The stone that guided the Vikings across the sea
No compass, no GPS, no direct view of the sun. Just a transparent crystal that revealed its position.
Read moreObsidian in pre-Columbian culture
Obsidian isn't a mineral, but a volcanic glass that Mesoamerican cultures turned into a tool, weapon, ritual mirror and symbol of status.
Read moreMoon Minerals
Discover Moon minerals: from Apollo 11 lunar basalt to meteorites that fell on Earth.
Read moreFossilized Ammonites: The Spiral That Survived Time
Discover what fossils are, how ammonites form, and why some shine with iridescent colors. Featuring specimens from Madagascar.
Read moreBismuth, the laboratory-grown crystal
Discover the geometric bismuth made with heat, time and pure physics.
Read moreMoldavite: not a meteorite, not a mineral. What is it really?
Not a meteorite, not a mineral: discover what moldavite really is and why none has formed in 15 million years.
Read moreViolet, green, red, blue... what determines a mineral's colour?
Why amethyst is violet and opal shimmers: the colour of minerals, explained.
Read moreShape tells the story: how to read a mineral by its crystal habit
Learn to read a mineral by its outer shape: what crystal habit tells you about how, where and how fast each stone formed.
Read moreTourmaline comes in far more than just black
Pink, green, blue, black, watermelon... each color is the result of a different chemical composition. The same mineral, endless possibilities.
Read moreEmerald, sapphire, ruby. Raw and cut. Same stones, two prices.
An emerald can cost €3 or €30,000. It's the same mineral: what changes is whether the crystal is transparent or not.
Read more