Native Metal Collection

Chrysina limbata, silver chafer beetle
Silver chafer beetle specimen. The beetles have a base pigment covered by several colourless microscopically thin layers called laminae

Slice of Canyon Diablo meteorite
Iron meteorites, when sliced open and etched with acid, typically show a distinctive criss-cross pattern called a Widmanstatten pattern. This slice is 15cm across

Gold with black sands in a gold pan
Gold (Au) is an elemental metal. It occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks or as seen here, as grains in alluvial deposits

Kaolinite
Scanning electron microscope image of kaolinite (x 4.00K). Its a common phyllosilicate mineral, its structure is composed of silicate sheets bonded to aluminum oxide/hydroxide layers

Coleoptera sp. metallic beetles
A pair of gold and silver metallic beetles side by side

Native silver
Silver found in pure form in the ground is called native silver (Ag) - it is an elemental metal and structure is dendritic or branch-like

Gold nugget found in a dry river bed outside Potchefstroom, Wits. 120 km southwest of Johannesburg, October 1882. Approximately 68x48mm and 156g in weight

Franklinite, zinc ore
A granular rock composed of white calcite, dull green willemite, red zincite and black franklinite (Zinc Iron Manganese Oxide). See T00387 for a fluorescent view

Benitoite was discovered in 1906 near the San Benito river in California which remains the only known locality for this (barium titanium silicate) mineral

Polished slab of labradorite
Labradorite (calcium sodium aluminum silicate) can seem dull and grey until the light hits correctly, then an array of colours can be observed glowing on the surface

Beryl
A cut heliodor beryl stone of 135.93 carats. Beryl comprises of beryllium aluminum silicate

Perovskite
Large black, pseudocubic crystals of perovskite (calcium titanium oxide). It is a source of titanium and some rare earth metals

Plate 1 from Specimens of British Minerals? vol. 1 by P. Ras
Plate 1 entitled Woodlike-tin ores from Specimens of British minerals, selected from the cabinet of P. Rashleigh, of Menabilly, in the County of Cornwall (1797) by Philip Rashleigh

Iron meteorite
This meteorite is the product of atmospheric melting, as are stony achondrites. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Linarite is a bright azure blue colour with crystal growth to nearly 25mm. It comprises of (lead copper sulphate hydroxide). Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

Quercus in amber
A male oak tree flower in Baltic amber with a length of 3.7 mm and dating from the Upper Eocene about 35 million years old. Image from Amber The Natural Time Capsule page 29 figure 86

Corundum variety ruby; crystal and gems
Crystal and gem specimens of ruby, the red variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Corundum has two varieties, the other being sapphire

Lead (Pb) is a soft but heavy, metallic element. It appears blueish white when freshly cut but quickly tarnishes to dull grey. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

Nephrite jade
A specimen of nephrite jade from New Zealand. Nephrite is actually not a mineral outright, but is a variety of the mineral actinolite (calcium magnesium iron silicate hydroxide)

Tenorite mineral crystals C016 / 4933
Tenorite mineral crystals. Tenorite is a form of copper oxide. It is found as grey-to-black metallic crystals (in fibrous form here) as a by-product of lava flows

Sapphire Buddha pin less then two centimetres tall. Sapphie is so hard it would have needed something as hard or harder to shape it, most probably another Sapphire

Sapphire turban button
A 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

Nickel-Iron meteorite
This cross-section through a nickel-iron meteorite shows the metallic lattice structure

Banded iron specimen
This banded iron specimen measures 7 cm thick and is about 3, 000 million years old, from the Murchison Goldfield, Western Australia

Limonite, also known as ironstone, is comprised of (hydrated iron oxide) and is characterized by its rusty colour and banded appearance

Cinnabar
Twinned dark red cinnabar crystals with small quartz crystals. Cinnabar comprises of (mercury sulphide). Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

Niccolite mineral with metallic lustre, comprises of nickel arsenide. It is also known as coppernickel and nickeline. This specimen is from the Natural History Museum, London

Gold
A specimen of the metal element, gold, from Hopes Nose near Torquay, Devon. A beautifully delicate dendritic growh in cream-coloured calcite, with brown weathered dolomite

Sperrylite is a platinum di-arsenide (PtAs2) which occurs rarely in a few localities across the world. This specimen originates from South Africa, and is of exceptional quality

Peridot
Crystal of peridot from Zebirget (St Johns Island), Red Sea. Peridot is the gemstone variety of olivine (magnesium iron silicate)

Atomic structure of gold
Model showing the face-centred cubic structure of atoms in a gold crystal. Gold is an elemental metal. It occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits

Murchison Snuff Box
The base of the gold snuff box presented to Sir Roderick Impey Murchison by Tsar Alexander II

Chrysoberyl cut stone
This is Alexandrite, a cushion-shaped Chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide) gemstone. Alexandrite is named after the former czar of Russia, Alexander II

Platinum Nugget
A 10-centimetre-long platinum nugget from the Nijai-Tagilsk mine in the Ural Mountains in Russia

Serpentine cup
A mottled serpentine ornamental cup or tazza on a black marble base. The mineral serpentine is composed of (magnesium iron silicate hydroxide)

Labradorite C016 / 5698
Labradorite. Close-up of the surface of a rich blue specimen of the mineral labradorite (calcium sodium aluminum silicate)

Bournonite C016 / 5699
Bournonite (copper lead antimony sulphide), or cog-wheel ore. Cog wheel ore contains the mineral chromite, although it is difficult to extract from crystals. Natural History Museum, London, UK

Libethenite C016 / 5660
Libethenite. Wedge-shaped, dark green crystals of libethenite (copper phosphate hydroxide) with pale brown duftite. Specimen from the Phoenix mine, Lnkinhorne, Cornwall, UK

Torbernite C016 / 5656
Torbernite (hydrated copper uranyl phosphate). This is a uranium bearing mineral with tabular crystals. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Spessartine garnet C016 / 5657
Spessartine garnet (manganese aluminum silicate). A cut stone and crystal from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Tourmaline C016 / 5653
Specimen of Tourmaline from Antsirabe, Madagascar. Section of a crystal showing colour zoning. Tourmaline is a hexagonal mineral, vertically striated

Tetrahedrite C016 / 5654
Tetrahedrite (copper antimony sulphide). This specimen displays flat-faced tetrahedral shaped crystals. Specimen from Herodsfoot mine, Cornwall, UK, now on display at the Natural History Museum

Tetrahedrite C016 / 5655
Tetrahedrite (copper antimony sulphide). This specimen displays flat-faced tetrahedral shaped crystals

Torbernite C016 / 5652
Torbernite (hydrated copper uranyl phosphate) is a uranium bearing mineral with tabular crystals. Specimen originates from the Grunnislake mine, Cornwall, UK

Pyrite C016 / 5650
Pyrite (iron sulphide) is also known as fools gold. It often forms in cavities and nodules. Specimen from the Kelly Mine, Montana, USA

Gobbinsite C016 / 5647
Gobbinsite (hydrated sodium potassium calcium aluminium silicate). Specimen found near Black Cave, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Pyrite C016 / 5651
Pyrite (iron sulphide) is also known as fools gold. It often forms in cavities and nodules. Cubic clustered specimen from Bonanza mine, Mexico

Tennantite C016 / 5627
Tennantite. Crust of sparkling silvery metallic examples of tennanite (copper arsenic sulphide). It has been partly altered by copper rust. Specimen from Relistan mine, Cornwall, UK

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"Unveiling the Beauty of Native Metal: A Dazzling Journey through Earth's Treasures" Chrysina limbata, the silver chafer beetle, showcases nature's mastery in creating metallic hues that rival even the most precious metals. Behold a slice of Canyon Diablo meteorite, a celestial gift that fuses extraterrestrial iron and nickel into an otherworldly display of native metal. In a gold pan, witness the captivating dance between shimmering gold and black sands, revealing Mother Nature's alchemical touch. Kaolinite whispers its humble presence amidst these magnificent specimens, reminding us that beauty can be found in both grandeur and subtlety. Coleoptera sp. , metallic beetles adorned with iridescent armor-like shells, exemplify how nature adorns itself with native metals to create stunning works of art. Glimmering like moonlight on water, native silver emerges from deep within the earth as a testament to its enduring allure throughout human history. Gold - the epitome of wealth and opulence - radiates warmth and brilliance as it captivates hearts across cultures and civilizations since time immemorial. Franklinite reveals its hidden treasures; zinc ore interwoven with dark minerals creates an enigmatic tapestry reminiscent of ancient secrets waiting to be unraveled. Benitoite enchants with its vibrant blue hue, showcasing how rare gemstones can emerge from unexpected corners of our planet's geological wonders. Beryl unveils its kaleidoscope palette; from emerald green to aquamarine blue or golden yellow – this versatile mineral embodies nature's artistic prowess at every turn. Perovskite dazzles with its crystal lattice structure; this complex oxide displays intricate patterns while hinting at untapped potential for technological advancements yet to come. Plate 1 from Specimens of British Minerals? vol. 1 by P.