Fine Gemstones and Ore Minerals
The many fine gemstones and ore minerals which are to be seen in our museums and in some private collections arouse in the observer a sense of wonder at the intricate crystal shapes and the subtle nuances and variations in colour displayed by many members of the mineral kingdom. Man’s conception of the value of individual minerals has changed many times during the history of mankind. Since Stone Age times there has been an increasing and ever changing demand for the mineral ores from which man has obtained the metals and chemicals which have formed the material bases of succeeding civilisations. Many a war has been fought over the possession of areas which contained important ore-deposits.