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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
Section of Chassigny meteoriteThin section of Chassigny in cross-polarized light, showing shocked and deformed olivine grains. The field of view is 3mm
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
Garnet-bearing rock, collected at Karin Hill, Neilgherries, India by Dr Benza c.1837. NHM specimen number: BM 867
TopazThis 2982-carat topaz is the largest cut gem at the museum
SchistA garnet schist from Moidart, Scotland. This specimen is a medium-grained metamorphic rock
JadariteMinerals curator Mike Rumsey studying the mineral called jadarite which has the same chemical composition as kryptonite. Discovered in Serbia in 2006, jadarite is composed of sodium, lithium
Shale (right) and garnet-mica-schist (left)Shale is sedimentary and garnet-mica-schist is metamorphoc in origin. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London
PeridotCrystal of peridot from Zebirget (St Johns Island), Red Sea. Peridot is the gemstone variety of olivine (magnesium iron silicate)
Garnet-topped doubletA green garnet-topped doublet. Garnets are common in metamorphosed rocks and also in some igneous formations
Imperial TopazFound in 1852 in one of the oldest mines in the southeastern Ouro Preto region of Brazil
Plate 3a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)Plate 3a, Histoire Naturel Des Mineraux et de Pierres Precieuses, from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir? (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines
The Esquel pallasite
Plate 10, fig 2 from MineralienbuchAn illustration of an andalusite mineral deposit showing columnar crystals. Plate 10, fig 2 from Mineralienbuch by F. A. Schmidt, Stuttgart 1855
Jadarite specimenThe mineral jadarite has the same chemical composition as kryptonite. Discovered in Serbia in 2006, jadarite is composed of sodium, lithium, boron silicate and hydroxide
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
Included diamond gemstoneA two-carat rectangular step-cut diamond with a large violet-red garnet inclusion visible in the table facet
Uvarovite garnets comprise of (calcium chromium silicate). They are characterized by their green colour and rounded crystals of either 12 or 24 faces
Spessartine comprises of (manganese aluminum silicate) and is found in metamorphic environments
Phenakite is comprised of (beryllium silicate). Visually it closely resembles quartz, but chemically it is closer to gemstones such as topaz and beryl
Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide). This is a specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
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
Pyrope garnetA cut stone and collection of crystals of pink pyrope garnet (magnesium aluminum silicate). Specimens from the Natural History Museum, London
Kyanite comprises of (aluminum silicate) and shares this composition with both sillimanite and adalusite. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London
Spessartine garnetSpessartine comprises of (manganese aluminum silicate). A cut stone and crystal from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
Garnetiferous schistSchist is a metamorphic rock, and this specimen show large formations of the gemstone garnet
Crystal, carving and treated blue topazAn orange crystal, colourless carving of Queen Victorias head and a heat-treated blue topaz gem of 0.24ct
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
A selection of topaz cut stonesTopaz is the hardest silicate mineral and comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
Olivine comprises of (magnesium iron silicate) and is a common source of magnesium. Peridot is the gemstone variety of olivine. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London
Peridot cut stone 146. 1 ctPeridot is gem variety of the mineral olivine (Magnesium Iron Silicate). It is also the birthstone of August
Chlorite variant clinochloreBooks of clinochlore with hessonite garnet from Piedmont, Italy. Clinochlore (Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) is a common member of the Chlorite group of minerals
TopazA crystal and a cut topaz stone from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
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: 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
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
Plate 4a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)Plate 4a Mineralogie, [unfinished] from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir? (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines
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: 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
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
Porphyritic olivine and pyroxene chondruleMicroscopic image of a porphyritic olivine and pyroxene chondrule from the Palmyra (L3) ordinary chondrite (the chondrule is about 1.8mm across)
Chiastolite
Barred olivine chondrule from the Palmyra ordinary chondrite (the chondrule is about 1.2mm across)
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)