Nesosilicate Collection (#2)

Topaz
A crystal and a cut topaz stone from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)

Birthstone Series: Peridot
Peridot, a gemstone from the Natural History Museum, London. Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August (along with Sardonyx). Photographed by Frank Greenaway

Birthstone Series: Blue Topaz

Birthstone Series: Topaz
Topaz has a chemical composition of aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide and is the birthstone for the month of November (along with Citrine). Photographed by Frank Greenaway

Plate 99, from Mineralogie
Various gemstone varieties including diamond, ruby, sapphire, spinel and Topaz. From Recuille complet de Mineralogie vol.3 (1790) by F.L. Swebach Desfontaines

Plate 3 from Histoire naturelle? (1789)
Plate 3, Histoire Naturelle ou Mineralogie Complete from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines

Plate 4a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)
Plate 4a Mineralogie, [unfinished] from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir? (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines

Kor-i-noor replica
An exact copy of the original Kor-i-noor diamond created from cubic zirconia by John Nels Hatleberg (Cat 157). Photographed by Frank Greenaway

Birthstone Series: Garnet
Garnet has a chemical composition of iron aluminium silicate. It is the birthstone of the month of January. Gemstone from the Natural History Museum collections, in London

Microscope image of the Brachina meteorite, the type specimen of the Brachinite meteorites. Brachinites are composed mostly of olivine with minor amounts of pyroxene and plagioclase

Porphyritic olivine and pyroxene chondrule
Microscopic image of a porphyritic olivine and pyroxene chondrule from the Palmyra (L3) ordinary chondrite (the chondrule is about 1.8mm across)

Chiastolite

Barred olivine chondrule from the Palmyra ordinary chondrite (the chondrule is about 1.2mm across)

Diamond with garnet
Red garnet crystal in an octagonal, step-cut diamond. Diamond comprises of compacted carbon and is the hardest natural substance known on Earth

Peridot group
Fine cut peridot of 146 carats (centre) with crystals and rough mass (right) from Zebirget, and Hawaiian basalt containing olivine crystals (left)

Topaz crystals and faceted topaz showing a diverse colour range. Topaz comprises of (aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide)

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

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)

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

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

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

Garnet

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

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

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

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

Demantoid garnet cut stone
Demantoid is a variety of andradite garnet. It is green in colour, sometimes with yellow shading

Brown and blue zircons
Natural brown and heat-treated blue zircons. Zircon comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona

Zircon crystal
Zircon comprises of (zirconium silicate) and is not the same as the artificial gem cubic zircona. Specimen is from Norway

Garnet cut stones
Grossular (calcium aluminum silicate) and demantoid cut gems resting on andradite (calcium iron silicate) crystals. All of which are types of garnet

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Nesosilicates, also known as island silicates, are a fascinating group of minerals that can be found in various forms and locations across the globe. One such example is garnet peridotite, a rock composed mainly of olivine and pyroxene with scattered garnet crystals. This unique combination gives it a striking appearance. Another intriguing specimen is the section of Chassigny meteorite, which contains nesosilicate minerals formed under extreme conditions in outer space. The Esquel pallasite is another extraterrestrial marvel where beautiful gem-quality olivine crystals are embedded within an iron-nickel matrix. Zircon cut stones showcase the beauty and versatility of nesosilicates when used in jewelry. Their high refractive index and vibrant colors make them highly sought after by gem enthusiasts worldwide. Garnet-bearing rocks like schist exhibit stunning textures due to the intergrowth of different minerals. Jadarite, on the other hand, stands out for its rarity as it was discovered only recently in Serbia. Shale and garnet-mica-schist represent two contrasting types of metamorphic rocks; while shale has fine layers resulting from compacted clay particles over time, garnet-mica-schist displays distinct foliation due to intense pressure during formation. Peridot, often associated with volcanic activity or mantle-derived rocks like peridotite, showcases vivid green hues that captivate many admirers. Garnet-topped doublets combine this mesmerizing stone with other materials to create unique pieces of jewelry that catch everyone's attention. Illustrations depicting garnets within their host rock highlight their occurrence in nature and provide valuable insights into their crystal structure and formation processes. Nesosilicates continue to amaze scientists and enthusiasts alike with their diverse appearances across various geological settings - truly gems from Earth's treasure trove.