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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Part 3 - Precious Metals and Metal Compounds

The Smithsonian gem and mineral collection contains an amazing array of Gold, Silver, and rare metal compounds. Many of the Gold and Silver specimens are among the finest for their localities, and there are also many examples from unusual localities. While not all the minerals show here are composed of precious metals, they are still rare and unusual examples of metallic compounds, especially sulfosalts.


Click the pictures below for a larger version pop-up.

Jordanite, Lengenbach Quarry, Binntal, Switzerland Jordanite, Lengenbach Quarry, Binntal, Switzerland


Jamesonite with Calcite, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania Jamesonite with Calcite, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania


Bournonite, Quiruvilca, Peru Bournonite, Quiruvilca, Peru


Dyscrasite with Stibarsen from Pribram, Czech Republic Dyscrasite with Stibarsen from Pribram, Czech Republic


Hessite with Quartz, Botes Transylvania, Romania Hessite with Quartz, Botes Transylvania, Romania


Enargite with Pyrite, Butte, Montana Enargite with Pyrite, Butte, Montana


Polybasite from the Las Chispas Mine, Arizpe, Sonoroa, Mexico Polybasite from the Las Chispas Mine, Arizpe, Sonoroa, Mexico


Exhibit Case of Silver and Copper Exhibit Case of Silver and Copper


Thick Silver Wire with Calcite, Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico Thick Silver Wire with Calcite, Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico


Silver S Wire from Dreikonigsstein, Lahr, Baden-Wurttenberg, Germany Silver "S" Wire from Dreikonigsstein, Lahr, Baden-Wurttenberg, Germany


Exhibit Case of Gold Exhibit Case of Gold


Gold Nugget, Whitehall Mine, Spotsylvania Co., Virginia Gold Nugget, Whitehall Mine, Spotsylvania Co., Virginia


Large Gold Nugget, Telegraph Mine, California Large Gold Nugget (898.4 grams), Telegraph Mine, California


Hoppered Gold Crystal, Amador Co., California Hoppered Gold Crystal, Amador Co., California