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^[[ [[underline]] Geology [[/underline]] Geol]]

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Exhibition

One renovated hall was opened in fiscal 1959, two are now being revised, the hall of fish and primitive tetrapods, and the hall of fossils, and another, the age of mammals hall, is being cleared for the contractors.

The Division of Mineralogy and Petrology. – On the evening of July 31, 1958, Mrs. W. F. Foshag, wife of the late Head Curator of the Department of Geology, cut a ribbon to open the newly modernized hall of gems and minerals to the public.

Exhibits in this hall include the most extensive collection of gems on display in this country, and a large and representative sampling of specimens from the nation's mineral collection, which is the world's finest.

Nearly every variety of gem is represented. Among them are: a 316 carat star sapphire; an 18.3 carat canary yellow diamond; a 66 carat alexandrite; and a 310 carat periodot. The last 2 are the largest gems ever cut from these stones.

The feature exhibit in the gem room is the Hope Diamond, spotlighted against the dark red velvet background in a centrally located, specially designed case.

Also shown in the gem room is a set of pearls consisting of a necklace, choker, and earrings given by the Iman of Muscat to the U. S. Government; the original gold nugget which set off the California gold rush, discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848 by James Marshall; and the world's largest flawless crystal[[strikethrough]] l [[/strikethrough]] ball, a sphere almost 13 inches in diameter and weighing 106-3/4 pounds ^[[.]]

Transcription Notes:
Added Geol from top of page and corrected 1 capitalised error. -@siobhanleachman