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Diamonds fluorescingMurchison snuff box set with diamonds fluorescing under ultra violet radiation. Gold snuff box set with diamonds ranging from 0.75 to 2.5 carats, presented to Sir R. I. Murchison by Tsar Alexander II
Jet ornament is similar to amber in texture and to coal in appearance. Jet is fossilised timber of a variety of Araucaria - similar to todays monkey puzzle trees
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
Andradite is variety dementoid, garnet and comprises of (calcium iron silicate). These crystals are in a matrix from Lanzada, Valtellina, Italy and the cut stone is from an unknown locality
Diamond and simulantsFive gemstones showing dispersion and light spill. Left to right: strontium titanate, cubic zirconia, diamond, YAG, and synthetic white sapphire
A selection of topaz cut stonesTopaz is the hardest silicate mineral and comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
Beryl, variety aquamarineA specimen of the gemstone, Beryl (Beryllium aluminum silicate). This is the aquamarine variety, which is the blue variety. Another variety of beryl is emerald, which is the green variety
Many colours of corundumRuby and sapphire cut corundum stones viewed through their pavilions. Corundum is the second hardest natural mineral known
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
TopazA crystal and a cut topaz stone from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
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)
Jadeite crystal and cut stoneJadeite comprises of (sodium aluminum iron silicate) and is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite. Specimens from the Natural History Museum, London
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
Phosphophyllite comprises of (hydrated zinc iron manganese phosphate). Blue-green specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
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
SpodumeneA specimen of the mineral spodumene (lithium aluminium silicate). This mineral comes in two varieties, Kunzite and Hiddenite
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)
Origin of Gem MineralsA diagram showing cross sections through the earths continental crust to a depth of 40kms. Many gemstones form within the crust at different levels and at different temperatures
Emerald crystals and cut stoneEmerald is a variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate). The rich, green colour is attributed to small amounts of chromium which is unmatched by any other mineral species
Lazulite comprises of (magnesium iron aluminum phosphate hydroxide) not to be confused with lazurite - as it looks and sounds the same is a rare ornamental and gemstone
EmeraldsEmerald is a variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate). The green colour is attributed to small amounts of chromium. Specimens from the Natural History Museum, London
Gemstone series: sapphireSapphire, the blue variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Sapphire can be found in a number of different colours. Specimen at the Natural History Museum, London
Birthstone Series: PeridotPeridot, a gemstone from the Natural History Museum, London. Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August (along with Sardonyx). Photographed by Frank Greenaway
Birthstone Series: Ruby
Birthstone Series: Blue Topaz
Birthstone Series: TopazTopaz has a chemical composition of aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide and is the birthstone for the month of November (along with Citrine). Photographed by Frank Greenaway
Birthstone Series: Brilliant Cut DiamondDiamond, a gemstone from the Natural History Museum collections, in London. Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April (along with quartz, rock crystal). Photographed by Frank Greenaway
Frank Greenaway, Science PhotographerMuseum photographer Frank Greenaway lighting a gemstone so that the internal structure is captured in a photograph
Earths TreasuryInterior view of Earths Treasury gallery, the Earth Galleries, the Natural History Museum, London
Plate 99, from MineralogieVarious gemstone varieties including diamond, ruby, sapphire, spinel and Topaz. From Recuille complet de Mineralogie vol.3 (1790) by F.L. Swebach Desfontaines
Plate 3 from Histoire naturelle? (1789)Plate 3, Histoire Naturelle ou Mineralogie Complete from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines
Chinese amber carvingAn intricate crab carved out of Chinese amber. Amber is fossilised tree resin. Fig. 25 from Amber the Natural Time Capsule
Kor-i-noor replicaAn exact copy of the original Kor-i-noor diamond created from cubic zirconia by John Nels Hatleberg (Cat 157). Photographed by Frank Greenaway
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
Tiger eye specimen
Opal in matrix specimen
Hematite tumblestone
Carnelian specimen
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
Benitoite crystal and cut stoneBenitoite was discovered in 1906 near the San Benito river in California which remains the only known locality for this (barium titanium silicate) mineral