Silicate minerals
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 3,000 silicate mineral specimens. This collection contains a wide variety of species. It includes members of the groups of rock-forming minerals, such as the feldspars, micas, pyroxenes, amphiboles and felspathoids. It also contains a few gemstones such as emerald. The specimens are from localities around the world, including Scotland and the rest of Britain. Among the selection of Scottish silicates are orthoclase feldspar, tourmaline, actinolite and garnets from the Highlands, and apophyllite from Bowling Quarry. The collection notably contains some very fine specimens of prehnite found locally in cavities in lavas of the Carboniferous age. Glasgow Museums also holds an assemblage of the group of silicate minerals known as zeolites, which is described in more detail in a separate entry. Silicates are by far the most numerous of minerals. They include the main rock-forming minerals and many gemstones.
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