Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
You might not recognize these at first glance, but these new specimens in Hillman Hall are a common metal: silver. Wire silver from China to be exact. It is hard to imagine pieces like these are the same material as delicate jewelry, isn’t it? Get a close look at these specimens in the Native Elements case in the Systematic Collection.
Photo by Debra Wilson, Collection Manager, Section of Minerals
Scanning electron microscope analysis has revealed that one of the specimens in our Phosphates case isn’t exactly what we thought it was at first.
Mimetite from Zambia is actually Pyromorphite from Zambia.
Many mimetite and pyromorphite specimens are nearly indistinguishable. Both are six-sided crystals that come in colors like yellow, orange, brown, and green. They are brittle with similar levels of hardness and transparency. Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) was performed on this specimen using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which found levels of O (oxygen), Pb (lead), Cl (chlorine), and P (phosphorus) consistent with pyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl. Mimetite is Pb5(AsO4)3Cl.
See Pyromorphite Zambia on display in Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems in the Systematic Collection.
Photo by Debra Wilson, Collection Manager, Section of Minerals
This necklace made of sardonyx, a type of cryptocrystalline quartz, is on display in Wertz Gallery of Gems and Jewelry.
Quartz has unlimited variations in color and form, making it valuable to human culture since ancient times in everything from jewelry, to arrowheads, to metalworking.
(photo by Debra Wilson)
Section of Minerals Collection Manager, Deb Wilson, attends the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show every year. This year Deb Wilson acquired a beautiful piece of copper that was mined out of Bisbee, Arizona in 1910, which is now on display in Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems.
Check out the intricate and beautiful patterns in this moss agate found in India.
It may look like it would make a great case for your iPhone in this picture, but it’s much smaller, only about two inches, in real life! Come see it for yourself at Carnegie Museum of Natural History!
(photo by Debra Wilson)
Various specimens of ocean jasper are displayed in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s galleries including this necklace and sphere from Madagascar.
The orbs and spheres seen on these two pieces are typical of ocean jasper.
Would you wear an ocean jasper necklace? Display that orb on your shelf?
(photos by Debra Wilson)
