Photo By Gail

As a way to escape the oppressive heat here in Manhattan this past Sunday, we went on an Urban Adventure to the American Museum of Natural History! There, in the Hall of Gems, we spotted this little statue of a Musician Playing a Zither sculpted from PinkMorganite    If you haven’t yet managed to see this particular area of the museum, you really do need to check it out.

The Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals exhibits a vast array of precious and ornamental stones — uncut, polished, and even a few set in elaborate pieces of jewelry — as well as organic materials such as coral and amber, that are prized as gems. The exhibit gallery is also designed like you are perusing a rather posh jewelry store, and benefits from what I would refer to as “mood lighting. The effect is very calming.

Morganite is a stone that is often called Pink Emerald, probably because both of these stones are varieties of Beryl. You will learn so music about gems and minerals during your visit, and it is a nice break from the Dinosaurs.

Here’s nice shot of the entire display case.