malachite

Woman holding award for mineral garden display.

Green Gems galore

Education, Exhibits, News, Science /

Rice Museum’s Triumph at Tucson 2025 We are thrilled to announce our recent success at the 70th Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, where we proudly took home the Betty and Clayton Gibson Memorial Trophy for Best Museum Exhibit. This year’s theme, “Shades of Green – Experience the Magic,” provided the perfect backdrop for our stunning display of verdant minerals. Our Award-Winning Exhibit:  Our exhibit showcased a breathtaking array of green minerals, each with its unique charm and characteristics, including: Malachite: This iconic green mineral, known for its striking banded patterns, captivated visitors with its rich, forest-green hues. Prehnite: Our collection featured exquisite specimens of this pale green to yellow-green mineral, prized for its subtle beauty and spiritual properties. Dioptase: The deep emerald-green crystals of dioptase were a highlight, their intense color rivaling that of emeralds. Austinite: This rare arsenate mineral, with its delicate mint-green crystals, added a touch of elegance to our display. Austinite. Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mun. de Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. The Magic of Green Minerals Green minerals have long fascinated collectors and enthusiasts alike. They evoke memories of lush landscapes and symbolize nature, spring, and renewal. The variety of green hues in the mineral world is truly astounding, ranging from the electric lime of pyromorphite to the deep forest green of malachite. What is “green”? Light is made up of many wavelengths, but these minerals absorb everything except for green. So our brains see that wavelength and say, “yep,that’s green!” But, about 350 million people don’t see all wavelengths of the light spectrum and instead of shades of greens, might be seeing colors like orange, red, yellow, beige, brown, or blue in this display. How cool is that? What are some things that make minerals green? Physical material. For example, green clay. Structures that affect how a mineral absorbs or reflects light. For example, green flash in opal. Elements that are part of the mineral’s structure. For example, the copper (Cu) in Malachite’s chemical formula. Chemical impurities. For example, when beryl contains Chromium (Cr), it is called an emerald. Prehnite with epidote. Sadiola Gold Mine, Sadiola hill, Kayes Region, Mali. Collector’s Corner For mineral enthusiasts looking to start or expand their green mineral collection, here are some tips: Research the hardness and durability of minerals before purchasing. Consider the rarity and origin of specimens to build a diverse collection. Look for unique crystal formations or patterns that make each piece special. Invest in proper storage and display options to protect and showcase your collection. Malachite ‘Corn on the Cob’.   Looking Ahead The success of our exhibit at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show has inspired us to continue our mission of educating and inspiring the public about the wonders of the mineral world. We invite you to visit the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals to experience our award-winning collection firsthand and discover the magical world of green minerals for yourself.

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Time is running out to see the Spann Exhibit

News /

Don’t miss out – our exhibit of the worldwide collection of fine minerals owned by Gail and Jim Spann will be leaving in a few short months. Thousands of people have already been wowed by this exhibit, but if you haven’t seen the it yet you should make plans soon. This spectacular display of world-class specimens will only be at the museum until January 20, 2020. That means in five short months they’ll be headed home to Texas. Until then, you still have time to check them out. Here’s a few favorites Blue Cap Tourmaline One of only abut 35 museum-grade specimens in the world from the famous “Blue-Cap Pocket”, this giant is one of the best representatives you’ll ever see of pink elbaite tourmaline with a blue cap top. Hailing from the famed Pala-area mines of San Diego, it has splendid color zoning. The Blue Cap Pocket was unearthed in late December, 1972 and is the most famous tourmaline pocket in U.S. history. Collectors consider the pocket with an almost reverent respect. Only under 100 pieces were found, of any quality. This is one of the top specimens, and stands front and center in the display. Rose Quartz crystal ring Rose quartz is uncommon in a crystal habit, and it’s even more rare to find it circling a pristine quartz crystal like this. The girdle of crystalline rose quartz is striking, and gives the specimen a striking look. Some call this a “Friar Tuck” display. This specimen is from Lavra da Ilha, a granite pegmatite on a small island north of Taquaral in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bright luster and rich pink color are rare, and provide a striking contrast to the crystalline quartz it adorns. Malachite “Sorcerer’s Hat” Stalagmite This striking ‘finger’ of malachite sits atop a plate of similar malachite, giving it the appearance of a tall witch hat, according to the many Harry Potter fans who have seen it here. Found at the L’Etolle du Congo (the “Star of Congo”) mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has a slightly drusy, or sparkly exterior. The whimsical nature of the piece draws remarks from crowds, as the taper at the top is unique from most malachite specimens that formed as stalactites and stalagmites. It shows no surface bruising that is common to similar specimens, and is dramatic even in an unpolished state. Hematite, Horse Tooth Habit This specimen was the elegant star of our promotional poster back in March. The dramatic edges, striated surfaces, and shiny luster are typical of this form of hematite, which is usually found in rounded, botryoidal masses or red, rusty chunks. Typical of a Morocco hematite, it is lustrous and almost appears sculpted, but it is completely natural. These are a few of the nearly eighty amazing specimens from the collection of Gail and Jim Spann. The exhibit can be viewed during normal hours of operation and there is no additional charge for this rare opportunity.

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What’s in the Box? Green Eyes

Behind the Scenes /

These concentric green circles look like some kind of painting or an old-fashioned LP gone wrong, but in reality this mesmerizing pattern was created by nature. This is the mineral malachite, a copper carbonate associated with ore deposits. Malachite forms when other copper minerals like chalcopyrite react with acidic water percolating through the rock. This water can carry copper atoms along for a bit before the copper begins to combine with other atoms and grow minerals like malachite. Sometimes, the water drips into open cavities in the surrounding rock, and malachite will grow as a stalactite or stalagmite the same way other cave formations do. The photo above shows a slice through a malachite stalactite. The concentric rings come from the growth of the stalactite in fits and starts, and the light and dark colors reflect small changes in the water chemistry over time. Even though it was made by nature, a little human ingenuity helps this pattern to shine: the rings are most striking in malachite pieces that have been cut and polished like this one. This post is part of our What’s in the Box? series.

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Special Malachite Lapidary Exhibit from Congo on Display

News /

We are excited to feature some malachite lapidary work from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in our Lapidary Arts Room for only the month of March 2012. Make time to visit this rare and special collection at the Rice Northwest Rock and Mineral Museum. On loan from the Ziemer Family, the collection was built between 1975 and 1976 after Mr. Raymond Ziemer was given some pieces as a gift from a local tribe. Carbonates are a group of minerals that contain the anion group CO32. They can be subdivided into the calcite, aragonite, dolomite or hydrated carbonate groups. The mineral malachite belongs in the hydrated (OH-bearing) carbonate group. It is a copper (Cu) bearing mineral and has the chemical formula Cu2CO3(OH)2.

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