This paper points to the timely importance of commencing a
centrally recognised perpetual collection of mineral specimens in
the Northern Territory which has as one of its objectives the
collection and preservation of Northern Territory minerals of
scientific, educational and heritage value. Currently in the Northern Territory there is no government
department or institution that has a resourced coordinated
state-wide objective to collect and document collectable mineral
specimens. Specimens held in storage by the Department of
Mines and Energy and the Museum and Art Galleries of the NT
are not catalogued and owe their existence to fortuitous
circumstances, not as a result of a planned systematic scientific
approach to mineralogy. Northern Territory mineral species and
unique specimens have and will continue to be driven to
extinction while no central and active, recognised repository
exists. This situation persists despite the fact mineral production
is the Territory's largest income earner. The paper presents the arguments that hopefully will assist
decision-makers to commence development of a state mineral
collection lodged within an appropriate institution in the Northern
Territory.