Lady Liberty’s torch has gone thru renovations over the years. Originally designed as a lighthouse, the original torch was replaced by a new #copper torch in 1986 that was covered in gold leaf to give it a glow. It is 29 feet in length and weighs 450,000 pounds, with copper that will endure. Vote👇🏼

Though both deserve accolades...Copper, how versatile, malleable, and enduring, maturing into an elegant patina.

#MichiganCopper Part 2! Gary Cotter, PhD, aka the #Copper Guy, sells museum quality copper specimens at Michigan Rocks & Minerals, and is writing a history of Michigan Copper. More info on Cotter at Youtube, and eye candy below. #OreCup ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology 🍎 🔭🪐

Copper helps power the entire planet, enables the transition to greener technology, is crucial for the production of red blood cells, & makes exquisite & durable art. Throw in 100% recyclability, & you have the perfect ore. #NoLube :) #OreCup ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology 🍎 🔭🪐

The Old Copper complex, was an ancient Native American culture around Michigan that mined (>5,000 mines) & worked the 99% pure native copper for tools, weapons, and ornaments as far back as 9,500 yrs. Fascinating! #MichiganCopper More #OreCup ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology 🍎 🔭🪐

#Copper Learning about Old Copper Culture in North America ca. 4000-1500 BC. I should know about this — born and living in Wisconsin — but apparently not covered in grade school or high school history classes. So THANKS! #MinCup #OreCup #OreCup25 www.mpm.edu/research-col...

I went to Cranbrook looking for the ores in Ore Cup. I hadn't fully realized before how many copper samples it has. This one is still my favorite.

Michigan is my home and it has #copper. Three copper in calcite specimens, two originating in MI and one from Arizona. The only calcite I like has a chewy copper center! Vote for Copper in #OreCup! www.mineralcup.org/vote-results...

#OreCup The answer is obvious. Don't be stubborn: #Copper is inevitable.

Of all the minerals in the #OreCup for my art/physics use voting scheme copper wins hands down! Ok, molybdenum has some applications as catalyst/electrodes/in alloys but copper is the conductor par excellence. In art we have all of bronze & copper sculpture & many blue/green pigments! Vote copper!

We didn’t always recognize #Molybdenite or know how to use Mo until the late 19th Century. Rh wasn’t discovered until 1908. After early experiments during WWI, automobile and aviation industries found uses for both elements in high-performance alloys. Then catalysts and medical uses. #OreCup25 ⚒️ 🧪

Bornite is great, but #molybdenite is not copper! I kid (kind of)! A soft, silver, greasy, hexagonal mineral that can look like JiffyPop, foil-wrapped leftovers, or metallic graphite. It can handle high-stress/high-temps, & it's anti-corrosive. Those seem like good qualities here & now! #OreCup

What makes the greatest ore, tho? Sulfides crystallize at higher temperatures and have simpler molecular structures. Sulfosalts precipitate at lower temperatures, have greater solubility, plus bonus semi-metals. I’m voting for the sulfosalt, #Tetrahedrite. #OreCup25 ⚒️ 🧪

Learn more about dendritic minerals.

For once I have both mins in my collection! (Ignore the fur-covered cat tree.) 1/3 of my cats posed for photos. They all received treats after the grueling sitting next to a mineral. Copper-hued Hugs is MVP, Obsidian sort of posed, and Leia did her own thing. #OreCup #MinCup #Copper

Naturally occurring pure copper is called “native” copper & is formed in veins & fractures by super-heated mineral-rich fluids often associated with volcanic activity. My sample shown below. Get the lead out & vote #copper! #OreCup25 #MinCup25 ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology 🔭🪐

The Flemish masters painted on #copper as it provided a smooth surface that allowed fine detail and durability of their exquisite works, like this self portrait of Rembrandt. #OreCup25 #MinCup25 ⚒️ sci-fi 🧪 🖖🏼 scifi Geosciences #WomenInSTEM geology 🔭🪐

Michigan has historically been a source for beautiful, and useful, #copper. Specifically, the Upper Peninsula contains the largest native copper deposits! Copper from Carnegie Natural History and Cranbrook Institute. Vote copper for Michigan! #OreCup #MinCup

When admiring geologic features in movies/tv, my hand reaches out to trace whatever is pinging my geologic brain. Tonight we saw One Battle After Another. There's some gorgeous #geology near the end. And I reached. The rocks were STUNNING. I also liked the movie. Location: CA Anza-Borrego State Park

I guess since it won, here's the kyanite one college roommate got me which totally ruined the mediocre kyanite we saw in Spain ⚒️ #mincup25

Have minerals you want to see run in #MinCup26? The nomination form is open! www.mineralcup.org/nominations

This October I am going to use the #SpacetoberChallenge prompts on IG as inspiration for sharing both new work & space art from my portfolio. Starting with my #linocut portrait of Félicette for the prompt “launch”. 🧪🐡 #histsci Félicette was a Parisian stray tuxedo cat who was recruited into the 🧵

Day 2 of #spacetober_challenge is planet(s), so I am sharing two mini #linocut prints of Mars (with Phobos and Deimos) and Mercury, along with my stylized minimalist ‘Transit of Venus’ print, showing Venus eclipsing the Sun. 🧪🔭 #sciart #printmaking #spaceArt minouette.etsy.com/listing/1313...

Ready to learn about rivers?

Looking to fill that post- #MinCup need to learn facts about this orb we ride through space? October is Spooky Lake month, 31 days of haunted hydrology! Daily videos on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reel/DPPa1Un... and TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8A8YmR2/

Only 2+ hours left to vote for tugtupite for CHAMPION of #MinCup25! It changes colors! It fluoresces! This is the mineral you want, people!! 🧪 www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...

#Tugtupite is... #Tenebrescent -It darkens when exposed to UV. #Fluorescent -It fluoresces under long-, mid-, or shortwave UV. #Phosphorescent -It GLOWS IN THE DARK!!!! www.flickr.com/photos/28617... www.flickr.com/photos/28617... www.flickr.com/photos/28617... #MinCup25

Once again, I'm sticking with team Indigenous & voting #tugtupite, which is named for a Kalaallisut word. The quintuple threat of tenebrescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, pleochroism, & piezoelectrism wins it major points, too. These polished specimens are also very charming! (w/ alt text.)

Tugtupite is a beryllium aluminium tectosilicate. It also contains sodium and chlorine. It occurs in high alkali intrusive igneous rocks.Tugtupite is tenebrescent, sharing much of its crystal structure with sodalite, and shared flourescent properties as well. The pictures sell ot for me.

pug-putite ftw

Pie-zo-pizza rock #Tugtupite is the fave mineral of #pugs, Ninja Turtles & #DeanWinchester, so we make all sad if we don't vote for the beryllium aluminium tectosilicate #gemstone More info in ALT! Photos behind link www.minershop.com/products/tug... www.elesyngaea.com/listing/1055... #MinCup25

Rarer than the pink beauty, is the soft baby blue #tugtupite. Prismatic gemmy pink tugtupite crystals are also an extremely rare find. Vote #tugtupite www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3... Images from: uvminerals.org/glownotes/mi... #MinCup25

Go for blood. Vote #Tugtupite! #MinCup25

4h left! It's time for an army to rescue #Tugtupite in #MinCup2025 #BTSARMY vote #Tugtupite 💜 It's as close to being ARMY rock can be—as pink as Jimin's mochi cheeks & naturally brings the fire & sets the night alight when exposed to UV. 1 vote. No ballot stuffing pls Hurry! 빨리! #Borahae #보라해 #감사합니다

Twiddling your thumbs after already voting in #MinCup25? Why don’t you take our annual Players Survey and help us improve for next year! www.mineralcup.org/2025/players...

I am Team #Tugtupite and I voted last evening! Vote once, convince others to vote (also once each) and have fun! #MinCup25

Damn I really thought I was all in on kyanite but I am enchanted by the idea of tugtupite fading each arctic winter

I like #Kyanite but I have to vote for the underdog #tugtupite because of all it's properties and because I visited Greenland this year. (photo not #tugtupite but just #NiceGneiss)

Last round of #MinCup25: Tugtupite vs. Kyanite. I don't care who wins, but we have to make sure the triclinic mineral loses. ⚒️

I made my decision. Kyanite is a cool mineral & I'll always think fondly of my first #MinCup25 when I see it. BUT, I want to support an under represented up and comer, the one who brings energy, and could bring about lasting, positive change. Wait...am I still talking about #MinCup25? Go TUGTUPITE!

While blue kyanite is used in jewelry, porcelain & pottery glazes, plus gets physics points as an index mineral, it’s the extraordinary ‘reindeer blood’ tenebrescent, & phosphorescent tugtupite “King of Fluorescent Minerals” which is also a gem, gaining both art and physics points for me. #MinCup25

It knocked out some of my favorites, but I've come around and think #tugtupite should win it all! #MinCup25

Alkali-Nuts is a website devoted to the 400+ minerals found at Mont Saint-Hilaire, including #tugtupite https://www.saint-hilaire.ca/en/tugtup.htm #mincup25 #quebec #canada

OK, my #kdrama, #jdrama & #cdrama pals, Pls click the link for #MinCup2025 & vote for #Tugtupite. It's piezoelectric, which means it generates electric charge under pressure—just like your favorite hero. UV light turns it from pink to deep rose—just like a heroine's blush. Truly a mineral with drama

Northern lights were flaring last night already. They are doing it again tonight. The Sun will (probably 👉👈) smite thee hard if you don't harken to its auroral message and vote 🌈🎆 Northern #Tugtupite FTW! #MinCup25 Jan 2025 📸s: yle.fi/a/74-20134442 Storm level aurora now: www.softservenews.com

It's down to the final two in #MinCup25! Despite being on the wrong side of most matches this year I'm sticking with a new favourite mineral in #tugtupite

I was all ready to cast my final vote of support for kyanite but that plan fell to pieces when I learned about spectacular tugtupite. Tenebrescent! Fluorescent! Phosphorescent! Bad luck kyanite, your innate coolness is compelling but is out-matched in this final round of #MinCup25.

#tugtupite #MinCup25

Kyanite is a special mineral but time for something else to get the glory. Hard to go past tugtupite for wow factor optical properties.