Curated OER
Minerals: Earth's Jewels
In this minerals instructional activity, students will review 5 vocabulary words associated with minerals including rock, gem, ore, and crystal. Then students will complete a crossword puzzle with 7 terms relating to the different tests...
Curated OER
Geology Activities: Rock Making
Students create their own gems using a simple experiment and learning process in class.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Minerals, Crystals, and Gems
Through this series of three lessons, learners will gain an understanding of the basics of mineral science. In their investigation they will also work through the scientific process as they practice their observation skills, form...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Jade
A scientist from the American Museum of Natural History familiarizes viewers with jade, a rare stone from different places around the world. Explore the scrapbook he kept.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: The Garnet Group of Minerals
This site gives information of the physical and chemical characteristics of all the different kinds of minerals in the garnet group.
Other
Permanent: Lunar Materials: Other Minerals
This site provides information on minerals found on the moon. (PERMANENT stands for Projects to Employ Resources of the Moon and Asteroids Near Earth in the Near Term.)
Other
Alexandrite Tsarstone Collectors Guide
Online guide for people interested in the history and valuation of alexandrite gemstones and jewelry.
Other
Bob's Rock Shop
This enormous, non-commercial site provides links to information on everything from the properties of gemstones and minerals, to tips on purchasing them, to mounting them for jewelry.
PBS
Pbs: What's Killing the Oysters?
A special report provided for by PBS on what's killing the oysters of Ago Bay in Japan.
University of Florida
Baldwin Library: Gem
A scanned copy of the 1853 publication of Gem, a nonfiction book for children.
Other
Jules Verne Voyager: Gem Global Strain Rate Map
GEM GSRM uses a texture underlay grid showing the 2nd invariant of lithospheric strain rate, with an image overlay of coastal outlines in white - which forces the texture underlay to have a black background in regions of zero strain...
Other
Swiss Gem Shop: Ruby
This is a commercial site, but it has some very good complete information and pictures. You must search for "ruby" in the alphabetized list on the left toolbar.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery:
This site gives is an entry portal to information on gems and gemstones, including pictures of specimens and details on their physical properties and where they can be found.
Jewelry Central
Jewelry Central: Amethyst
Information on this commercial site gives the physical properties and origin of the amethyst, as well as some of the mythical and metaphysical properties ascribed to the gemstone.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: The Splendor of Diamonds
Describes past exhibition of some of the finest gems in the world, this collection of precious diamonds includes several rare and valuable stones.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Opal
This resource provides general information on opal, including color, hardness, uses, and pictures.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Jade
This resource has general information on jade, and provides a physical description.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Ruby
This site gives general information about the gem, ruby. Also included is information about hardness, color, uses, and other physical characteristics
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: The Mineral Diamond
This resource provides information on diamonds, such as physical characteristics, and physical properties.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Agate Fossil Beds: Geologic Formations
This National Park Service site has information about these fossil beds in Nebraska and where the name Agate came from.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Amethyst Purple Variety of Quartz
A detailed description of amethyst, including its physical properties and the more noteworthy locations it is mined.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Zircon
This resource provides general information on zircon, including hardness, color, and uses.
Amethyst Galleries
Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Moonstone
This resource provides information on Moonstone, or Oligoclase.
Burke Museum
Burke Museum: Birthstones: Myths and History
As part of the Burke Museum's site on Geology, this page details the birthstones for each month and discusses both the myth and the history behind birthstones.