NYC Museum To Display World’s Largest Amethyst Geode

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By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

Get ready to see something beautiful this fall as the Allison Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals is set to reopen. Located in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, this hall was closed for renovation since 2017. The museum is celebrating its 150th birthday this year and has a whole lot of unique displays. The aim of the museum is to capture the essence of Nature with all its splendor. The 11,000 square-feet exhibit will have interactive displays that unfold by touch, time-lapse imagery, and colorful animations. It is surely an art lover’s paradise.

What makes this museum stand out? Well, it isn’t displaying anything man-made and everything in it is a gift of nature. It traces not only the variety of minerals found in the lap of mother earth but tracks its uses from the beginning of the human civilization. The way man has used minerals for making jewelry or tools and currently, in technology is a fascinating evolution. There are approximately 4,500 different types of minerals on earth and this museum pays tribute to a fraction of it. The educational program includes an in-depth story about the specimen and modern technology will be used to make it more dynamic.

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The museum is going to display two of the largest amethyst geodes in the world. One is twelve feet tall quartz crystal and the other is around nine feet. Both the geodes are from Uruguay and the bigger one weighs more than 9,000 pounds. Amethyst is usually associated with strength, safety, and empowerment. It is said to have healing properties and its color varies from deep purple to almost transparent lavender.

Two of the museum’s most prized possessions, the 632-carat Patricia emerald, and the 563-carat “Star of India” sapphire will be on display again. There will be a special case for the minerals of the city of New York. this includes the “subway garnet”, a nine-pound almandine garnet that was unearthed in Manhattan in 1885. The American Museum of Natural History has a spectacular collection of about 105,000 minerals and 5,000 gems.

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The museum will also showcase exquisite jewelry crafted by Tiffany, Bulgari, and Cartier in the “Beautiful Creatures” exhibit.

Featured image source: Courtesy Museum of Natural History

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