See the Sparkle
Lyda Hill
Gems and Minerals Hall
Gaze at Natural Beauty
Your eyes will be amazed by Earth’s original rock stars as they glisten, glimmer and glow. Explore both the practical and beautiful aspects of these complex structures that serve as the building blocks of our planet. High-definition videos, digital puzzles and touchable specimens will help you discover the astounding variety of colors, shapes and configurations of minerals found across the globe.
New exhibit now open!
Topaz: A Spectrum in Stone
Celebrate the breathtaking beauty of one of nature’s most captivating minerals. Featuring over 100 exquisite topaz specimens from every corner of the world, this one-of-a-kind collection displays the spectacular scope of crystal structures and colored stones within the topaz family.
Highlights include:
- The largest known “Lone Star Cut” in Texas topaz
- A 15-pound blue topaz from Brazil
- Orange and blue bicolored topaz from Volyn, Ukraine
- The largest cut imperial topaz in the world at 332 carats
This exhibit celebrates the global discoveries of topaz specimens from Texas, across America, and worldwide, including Pakistan, Namibia, Russia, and others.
Topaz: A Spectrum in Stone is presented by Texas Counter Fitters.
The Grape Jelly Amethyst Geode
See the very first exhibit installed at the Museum – the gallery was quite literally built around it! – when you crack open this giant geode. Discover the extraordinary beauty of the mesmerizing purple crystals with specs of white calcite that are be hidden inside an ordinary looking rock.
The Eyes of Africa
Follow the incredible journey of this two-foot-tall quartz (white) and fluorite (green) specimen – from its discovery in Namibia to riding in the trunk of a car to being shipped to the U.S wrapped in 400 diapers. Let The Eyes of Africa captivate your imagination with its extraordinary adventure.
The Lavinsky Ammonite
Marvel at the iridescent colors and 2 feet in diameter of this eye-catching ammonite. A type of shelled cephalopod that went extinct about 66 million years ago, ammonites are discovered all over the world, and this exquisite specimen is right here in the Museum thanks to the generous donation of the Lavinsky family.
Gigantic Gold
With a combined weight of more than 110 pounds, be amazed by two rare gold pieces glitterering for all to see. Unearthed in Australia, the Dragon’s Lair (right) tips the scales at 63 pounds and its smaller lustrous companion, the Ausrox Nugget, weighs in at a whopping 51.29 pounds.
Gems and Minerals Hall Scavenger Hunt
- We have specimens from six of the seven continents — can you find a gem from each?
- Look for The Eyes of Africa and ask one of our helpful Museum volunteers about its unique history!
- Find a specimen of every color of the rainbow.
What to Do Next
Get energized and learn all about how we harness natural resources to power our world. Head to the Tom Hunt Energy Hall and dive into the possibilities of energy.
