Turquoise
Physical Properties:
Color: Light blue, sky blue, pale green, blue-green, turquoise-blue, apple green, greenish-gray.
Luster: Sub-vitreous, resinous, waxy, dull, earthy.
Hardness: 5 – 6 (Mohs scale)
Specific Gravity: 2.6 – 2.8
Crystal System: Triclinic
Classification: Turquoise Group
Feldspar
General Formula: XAl(₁₋₂)Si(₃₋₂)O₈
Feldspar is the name for a group of aluminum silicate minerals, collectively representing the most abundant group of minerals found on Earth’s surface. The principal rock-forming minerals within the feldspar group include albite, anorthite, orthoclase, and microcline.
Garnet - Feldspathoid
Formula:
X
3
Z
2
(
SiO
4
)
3
X
3
Z
2
(SiO
4
)
3
Chemical Composition:
X (Divalent site): Mg, Ca,
Fe
2
+
Fe
2+
,
Mn
2
+
Mn
2+
, etc.
Z (Trivalent site): Al,
Fe
3
+
Fe
3+
,
Cr
3
+
Cr
3+
,
V
3
+
V
3+
, etc.
Trace elements: Trace amounts of Sn may substitute for
Fe
3
+
Fe
3+
Taxonomy: Garnet Supergroup
Etymology: The mineral was named Carchedonius Garamanticus (Carthaginian or Garamantic Carbuncle) by Pliny the Elder between 77–79 AD.
Pyroxene
Pyroxene Group
General Formula:
𝐴
𝐷
Si
2
O
6
ADSi
2
O
6
Description:
Pyroxene is a major group of inosilicate (chain silicate) minerals. The group is structurally and chemically classified into two primary subgroups based on crystal system:
Clinopyroxene: Monoclinic system.
Orthopyroxene: Orthorhombic system.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature:
The current standard nomenclature for the pyroxene group was established by Morimoto et al. (1988).
Organic Gemstones
Organic Gemstones: Biological Origins
Overview:
While the majority of gemstones are derived from geological, inorganic processes within the Earth’s crust, a distinct group originates from biological sources. Known as Organic Gemstones, these materials are produced by living organisms or are derived from their fossilized remains.
Key Examples:
Coral: Biogenic structures secreted by marine polyps.
Amber: Fossilized tree resin from ancient forests.
Shell (Mother of Pearl): The nacreous inner lining
Brazilian Amethyst Geode
Due to these beliefs, drinking vessels in the ancient world were frequently carved from amethyst. A popular historical account suggests that these goblets were often used as a clever deception: wine diluted with water would retain a color similar to that of the amethyst vessel, masking the dilution from the drinker. This practice inadvertently reinforced the superstition that the stone itself prevented intoxication, as the consumer was effectively drinking a less potent beverage.Amethyst serves
Mineral Artwork by Master Mohammad Salarzadeh
This artwork incorporates a diverse array of minerals, including orpiment, phlogopite, muscovite, pyrite, amethyst, onyx, prehnite, biotite, and garnet.
volcano
A volcano is a geological structure through which volcanic materials (in the form of molten lava, gases, solid fragments, or a combination of all three) ascend from the Earth’s interior to its surface. The accumulation of these materials at the point of ejection forms elevations known as volcanic mountains.
The Facade of the Earth Science Park Museum
Museums are inherently intertwined with art and creativity. Around the world, there is constant competition to showcase items that embody artistic and creative expression within museums. However, at times, visitors may overlook the deeper message behind an exhibit.
Rock Cycle
In geology, the rock cycle constitutes a foundational conceptual model that elucidates how lithologic materials evolve across geological time through the interplay of tectonic processes, sedimentation, erosion, and metamorphism.
Herbivorous Dinosaur
In 1878, a gigantic fossil was discovered in the state of Colorado. This dinosaur, named *Diplodocus*, had a very long neck and tail, and its body length reached 28 meters. Many scientists believe that Diplodocus is the longest dinosaur in the world.
Fluorescence Minerals
Fluorescence is a special optical property in our world. This phenomenon is rarely observed in some species of animals and plants in nature. In simple terms, fluorescence occurs when ultraviolet (UV) light shines on a material, causing electronic transitions between energy levels, which then results in the emission of a visible colored light with high brightness. To observe fluorescence, two conditions are essential: the presence of ultraviolet light and darkness.
Fault benches
The presentation of various types of faults in the form of fault benches is one of the scientific attractions of the geoscience park.
Earthquakes in Iran
Iran is one of the regions with high seismic potential in the world. However, the distribution of earthquakes across the country is not uniform.
Building Stones
A major portion of the world’s mines—as well as those in Iran and, consequently, in Razavi Khorasan Province—consists of building stones, ranging from igneous rocks and rubble stone to dimension stone and marble. In Razavi Khorasan Province, out of 632 active mines, about 340 are related to rubble and building stones. In other words, in terms of quantity, more than 50 percent of the mines fall within the category of building stones.
The Eatrh
The Earth is divided into three main layers based on the differences in the chemical properties of its constituent materials: the crust, mantle, and core.
Rocks
In this gallery, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks are presented in a diverse collection and scientifically categorized.
Geological Hazards
Geological hazards are natural events that arise from Earth’s processes (in its crust, interior, and surface) and can pose risks and threats to humans, life, and infrastructure.
Statues of the Geologist and Mother Earth
Alongside the specialized and thematic exhibits, museums often incorporate artistic elements and installations to enhance their appeal. One such artistic piece is the Statue of the Geologist, installed at the entrance of the Earth Science Park Museum in Mashhad.
Subterranean Mining Gallery
This exhibition tunnel is a reconstruction of the Tabas coal mine, with an approximate length of 300 meters, designed to replicate the actual environment of a coal mine.
Geogenic diseases and their origins
The origin of all elements is the Earth, and both natural and anthropogenic contaminants can transfer from rocks and soil to water, plants, and livestock, and ultimately enter the human body through the food chain.
Ore
On the museum visit path, the ore deposits collections display various ores in the form of twenty five showcases,
Precambrian
The earliest geological era is the Precambrian, which began 4.6 billion years ago and lasted until 542 million years ago.
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic is the second geological era, beginning 542 million years ago and continuing until 241 million years ago.
Meteorite
A meteorite is a rocky or metallic body that enters the Earth's atmosphere from space. Its high-speed movement through the atmosphere generates frictional heat, causing the object to glow and produce the luminous trail known as a "meteor" or "shooting star." A large portion of the meteorite may burn up in the atmosphere, but fragments that reach the Earth's surface are called meteorites (United States Geological Survey, USGS).
