Mineral Collections
The Solaria Collections bring together minerals, crystals, rocks, fossils, and sands gathered across generations, landscapes, and disciplines. Each collection has been shaped through careful stewardship — whether hand-collected in the field, mined from the Earth, preserved within families for decades, or curated for learning, display, and exploration. Together, they form a living archive that honours the Earth’s geological story and our evolving relationship with it.
Solaria Collections
The Solaria Collection brings together selected mineral specimens from Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world, curated for display, study, and appreciation. It includes raw specimens, carved forms, microminerals, and larger feature pieces chosen for their geological integrity, beauty, and educational value.
Lyall Collection
A deeply personal archive of rocks and fossils gathered over fifty years ago and carefully preserved within a local family. Passed down with care and intention. This collection speaks to an era of attentive collecting, quiet curiosity, and long-term guardianship, offering a tangible link between generations of Earth observers.
Educational Kits
Designed to support hands-on experience, learning, observation, and exploration for all ages. These kits include teaching specimens, comparative sets, and materials intended to invite curiosity — from first encounters with minerals to deeper study through magnification, classification, and contextual learning.
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Sand Collection
Documenting the extraordinary diversity found within one of Earth’s most overlooked materials. Beginning with sands gathered from across Aotearoa New Zealand, the collection is growing through connections with collectors and researchers worldwide. Offering insight into regional geology, erosion, and planetary processes at a granular scale.
Hessey Collection
This small, well-cared-for collection of rocks, crystals, and fossils reflects a personal geological journey rooted in family history and science. The specimens were mostly hand-collected on trips, with some purchased during travels or gifted by family and friends from New Zealand and abroad between the 1960s and 1990s.
The Sears Collection
A small, evolving group of mineral specimens and stones gathered over many years that feel resonant with the Sears family. These pieces are held primarily within the Sears family home and are not part of the permanent public collection, yet from time to time they may be shared through rotation or special display within Solaria’s public spaces.
Wells Collection
A world-class assemblage of microminerals from Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, alongside hand-collected New Zealand rock specimens. Built through decades of dedicated fieldwork, exploration, and exchange, this collection reflects both scientific significance and deep personal knowledge of place.
Milton Collection
The Milton Collection is a meticulously curated selection of small to medium-sized mineral specimens from New Zealand and around the world — hand-collected, gifted, and purchased by Mr Milton between 1986 and 1991. This collection features the most detailed records Solaria has received to date.
Each collection within Solaria is cared for as both a scientific resource and a cultural archive — held with respect for its origins, its journey, and its future role in learning and connection.