by Travis Olds, Curator of Minerals
I am pleased to announce Ronald A. Sloto as the winner of the 2025 Carnegie Mineralogical Award. The award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education.
He is Curator and Director of the Geology Museum at West Chester University, Pennsylvania, where he also holds the title of Honorary Professor. Over the course of a distinguished career that includes 41 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, he has become the definitive historian of Pennsylvania mineralogy, authoring a landmark series of reference books that document the region’s mineral heritage.
Ron is the bridge between professional geology and the collecting community, ensuring that our mineral history is not lost to time. He has exhaustively documented over 1,400 mineral localities and revitalized the collections at West Chester University. This award recognizes his lifetime of service to preserving mineralogical history in the library, the laboratory, and the museum.
Additionally, he has authored the “Mines and Minerals” book series, covering Chester, Berks, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties. These works provide exhaustive coverage of historical mines, geological settings, and associated specimens, serving as essential references for researchers and collectors alike. His work has ensured that the rich mineralogical legacy of the Mid-Atlantic region is preserved and accessible for future generations. As a hydrogeologist, Ron also developed the HYSEP program, a fundamental tool in hydrologic research whose algorithms are still used worldwide. His leadership with the Friends of Mineralogy Pennsylvania Chapter and his contributions to The Mineralogical Record have further enriched the mineralogical community.
“My interest in minerals was piqued during my early childhood years collecting quartz crystals and fern fossils in northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Ron. “To be able to turn that fascination into a lifelong career with the USGS, and now to help preserve our mineral heritage at West Chester University, has been a wonderful privilege.”
I had the privilege of presenting the award on February 14, 2026, at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Congratulations, Ron.
2026 Mineralogical Award
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History established the Carnegie Mineralogical Award, funded by the Hillman Foundation, in 1987. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Carnegie Mineralogical Award and the deadline is November 15, 2026. Eligible candidates include educators, private mineral enthusiasts and collectors, curators, museums, mineral clubs and societies, mineral symposia, universities, and publications. For information, contact Travis Olds, Curator, Section of Minerals & Earth Sciences, at 412-622-6568 or oldst@carnegiemnh.org.
Travis Olds is Curator of Minerals at Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
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