Inosilicate Collection

Tremolite asbestos from France
Tremolite (calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide) is a mineral from the Amphibole group, it is commonly used for industrial purposes

Hornblende-biotite granite
Geological specimen collected by Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913, also known as the Terra Nova expedition. It had a broad scientific programme and collected thousands of geological

Nephrite jade
A specimen of nephrite jade from New Zealand. Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite (calcium magnesium iron silicate hydroxide)

Jade
A block of jade measuring more than a metre across and weighing over half a tonne

Jade group
A selection of rough and worked specimens of jadeite and nephrite. Jade is a gemstone and ornamental stone

Chrome diopside
Two variations of a diopside gemstone (calcium magnesium silicate). Left: Deep-green faceted cut stone; locality unknown. Right: Small translucent green detached crystal from Outokumpu, Finland

Rhodonite
A pink specimen of rhodonite (manganese iron magnesium calcium silicate). Rhodon is greek for rose. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

The Abee EH4 enstatite chondrite
Abee fell in Canada in 1953. The cut surface clearly shows the metal-rich and brecciated texture of Abee

Jade and gold casket (Lid shut)
This casket was given to the Duchess of Cornwall and York in 1901 inscribed From many Loyal Women of the Province of Aukland

Jadeite crystal and cut stone
Jadeite 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

Tiger s-eye and Hawk s-eye
Formed when blue crocidolite asbestos is replaced by quartz. Hawk s-eye retains the original colour while tiger s-eye contains a residue of iron oxide

Spodumene
A specimen of the mineral spodumene (lithium aluminium silicate). This mineral comes in two varieties, Kunzite and Hiddenite

Enstatite comprises of (magnesium silicate) and derives from the pyroxene group. Specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London

Microscope image of the Johnstown diogenite. Diogenites are coarse grained and composed primarily of one mineral, pyroxene. Field of view is 2.5mm across

Microscope image of the Zagami shergottite. The fractures in the pyroxene mineral grains and the paler patches of glass show that the rock has been shocked. Field of view is 5mm

Microscope image of the Brachina meteorite, the type specimen of the Brachinite meteorites. Brachinites are composed mostly of olivine with minor amounts of pyroxene and plagioclase

Radial pyroxene chondrule
Microscope image of a radial pyroxene chondrule from the ALH 88036 (H3.4) ordinary chondrite. The chondrule is about 2mm across

Spodumene crystal and cut stone
Large spodumene (Lithium Aluminum Silicate) crystal and cut gemstone from Brazil

Jade and gold casket (Lid open)
This casket was given to the Duchess of Cornwall and York in 1901 inscribed From many Loyal Women of the Province of Aukland

Kunzite crystal and cut stone
Strongly dichroic pink kunzite crystal and faceted kunzite. Kunzite (lithium aluminum silicate) is the pink variety of spodumene and is pleochroic

Nephrite jade pendant
A nephrite jade pendant with inlaid mother-of-pearl eyes. Specimen orginates from New Zealand

Jadeite carved dish from China

Asbestos purse
Benjamin Franklins Asbestos purse. A crudely plaited purse made from tremolite asbestos. From the Hans Sloane collection. Asbestos is formed of microscopically fibrous crystals

Objects carved from nephrite jade
A bowl, cabochon, square seal and chinese carving in nephrite jade. Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite

Polished slab of rhodonite
A pink specimen of rhodonite (manganese iron magnesium calcium silicate). Rhodon is greek for rose

Carved nephrite
A tiki from New Zealand (left), a seal from British Colombia, and a Chinese vase all carved from nephrite. Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite

Carved nephrite bowl
Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite

Polished slab of jade

Nephrite owl carving
Stages in carving an owl in nephrite. Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite

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