Shinmatsu Ichikawa and the Ichikawa Mineral Laboratory

概要

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Mr. Shinmatsu Ichikawa was a prominent mineralogist, although he was an ordinary citizen and not in government service. He lived from the late Meiji Period to the early Showa Period. He taught in elementary school and teacher training school despite not having a regular university education. He was self-taught in mineralogy and foreign language, and became a pioneer in the field of crystal morphology. His contributions include observations of the etched surfaces of natural minerals and of artificial etched quartz crystals and quartz spheres. He observed the etch pits, etch hillocks, growth hillocks and striations on the surfaces of several minerals found in Japan, engraved their positions, shapes and distributions on metal plates, and discussed his observations. He built the Ichikawa Mineral Laboratory in his house in 1918 to store his collection of minerals, rocks and fossils (more than 7000 specimens in all). His collection includes big quartz crystals twinned after Japan law from the Otome mine, twisted quartz from the Naegi region, amethyst crystals from Mt. Ametsuka and the Yusenji mine, natural etched minerals from various parts of Japan, and many minerals from the North America. The Laboratory is a historic cultural site in his hometown. Its preservation and enlightenment activities are cooperatively carried out by the local government and a neighborhood self-governing body.