Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
These photographs were taken in April 2016 by Pala International's Will Larson. (Except for this one, courtesy the Perot Museum)
Eye of the Collector
From Nancy and Randy Best. Besides being collectors, the Bests are philanthropists and patrons of the arts, including the Perot Museum. Above, a display of large specimens (though not quite as large as those of the Peabody). Clockwise, from upper right: a sibling to the Peabody's sandstone concretion (France), mesolite on stilbite, calcite, green apophyllite with calcite balls (India), gypsum and selenite, galena, copper (U.S.), gold (U.S.), quartz (Brazil), calcite and sphalerite on chert (U.S.). (Photo: Will Larson)
Eye of the Collector
The flip side to the previous image with Pala's Bill Larson in the background (lower row only): calcite and quartz, aquamarine and selenite, gypsum, pyrite, prehnite (Mali), azurites (Australia). (Photo: Will Larson)
Eye of the Collector
More from Nancy and Randy Best. These are old gold figurines from Meso-America. (Photo: Will Larson)
Eye of the Collector
More from Nancy and Randy Best. A silver ingot and silver coins recovered from the 1622 wreck of Nuestra Señora de Atocha. For gemstones recovered from the wreck, search on Palagems.com. (Photo: Will Larson)
Eye of the Collector
From Nancy and Randy Best. A display of fossils, artifacts, and taxidermal birds. (Photo: Will Larson)
Eye of the Collector
Dozens of dispensers. PEZ turns 90 next year, and it's hard to imagine that its dispensers didn't always sport their iconic and ever-changing heads. Here, Carla Eames Hartman has collected many of the best. (And, yes, she's the daughter of design legends Charles and Ray Eames.) Click to enlarge and see how many PEZsters you can ID. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Gold specimens in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. See Wayne Leight's 2012 paper on "The Crystallography of Gold" at the Mineralogical Society of Southern California. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Gold specimens in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Note that the specimen at top left is from the Lyda Hill Collection. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Closeup of gold specimen in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Closeup of gold specimen in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Closeup of gold specimen in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. (Photo: Will Larson)
Wayne and Donna Leight Collection
Closeup of gold specimens in the Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall
An informational placard from the Hall. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall
One of several beautiful displays of gem-mineral crystals and faceted gemstones in the Perot Museum's Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall
One of several beautiful displays of gem-mineral crystals and polished gemstones in the Perot Museum's Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall
One of several beautiful displays of gem-mineral crystals and faceted gemstones in the Perot Museum's Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall
One of several beautiful displays of gem-mineral crystals and faceted gemstones in the Perot Museum's Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall
A view of the main room. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall
Tourmalines, string bean-thin and chunky. (Photo: Will Larson)
Lyda Hill Gems and Mineral Hall
The centerpiece of the Hall, the great amethyst geode installed on a hinge. See it in action here. (Photo: Will Larson)
For the Younger Set
A closeup of the previous image. (Photo: Will Larson)
