A celebration of Maine amethyst featuring a new jewelry masterpiece and a nod to the Saltman Prospect discovery is now on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.
Maine amethyst has long captured the imagination of mineral collectors, jewelers, and museum visitors alike. Its deep, regal purples and remarkable clarity make it one of the state’s most beloved natural treasures. The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is thrilled to showcase the extraordinary stories of Maine amethyst—one rooted in innovative contemporary craftsmanship, and the other in a remarkable local discovery that reshaped our understanding of Oxford County geology.
Now on Display: “Falling Leaves, Blooming Flower” by Gerardo Gonzalez
A stunning new piece has arrived in the Hall of Gems—and it’s unlike anything MMGM has displayed before.
“Falling Leaves, Blooming Flower,” created by Brooklyn-based jewelry artist Gerardo Gonzalez, is a fully mechanized brooch featuring a 68.17 ct free-form hexagonal amethyst from Deer Hill in Stow, Maine. This exceptional gemstone comes directly from MMGM’s own collection, now transformed into a kinetic work of art.
What makes this brooch so special?
A hand-carved chickadee gracefully rotates.
Pine needles delicately open and close, revealing the glowing amethyst at its heart.
Stainless steel, brass, and aluminum elements come together in an intricate dance of precision engineering and artistic expression.
MMGM Curator Myles Felch said mechanized jewelry of this complexity is “exceedingly rare — and mechanized jewelry featuring Maine amethyst is rarer.” In fact, the only other famous example of Maine amethyst jewelry is the historic Howe Brooch, crafted by George Howe in the early 1900s.
Visitors can now see this extraordinary contemporary counterpart proudly displayed in the Hall of Gems.
Earlier this fall, “Falling Leaves, Blooming Flower” was entered into the AGTA Spectrum Awards—one of the most competitive jewelry design contests in the world. While the piece wasn’t selected, we couldn’t be prouder to have submitted it.
Long before Gerardo Gonzalez transformed a gemstone into wearable mechanical art, another remarkable amethyst discovery was taking shape beneath Maine soil.
The Saltman Prospect came to light unexpectedly when landowners began excavating gravel for road repairs. As machinery cut deeper into the earth, flashes of purple crystal began appearing in the sediment—an unmistakable sign of something special. They had uncovered a hydrothermal quartz vein filled with rich, dark amethyst.
Local mineral collector Rod Blood was among the first to explore the site. From this pocket, he unearthed a spectacular amethyst plate—now proudly featured in MMGM’s Maine Mineral A to Z gallery.
Soon after, the property was leased by Plumbago Mining Corp., the same team behind major discoveries at Mt. Mica and Orchard Pit. Their work at Saltman produced hundreds of beautiful amethyst specimens, each one a piece of Maine’s geologic story.
A Shared Legacy of Beauty and Discovery
From a serendipitous roadside excavation to a meticulously crafted kinetic brooch, these two stories highlight the same truth: Maine amethyst continues to inspire wonder, creativity, and scientific curiosity.
Whether you’re drawn to the artistry of modern jewelry or the raw beauty of natural mineral formations, MMGM now offers a chance to experience both sides of this legacy in one visit.
This connection between Maine’s geology and contemporary artistry is one of the museum’s greatest joys to share. From natural crystal pockets deep underground to a kinetic brooch crafted in a studio, the journey of Maine amethyst is on full display at MMGM.
See Both Stories Come Together
Visitors to MMGM can now experience:
- “Falling Leaves, Blooming Flower” in the Hall of Gems
- The Saltman Prospect amethyst plate in the Maine Mineral A to Z gallery
Together, they demonstrate the enduring beauty — and surprising versatility — of this locally sourced gemstone.
Come see for yourself how a crystal born in Maine’s bedrock can become both an artistic masterpiece and a geological treasure.
