FEATURED 

 EXHIBIT 

 FOR 

 OCTOBER 



The lapidarists of the imperial 

 jewel cutting and polishing industry 

 at Ekaterinburg produced many 

 carved objets (Tart utilizing the mas- 

 sive or compact quartzes. In the 

 piece shown below, a variety of small 

 fruits and leaves has been cunningly 

 reproduced in these colored quartzes, 

 and set in a jasper base. 



44 



Cover: Some of the most precious 

 stones known — emerald, aquamarine, 

 and morganite — are species of beryl, a 

 hard silicate of beryllium and alumi- 

 num. Beryl crystallizes in the form of 

 long, six-sided prisms that may be color- 

 less, or of blue, green, yellow, brown, 

 and, rarely, pink hues. The richest de- 

 posits of beryl are found in Brazil, the 

 Ural and Altai mountain ranges, and in 

 parts of Europe and the United States. 

 In the Museum's collection, beryl crys- 

 tals are displayed both as they are found 

 in nature, and as cut gems. 



GEM! 



Photographs by 

 John Bayalis and Homer 



The objects shown above are of rhodonite. The color is a deep rose-red; hence 

 the name of the mineral is derived from the Greek word meaning "rose." The 

 Museum's collection of gems from the Urals contains many rhodonite carvings. 



Topaz crys- 

 tals are distin- 

 guished by the 

 vertical stria- 

 tions on their 

 surfaces and 

 their character- 

 istic cleavage 

 pattern. Usu- 

 ally sherry-yel- 

 low in color, 

 crystals of pale 

 blue or green, 

 or without col- 

 or, also occur. 



Right: Topaz 

 crystals and cut 

 gem (166.85 

 carats) of light 

 blue. 



