A behind-the-scenes look at our mineral collection

Photo Galleries | Updated 7 years ago

Five pink diamonds from Western AustraliaFive of the largest diamonds from the Argyle pink diamond collection, Kimberley, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Nine yellow diamonds from Western AustraliaEllendale diamond collection, Kimberley, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A set of thirteen yellow and grey diamonds from Western AustraliaMixed parcel of white, yellow and grey diamonds, including 2 macles (total weight is 6.12 carats), Ellendale diamond mine, Kimberley, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A yellow diamond from Western AustraliaTwo carat yellow diamond in sandy lamproite tuff, Ellendale diamond mine, Kimberley, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Several zircons from the Northern Territory A collection of faceted zircons from the Harts Range, Northern Territory, Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A gold nugget that seems to sketch Queen Victoria's profileThe ‘Queen Victoria’ gold nugget, Kalgoorlie goldfields, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A silver sheet from Western AustraliaNative silver from the Elizabeth Hill mine, Pilbara, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Close-up of a silver sheet from Western AustraliaNative silver wires, Elizabeth Hill mine, Pilbara, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum An orange coloured mineral from Western Australia called WulfeniteWulfenite from the Whim Creek mine, Pilbara, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A green coloured mineral from Western Australia called MalachiteMalachite pseudomorphs after azurite from the Whim Creek mine, Pilbara, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A green coloured mineral from Western Australia called MalachiteMalachite and pyromorphite from the Whim Creek mine, Pilbara, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Green coloured mineral called Malachite and white coloured mineral called dolomite Malachite and dolomite from the DeGrussa copper mine, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A dark blue coloured mineral from Western Australia called AzuriteDark blue azurite with chrysocolla replacing malachite, DeGrussa copper mine, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Minerals from Western Australia called DolomiteDolomite overgrowing mcguinessite, DeGrussa copper mine, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Copper from Western AustraliaNative copper, DeGrussa copper mine, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Crystals of galena and quartz from Western AustraliaCrystals of galena (combinations of cubic and octahedral forms) with quartz from the Northampton mineral field (specimen is 6 cm long), Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum Azurite and malachite from Western AustraliaAzurite and malachite from the Northampton mineral field, Western Australia. Crystals of azurite are up to 7 mm long
Image copyright WA Museum A yellow to organge coloured mineral from Western Australia called CerussiteCerussite from the Baddera mine, Northampton, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum A yellow coloured mineral from Western Australia called PyromorphitePyromorphite from the Geraldine mine, Northampton mineral field, Western Australia. Specimen is 7.7 cm long
Image copyright WA Museum A silvery mineral from Western Australia called ChalcociteChalcocite from the Telfer gold mine, Western Australia
Image copyright WA Museum

The Western Australian Museum mineral collections contain around 30,800 specimens of some 1,300 mineral species from more than 10,000 localities in Australia and the rest of the world. This photo gallery showcases some specimens from this large collection. 

Further Information

To find out more on the Western Australian Museum mineral collection, visit the collection hightlights on the Museum website.

The interaction of the atmosphere and ground waters with mineral deposits over time has produced an exotic array of colourful minerals. Learn more about some hotspots for mineral diversity that have been revealed through mining in Western Australia in a talk presented by Dr Peter Downes.