom * Alex Brenner: Little magnets, big geodynamics * Thomas Hale: The Mineral-Security Nexus (Critical Minerals, Rare Earth Elements, Conflict Minerals) * Shanna Morrison: Exploring Martian Geology and Habitability through Mineralogy == Friends of Mineralogy Virginia (FMVA) Speaker Series provides the highest quality lecture experiences with a personal atmosphere. Our speakers are some of the leading experts in their fields and interests and are ready to share their passion with our members. FMVA hopes to provide a platform where the academic communities, industry professionals, and the public can engage with one another for the shared passion of rocks, minerals, and geology. We strive to find an appropriate mix of lectures that are easily accessible for all ages and levels of knowledge