For me, the geology hall is the crown jewel of the museum, quite literally. Start your tour through the geology hall by viewing the Hope Diamond the world's largest blue diamond weighing in at 45.52 carats located in the Harry Winston Gallery. Or marvel at the large copper sheet, one of the largest ever found, or the fine detail of the sandstone concretion. After viewing the diamond, and any promises you must make to your wife or sweetheart about getting her a similar gem, head into the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals. The hall starts with the National Gem Collection Gallery, a wonderful exhibit of some of the world's best examples of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones many set in beautiful necklaces, rings, and other jewels. I recommend visiting the gallery early or late in the day, as the crowds around the displays can get rather large.
After viewing the precious jewels, enter the hall of minerals. The museum has a wonderful collection of minerals collected from all over the world. The display cabinets are well lit and full of information. While most visitors pass along like window shoppers at Tiffany's, take the time to stop and read the information in the displays. There are three alcoves with information about different aspects of minerals, the shape and color alcove, the optical cut and diversity alcove, and the growth and pegmatite alcove. Each display alcove is designed to highlight one of the identification tools for minerals, color, crystal shape, streak, and displays for each of the major groups of minerals like the oxides, sulfides, and silicates. A semesters worth of information from a class on mineralogy is presented in the displays along with spectacular mineral specimens.
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