Minerals
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 8,000 mineral specimens. These date broadly from 2,800 million years ago in the Precambrian to 12,000 years ago in the Quaternary Period. This collection represents over 400 mineral species that are mainly from Britain and the rest of Europe, but species from North and South America, Asia and Australia are also represented. The collection holds examples of native elements such as gold, copper and sulphur; carbonates, including calcite, malachite and strontianite; and oxide, sulphide, sulphate and phosphate minerals. There are examples of silicate or rock-forming minerals, including micas, garnets, tourmalines, feldspars, pyroxenes, amphiboles and zeolites. Also represented are Quartz and other varieties of silica, such as amethyst, cairngorm, agate, chalcedony and jasper. In addition, there are some glass and wooden models that show different crystal forms. The collection of Scottish minerals includes specimens from Leadhills and Wanlockhead, and Strontian from the Carboniferous lavas around Glasgow and other localities, including some now no longer accessible.
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