In 2018, I made an additional trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I wanted to photograph several additional iconic mineral and gemstone specimens in their collection on display in the gem and mineral halls. I also wanted to add some more rare and unusual minerals to the mineral detail pages of Minerals.net.
The post below contains some additional favorites of mine in the collection that I did not include in the coverage of my previous Smithsonian visit. These include interesting minerals and rarities.
Please view some of our earlier posts from our visit to the Smithsonian in 2015 by clicking here.
The Oppenheimer Diamond, a very large yellow Diamond Crystal at 253.7 carats!
From the Dutoitspan Mine, Kimberley, South Africa
Metatorbernite from Shinkolobwe Mine, Shaba, D.R. Congo
Meta-autunite from the Daybreak Mine, Spokane, Washington
Purple Calcite Twinned Crystals from Joplin, Missouri
Hydroxyl-Herderite from Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Brown and White Diamond Crystals from Murfreesboro, Arkansas
White Diamond Crystal from Huntsville, Walker Co, Texas
Phosphophyllite Crystal and Cut Gem from Potosi, Bolivia
Large Wulfenite Crystal Plate with Mimetite from the San Francisco Mine, Sonora, Mexico