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Birthstone Series: Amythest QuartzAn Amythest quartz specimen. Amythest is a form of quartz that is usually purple in colour, it is the birthstone for the month of March. Natural History Museum specimen number 84817
Garnet PeridotiteGarnet-peridotite, a major constituent in the make-up of the Earth. Image published in Natures Connections An Exploration of Natural History. Published in 2000
Zircon cut stonesCut stones showing the natural colour range and lustre of zircon. Zircon is the birthstone of December. It comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona
Corundum variety ruby; crystal and gemsCrystal and gem specimens of ruby, the red variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Corundum has two varieties, the other being sapphire
SchistA garnet schist from Moidart, Scotland. This specimen is a medium-grained metamorphic rock
PeridotCrystal of peridot from Zebirget (St Johns Island), Red Sea. Peridot is the gemstone variety of olivine (magnesium iron silicate)
Oyster shell with pearlOyster is a name given to a group of molluscs which can be found on sea beds, often in coastal waters. The pearl, a smooth spherical object can form inside its shell
Chrysoberyl cut stoneThis is Alexandrite, a cushion-shaped Chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide) gemstone. Alexandrite is named after the former czar of Russia, Alexander II
Variety of GemstonesLeft to right, top: Onyx, cornelian, tigers eye, jet, turquoise, lapis lazuli, hematite, jade. Bottom: Ivory, amber, coral, cultured pearl, freshwater pearl, shell, cameo
Turquoise variety HenwooditeA specimen of the turquoise variety called Henwoodite, named after William Jory Henwood (1805-1875) from West Phoenix Mine, Linkinhorne, Cornwall
Birthstone Series: ZirconZircon comes in a variety of colours, but most commonly brown or green. It is the birthstone for the month of December (along with Tanzinte and Turquoise). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: Fire OpalThis specimen is called a fire opal because of its red-orange colour. Many of these specimens originate from Mexico. Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: Lazurite
Birthstone Series: CitrineCitrine is a form of quartz that appears in different a variety of yellows and oranges, it is the birthstone for the month of November along with Topaz. Specimen number 21470
Birthstone Series: OpalOpal is a form of silica and it is the birthstone (along with Tourmaline) for the month of October. Natural History Museum specimen number: 1908, 235. Photographed by Harry Taylor
Russian topazTopaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide) and is the birthstone of November. Brown topaz specimens from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
Zircon is the birthstone of December. It comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona. Crystal specimens are from Nigeria
Birthstone Series: EmeraldA specimen of the gemstone, emerald from the Natural History Museum, London. Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May (along with Chrysoprase). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: CarnelionA specimen of the mineral, carnelion (BM58673a) from the Natural History Museum, London. Carnelion is the birthstone for the month of July (along with Ruby). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Spinel crystal and cut stoneSpinel (magnesium aluminium oxide) crystal from Ruby Mines, Mogok, Burma with spinel cut stone from Sri Lanka. Spinel is found in a red colour and has been previously mistaken for ruby
Crystal, carving and treated blue topazAn orange crystal, colourless carving of Queen Victorias head and a heat-treated blue topaz gem of 0.24ct
Birthstone Series: Rose QuartzA specimen of Rose Quartz from the Natural History Museum, London. Rose Quartz is the birthstone for the month of January (along with Garnet). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: ChrysopraseA specimen of the mineral, chrysoprase (BM1934.919) from the Natural History Museum, London. Chrysoprase is the birthstone for the month of May (along with Emerald). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Rubies and sapphiresCrystals of ruby from Burma which is the red variety of corundum (aluminium oxide). The other variety is sapphire, this specimen is from Kashmir. The lower left specimen is the Edwardes Ruby
Peridot cut stone 146. 1 ctPeridot is gem variety of the mineral olivine (Magnesium Iron Silicate). It is also the birthstone of August
Ruby and sapphire gravelRuby and sapphire fragments from gem gravels seen on a background of slate. Ruby and sapphire are both varieties of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide)
Birthstone Series: OnyxA specimen of the mineral onyx (GM1703), from the Natural History Museum, London. Onyx is the birthstone for the month of February (along with Amethyst). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: SardonyxA specimen of Sardonyx, a variety of quartz, from the Natural History Museum, London. Sardonyx is the birthstone for the month of August (along with Peridot). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: TanzaniteA specimen of tanzanite, from the Natural History Museum, London. Tanzanite is the birthstone for the month of December (along with Zircon and Turquoise). Photographed by Harry Taylor
Birthstone Series: BloodstoneA specimen of the mineral bloodstone, a variety of quartz. (33974), from the Natural History Museum, London. Bloodstone is the birthstone for the month of March (along with Aquamarine)
Birthstone Series: Ruby
Birthstone Series: AquamarineAquamarine is the blue variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate) and is the birthstone of the month of March. A gemstone from the Natural History Museum collections, in London
Birthstone Series: GarnetGarnet has a chemical composition of iron aluminium silicate. It is the birthstone of the month of January. Gemstone from the Natural History Museum collections, in London
Diamond with garnetRed garnet crystal in an octagonal, step-cut diamond. Diamond comprises of compacted carbon and is the hardest natural substance known on Earth
Peridot groupFine cut peridot of 146 carats (centre) with crystals and rough mass (right) from Zebirget, and Hawaiian basalt containing olivine crystals (left)
Star rubies and sapphiresStar stones of ruby and sapphire, both are varieties of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Ruby always appears in red where as sapphire comes in a variety of colours
Ruby and Sapphire cut stones
RubyA six-rayed star ruby. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide)
GarnetsFaceted garnets showing a range of colours. Garnet is the birthstone of January
TopazBlue irradiated topaz pebbles and faceted topaz. Topaz is comprised of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
Imitation turquoiseA slab of imitiation turquoise. True specimens of turquoise are among the most valuable non-transparent minerals
BerylFrom left to right, different varieties of berly (beryllium aluminum silicate) cut stone; emerald, aquamarine, morganite and heliodor
Garnet
Topaz crystalAn imperial topaz crystal from Brazil, length 101mm long. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
A group of feldspar specimensAmazonstone crystals and gems, pin set with sunstone, and moonstones. The feldpars are significant rock building minerals
Turquoise vein in shaleTurquoise (hydrated copper aluminum phosphate) vein in shale, from Victoria, Australia. Turquoise is perhaps the most valuable non-transparent mineral