7 SOME NOTABLE GEMS IN THE COLLECTION
Reading edition
The Smithsonian’s collection of gems continues to grow and improve rapidly, and it changes character constantly as important new gemstones are added and less important ones are retired. Approximately one-third of the gems in the collection in 1965 are itemized in the following list. Included are some of the largest gems of each kind, some of the more interesting stones, and some small gems notable for the places from which they came. Though listed by species and size, some of the larger stones are not included, and neither are most cabochons, rough opal, beads, carvings, and spheres. The descriptions listed include, in order, weight in carats; color; popular name or other description, if any; place of origin; and U. S. National Museum catalog number and name of donor. Gems in the Lea and Roebling collections usually are indicated by the letters “L” and “R.”
DIAMOND
127, colorless (The Portuguese), Brazil (3398)
44.5, blue (The Hope), India (3551, Winston)
18.3, yellow (The Shephard), South Africa (3406)
2.9, pink, Tanzania (3772, De Young)
CORUNDUM: Ruby
50, red-violet (a star), Ceylon (173, L)
34, red (a star), Ceylon (1922, L)
CORUNDUM: Sapphire
330, blue (Star of Asia), Burma (3688)
316, blue (Star of Artaban), Ceylon (2231, Ingram)
93, yellow, Burma (3549)
52, yellow, Burma (3419)
40, blue (a star), Ceylon (174, L)
35, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2147, L)
26, gray (a star), Ceylon (3902)
26, colorless, Ceylon (2016, L)
25, blue (4-starred), Ceylon (3923, Krandall)
22, yellow-orange, Ceylon (3875, L)
16, colorless, Ceylon (3581, L)
BERYL: Emerald
157, green, India (3601)
117, green, Colombia (4158, Erickson)
27, green, Colombia (3922)
17, green (3920, MacVeagh)
7, green, North Carolina (3075, L)
4.6, green (a cat’s-eye), Colombia (2256, R)
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BERYL: Aquamarine
1000, green, Brazil (3889, Evyan)
264, blue, Russia (3606, Neal)
187, blue, Brazil (3683)
126, blue, Brazil (4159, Erickson)
71, pale blue, Ceylon (3172, L)
66, pale blue-green, Maine (2148, L)
15, blue-green, Idaho (2249, Montgomery)
14, blue, Connecticut (779)
10, blue, North Carolina (776, L)
BERYL: Morganite
236, pink, Brazil (3780, Ix)
122, pale pink, California (1988, R)
80, pale pink, Brazil (4190, R)
64, pink, Brazil (3721, R)
56, pink, Madagascar (2223, R)
51, pink, Brazil (3623)
BERYL: Beryl
2054, green-gold, Brazil (3725, R)
1363, green, Brazil (3916)
914, green, Brazil (3919)
578, green, Brazil (3227, R)
133, yellow, Madagascar (1977, L)
114, yellow-green, Brazil (2245, R)
98, pale green, Brazil (3949, Cutter)
62, colorless (goshenite), Brazil (3366)
46, gold, Madagascar (2121, L)
44, gold (a cat’s-eye), Madagascar (3248)
40, pale green, Connecticut (1037, L)
40, yellow-green, North Carolina (2260, Roebling)
20, brown (a star), Brazil (3355, L)
TOPAZ
7725, yellow, Brazil (3976)
3273, blue, Brazil (3633)
1469, yellow-green, Brazil (3891)
685, pale blue, Brazil (3003)
398, pale blue, Russia (3400, R)
235, colorless, Colorado (3309, L)
187, colorless, Brazil (3612, Cutter)
171, champagne, Madagascar (3890)
155, blue, Russia (262, L)
146, pale blue, Texas (3625, L)
129, sherry, Brazil (3550)
94, orange, Brazil (3401, R)
54, blue, Brazil (2219, L)
51, colorless, Japan (268)
44, blue, Maine (2047, L)
41, orange, Brazil (2174, L)
34, gold, Brazil (2046, L)
34, deep pink, Brazil (2232, L)
24, pale blue, New Hampshire (3307, L)
18, rose pink, Brazil (3402, R)
17, blue, California (3679, Ware)
15, sherry, Colorado (318, L)
TOURMALINE: Rubellite
111, pink, Manchuria (3173, R)
62, pink, Brazil (3411, R)
51, magenta, Brazil (4160, Erickson)
35, pink, Brazil (2254, R)
34, pink, Brazil (3148, R)
30, pink, Madagascar (3409, R)
18, pink (a cat’s-eye), California (3786, Lea)
18, pink, Maine (1109, L)
15, pink, California (3412, R)
TOURMALINE: Tourmaline
173, champagne, Mozambique (3590, R)
125, champagne, Mozambique (3576, R)
123, green, Mozambique (3575, R)
110, green, Brazil (4197)
104, rose, Mozambique (3256, L)
76, dark green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3599, L)
60, blue-green, Brazil (3410, R)
58, green, Maine, (1108, L)
53, green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3119, L)
48, red and green, California (3363)
42, yellow, Brazil (2251, R)
42, brown, Ceylon (3245, L)
40, red-brown, Brazil (2097, R)
40, green, Madagascar (4081, R)
34, red-brown, Brazil (2253, L)
31, rose-brown, Brazil (3416, R)
26, blue (indicolite), Brazil (3298, R)
20, blue-green, Madagascar (2032, L)
18, yellow-green, Elba (3368, R)
18, green, South Africa (2095, L)
15, yellow, Brazil (3415, R)
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SPINEL
46, pale purple, Ceylon (2180, L)
36, indigo, Burma (3685)
34, red, Burma (3354, L)
30, pink-violet, Ceylon (2165, L)
30, violet, Burma (3344, L)
26, blue-gray, Burma (3593, L)
22, blue-violet, Ceylon (2247, R)
22, rose-brown, Ceylon (2166, L)
ZIRCON
118, brown, Ceylon (2236, R)
106, brown, Thailand (3568)
103, blue, Indochina (2222, R)
98, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2237, R)
76, red-brown, Burma (3068, L)
64, brown, Indochina (3397, R)
48, colorless, Ceylon (3554, L)
29, blue, Indochina (3394, R)
23, green, Ceylon (2233, R)
21, tan, Australia (1887, L)
SPODUMENE: Kunzite
830, deep violet, Brazil (3940)
336, deep violet, Brazil (3942, Nelson)
297, deep violet, Brazil (3941, Nelson)
177, violet, California (3797, American Gem Society)
25, pale violet, Madagascar (1979, L)
SPODUMENE: Spodumene
327, yellow, Brazil (3396, R)
256, yellow, Brazil (3429, R)
71, yellow, Madagascar (3698, L)
69, yellow-green, Brazil (3885, R)
PERIDOT
310, olive green, Egypt (3398, R)
287, olive green, Burma (3705)
46, olive green, Egypt (1978, L)
23, olive green, Arizona (3620, L)
GARNET: Almandine
175, red (a star), Idaho (3670)
67, red-brown (a star), Idaho (3560, L)
41, red-brown, Madagascar (2137, L)
26, red-brown, Idaho (3423, L)
GARNET: Demantoid
10.4 green, Russia (2175)
GARNET: Grossular
64, orange-brown, Ceylon (493, L)
GARNET: Rhodolite
25, rose-violet, Tanzania (4080, L)
6.4, violet, North Carolina (460, L)
GARNET: Spessartine
109, red, Brazil (4203)
40, orange, Virginia (147, L)
26, orange, Virginia (3597, L)
QUARTZ: Amethyst
1362, purple, Brazil (3879)
183, purple, Brazil (1272, L)
62, purple, Brazil (3162, Capps)
61, purple, Brazil (3914, Cutter)
56, purple, Brazil (3165, Capps)
54, purple, Pennsylvania (1299, L)
45, pale purple, North Carolina (1298, Lea)
36, purple, Pennsylvania (1283, L)
33, pale purple, North Carolina (1288, Lea)
27, purple, Arizona (3291, R)
23, purple, Maine (1271, L)
19, purple, Virginia (1301, L)
QUARTZ: Citrine
1180, golden brown, Brazil (1870, L)
783, light golden brown, Brazil (3640)
278, golden brown, Brazil (3732, Cutter)
265, light golden brown, Brazil (2041, Roebling)
218, golden brown, Brazil (4199, Cutter)
169, golden brown, Australia (1373, L)
143, yellow, Colorado (456, L)
120, golden brown, Brazil (2116, L)
115, golden brown, Brazil (3932)
91, yellow, Brazil (3615, Cutter)
55, light golden brown, Maine (2178, L)
48, yellow, Brazil (3915, Cutter)
43, yellow, Brazil (3719, Cutter)
QUARTZ: Rock Crystal
7000, colorless, Brazil (3957, R)
625, colorless (a star), New Hampshire (3125, Burroughs)
350, colorless, North Carolina (1398, L)
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QUARTZ: Rose Quartz
375, pink, Brazil (3592, L)
84, pink, Brazil (3421)
49, pink, Brazil (3420, R)
QUARTZ: Smoky Quartz
4500, pale smoky, California (3738, L)
1695 smoky, Brazil (3697, L)
785, pale smoky, Colorado (1335, L)
284, pale smoky, North Carolina (1340, Lea)
163, pale smoky, Colorado (1336, L)
145, smoky, Scotland (3079, R)
CHRYSOBERYL: Alexandrite
66, green to red, Ceylon (2042, L)
17, green to red, Ceylon (3407, R)
11, green to red, Ceylon (2200, Walcott)
CHRYSOBERYL: Chrysoberyl
172, gray-green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3924)
121, green (The Maharani, a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3642)
46, green-yellow, Brazil (1923, L)
32, brown, Ceylon (2151, L)
OPAL
155, white with fire, Australia (3285, Roebling)
83, white with fire, Australia (3300, R)
58, black with fire, Australia (3960, R)
56, colorless with fire, Mexico (2240, R)
54, black with fire, Australia (3962)
44, black with fire, Australia (3284, R)
39, pale yellow-orange with fire, Brazil (3637)
38, black with fire, Australia (3961)
30, black with fire, Australia (3405, R)
24, black with fire, Australia (1897, L)
22, orange with fire, Mexico (2106, L)
22, orange with fire, Mexico (2028, L)
21, yellow with fire, Mexico (2111, L)
15, orange with fire, Mexico (2096, L)
11, orange with fire, Mexico (3886, Lewis)
OTHER, LESS-KNOWN SPECIES
Albite: 43, white (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3311, L)
Amblygonite: 63, yellow, Brazil (4079, Lea)
20, yellow, Burma (3562, R)
Andalusite: 28, brown, Brazil (3619, Kennedy)
14, green-brown, Brazil (3364, L)
Apatite: 29, yellow-green, Burma (3247, Lea)
29, yellow, Mexico (3594, L)
15, colorless, Burma (3720, R)
9, yellow-green, Canada (3122, R)
8.8, pale blue, Ceylon (3639)
5.4, green, Madagascar (3676, Durand)
Axinite: 9.4, brown, Mexico (3787, R)
9, brown, Mexico (3773, L)
Barite: 61, colorless, England (3349)
Benitoite: 7.6, blue, California (3387, R)
Beryllonite: 5, colorless, Maine (423)
Brazilianite: 42, yellow, Brazil (3083, L)
Calcite: 46, gold-brown, Mexico (3305)
Cassiterite: 10, yellow-brown, Bolivia (3250)
Cobaltocalcite: 3.3, 3.9, pink, Spain (3724, L)
Cordierite: 16, blue, Ceylon (3882)
10, indigo, Ceylon (3580, L)
9.4, blue, Ceylon (3881)
Danburite: 18, yellow, Burma (3345, L)
7.9, colorless, Japan (3801, L)
Datolite: 5.4, colorless, Massachusetts (3876, Boucot)
5, colorless, Massachusetts (3283, Sinkankas)
Diopside: 133, black (a star), India (3977)
24, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3956, Lea)
14, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3880)
11, green, Madagascar (2264, R)
6.8, yellow, Italy (3634)
4.6, yellow, Burma (3346, L)
2.2, pale green, New York (572, L)
1.6, green (chrome diopside), Finland (3693)
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Enstatite: 11, brown, Ceylon (3638)
8.1, brown, Ceylon (2294, R)
Epidote: 3.9, brown, Austria (579)
Euclase: 13, green, Brazil (3214, R)
9, yellow, Brazil (3215, R)
8.9, yellow, Brazil (2181, L)
3.7, blue-green, Brazil (3388, R)
Fluorite: 354, pale yellow, Illinois (3877)
125, green, New Hampshire (3294)
117, green, Africa (2153)
63, yellow, Illinois (3595, L)
33, colorless, Illinois (3626)
8.5, pink, Switzerland (3730, R)
Friedelite: 12, red-brown, New Jersey (3013, D’Ascenzo)
Gadolinite: 8.6, black, Texas (587, L)
Idocrase: 3.5, brown, Italy (4179, R)
Kyanite: 11, blue, Brazil (3557, L)
9.1, green, Brazil (3558, L)
3.7, blue, North Carolina (364, Bowman)
Kornerupine: 22, brown, Ceylon (3706, Lea)
11, brown, Madagascar (3567, L)
7.6, green, Madagascar (3782)
Labradorite: 11, pale yellow, Utah (3121)
Microlite: 3.7, brown, Virginia (3588, Lea)
Oligoclase: 6, colorless, North Carolina (404, L)
Orthoclase: 250, yellow, Madagascar (3878)
105, pale green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3883)
61, yellow, Madagascar (1838, L)
26, gray (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3579, Lea)
23, white (a star), Ceylon (3578, L)
Petalite: 11, colorless, South-West Africa (3096)
Phenakite: 22, colorless, Russia (3739)
10, colorless, Brazil (2263, R)
Phosphophyllite: 5, green, Bolivia (3950, Roebling)
Pollucite: 9, colorless, Maine (2056, L)
7, colorless, Connecticut (3802, R)
Proustite: 9.9, red, Germany (4082, L)
Rhodizite: 0.5, colorless, Madagascar (3219, Canfield)
Rhodochrosite: 9.5, pink, South Africa (4189, L)
Samarskite: 6.6, black, North Carolina (588, L)
Scheelite: 37, colorless, California (3701, L)
12, gold, Mexico (3803, R)
Scorodite: 2.6, purple, South-West Africa (3793)
Sillimanite: 5.9, black (a cat’s-eye), South Carolina (3600, L)
Sinhalite: 110, brown, Ceylon (3587)
44, brown, Ceylon (3548, L)
Sphalerite: 73, yellow-brown, Utah (3556)
69, yellow-brown, Utah (3362)
60, yellow-green, New Jersey (3874, Roebling)
48, yellow, Mexico (2167, L)
46, yellow, Spain (3707, L)
Sphene: 0.8-9.3, sixteen stones, gold, Switzerland (2043, Nina Lea)
8.5, brown, New York (550)
5.6, yellow-brown, Mexico (3290)
5.2, yellow-brown, Mexico (3292)
Staurolite: 3, dark red-brown, Brazil (3795)
Tektite: 23, brown, Czechoslovakia (681, L)
Wernerite: 288, colorless, Burma (3783)
30, colorless (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3301, L)
29, pale yellow, Brazil (2098, L)
17, pink (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3238, Roebling)
12, pink, Burma (3674, L)
Willemite: 12, orange-yellow, New Jersey (1898, L)
11, orange-yellow, New Jersey (4187, Lea)
Zincite: 20, red, New Jersey (3386, R)
