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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
Tanzanite crystal and cut stoneThis is a blue variety of the mineral zoisite. Strongly pleochroic, it displays rich blue, magenta and yellowish-grey colours when viewed from different angles
Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide). This is a specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
Amethyst crystals
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
Lazurite comprises of (sodium calcium aluminum silicate sulphur sulphate). Due to its unique rich colour, it is a semi-precious stone and is often used in jewellery making
Cassiterite pseudomorphous after orthoclaseBrown granular cassiterite (tin oxide) have replaced twinned orthoclase crystals. Wheal Coates, St. Agnes, Cornwall
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
Carved carnelian bowlCarnelian is a transluscent yellow to orange variety of chalcedony (micro-crystalline quartz). This bowl was once the property of Sir Hans Sloane
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
Rubellite (Tourmaline) decoratively carved pendant. Specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
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
Pleochroism in an iolite cut stoneThis iolite (magnesium aluminium silicate) is displaying pleochroism, a varied colour effect as the gem is turned. See also 3960
Mocha stone, sardonyx and agateMocha stone and sardonyx cameos resting on artificially dyed slabs of agate. All these varieties of chalcedony derive from the cryptocrystalline quartz group
Garnetiferous schistSchist is a metamorphic rock, and this specimen show large formations of the gemstone garnet
Heulandite crystal group on matrix, from Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire. One of the group of Zeolites. Zeolites are microporous crystalline solids containing silicon, aluminium and oxygen
ChalcedonyPolished slab of chalcedony with radiating structure. Chalcedony or agate is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz (silicon dioxide)
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
A selection of topaz cut stonesTopaz is the hardest silicate mineral and comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)
AventurineA rough piece of green aventurine quartz from India
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
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
ChondroditeChondrolite comprises of (magnesium iron silicate fluoride hydroxide) and often occurs in a granular form in crystalline limestones. 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
Braunite is a native oxide of manganese. Its crystals are dark brownish black in colour. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London
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)
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
Tiger s-eye and Hawk s-eyeFormed 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
Talc
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
HemimorphiteA specimen of the mineral hemimorphite (hydrated zinc silicate hydroxide). This mineral was formerly known as calamine
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
CordieriteA specimen of cordierite (magnesium aluminum silicate), a mineral from the class of silicates. Its gemstone variety called iolite is popular among gemstone collectors
Amethyst, baryte dioptase, rhodochrositeAmethyst, purple crystals from India. Baryte, long yellow prisms from Cumbria. Dioptase, green lustrous crusts from Namibia. Rhodochrosite, pink crystals on quartz
Dancing woman in green serpentine
Cancrinite comprises of (sodium calcium aluminum silicate carbonate) and is one of the rarer members of the feldspathoid group. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London
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)
Stilbite comprises of (hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate) and derives from the Zeolite group. Specimen from the collections of The Natural History Museum, London
Thomsonite
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