Collections & Research Staff
Malcolm Back
Technician
Mineralogy
B.Sc., University of Toronto, 1985
M.Sc., University of Toronto, 1990
Malcolm Back is a mineralogy technician in the Department of Natural History at the ROM.
Malcolm was born in England and immigrated to the Toronto area with his family at an early age. His interest in minerals is traced back to his childhood, when he collected mineral samples and identified and catalogued as many as he could. Early visits to the mineral and geology displays at the ROM instilled in him a lasting love for mineralogy.
Malcolm specializes in the use of X-ray diffraction techniques to identify and study the crystallography of mineral samples. This method is also used to identify corrosion products on artifacts from other disciplines for ROM conservators, thus ensuring that proper conservation techniques can be applied. He also uses other instrumental methods, including optical mineralogy and various chemical analytical techniques with the Scanning Electron Microscope and Electron Microprobe.
Malcolm's research interests include the identification and classification of new mineral species. He attends many local mineral shows, often taking a selection of minerals from the ROM's collection for the education and enjoyment of the public. Malcolm currently serves on the Council of the Walker Mineralogical Club, the oldest Mineral Club in Canada, founded in 1937.
Recent Publications
| 2009 | Hawthorne, F. C., Cooper, M. A.,Back, M. E. "Khinite-4O [= Khinite] and Khinite-3T [= Parakhinite]". Canadian Mineralogist, 47: 473-476. |
| 2008 | Bermanec, V., N. Tomašić, G. Kniewald, M. Back, and G. Zagler. "Nioboaeschynite-(Y); A New Member of the Aeschynite Group from Bear Lake, Ontario, Canada." Canadian Mineralogist, 46: 395-402. |
| 2008 | Cooper, M.A., F.C. Hawthorne, and M.E. Back. "The Crystal Structure of Khinite and Polytypism in Khinite and Parakhinite." Mineralogical Magazine, 72(3): 763-770. |
| 2008 | Back, M.E. and Mandarino J.A. "Fleischer's Glossary of Mineral Species 2008, 10th edition." Mineralogical Record, Tucson. 346 pp. |
| 2006 | Locock, A.J., R.A. Ramik, and M.E. Back. "The structures of two novel Sn2+ oxysalts found with romarchite and hydroromarchite as corrosion products of pewter artifacts." Canadian Mineralogist, 44: 1457-1468. |
| 2006 | Back, M.E. “Growing Collections: Messengers from Space.” Rotunda, 38(2): 7-8. |
| 2006 | Amelin, Y. and M.E. Back. "Opal as a U-Pb geochronometer: Search for a standard." Chemical Geology including Isotope Geoscience, 232: 67-86. |
| 2005 | Back, M.E. “Explorations: Starry Sight, Remarkable Crystals of Rutile and Hematite." Rotunda, 37(3): 4. |
Galleries
Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth's Treasures
ROM Images
Gems & Jewellery
Minerals
Other Links
Walker Mineralogical Club
Contact Information
Royal Ontario Museum
Department of Natural History
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
M5S 2C6
Tel: 416.586.5819
Fax: 416.586.5814
E-mail: malcolmb@rom.on.ca
Malcolm Back.
Working with the Scanning Electron Microscope.
