Aaron Celestian holding a reddish-brown stone with stripes of greenish iridescent stripes next to a closeup of the stone
On View: A Rare Australian Opal in NHM’s Gem and Mineral Hall
Meet a new dazzling black opal and discover the science behind the sparkle with Dr. Aaron Celestian
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The Jonker Diamond: A Giant Gem of Many Facets
Explore the human and natural history of the Jonker I Diamond
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L. atlantica 2 SEM image
Small Wonders
NHM’s new Scanning Electron Microscope Lab connects guests with big science and tiny specimens.
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An opaque white and transparent mineral with many spiky outgrowths.
Research and Collections
The Secret Power of Zeolite
Our Curator of Mineral Sciences, Aaron Celestian, talks about why this mineral blows his mind!
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Cave of swords
Research and Collections
Gypsum Crystals: Mineral Ships for Alien Life?
Can gypsum crystals hold alien life from Mars? Explore every facet of these incredible crystals with our Mineral Sciences Curator Aaron Celestian.
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The Pink Starburst. Pink diamond.
Fascinating Facets: The Pink Starburst Diamond
The dazzling science behind this precious gem
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celeste diamond square
The Science of Rare Jewels
Explore every facet of gems and jewelry at Brilliance: The Art and Science of Rare Jewels
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Blue Splendor of Ceylon
The Splendor of Sapphires
Earth’s history through the lens of a precious gem
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Gems of the Americas
Gems of the Americas
Take a trip through deep time — via the 1980s — and explore gems with a vintage NHM documentary
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La vitrina de la fiebre del oro en Gem Hall
Discovering Gold: Exploring the California Gold Rush
Uncover the history of California's Gold Rush through NHM's Gem and Mineral Hall
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