The Smithsonian’s collection of gems continues to grow and improve rapidly, and it changes character constantly as important new gemstones are added and less important ones are retired. Approximately one-third of the gems in the collection in 1965 are itemized in the following list. Included are some of the largest gems of each kind, some of the more interesting stones, and some small gems notable for the places from which they came. Though listed by species and size, some of the larger stones are not included, and neither are most cabochons, rough opal, beads, carvings, and spheres. The descriptions listed include, in order, weight in carats; color; popular name or other description, if any; place of origin; and U. S. National Museum catalog number and name of donor. Gems in the Lea and Roebling collections usually are indicated by the letters “L” and “R.”

DIAMOND

127, colorless (The Portuguese), Brazil (3398)

44.5, blue (The Hope), India (3551, Winston)

18.3, yellow (The Shephard), South Africa (3406)

2.9, pink, Tanzania (3772, De Young)

CORUNDUM: Ruby

50, red-violet (a star), Ceylon (173, L)

34, red (a star), Ceylon (1922, L)

CORUNDUM: Sapphire

330, blue (Star of Asia), Burma (3688)

316, blue (Star of Artaban), Ceylon (2231, Ingram)

93, yellow, Burma (3549)

52, yellow, Burma (3419)

40, blue (a star), Ceylon (174, L)

35, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2147, L)

26, gray (a star), Ceylon (3902)

26, colorless, Ceylon (2016, L)

25, blue (4-starred), Ceylon (3923, Krandall)

22, yellow-orange, Ceylon (3875, L)

16, colorless, Ceylon (3581, L)

BERYL: Emerald

157, green, India (3601)

117, green, Colombia (4158, Erickson)

27, green, Colombia (3922)

17, green (3920, MacVeagh)

7, green, North Carolina (3075, L)

4.6, green (a cat’s-eye), Colombia (2256, R)

BERYL: Aquamarine

1000, green, Brazil (3889, Evyan)

264, blue, Russia (3606, Neal)

187, blue, Brazil (3683)

126, blue, Brazil (4159, Erickson)

71, pale blue, Ceylon (3172, L)

66, pale blue-green, Maine (2148, L)

15, blue-green, Idaho (2249, Montgomery)

14, blue, Connecticut (779)

10, blue, North Carolina (776, L)

BERYL: Morganite

236, pink, Brazil (3780, Ix)

122, pale pink, California (1988, R)

80, pale pink, Brazil (4190, R)

64, pink, Brazil (3721, R)

56, pink, Madagascar (2223, R)

51, pink, Brazil (3623)

BERYL: Beryl

2054, green-gold, Brazil (3725, R)

1363, green, Brazil (3916)

914, green, Brazil (3919)

578, green, Brazil (3227, R)

133, yellow, Madagascar (1977, L)

114, yellow-green, Brazil (2245, R)

98, pale green, Brazil (3949, Cutter)

62, colorless (goshenite), Brazil (3366)

46, gold, Madagascar (2121, L)

44, gold (a cat’s-eye), Madagascar (3248)

40, pale green, Connecticut (1037, L)

40, yellow-green, North Carolina (2260, Roebling)

20, brown (a star), Brazil (3355, L)

TOPAZ

7725, yellow, Brazil (3976)

3273, blue, Brazil (3633)

1469, yellow-green, Brazil (3891)

685, pale blue, Brazil (3003)

398, pale blue, Russia (3400, R)

235, colorless, Colorado (3309, L)

187, colorless, Brazil (3612, Cutter)

171, champagne, Madagascar (3890)

155, blue, Russia (262, L)

146, pale blue, Texas (3625, L)

129, sherry, Brazil (3550)

94, orange, Brazil (3401, R)

54, blue, Brazil (2219, L)

51, colorless, Japan (268)

44, blue, Maine (2047, L)

41, orange, Brazil (2174, L)

34, gold, Brazil (2046, L)

34, deep pink, Brazil (2232, L)

24, pale blue, New Hampshire (3307, L)

18, rose pink, Brazil (3402, R)

17, blue, California (3679, Ware)

15, sherry, Colorado (318, L)

TOURMALINE: Rubellite

111, pink, Manchuria (3173, R)

62, pink, Brazil (3411, R)

51, magenta, Brazil (4160, Erickson)

35, pink, Brazil (2254, R)

34, pink, Brazil (3148, R)

30, pink, Madagascar (3409, R)

18, pink (a cat’s-eye), California (3786, Lea)

18, pink, Maine (1109, L)

15, pink, California (3412, R)

TOURMALINE: Tourmaline

173, champagne, Mozambique (3590, R)

125, champagne, Mozambique (3576, R)

123, green, Mozambique (3575, R)

110, green, Brazil (4197)

104, rose, Mozambique (3256, L)

76, dark green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3599, L)

60, blue-green, Brazil (3410, R)

58, green, Maine, (1108, L)

53, green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3119, L)

48, red and green, California (3363)

42, yellow, Brazil (2251, R)

42, brown, Ceylon (3245, L)

40, red-brown, Brazil (2097, R)

40, green, Madagascar (4081, R)

34, red-brown, Brazil (2253, L)

31, rose-brown, Brazil (3416, R)

26, blue (indicolite), Brazil (3298, R)

20, blue-green, Madagascar (2032, L)

18, yellow-green, Elba (3368, R)

18, green, South Africa (2095, L)

15, yellow, Brazil (3415, R)

SPINEL

46, pale purple, Ceylon (2180, L)

36, indigo, Burma (3685)

34, red, Burma (3354, L)

30, pink-violet, Ceylon (2165, L)

30, violet, Burma (3344, L)

26, blue-gray, Burma (3593, L)

22, blue-violet, Ceylon (2247, R)

22, rose-brown, Ceylon (2166, L)

ZIRCON

118, brown, Ceylon (2236, R)

106, brown, Thailand (3568)

103, blue, Indochina (2222, R)

98, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2237, R)

76, red-brown, Burma (3068, L)

64, brown, Indochina (3397, R)

48, colorless, Ceylon (3554, L)

29, blue, Indochina (3394, R)

23, green, Ceylon (2233, R)

21, tan, Australia (1887, L)

SPODUMENE: Kunzite

830, deep violet, Brazil (3940)

336, deep violet, Brazil (3942, Nelson)

297, deep violet, Brazil (3941, Nelson)

177, violet, California (3797, American Gem Society)

25, pale violet, Madagascar (1979, L)

SPODUMENE: Spodumene

327, yellow, Brazil (3396, R)

256, yellow, Brazil (3429, R)

71, yellow, Madagascar (3698, L)

69, yellow-green, Brazil (3885, R)

PERIDOT

310, olive green, Egypt (3398, R)

287, olive green, Burma (3705)

46, olive green, Egypt (1978, L)

23, olive green, Arizona (3620, L)

GARNET: Almandine

175, red (a star), Idaho (3670)

67, red-brown (a star), Idaho (3560, L)

41, red-brown, Madagascar (2137, L)

26, red-brown, Idaho (3423, L)

GARNET: Demantoid

10.4 green, Russia (2175)

GARNET: Grossular

64, orange-brown, Ceylon (493, L)

GARNET: Rhodolite

25, rose-violet, Tanzania (4080, L)

6.4, violet, North Carolina (460, L)

GARNET: Spessartine

109, red, Brazil (4203)

40, orange, Virginia (147, L)

26, orange, Virginia (3597, L)

QUARTZ: Amethyst

1362, purple, Brazil (3879)

183, purple, Brazil (1272, L)

62, purple, Brazil (3162, Capps)

61, purple, Brazil (3914, Cutter)

56, purple, Brazil (3165, Capps)

54, purple, Pennsylvania (1299, L)

45, pale purple, North Carolina (1298, Lea)

36, purple, Pennsylvania (1283, L)

33, pale purple, North Carolina (1288, Lea)

27, purple, Arizona (3291, R)

23, purple, Maine (1271, L)

19, purple, Virginia (1301, L)

QUARTZ: Citrine

1180, golden brown, Brazil (1870, L)

783, light golden brown, Brazil (3640)

278, golden brown, Brazil (3732, Cutter)

265, light golden brown, Brazil (2041, Roebling)

218, golden brown, Brazil (4199, Cutter)

169, golden brown, Australia (1373, L)

143, yellow, Colorado (456, L)

120, golden brown, Brazil (2116, L)

115, golden brown, Brazil (3932)

91, yellow, Brazil (3615, Cutter)

55, light golden brown, Maine (2178, L)

48, yellow, Brazil (3915, Cutter)

43, yellow, Brazil (3719, Cutter)

QUARTZ: Rock Crystal

7000, colorless, Brazil (3957, R)

625, colorless (a star), New Hampshire (3125, Burroughs)

350, colorless, North Carolina (1398, L)

QUARTZ: Rose Quartz

375, pink, Brazil (3592, L)

84, pink, Brazil (3421)

49, pink, Brazil (3420, R)

QUARTZ: Smoky Quartz

4500, pale smoky, California (3738, L)

1695 smoky, Brazil (3697, L)

785, pale smoky, Colorado (1335, L)

284, pale smoky, North Carolina (1340, Lea)

163, pale smoky, Colorado (1336, L)

145, smoky, Scotland (3079, R)

CHRYSOBERYL: Alexandrite

66, green to red, Ceylon (2042, L)

17, green to red, Ceylon (3407, R)

11, green to red, Ceylon (2200, Walcott)

CHRYSOBERYL: Chrysoberyl

172, gray-green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3924)

121, green (The Maharani, a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3642)

46, green-yellow, Brazil (1923, L)

32, brown, Ceylon (2151, L)

OPAL

155, white with fire, Australia (3285, Roebling)

83, white with fire, Australia (3300, R)

58, black with fire, Australia (3960, R)

56, colorless with fire, Mexico (2240, R)

54, black with fire, Australia (3962)

44, black with fire, Australia (3284, R)

39, pale yellow-orange with fire, Brazil (3637)

38, black with fire, Australia (3961)

30, black with fire, Australia (3405, R)

24, black with fire, Australia (1897, L)

22, orange with fire, Mexico (2106, L)

22, orange with fire, Mexico (2028, L)

21, yellow with fire, Mexico (2111, L)

15, orange with fire, Mexico (2096, L)

11, orange with fire, Mexico (3886, Lewis)

OTHER, LESS-KNOWN SPECIES

Albite: 43, white (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3311, L)

Amblygonite: 63, yellow, Brazil (4079, Lea)

20, yellow, Burma (3562, R)

Andalusite: 28, brown, Brazil (3619, Kennedy)

14, green-brown, Brazil (3364, L)

Apatite: 29, yellow-green, Burma (3247, Lea)

29, yellow, Mexico (3594, L)

15, colorless, Burma (3720, R)

9, yellow-green, Canada (3122, R)

8.8, pale blue, Ceylon (3639)

5.4, green, Madagascar (3676, Durand)

Axinite: 9.4, brown, Mexico (3787, R)

9, brown, Mexico (3773, L)

Barite: 61, colorless, England (3349)

Benitoite: 7.6, blue, California (3387, R)

Beryllonite: 5, colorless, Maine (423)

Brazilianite: 42, yellow, Brazil (3083, L)

Calcite: 46, gold-brown, Mexico (3305)

Cassiterite: 10, yellow-brown, Bolivia (3250)

Cobaltocalcite: 3.3, 3.9, pink, Spain (3724, L)

Cordierite: 16, blue, Ceylon (3882)

10, indigo, Ceylon (3580, L)

9.4, blue, Ceylon (3881)

Danburite: 18, yellow, Burma (3345, L)

7.9, colorless, Japan (3801, L)

Datolite: 5.4, colorless, Massachusetts (3876, Boucot)

5, colorless, Massachusetts (3283, Sinkankas)

Diopside: 133, black (a star), India (3977)

24, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3956, Lea)

14, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3880)

11, green, Madagascar (2264, R)

6.8, yellow, Italy (3634)

4.6, yellow, Burma (3346, L)

2.2, pale green, New York (572, L)

1.6, green (chrome diopside), Finland (3693)

Enstatite: 11, brown, Ceylon (3638)

8.1, brown, Ceylon (2294, R)

Epidote: 3.9, brown, Austria (579)

Euclase: 13, green, Brazil (3214, R)

9, yellow, Brazil (3215, R)

8.9, yellow, Brazil (2181, L)

3.7, blue-green, Brazil (3388, R)

Fluorite: 354, pale yellow, Illinois (3877)

125, green, New Hampshire (3294)

117, green, Africa (2153)

63, yellow, Illinois (3595, L)

33, colorless, Illinois (3626)

8.5, pink, Switzerland (3730, R)

Friedelite: 12, red-brown, New Jersey (3013, D’Ascenzo)

Gadolinite: 8.6, black, Texas (587, L)

Idocrase: 3.5, brown, Italy (4179, R)

Kyanite: 11, blue, Brazil (3557, L)

9.1, green, Brazil (3558, L)

3.7, blue, North Carolina (364, Bowman)

Kornerupine: 22, brown, Ceylon (3706, Lea)

11, brown, Madagascar (3567, L)

7.6, green, Madagascar (3782)

Labradorite: 11, pale yellow, Utah (3121)

Microlite: 3.7, brown, Virginia (3588, Lea)

Oligoclase: 6, colorless, North Carolina (404, L)

Orthoclase: 250, yellow, Madagascar (3878)

105, pale green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3883)

61, yellow, Madagascar (1838, L)

26, gray (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3579, Lea)

23, white (a star), Ceylon (3578, L)

Petalite: 11, colorless, South-West Africa (3096)

Phenakite: 22, colorless, Russia (3739)

10, colorless, Brazil (2263, R)

Phosphophyllite: 5, green, Bolivia (3950, Roebling)

Pollucite: 9, colorless, Maine (2056, L)

7, colorless, Connecticut (3802, R)

Proustite: 9.9, red, Germany (4082, L)

Rhodizite: 0.5, colorless, Madagascar (3219, Canfield)

Rhodochrosite: 9.5, pink, South Africa (4189, L)

Samarskite: 6.6, black, North Carolina (588, L)

Scheelite: 37, colorless, California (3701, L)

12, gold, Mexico (3803, R)

Scorodite: 2.6, purple, South-West Africa (3793)

Sillimanite: 5.9, black (a cat’s-eye), South Carolina (3600, L)

Sinhalite: 110, brown, Ceylon (3587)

44, brown, Ceylon (3548, L)

Sphalerite: 73, yellow-brown, Utah (3556)

69, yellow-brown, Utah (3362)

60, yellow-green, New Jersey (3874, Roebling)

48, yellow, Mexico (2167, L)

46, yellow, Spain (3707, L)

Sphene: 0.8-9.3, sixteen stones, gold, Switzerland (2043, Nina Lea)

8.5, brown, New York (550)

5.6, yellow-brown, Mexico (3290)

5.2, yellow-brown, Mexico (3292)

Staurolite: 3, dark red-brown, Brazil (3795)

Tektite: 23, brown, Czechoslovakia (681, L)

Wernerite: 288, colorless, Burma (3783)

30, colorless (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3301, L)

29, pale yellow, Brazil (2098, L)

17, pink (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3238, Roebling)

12, pink, Burma (3674, L)

Willemite: 12, orange-yellow, New Jersey (1898, L)

11, orange-yellow, New Jersey (4187, Lea)

Zincite: 20, red, New Jersey (3386, R)