Gems & Minerals

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Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals

Rhodochrosite

The spectacular Cullen Hall houses the world’s finest display-quality collection of gems and minerals. See more than 750 beautifully crystallized mineral specimens, including some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful examples. Walk-around display cases and fiber-optic lighting offer an optimum view of these dazzling treasures.

The nearby Smith Gem Vault showcases stunning custom-made jewelry.

The Smith Gem Vault will be closed from November 5 - 15, 2007. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Masterpieces of the Mineral World

New book published by the Houston Museum of Natural Science featuring the treasures of the mineral collection

Written by Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with Mark Mauthner, associate curator of gems and minerals and Wendell E. Wilson, editor and publisher of The Mineralogical Record.

The collection of natural mineral crystals housed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is the finest and best known in the world. Now the treasures of this singular collection are shown in resplendent photographs that will seduce both the connoisseur of beauty and the student of natural history. The spectacular and rare specimens on display here, from a huge imperial topaz crystal weighing more than 2,000 carats to a crystallized gold cluster that is one of the most highly coveted objects in the mineral kingdom, are true masterpieces, the Rembrandts and Picassos of the natural world. Like fine art, minerals are prized for their aesthetic qualities—color, luster, sculptural composition—and for their provenance. Avidly pursued by naturalists throughout the centuries, precious metals and gem crystals have a fascinating history. Stories regarding the pursuit and discover of these precious natural objects, including tales of good luck and hardship, are related in these pages. Essays that explore connoisseurship in the mineral kingdom and chronicle the history of this noble pursuit add to the appeal of this unique volume.

Masterpieces of the Mineral World is available in the Museum’s Collectors Gift Shop. To order by phone call (713)639-4783; to order by mail click here to download the order form.