a trip to the museum

While in Denver this week visiting my daughter, I was introduced to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The museum has a really nice permanent gem and mineral collection with Colorado rocks as well all kinds of other stuff. I was intrigued with the rhodocrosite that is native to the state. Lusting after is probably a more accurate description I think...

This is a huge rock, and the first thing that greets you when you enter the exhibit. Below is a photo from the museum website to show you the scale of these crystals!

I really wanted a specimen to take home with me and thought I might find one in the gift shop, but no. Apparently these beautiful native crystals from the Sweet Home mine are really pretty rare and expensive. Darn!

 the middle photo shows the rhodocrosite along side florite.

Aquamarine is the state gemstone of Colorado... and my birthstone : ) I'd take this specimen any day!

There was crystalized gold and rocks with wide veins of silver running through them...

silver veins

of course, I can't resist the jaspers...


The following day we visited a rock shop where I made a few purchases that helped me get over the fact that I couldn't take any of the museum exhibits home with me.

No rhodocrosite specimen, but I'm not complaining!