This final posting of items the Smithsonian gem and mineral collection features phosphates, molybdates, and silicates in the collection.
Click the pictures below for a larger version pop-up.
Two
Fluorapatite Crystals with
Quartz from Panasqueira, Portugal
Wulfenite with
Mimetite from Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Sparkling
Wulfenite Crystal Cluster from Tsumeb, Namibia
Giant
Apatite Crystals with
Calcite from Otter Lake, Quebec, Canada
Turquoise Vein from Los Cerillos, New Mexico
Crystallized
Turquoise from Lynch Station, Virginia
Inesite with
Apophyllite from Broken Hill, NSW, Australia
Pink
Zoisite Spray from Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Chondrodite with
Chlorite from the Tilly Foster Mine, Brewster, New York
Meionite with
Diopside from La Pachita Mine, Ayoquezezco, Oxaca, Mexico
Rhodonite with
Calcite and
Franklinite from Franklin, New Jersey
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Large
Calcite Crystal on Calcite from Shullsberg, Wisconsin
Calcite with Duftite Inclusions, Resulting in Green Color, From Tsumeb, Namibia
Manganoan
Calcite from the Idarado Mine, Ouray, Colorado, Namibia
Brown
Calcite with
Goethite Inclusions from Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
Large
Calcite Scalenohedron from Joplin, Missouri
Deep Red
Rhodochrosite from N'Chwaning Mine, Hotazel, South Africa
Large
Concentric Rhodochrosite Slab from Catamarca, Argentina
Huge
botryoidal Malachite Blob from Shaba, D.R. Congo
Smithsonite Stalagmites from Tsumeb, Namibia
Nest-Shaped
Malachite Formation from the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona
Prismatic
Azurite Crystal from the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona
Giant
Calcite Crystal Cluster from the Woodchuck Mine, Cardin, Oklahoma
When we made our visit to the Smithsonian gem and mineral hall, we took hundreds of photos. After going through all of them, there are over 60 we felt worthwhile to post. Instead of making one long post with all of them, we divided then into several posts of related items. We had to think of a common grouping method, so we chose to separate the posts by mineral type classification. This post shows some of the oxides, sulfides, and halides in the Smithsonian collection.
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Cubic
Halite with
Calcite from Eisleben, Thuringen, Germany
Magnetite Octahedrons in Matrix from Binnantal, Valais, Switzerland
Green
Fluorite Crystal and Cut Gems from Westmoreland, New Hampshire
Cumengite Crystal from the Santa Rosalia Mine, Boleo, Mexico
Etched Purple
Fluorite Cubes from the Spar Mountain Mine, Cave in Rock, Illinois
Cuprite with
Malachite Coating from the Onganja Mine, Seeis, Namibia
Quartz with
Rutile Inclusions from Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Skull-Shaped
Marcasite from Montreal, Wisconsin
Manganese Oxide
Dendritic Crystal Growths in Matrix from Solnhofen, Bayern, Germany
Complex
Pyrite Crystal in Calcite from Franklin, New Jersey
Zincite Crystals and Cut Gems from Franklin, New Jersey
Molybdenite Crystal in Matrix from Chelan, Washington
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Wulfenite Exhibit Case
Calcite Exhibit Case
Corundum Exhibit Case
Beryl Exhibit Case
Fluorite Exhibit Case
Zeolite Minerals Exhibit Case
Misc Exhibit Case. I am not sure what the theme for this case is.
Gypsum Exhibit Case
Crystal Twins and Other Interesting Crystal Habits
Tourmaline Exhibit Case
Topaz Exhibit Case
Minerals from Bisbee, Arizona
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
Jamesonite with
Calcite, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania
Bournonite, Quiruvilca, Peru
Dyscrasite with
Stibarsen from Pribram, Czech Republic
Hessite with Quartz, Botes Transylvania, Romania
Enargite with Pyrite, Butte, Montana
Polybasite from the Las Chispas Mine, Arizpe, Sonoroa, Mexico
Exhibit Case of
Silver and
Copper
Thick
Silver Wire with
Calcite, Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico
Silver "S" Wire from Dreikonigsstein, Lahr, Baden-Wurttenberg, Germany
Exhibit Case of
Gold
Gold Nugget, Whitehall Mine, Spotsylvania Co., Virginia
Large
Gold Nugget (898.4 grams), Telegraph Mine, California
Hoppered
Gold Crystal, Amador Co., California
