FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Gail]

Various rough and cut displays.

[Gail]

Some interesting displays.

[Les Presmyk]

In the 1960's, there is an article in Lapidary Journal, probably more of a news update, that chronicles the journey of this amethyst from Amatitlan via many miles on a burro to the Smithsonian. I do not have the date of the issue, I just remember reading about it and I believe there is a picture of the piece as well.

[Gail]

I will have to look that up Les. I love to hear the stories.
I know our piece was left to the pilot of the fellow who first took ownership and eventually, after the pilot's death, was inherited by a family member. We heard, for what it is worth, that it sat in a closet for many years and it came to us when the owner needed to barter for some jewelry cabinets. Not sure if you saw it when we picked it up in Denver, or at our home, but it is absolutely beautiful and here is a photo of it.
It pales in size, but it does have hold its own in gemminess and colour.

[Tracy]

Nice amethyst Gail!

Returning to the Smithsonian collection for a moment: here are a few more photos of pieces that caught my eye which I didn't have time to post the other day...

Jordi, thanks for letting us know that the sandstone concretions are called "Gogottes." They are fascinating. A pity that most people don't notice the one at the museum because they go straight over to look at the Hope diamond...are they easy to obtain (in smaller sizes, of course)?

Last, thank you Jordi and Jon for your kind words!

- Tracy

[Screenname]

Is there a mineral museum there or this part of the natural history museum? I was at the natural history museum as a child but don't remember seeing any of this. I did see a giant moon rock though and had my picture taken by it, I was even able to touch it, that was so cool, I love DC, at lest the tourist parts.

[simonoff]

There is a large mineral museum within the Smithsonian's Natural history Museum on the second floor. It comprises about half of the second floor and takes a whole day to go through.

[Screenname]

Then I am sure I didn't go through that section or at lest not all of it, I may have a little of it I was there visiting my sister and I was only there for a week and a half so we were pressed for time when it came to seeing the sites