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Unusual Gems
Chip Clark
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Hydroxyl-herderite | NMNH G8419 | Brazil, Minas Gerais | 1.50 ct |
Anglesite | NMNH G9837 | Morocco | 18.62 ct |
Rhodochrosite | NMNH G8454 | South Africa, Cape Province | 21.32 ct |
Baryte | NMNH G8633 | Italy, Sardegna | 37.50 ct |
Sphalerite | NMNH G9018 | Spain, Santander | 87.87 ct |
Rhodochrosite (bottom center) is prized for its rose red color, but it is soft and gems, such as this 21.3ct stone from South Africa, must be handled carefully. Sphalerite (top left) is the primary ore of zinc, but occasionally attractive crystals are found that can be cut into gems: this 87.9ct orange colored gem is from Spain. Completing the group are a light purple herderite gem (1.5ct, bottom right) from Brazil; a yellow anglesite gem (18.6ct, bottom left) from Morocco; and a golden yellow barite gem (37.5ct, top right) from Italy.