Silicate Mineral Collection

Crysotile asbestos
Scanning electron micrograph of 5-Fold symmetry in crysotile asbestos. Magnification on the 5 x4 transparency = X 600, 000

Birthstone Series: Amythest Quartz
An Amythest quartz specimen. Amythest is a form of quartz that is usually purple in colour, it is the birthstone for the month of March. Natural History Museum specimen number 84817

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

Jasper
A polished slab of jasper from Campsie Fells, Stirlingshire. Jasper is cryptocrystalline agate quartz (silicon dioxide)

Tremolite asbestos from France
Tremolite (calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide) is a mineral from the Amphibole group, it is commonly used for industrial purposes

Garnet Peridotite
Garnet-peridotite, a major constituent in the make-up of the Earth. Image published in Natures Connections An Exploration of Natural History. Published in 2000

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

Agate bowl, grey and white
Agate is a decorative variety of cryptocrystalline quartz (silicon dioxide). This bowl specimen is from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London

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

The Nummulosphere Part I. Front Cover
An account of the organic origin of so-called igneous rocks and of abyssal red clays by Kirkpatrick, Randolph (1863-1950), London. 1913

Crucifix set with sapphires, zircon, spinel, cairngorm and amethyst. The whole cross is bordered by diamonds

Section of Chassigny meteorite
Thin section of Chassigny in cross-polarized light, showing shocked and deformed olivine grains. The field of view is 3mm

Zircon cut stones
Cut stones showing the natural colour range and lustre of zircon. Zircon is the birthstone of December. It comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona

Mica schist is a rock resulting from the metamorphism of shale. Specimen originates from Grantown-on-Spey, Murrayshire

Garnet-bearing rock, collected at Karin Hill, Neilgherries, India by Dr Benza c.1837. NHM specimen number: BM 867

Hornblende-biotite granite
Geological 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

Topaz
This 2982-carat topaz is the largest cut gem at the museum

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)

Schist
A garnet schist from Moidart, Scotland. This specimen is a medium-grained metamorphic rock

Octahedral crystals in columns, quartz matrix
Groups of octahedral crystals forming columns in parallel position in quartz matrix. Presented by Percy Tarbutt in 1942 Date: 1942

Quartz-feldspar porphyry C016 / 6206
Quartz-feldspar porphyry. Geological specimen collected during Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 (also known as the Terra Nova expedition)

Hornblende-biotite granite C016 / 6205
Hornblende-biotite granite. Geological specimen collected during Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 (also known as the Terra Nova expedition)

Quartz-feldspar porphyry
Geological 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

Verdite head
African head carved in verdite by James Tandi. Verdite is also known as Africas Green Gold and is a member of the Silicates mineral group

Pyrophyllite, green radiating in quartz from Berezovsk, Russia. Close-up of specimen on display in the Mineral Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London

Jadarite
Minerals curator Mike Rumsey studying the mineral called jadarite which has the same chemical composition as kryptonite. Discovered in Serbia in 2006, jadarite is composed of sodium, lithium

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

Shale (right) and garnet-mica-schist (left)
Shale is sedimentary and garnet-mica-schist is metamorphoc in origin. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Bentonite
A specimen of the mineral Bentonite Reg No. 1926, 216 light grey mass, Range 19, W4, Township 28, Rosedale, Alberta, Canada. Predented by the Canadian Government Exhibition Commision, 1926

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

Garnet-topped doublet
A green garnet-topped doublet. Garnets are common in metamorphosed rocks and also in some igneous formations

Fortification agate
A section of fortification agate from Scurdie Ness. Agate is cryptocrystalline quartz. This specimen is from the collections held at the Natural History Museum, London

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

Topaz C016 / 6141
Topaz. This 2982-carat topaz is the largest cut gem at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Morganite C016 / 6142
Morganite. This gemstone is 600 carats and one of the worlds largest Morganite specimens. Natural History Museum, London, UK

Axinite C016 / 6082
Axinite. Specimen number BM 1969, 286 from Stamps and Jowl Zawn, Roscommon Cliff, Cornwall, UK. Natural History Museum, London, UK

Tourmaline specimen C016 / 5991
Tourmaline. A composite, doubly-terminated crystal of schorlite, with a little limonite and crystal of apatite. From Minerals of Cornwall and Devon (1987) by P.G. Embrey and R.F. Symes

Watermelon tourmaline C016 / 6140
Watermelon tourmaline gemstone. Natural History Museum, London, UK

Cursed amethyst C016 / 6143
Cursed amethyst. When this amethyst was received by the museum in 1943 a note inside the box read this stone is trebly accursed and is stained with the blood

Axinite C016 / 6090
Axinite. Specimen number BM 1969, 286 from Stamps and Jowl Zawn, Roscommon Cliff, Cornwall, UK. Natural History Museum, London, UK

Banded gneiss C016 / 6208
Cordierite-biotite-gneiss. Geological specimen collected by Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913, also known as the Terra Nova expedition

Axinite C016 / 6084
Axinite. Specimen number BM 1969, 286 from Stamps and Jowl Zawn, Roscommon Cliff, Cornwall, UK. Natural History Museum, London, UK

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

Garnet C016 / 5661
Garnet. Specimen of rock containing garnet (red, centre)

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

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

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Silicate minerals, a diverse group of rock-forming minerals, have captivated geologists and gem enthusiasts for centuries. From the infamous Crysotile asbestos to the stunning Birthstone Series featuring Amythest Quartz, these minerals showcase both their beauty and significance in various forms. One such example is Kaolinite, a clay mineral known for its delicate white appearance and extensive use in ceramics. Its fine texture makes it ideal for creating porcelain masterpieces that grace our homes with elegance. Jasper, on the other hand, presents itself as a vibrant stone with earthy tones ranging from reds to yellows. This silicate mineral has been cherished throughout history for its healing properties and is often used in jewelry or carved into intricate designs. Tremolite asbestos from France may raise eyebrows due to its association with health concerns; however, this fibrous it has found applications in heat-resistant materials like insulation and fireproof fabrics. Garnet Peridotite stands out among other silicate minerals due to its unique composition. Combining the deep red hues of garnet with olivine's olive-green coloration creates an extraordinary gemstone that exudes luxury when set into exquisite jewelry pieces. Benitoite takes center stage as California's state gemstone—a rare blue silicate mineral discovered only in San Benito County. Its mesmerizing sapphire-like shade enchants collectors worldwide who seek this precious treasure. An Agate bowl showcasing shades of grey and white demonstrates how nature can create captivating patterns within these silicate formations. Crafted by skilled artisans, this bowl adds sophistication to any space while highlighting the inherent beauty found within rocks. Beryl emerges as another remarkable member of the silicate family—known for its wide range of colors including aquamarine and emerald green. These gems have adorned crowns throughout history, symbolizing power and prestige. The Nummulosphere Part I.