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In Mariposa, a gem of a Gold Rush collection may be packed up

Tavern owner Bob Burchard,former city planner in Mariposa, Calif., laughs as he reminisces about the city's past. He finds it interesting the state has found some additional money just as a multimillion-dollar gem collection is being packed up at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in town. "I tell you: Don¿t mess with the spirits of the Mother Lode. They¿re wily."

Tavern owner Bob Burchard,former city planner in Mariposa, Calif., laughs as he reminisces about the city’s past. He finds it interesting the state has found some additional money just as a multimillion-dollar gem collection is being packed up at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in town. “I tell you: Don¿t mess with the spirits of the Mother Lode. They¿re wily.”  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

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Because of state budget cuts, a multimillion-dollar gem and mineral collection may have to leave the California State Mining and Mineral Museum. But it could get a reprieve.
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Downtime

Bob Burchard,right, owner of Bett’s Gold Coin Sports Tavern in Mariposa, chats with local patron John Marcota. These days the town survives on tourists from Yosemite stopping by for a dash of Gold Rush history.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Downtown sentry

A grizzly bear statue keeps watch over the Grizzly Bear Gas Minimart in downtown Mariposa. It is a city of deep roots, with multigenerational famililes.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

A gem of a collection

Twelve-year-old Tig Cook, left, checks out minerals with his dad, David Cook, at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum. The cash-strapped state was slated to pack up the collection for storage by the end of July as part of a $22-million cost-cutting measure. Then on July 20, it surfaced that the parks department had $54 million socked away, unreported to budget officials. Parks Director Ruth Coleman and other high-ranking officials resigned, and the state launched an investigation.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Mining the past

Curator Randy Bolt explains a mining display to visitors at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa. The future of the museum has yet to be decided but locals want to keep the gems and minerals on display for the public to enjoy.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Fricot Nugget

Ranger Darci Moore is reflected in a case holding the famed Fricot Nugget. The almost 14-pound swirl of crystalline gold is believed to be the biggest chunk to survive the Gold Rush.   (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Vestige from a golden past

The Fricot Nugget weighs 13.8 pounds and is the largest remaining specimen of crystallized gold from 19th century California. Also on display is a meteorite that naturalist John Muir bought from an Indian chief whose great-grandfather saw it fall to Earth.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

A Gold Rush town

American flags adorn most storefronts in downtown Mariposa.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Bejeweled

Mariposa resident James Edward Van Der Karr likes rings so much that he usually sports about 60 of them at once. James hangs out along Mariposa’s main rag and likes to chat with tourists.  (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

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