New Acquisitions
Even the Smithsonian does not have the resources or capacity to collect everything, and therefore each potential acquisition is evaluated by curators and collection managers to determine if it should be accepted into the collection. Criteria considered include: 1) is it different than what we already have, 2) is it an upgrade or variation of existing specimens, 3) does it represent a new and potentially interesting locality for the mineral or gem, 4) has the specimen been part of a research study, 5) will it enhance the public exhibition, 6) is there an interesting history, human or geological, associated with the specimen, 7) is it a potentially important specimen for research, 8) will the specimen be appropriate for use in educational programs, etc. If it is the judgment of the staff that a specimen meets one or more of these criteria, then it is accessioned, catalogued, and information associated with it entered into a computerized database.
The National Gem and Mineral Collection is dynamic and growing, thanks in large part to many generous gifts of specimens and funds. The gems and minerals featured here are some of the more recent additions to the collection.
New Acquisitions Archive |
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
2008 |
Mineral: Hydroxyl-Herderite
Weight: 161.08 carats
Origin: Ouro Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Gift of Tiffany & Co. Foundation, 2008
more...Mineral: Opal
Variety: Fire
Weight: 23.15 carats
Origin: Queretaro, Mexico
Gift of Anton Rosenthal, 2008
more...
Mineral: Andradite (Garnet family)
Variety: Demantoid
Origin: Namibia, Green Dragon Mine
Gift of Chris Johnston, Johnston-Namibia, 2008
more...
Mineral: Scapolite
Variety: Cat’s Eye
Weight: 12.81 carats
Origin: Mogok, Burma
Gift of Bill Larson, Pala International, 2008
more...
Mineral: Quartz
Variety: Amethyst
Weight: 9.95 carats
Origin: Andapa, Madagascar
Gift of Thomas Cushman, Allerton Cushman, 2008
more...
Mineral: Zoisite
Weight: 2.07 carats total weight
Origin: Tanzania
Gift of Edward Boehm, JOEB Enterprises, 2008
more...
Mineral: Spessartine (Garnet Family)
Weight: 19.77 carats
Origin: Lundazi Mine, Zambia
Gift of Edward Boehm, JOEB Enterprises, 2008
more...
Mineral: Triplite
Weight: 2.60 carats
Origin: Shigar Valley, Pakistan
Gift of Luciana Barbosa, Gemological Center, 2008
more...
Mineral: Diaspore
Variety: Zultanite
Weight: 9.66 carats
Origin: Anatolia, Turkey
Gift of Yoshi Kirsch, Zultanite Gems, LLC, 2008
more...2007 |
more...
Conchita
Mineral: Corundum
Variety: Sapphire
Weight: 27.97 carats total weight
Origin: Montana, U.S.
Gift of Robert E. Kane/Fine Gems International and Paula Crevoshay, 2007
more...Mineral: Diamond
Platinum and Gemstone Bracelets
Bequest of Margaret McCormack Sokol, 2007
more...Picture Agates
Mineral: Quartz
Variety: Agate (Chalcedony)
Origin: Java and Sumatra, Indonesia
Gift of Mr. Klaus Moeller, 2007
more...
Mineral: Spinel
Weight: 5.78 carats
Origin: Tanzania
Gift of Joseph and Regina Gil, Akiva Gil, 2007
more...Mogul Emerald Necklace
Mineral: Beryl
Variety: Emerald
Weight: approximately 100 carats
Origin: Colombia
Bequest from the estate of Madeleine H. Murdock, 2007
more...
Mineral: Beryl
Variety: Emerald
Weight: 350 carats total
Bequest of Margaret McCormack Sokol, 2007
more...Mineral: Quartz
Variety: Amethyst
Weight: approximately 56 carats
Origin: Siberia, Russia
Gift of June Rosner and Russell Bilgore, 2007
more...
Mineral: Elbaite (Tourmaline family)
Weight: 26.48 carats
Origin: Nigeria
Gift of the Ashley Foundation, 2007
more...
Mineral: Poudretteite
Weight: 9.41 carats
Origin: Mogok, Burma
Gift of Frances Miller Seay, 2007
more...
Mineral: Beryl
Variety: Heliodor
Weight: 56.50, 30.70, 77.28 carats
Origin: Tajikistan
Faceted by and gift of David A. Brackna, 2007
more...
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