UMF presents “Rocks and Minerals Down the Microscope” exhibit, Oct 8-Nov 19

FARMINGTON, ME  (October 3, 2025)—In conjunction with Earth Science Week, UMF Assistant Professor of Geology Larry Tuttle and his students are presenting a pop-up exhibit on “Rocks and Minerals Down the Microscope.” The exhibition will be on display in the lower-level lobby of the Emery Community Arts Center on the University of Maine at Farmington campus from Oct. 8 – Nov. 19, 2025,  with an opening reception on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Rocks and the minerals within are all around us from the hills and mountains around Farmington to the raw materials used to make the electronic components in our cell phones. This exhibit will showcase rocks looking down the microscope.

A tourmaline gem extracted from the Havey Quarry in Poland, Maine

Display pieces in this geoart exhibit will consist of photographs of ‘rock thin sections’—very thin slices of rock (about the thickness of a human hair!) —glued to small rectangular pieces of glass, taken using a specialized optical microscope camera. From a geologist’s perspective, rock thin sections represent a vital means for examining microscopic-scale features of their samples that are otherwise difficult to observe.

The Emery Community Arts Center is located on Academy St. (between Main St. and High St.) in downtown Farmington.  For more information contact Ann Bartges, director of UMF Emery Community Arts Center at ann.bartges@maine.edu or 207-778-7461.

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A nationally recognized public liberal arts college known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher preparation, the health arts and sciences, the environment, business and public service, UMF provides a challenging yet supportive environment to prepare students for both careers and further study. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit academic community that prepares students for enriching professional careers, engaged citizenship and an enduring love of learning.

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EDITOR’S NOTE:
Image: https://farmington.edu/app/uploads/2025/10/MAP256-001A.webp
Photo Caption: Metamorphic rock from the Beartooth Mountains in southern Montana
Photo Credit: UMF Image

Image: https://farmington.edu/app/uploads/2025/10/MAP256-001B-1.webp
Photo Caption: A tourmaline gem extracted from the Havey Quarry in Poland, Maine
Photo Credit: UMF Image