WEST CORRIDOR 



Gems and Precious Stones 



The West Corridor contains the Morgan gem collection. This splendid 

 series of gems and precious stones was presented to the Museum by Mr. 

 J. P. Morgan, one of the founders and a Trustee of the institution. It 

 includes many large or rare forms, some of which could not be duplicated. 

 In the wall cases are fine samples of quartz, calcite, gypsum, and Ice- 

 land spar which makes a double refraction of light rays thereby causing 

 objects seen through it to appear double; malachite of such 



Gems and so | t texture that it appears more like velvet than stone; 



Precious 



„. tourmaline of varied hue; azurite of indescribable tones of 



Stones 



blue, and enormous slabs of amethyst crystals, the last named 



among the largest and finest specimens ever taken from a mine. The 

 smaller and more valuable gems are shown in the desk cases, the raw material 

 or uncut gem being placed in the center of each case and the cut stones 

 around it. The diamonds, sapphires, the topaz, amber and native gold are 

 exhibits of unusual interest. Case labels describing the formation, proper- 

 ties and localities of each gem are attached to the case. [The collection 

 of gems is more fully described in Guide Leaflet No. 4.] 



SOUTHWEST WING 



Minerals 



Next beyond the Gem Hall is the Southwest Wing or Hall of Minerals. 

 At the entrance to the hall is a case in which recent acquisitions are placed. 

 The general collection of minerals consists chiefly of the well- 

 C 11 t* n known Bement Collection which contains specimens repre- 

 senting species of the known minerals of the world. Not 

 only is the collection noted for its numbers, but in many instances the 

 beauty and size of the individual specimens are quite unsurpassed in other 

 collections. 



The more attractive specimens are displayed in cases arranged down the 

 center of the room. The remainder of the collection is arranged according 

 to the classification of minerals. In the first cases on the right or left the 

 visitor is introduced by models to the various types of crystallization. Each 

 mineral has a characteristic form of crystallization which is one of the means 

 of identifying it. The distribution of the more important minerals is 

 indicated on maps. [See Guide Leaflet No. 4.] 



