“Amethyst Oscar” (left) and “Amethyst Window” (right), both from the Artigas Department in Uruguay, feature glittering white crystals of calcite at their centers, which the museum said formed after the initial amethyst geodes developed approximately 80 million years ago. (Photo Credit: Gina Cholick, 2025. Image courtesy of NHMLAC.)
Los Angeles—The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) has opened a new exhibition showcasing rare mineral specimens.
Titled “Unearthed: Raw Beauty,” it features dozens of gem and mineral specimens, many of which are in their natural, uncut form.
Some of the specimens are on view for the first time ever.
“The specimens presented within Unearthed: Raw Beauty are truly magnificent in scale and rarity within the world of minerals,” said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of NHMLAC.
“Large-scale minerals in their uncut, raw state are rarely displayed in exhibitions like this, especially with so many exquisite examples all in one place. This array of exceptional stones and crystals, including many from our own collection, creates an otherworldly experience.”
The “Chrysanthemum Stone” from Hunan Province, China, weighs more than 900 lbs. Celestine crystals grew through the black shale rock, blooming in the shape of chrysanthemum flowers. It is from the Dr. Robert Lavinsky Collection. (Photo Credit: Gina Cholick, 2025. Image courtesy of NHMLAC.)
The collection comprises specimens of all shapes, sizes, and colors, from crystals thicker than a tree trunk to a grouping of extremely rare blue cap tourmalines discovered near San Diego and reunited for the first time.
The exhibition also features California’s state gemstone, deep blue benitoite, and its state mineral, gold, along with more of the state’s treasures like bright pink kunzite and orange spessartine.
It also includes other forms of minerals, such as carvings from China, jewelry created from rare minerals, a large fossil ammonite, and massive touchable crystals, all chosen for their natural magnificence, which the museum said will inspire guests’ appreciation for the natural world.
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The immersive exhibition highlights the science behind minerals, crystals, gems, and rocks, demonstrating the importance and prevalence of minerals in the world, the museum said.
“Unearthed: Raw Beauty showcases minerals as both natural art and scientific discovery,” said Dr. Aaron Celestian, NHMLAC’s curator of mineral sciences.
“These specimens simultaneously captivate visitors’ imaginations through their aesthetic perfection while revealing billions of years of Earth's chemical evolution and inspiring breakthroughs in materials science.”
Unearthed: Raw Beauty opened to the public on Dec. 14 and will continue through April 18, 2027.
The exhibition is included in the price of museum admission or is free for members.
Unearthed: Raw Beauty was organized by NHMLAC in collaboration with the Gallery of Natural Art.
More information is available on the NHMLAC website.
