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Turritella agate
Agate thundereggs
Agate slice
Imperial TopazFound in 1852 in one of the oldest mines in the southeastern Ouro Preto region of Brazil
Moss agate specimen
Agate
Bloodstone or heliotrope carvingsThese frogs were carved from bloodstone by Paul Dreher. Bloodstone is green agate containing speckles of red jasper. All these derive from the cryptocrystalline quartz group
Crystal balls are produced by grinding and polishing quartz (silicon dyoxide) cystal into spheres
Cordierite-biotite-gneissGeological 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
AgateBlue lace agate
Cursed amethystWhen the Mineralogy Department received this amethyst in 1943 they found a note inside the box: this stone is trebly accursed and is stained with the blood
Antigorite and boweniteGroup of two specimens of antigorite (above) and two specimens of antigorite var. bowenite below. Both these specimens comprise of (magnesium iron silicate hydroxide)
The Esquel pallasite
Plate 10, fig 1 from MineralienbuchAn illustration of an axinite mineral specimen. Plate 10, fig 1 from Mineralienbuch by F. A. Schmidt, Stuttgart 1855
Plate 3, fig 4 from MineralienbuchA illustration of a slice of polished brown jasper. Jasper is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz (silicon dioxide). Plate 3, fig 4 from Mineralienbuch by F. A. Schmidt, Stuttgart 1855
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
AgateThis polished agate specimen from Saxony is called Breccia Sanguigna. This brecciated agate comprises mainly of irregular sized fragments of cryptocrystalline quartz, set in a finer matrix
AgateA polished slice of agate from Uraguay. Agate (silicon dioxide) is a cryptocrystalline quartz
Chrome diopsideTwo 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
Plate 53 from MineralogieMine de Plomb blanc en rayon et Colore du Hars tire du Cabinet de Mr. Aubert. From Recuille complet de Mineralogie? vol.6 (1790) by F.L. Swebach Desfontaines
AgateA polished slice of agate or chalcedony from Uraguay. Agate (silicon dioxide) is a cryptocrystalline quartz
Plate 102 from MineralogieSuperbe groupe de grands cristaux d Aigue marine de Siberie. From Recuille complet de Mineralogie Vol.3 (1790) by F. L. Swebach Desfontaines
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
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
Included diamond gemstoneA two-carat rectangular step-cut diamond with a large violet-red garnet inclusion visible in the table facet
Sapphire turban buttonA rose-cut facetted deep-blue sapphire mounted in a button of quartz, inlaid with gold, rubies & emeralds. No 198 in the collection of Sir Hans Sloane
Uvarovite garnets comprise of (calcium chromium silicate). They are characterized by their green colour and rounded crystals of either 12 or 24 faces
Gobbinsite comprises of (hydrated sodium potassium calcium aluminum silicate) and derives from the zeolite group. Specimen found nr. Black Cave, Island Magee, Co. Antrim
Orthoclase (potassium aluminum silicate) is a major granite forming mineral. Specimen from Brevik, Norway
RhodoniteA pink specimen of rhodonite (manganese iron magnesium calcium silicate). Rhodon is greek for rose. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London
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