Silicate Collection (page 8)

Garnets
Faceted garnets showing a range of colours. Garnet is the birthstone of January

Kunzite crystal and cut stone
Strongly dichroic pink kunzite crystal and faceted kunzite. Kunzite (lithium aluminum silicate) is the pink variety of spodumene and is pleochroic

Labradorite carving

Zircons
Faceted zircons showing various colours and high lustre, from Sri Lanka. Zircon comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona

Topaz
Blue irradiated topaz pebbles and faceted topaz. Topaz is comprised of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)

Labradorite
A close-up of the surface of a rich blue specimen of the mineral labradorite from labrador. Labradorite (calcium sodium aluminum silicate)

Imitation emerald
A faceted teardrop synthetic emerald

Agate
A cut and polished section of blue agate from Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Agate (silicon dioxide) is a cryptocrystalline quartz

Green demantoid garnet in ring from the collection of Sir Arthur Herbert Church. Dementoid is the green variety of andradite garnet

Pink rubellite tourmaline
Chinese pendant carving in pink rubellite tourmaline

Emerald on calcite
Well-formed hexagonal crystals of emerald on calcite. Emerald is a variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate). The green colour is attributed to small amounts of chromium

Topaz
Image of Queen Victoria carved in topaz. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)

Almandine garnets
Brooch set with almandine garnets. Almandine comprises of (iron aluminum silicate) and is the most common of the garnets

Beryl
Deposits of the green variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate) known as emerald. Specimens oginally from Ekatrinberg, Russia, now at the Natural History Museum, London

Beryl
A specimen of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate). There are several varieties of beryl, aquamarine (blue), emerald (green), goshenite, heliodor and morganite

Emerald, a variety of beryl
A cut teardrop stone and a prismatic crystal of the green variety of beryl (beryllium aluminum silicate) known as emerald. Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

Almandite
A crystal and a cut stone of almandite, a deep red garnet comprised of (iron aluminum silicate). Specimen from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (silicon dioxide) and is a popular gemstone

Tourmaline
A specimen of the mineral and gemstone tourmaline from Itambacury Theophilo Ottoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil

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

Potentilla nivea L. snow cinquefoil
Sketch 2, Newfoundland Volumes. From a collection of original drawings and sketches by Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770). Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Yellow fluorite
A specimen of yellow fluorite (calcium fluoride) with white quartz (silicon dioxide) and brassy chalcopyrite, from Caradon Mines, Liskeard, Cornwall

Observing structure of rock
Looking at fresh granite under a microscope to study structure, granular composition can clearly be seen

Banded iron formation
3, 000 million year old specimen of banded iron-rich chert from the Murchison Goldfield, Western Australia. The banding derives from differing amounts and oxidation state of the iron composite

Shale
Compacted platy clay particles give shales their typical laminated structure. Shale is a sedimentry rock which is composed of many fine-grained clay particles

Sandstone is formed by loose grains of quartz compacted and cemented together

Beryl
From left to right, different varieties of berly (beryllium aluminum silicate) cut stone; emerald, aquamarine, morganite and heliodor

Mesolite is comprised of (hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate). Its needle-like crystals formed inside a gas bubble in cooling volcanic rock

Muscovite
A specimen of muscovite (Potassium aluminum silicate hydroxide fluoride) with hematite and limonite inclusions, from Adelaide Australia

Quartz
A quartz specimen (silicon dioxide) from San Juan del Rey, Minas Gerias, Brazil

Garnet

Charoite
Vase and rough specimen with a polished face of purple charoite, black aegerine augite, grey microcline and orange tinaksite from Yakutusk, Russia - the only location where this mineral occurs

Quartzite

Absorption spectrum of zircon
Refractometer spectrum of the mineral zircon (zirconium silicate). Ziricon can be found to have a multi faceted crystals

Cordierite variety Iolite
It is famous for its pleochroism, appearing intense blue in one direction but becoming almost colourless as the stone is turned. Cut stone, faceted girdle, 19.69 ct

Topaz crystal
An imperial topaz crystal from Brazil, length 101mm long. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)

Asbestos purse
Benjamin Franklins Asbestos purse. A crudely plaited purse made from tremolite asbestos. From the Hans Sloane collection. Asbestos is formed of microscopically fibrous crystals

Hemimorphite crystals enclosed in rock crystal
Hemimorphite, formerly known as calamine is comprised of (hydrated zinc silicate hydroxide). Magnification = x1.2

Kornerupine (magnesium aluminum iron boro-silicate hydroxide) is a rare boro-silicate mineral which occurs in a range of greens and browns - this emerald colour is exceptional

A large cut citrine
Citrine is the yellow and orange variety of quartz (silicon dioxide). Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Citrine and sapphire
Fine and poor examples of gem cutting and polishing. A superbly cut citrine (a yellow variety of quartz) and a poorly cut sapphire (blue), a variety of the mineral Corundum (aluminium oxide)

Fibrolite is an aluminium silicate. It is a rare variety of the mineral sillimanite. This stone from Burma shows blueish-violet and pale yellow pleochroic colours

Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan
Polished slab of lapis lazuli containing some brassy-coloured pyrite. Lapis lazuli (sodium calcium aluminum silicate sulphur sulphate) is a rich blue opaque, semi-precious stone

Andalusite cut stone
Andalusite is an aluminium silicate. It shows spectacular red and green pleochroic colours

Malachite cameo and malachite-chrysocolla mass. Malachite (copper carbonate hydroxide), has a distinctive green banding and belongs to the carbonate class

Belt-hook in lapis lazuli
Carved chinese belt-hook on a piece of rough lapis lazuli from Badakhstan. Lapis lazuli (sodium calcium aluminum silicate sulphur sulphate) is a rich blue opaque, semi-precious stone

Lapis lazuli from Siberia
A polished slab of Siberian Lapis lazuli containing white calcite and some brassy pyrite. Lapis lazuli means blue rock, with the rich colour due to the sulphur in its composition

A group of feldspar specimens
Amazonstone crystals and gems, pin set with sunstone, and moonstones. The feldpars are significant rock building minerals

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Silicate, the versatile mineral group that encompasses a vast array of fascinating substances. From the notorious Crysotile asbestos to the captivating Birthstone Series: Amethyst Quartz, silicates have left an indelible mark on our world. One member of this family is Kaolinite, a clay mineral known for its remarkable ability to absorb impurities and provide a smooth texture in ceramics. Its presence can be found in everything from delicate porcelain figurines to sturdy construction materials. Jasper, another type of silicate, showcases nature's artistic touch with its vibrant colors and intricate patterns. This gemstone has been cherished throughout history for its beauty and believed metaphysical properties. On the darker side lies Tremolite asbestos from France, infamous for its harmful effects on human health. Once widely used as insulation material due to its heat resistance properties, it now serves as a reminder of the importance of safety precautions when dealing with minerals. Garnet Peridotite brings together two distinct minerals - garnet and peridotite - resulting in a unique rock formation that captivates geologists worldwide. Its striking combination of deep reds and greens makes it highly sought after by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts alike. Benitoite stands out among silicates with its mesmerizing blue hue reminiscent of sapphire. Found exclusively in California, this rare gem has become the state's official gemstone due to its stunning beauty. An Agate bowl adorned with shades of grey and white exemplifies how they can transform into functional art pieces. Crafted through meticulous cutting and polishing techniques, these bowls add elegance to any space they grace. Underneath powerful microscopes lie Acrosphaera radiolarian specimens captured using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). These intricate structures showcase how even microscopic organisms contribute to Earth's rich geological tapestry. Beryl takes us into the realm of precious stones once again; emerald being one variety cherished for centuries.