Apr 17, 2026 21:00:00

Photographs of 'mineral specimens in their natural state' that inspire awe at the beauty of nature.

Wayne Chambliss , a graduate student at Royal Holloway, University of London , has posted on his blog a series of photographs of various minerals he took at the ' Unearthed: Raw Beauty' exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

God sleeps in the minerals | Chamblissian
https://wchambliss.wordpress.com/2026/03/03/god-sleeps-in-the-minerals/

Unearthed: Raw Beauty | Natural History Museum
https://nhm.org/unearthed-rare-mineral-exhibition

Natural History Museum Presents Unearthed: Raw Beauty, an Exhibition of Some of the Rarest and Most Spectacular Mineral Specimens Ever Discovered | Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
https://nhmlac.org/press/natural-history-museum-presents-unearthed-raw-beauty-exhibition-some-rarest-and-most

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is hosting a special exhibition called 'Excavation: Unprocessed Beauty' from December 14, 2025 to April 18, 2026. This exhibition showcases some of the largest and rarest mineral specimens ever discovered, displaying them in their natural, unprocessed state.

Dr. Lori Bettison Varga, director of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, said, 'The specimens on display in 'Excavation: Untamed Beauty' are truly remarkable in terms of their scale and rarity in the mineral kingdom. It is rare to see large, unprocessed mineral specimens on display in an exhibition like this, and it is even rarer to see so many magnificent specimens gathered in one place. We have also carefully selected many from our own collection. These extraordinary stones and crystals offer an experience that feels like another world.'

Chambliss has been sharing various photographs he took at the 'Excavation: Natural Beauty' exhibition on his blog.

Crystals protrude from rough, rugged rocks, shining in a variety of colors including blue, yellow, and red.

Some minerals have crystals that resemble rose blossoms, while others look like giant pine cones.

There were even ammonite fossils that shone like jewels.

There was also a mineral that looked like a save point in a video game, with a translucent, elongated crystal protruding from a purple stone base.

There were also cubic minerals that looked so artificial they could only be artificial.

These rocks, which resemble chrysanthemums in full bloom, are apparently formed from crystals of a mineral called

celestite growing within black shale .

Chambliss's photos have also become a hot topic on the social news site Hacker News.

God sleeps in the minerals | Hacker News
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47778475

One user, who belongs to a local mineral club, commented, 'I'm always breathless when I see such huge and perfect specimens in person. I can't believe things like this are buried underground.' Another user, who has visited several mineral museums, surprisingly mentioned the beauty of asbestos crystals , which are often in the news due to their health risks.