Mineral Collection (#86)

Iron oxide deposit (orange) in a rock. It is deposits like these that are mined to obtain iron ore, which is then processed to produce iron from the iron oxide

Mining potassium ore underground
Potassium mining. A large abrading drill removing potassium ore in an underground mine. The ore is a form of carnalite, or hydrated potassium magnesium chloride

Human tooth anatomy, diagram
Human tooth anatomy. Diagram of a cross-section through a human tooth to show its anatomical structure. The two main areas are the crown (above the gum-line) and the root (embedded in the gum)

Storing mined potassium ore
Potassium mining. A large storage facility for potassium ore at a mine. The ore is a form of carnalite, or hydrated potassium magnesium chloride

Sodalite. The larger specimens are in their natural state, the two smaller specimens have been polished. Sodalite is a rare silicate (sodium aluminium silicate chloride) mineral

Iron distribution map, Barringer Crater
Iron distribution map for Barringer Crater, Arizona, USA, also known as Meteor Crater. A six-mile (9.65-kilometre) radius circle, centred on the crater

Quartz. The specimen at bottom is in its natural state the other specimens have been polished. Quartz is a form of silica (silicon dioxide). It is colourless and transparent when pure

Ruby. The specimen at top has been polished the specimen at bottom is in its natural state. Ruby is a variety of corundum (aluminium oxide)

Alum shale quarry, artwork
Alum shale quarry. Historical artwork of an alum shale quarry on the Yorkshire coast, UK. Alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and either potassium or ammonia

Salt flats, Argentina
Salt flats. Tyre tracks in the Salinas Grandes salt flats, Argentina. Salt flats occur when extreme high temperatures cause the water from a lake to evaporate more quickly than it is replaced by

Sea urchin spine, light micrograph
Sea urchin spine. Polarised light micrograph of a cross-section through a spine from an Echinus sea urchin. Sea urchin spines consist of supporting calcareous radial plates

Imilac meteorite sample
Imilac meteorite slice, illuminated in blue light. This stony-iron pallasite meteorite was found in the Atacama Desert, Chile, in 1822

Tiger eye. Specimens of polished tiger eye. This gemstone is a form of silica (silicon dioxide)

Fish scales, light micrograph
Fish scales. Polarised light micrograph of part of the skin of a fish, showing the placoid protective scales. These scales are found under the epidermis, and are made of bone-like dentine

Rock from meteorite impact crater. This rock, which is known as Bunte (multicoloured) breccia, comes from the Nordlinger Ries impact crater in western Bavaria, Germany

Tourmaline. The specimen at bottom left is in its natural state, the other specimens have been polished. Tourmaline is a silicate mineral that can occur in several colours

Sikhote-Alin meteorite fragment. The Sikhote-Alin meteorite fell to Earth from space in northern Siberia on the morning of 12 February 1947. This was an iron meteorite

Sikhote-Alin meteorite fragments. Small (the cube measures 2.5cm squared) pieces of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite that fell to Earth from space in northern Siberia on the morning of 12 February 1947

Malachite. Cut and polished samples of the secondary copper mineral malachite

Amber. The smaller pieces have been polished, the two larger pieces are unpolished. The amber at bottom right has an insect fossilised in it

Granite, thin section, polarised LM
Polarised light micrograph of a thin section of granite, an igneous rock with a complicated mineral assemblage. Quartz, orthoclase & plagioclase feldspars, biotite & chlorite are all present

Jasper. Close-up of a section through Jasper. Jasper is an opaque variety of quartz (silicon dioxide)

Basalt, thin section, polarised LM
Polarised light micrograph of a thin section of basalt, an igneous rock. In this image, large coloured crystals appear embedded in the fine-grained basalt matrix

Citrine. Cut and polished specimens are at top right, a polished specimen is at bottom left and specimens in their natural state are at bottom right and centre

Fluorite. The specimens at bottom right and middle right are in their natural form, the specimen at centre had been polished and all the other specimens have been cut and polished

Opal. The specimens at top right and middle right are polished and the specimens at left are in their natural state. Opal is a form of hydrous silicon oxide

Carnelian agate. Polished specimens of carnelian agate, silica (silicon dioxide) that precipitated from liquid inside existing rock

Amethyst. The specimen at left is in its natural state, the specimen at bottom right has been polished and the specimen at top right had been cut and polished

Lapis lazuli. Cross section through a specimen of lapis lazuli. This complex mineral contains a mixture of blue lazurite, white calcite and pyrite

Blue lace agate. Cut and polished specimens are at top left, polished specimens are at right and a specimen in its natural state is at bottom left

Cut and polished jasper in various shapes. Jasper is an opaque variety of quartz (silicon dioxide)

Azurite crystals. The specimen at top right is polished, the specimen at bottom is in its natural state. Azurite is a hydrated copper carbonate mineral. Its name refers to its colour, azure

Salt, conceptual image

Quartz vein in granite. Close-up of a quartz vein (white) running through a granite rock face with multiple faults (cracks)

Sedimentary rocks with intrusions of quartz and iron

Sample of galena
MODEL RELEASED. Sample of galena, held in a hand. Galena (lead sulphide, PbS) is a mineral ore that is a major source of lead, a metal with many applications in industry and manufacturing

Ensisheim meteorite fragment. Piece of the Ensisheim meteorite that fell on 7th November 1492. This was the earliest recorded European meteorite

Extracting sulphur, artwork
Extracting sulphur. 19th Century artwork of workers shovelling sulphur ore into kilns. Heating the ore melts the sulphur, which is collected in pools

Sulphur ore deposits, artwork
Sulphur ore deposits. 19th Century artwork of workers breaking up sulphur ore. Image from La Science Illustree Louis Figuier (1895)

Sulphur mine, artwork
Sulphur mine. 19th Century artwork of worker around the entrance of a sulphur mine. Image from La Science Illustree Louis Figuier (1895)

Stone meteorite fragment. Close-up of a fragment of meteorite NWA 5429, a breccia stone Type L3-9 meteorite found in the Sahara Desert, Northwest Africa, in 2001

Iron meteorite fragment. Fragment of an iron meteorite, a type of meteorite that originates from the core of protoplanets that were created and destroyed in the early history of the solar system

Canyon Diablo meteorite fragment
Meteorite of Canyon Diablo Crater, Coconino Country, Arizona near Winslow on Rote 66. Classification: Iron Octahedrite, coarse (1AB). Total weight was more than 30 tons, found in 1891

Campo del Cielo meteorite fragment. This is a fragment of an iron meteorite, a type of meteorite that originates from the core of protoplanets that were created

Petrified Tree trunk, Libya
Petrified wood (from Greek root petro meaning " rock" or " stone" ; literally " wood turned into stone" ) in the Libyan desert

Concretions in shale, Canadian Arctic
Concretions occurring along clearly defined strata in shale. Photographed on Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian arctic

Ripple marks in submerged sediments of the river Rhine, Switzerland

Stones and fine sediment in a creek, Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian Arctic

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"Unearthing the Beauty: Exploring the World of Minerals" Step into a world where nature's treasures shine bright. From the depths of Cornwall, England, to the coal mines of the 1850s and beyond, minerals have captivated humanity for centuries. In Carnon Stream Works, Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England, gold gleams in its purest form. Its allure has sparked dreams and ambitions throughout history – just like during the Australian Gold Rush in the 1850s when prospectors flocked to unearth their fortunes. Harold Harvey's masterpiece "The Clay Pit" transports us back to a time when coal mining shaped communities in England during the 19th century. The grit and determination of those miners echo through time as they delved deep into darkness to fuel industrial progress. Polkanuggo Quarry in Stithians witnessed an era of extraction that left lasting imprints on both land and culture. Harold Harvey captures this momentous period with his skilled brush strokes – from copper and magnesium sulphate discoveries to calcareous phytoplankton fossils preserved for eternity. Leswidden's China Clay Pit reveals another facet exploration; here lies a delicate balance between human intervention and natural beauty. Harold Harvey once again immortalizes this scene with his artistic prowess. As we delve deeper into our planet's geological cross-section through Earth's crust, we uncover secrets hidden beneath our feet. Picture No. 10984558 serves as a window into these mysteries waiting to be unraveled by curious minds. Aquamarine crystals glisten like drops from Poseidon himself – enchanting all who lay eyes upon them with their ethereal hues reminiscent of tranquil waters, and are not mere commodities; they represent stories etched within Earth itself – tales told through layers upon layers over millions of years. They remind us that even amidst chaos and change, there is enduring beauty waiting patiently to be discovered.