WASHINGTON DC, United States — The Eberly Minerals and Gems Gallery features a specialized display of copper-bearing minerals showcasing various shades of blue and green. This educational exhibit demonstrates how copper atoms interact with oxygen to create distinctive colors in minerals such as turquoise and dioptase. The display includes 13 different mineral specimens, each illustrating the relationship between atomic structure and color.
Photograph by David Coleman. The copper minerals display in the Eberly Minerals and Gems Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History demonstrates the fascinating relationship between chemical composition and mineral coloration. The exhibit features 13 distinct mineral specimens, including turquoise and dioptase, all colored by the presence of copper atoms in their crystal structures. This scientific display illustrates how copper atoms, when combined with oxygen, selectively absorb all colors from white light except blue and green wavelengths, which are reflected back to create the distinctive hues visible in these specimens. The variation between blue and green coloration depends on the specific arrangement of copper atoms within each mineral's crystal structure. The exhibit serves as an educational tool for understanding the principles of mineral coloration, demonstrating how a single element can produce a range of colors from sky blue to mint green, depending on its structural configuration within different minerals.
Size: 8256px × 5504px
Location: National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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