Press Release

A new hardcover book, Field Collecting Minerals in the Empire State: Stories of Modern Day North Country Miners by Michael Walter of Nicholville, NY, has just been released.  This large-format, 212-page volume is beautifully illustrated by 185 color images of some of the finest crystallized specimens ever found in northern New York State.  In compiling the photographs, the author drew on the leading private and museum collections and leading mineral photographers, including Jeff Scovil.  The accompanying text is a collection of stories and tales by some of the most important mineral specimen miners of the past forty years.  Besides the author, other contributors range from the well-known such as Dr. Steven Chamberlain and Dr. George and Mrs. Susan Robinson to the more obscure miners whose work has led to the discovery of some major mineral specimens in the recent past.  This volume provides both a photographic and written record of the activities of these mineral specimen miners—stories that have never before been told.  Short biographies on each contributor are included at the end of twelve chapters of illustrated recollections and yarns.

The book describes how some of the most aesthetically and scientifically important specimens found in New York State actually made the journey from being in the ground to being preserved in important private collections and museum storerooms.  Many of the spectacular crystallized specimens illustrated in this new book have never before been seen by the public.

To Contact the Author:                                                           To order copies online:

Michael Walter                                                                          <www.geologicdesires.com> 

PO Box 137

Nicholville, NY 12965

<mwalter9@twcny.rr.com>

(315) 328-4008

About the Author:  Michael Walter has been collecting New York State minerals for more than 30 years.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in teaching from SUNY Potsdam.  He teaches earth science and geology at the Parishville-Hopkinton Central School.  During the summer months, he is a full-time miner.  Mike Walter has authored and co-authored numerous articles on the minerals and collecting localities of New York State.  His mineral specimen business is called Geologic Desires.