MINERALS 119 



The installation comprises examples of those minerals which are 

 used for gems and for ornamental objects both as rough, uncut material 

 and as fashioned gem stones and carved objects. All of the specimens 

 exhibited have been chosen with great care and are not only thoroughly 

 representative but include many examples which are unique in size, 

 beauty of coloring and perfection of execution, reflecting the very highest 

 standards of the art of the lapidary. The case containing the Sapphires 

 and Rubies, toward the south end of the corridor, presents a particularly 

 fine display of these gems. Near it on the east side is the series of carved 

 and engraved Rock Crystal objects comprising many pieces of excep- 

 tional beauty and value. The handsome semiprecious stone Kunzite is 

 represented by especially large and fine examples in the case to the right 

 of the entrance. The rarer semiprecious stones are displayed in a case 

 to the left of the entrance, where a number of gems of interest mainly to 

 collectors will be found. An interesting series illustrating the primitive 

 and antique use of gems is displayed in a case at the north end of the 

 corridor. This includes many engraved cylinders of great age and the 

 famous Babylonian ax-head of banded agate. 



Southwest Wing 



MINERALS 



Next to the Gem Hall is the Southwest Wing or Hall of Minerals. At 

 the entrance to the hall are cases in which recent acquisitions are placed. 

 The General Collection of minerals is without question one of the finest 

 to be found in the world. It is chiefly composed of the well-known 

 Bement Collection, presented to the Museum in 1900 by the late Mr. J. 

 Pierpont Morgan. Although remarkably complete in its representation 

 of most of the mineral species known to science, this collection is 

 especially noteworthy for its assemblage of splendid examples of the 

 commoner and more widely distributed minerals. 



The visitor should begin with the first of the table cases, to the left 

 of the entrance, and proceed from left to right along each side of every 

 case, advancing through the south row of cases and returning through 

 the north row. Each case is furnished with a descriptive label referring 

 to its contents and indicating the floor case (in close proximity) which 

 contains large and handsome specimens of the same species. To the 

 right of the entrance will be found cases in which the subject of crystal- 

 lization is presented by a series of models. This series constitutes an 

 important key to the understanding and appreciation of the general 

 mineral collection. 



