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
Beryl
Gemological Note: Green varieties of beryl are known as Emerald, while the blue variety is known as Aquamarine.
Corundum
Gemological Note: Red varieties of corundum are known as Ruby. Varieties of corundum possessing any color other than red are collectively referred to as Sapphire.
Topaz, Peridot, Zircon, Kyanite
Formula: Al₂(SiO₄)(F,OH)₂
Color: Colorless, white, pale blue, light green, yellow, brownish-yellow, or red
Luster: Vitreous
Hardness: 8
Specific Gravity: 3.4 – 3.6
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Name: Named after the island of Topazios (now called Zabargad or Saint John’s Island) in the Red Sea. In antiquity, the name was probably used for the gemstone now known as peridot.
Other Gemstones (Tiger’s Eye, Obsidian, Sphene)
Sphene (Titanite) | Mineral Profile
Sphene, also known in gemology as Titanite, is a rare and exceptional gemstone mineral, highly regarded for its exceptional luster, diverse color palette, and distinctive crystal habits. A member of the silicate group, Sphene typically manifests in a range of hues, including green, yellow-green, yellowish-brown, orange, and occasionally colorless. When expertly cut and polished, many Sphene specimens exhibit a dazzling brilliance that captures the light in a t
Halides including Fluorite Copper Carbonates including Malachite and Azurite
Fluorite | General Description
Fluorite is one of the most beautiful and well-known gemstone minerals. Due to its striking color variety, dazzling transparency, and well-formed crystals, it holds a special place among mineral enthusiasts and gemologists alike.
Composed of calcium fluoride, fluorite typically appears in shades of purple, green, blue, yellow, colorless, and pink. In some remarkable specimens, a single crystal can exhibit multiple colors simultaneously; this enchanting feature make
Quartz group
Color: Colorless, purple, pink, red, black, yellow, brown, green, blue, orange, and various other hues.
Luster: Vitreous.
Hardness:
7
7
(Mohs scale)
Specific Gravity:
2.65
–
2.66
2.65–2.66
Crystal System: Trigonal
Group: Silica Group
Agate
Chemical Formula:
SiO
2
SiO
2
Color: Colorless, gray, red, or white. Due to the presence of various mineral inclusions, multi-colored or variegated specimens are common.
Luster: Waxy to dull.
Hardness:
6.5
–
7
6.5–7
(Mohs scale)
Specific Gravity:
2.6
2.6
Etymology: The name is derived from its historical occurrence in the Achates River in southwestern Sicily.
Silica group
Silica ,composed of silicon and oxygen, is the most abundant compound within the Earth’s crust. Since antiquity, it has served as the fundamental building block for a vast array of stones utilized by humanity. Yet, within this expansive family, certain members have ascended to a distinguished status. Defined by their breathtaking beauty, exceptional hardness, and unique chromatic brilliance, these exceptional specimens have been cherished as precious gemstones throughout history.
Opal, Carnelian
The origin of this name is uncertain. It may derive from the Sanskrit word “upala”, meaning “stone” or “precious stone,” or from “opalus”, the ancient Latin name for this gem (as noted by Pliny the Elder, 75–79 AD). While Pliny may have referred to this gem as “pedrus”, a modern interpretation by Kostov (2008) questions whether this term was indeed applied to what we recognize as opal in the modern sense.
Jasper
Formula: SiO₂
Historically, this name has long been applied to impure, opaque to slightly translucent, microcrystalline chalcedony or chert, typically red to brown or variably colored, usually containing abundant fine inclusions of hematite, iron hydroxides, and other minerals. The name is commonly associated with banded iron formations.
Gemstone Handicrafts -Chalcedony
he Art of Cutting and Crystallization; Gemstone Handicrafts
In this section of the museum, earthly stones are no longer displayed in their raw form; rather, as nature’s canvas in the hands of artists, they have been transformed into novel and captivating forms. In this collection, we have showcased the art of giving life to stone — a place where the fusion of lapidary craftsmanship and the God-given beauty of minerals has produced enduring works of art.
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.
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.
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.
World Seismotectonic Map
Seismotectonics is a branch of geology that studies the relationship between seismic phenomena and the Earth's tectonic structures and processes.
The Polarizing Light Microscope in Petrography and Paleontology
The polarizing light microscope (PLM) is one of the key instruments used in petrological, mineralogical, and paleontological studies. By utilizing polarized light, it can reveal fine structures and mineral textures that are not visible to the naked eye.
Land Subsidence
Vertical downward movement of the Earth's surface is referred to as land subsidence.
Precious and semi-precious minerals
The precious and semi-precious minerals collection in the geoscience museum of Mashhad is one of the most popular sections, especially for foreign visitors and tourists.
Coin Display Table
The ancient coins displayed in the showcase on the first floor of the museum park are the result of field investigations and sampling conducted by geologists, most of which were discovered at the bottom of mines or during geochemical sampling carried out through panning operations.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy is a form of thermal energy that is generated within the Earth. This energy is produced in volcanic regions or areas where radioactive materials undergo decay. One of the main surface indicators of geothermal energy is the presence of natural hot springs.
Geotourism
Geotourism is considered a modern and specialized branch of sustainable tourism, focusing on the recognition, conservation, and responsible utilization of geological and geomorphological features of different regions.
Wavy Wall Design
Museums are places for imagination and for deepening the power of human creativity. They are also spaces where questions arise in the human mind. In today’s fast-paced world, people rarely have the chance to pause, think, and ask questions. Placing thought-provoking elements is one of the subtleties of creating a museum.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) Monitor
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) is an international, non-governmental, and non-profit organization dedicated to the rapid collection, standardization, and dissemination of earthquake data from around the world.
The stages of geological map preparation
In this part, in addition to becoming familiar with the profession of geologists, you will also learn about geological maps, how they have been prepared from the past to the present, and the methods of research in the geosciences.
