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Natural Stone Museum - Shiraz

Natural Stones in Iran

Natural Stone Museum is inside the Eram Garden in Shiraz. It displays some of the stones found in the country because Iran is blessed with the abundance of natural stones. Stones are used to make decorative pieces, jewelry and sometimes even household objects. They offer strength and beauty and it has been a great attraction for humankind. Decorative stones come in many colours and depending on their quality, they fine their ways on jewelry items to decorate them. 

Pyrite stone resembles to gold and it is found in Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Sweden, Romania and Iran. Quartz is a semi-precious gemstone it is the second most abundant mineral in Earth. Green and purple fluorite stones are found in England, France, Germany, Burma and Argentina.

Pyrite stone on display inside the museum
Pyrite stone on display inside the museum
This stone resembles to gold
This stone resembles to gold
The green stone in the middle of this photo is called jade - Natural Stone Museum Shiraz
The green stone in the middle of this photo is called jade - Natural Stone Museum Shiraz
A cross-section of colourful stones on display
Sometimes, these stones are used to make decorative pieces
These stones are used to make decorative pieces
Decorative stones inside the museum of Eram Garden in Shiraz
Decorative stones inside the museum of Eram Garden in Shiraz
Items made from the stones are on display
Items made from the stones are on display
The stone at the top is called orpiment and light blue at the bottom is known as blue hemimorphite
The stone at the top is called orpiment and one at the bottom is known as blue hemimorphite
A green rock crystal is shaped like a turtle
A green rock crystal is shaped like a turtle
This semi-precious gemstone is called quartz
Small stones are shaped like trees
A closeup view of the tree made with the natural stones
A closeup view of the tree made with the natural stones
This one appears to be white limestone but I could be wrong
This one appears to be white limestone but I could be wrong
Lights pointed at the amethyst
Green and purple fluorite are on display here
Green and purple fluorite are on display here


Bornite has a brown-purple colour, sometimes known as peacock ore and it is a sulfide mineral. There were crystals appeared to be little burnt and the rock resemble to a slice of pizza (don’t try it at home). 
In a jar, small pieces of gemstones displayed to form a colourful mountain. Some crystals are formed inside a rock, the outer layer is much harder thus protecting it’s precious residents. Often expert stone cutters and craftsmen work their magic to create flowers and birds. It is amazing to see how artists have changed these stones into the work of art.

This yellow coloured stone is known as citrine and it belongs to the quartz family of the stones
A Citrine inside the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
A Citrine inside the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
In this photo crystals are accumulate together to form a rock
Here, crystals are accumulate together to form a rock
Bornite has a brown-purple colour
Bornite has a brown-purple colour
These crystals appears to be little burnt
Small pieces of the gemstones
Small pieces of the gemstones
This strange looking stone is known as coral
This strange looking stone is known as coral
A cross section of a stone on display (possibly coral)
A cross section of a stone on display (possibly a coral)
These crystals are formed inside a rock
These crystals are formed inside a rock
Colourful stone are on display - some of these stones are used to make ornaments
Colourful stone are on display - some of these stones are used to make ornaments
Another display of pyrite - this stone is also known as fool's gold
Another display of pyrite - this stone is also known as fool's gold
Traces of pyrite are visible in the rock - they look like golden nuggets
Traces of pyrite are visible in the rock - they look like golden nuggets
Realgar is to the left is a sulfide mineral and to the right is agate which is a cryptocrystalline
Realgar is to the left is a sulfide mineral and to the right is agate which is a cryptocrystalline
Stones are used to create flowers and birds
Stones are used to create flowers and birds
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these stones
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these stones

 

Objects made from the rose quartz are believed to have healing energies. Amethyst stone is purple to violet in colour and it is used in jewelry. Ancient Greeks believed that these stones would protect the person from being drunk if one would drink from the pot made from this stone.

Turquoise stone is found in Nishapur, Iran,  in Persian it is known as ferozeh.

It is amazing to see how artists have changed these stones into the work of art
It is amazing to see how artists have changed these stones into the work of art
Objects made from the rose quartz
Objects made from the rose quartz
Colourful agate stones are on display
Colourful agate stones are on display
Amethyst stone is purple to violet in colour and it is used in jewelry
Amethyst stone is purple to violet in colour and it is used in jewelry
A closeup view of the Amethyst stone
A closeup view of the Amethyst stone
A pink stone is shaped like a round ball inside the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
A pink stone is shaped like a round ball inside the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
These stones are carved into round shapes
These stones are carved into round shapes
Small elephants are made from the multi coloured stones
Small elephants are made from the multi coloured stones
Decorative pieces made from the stones
Decorative pieces made from the stones
Turquoise stone is found in Nishapur, Iran
Turquoise stone is found in Nishapur, Iran
This is the blue spot sodalite stone
This is the blue spot sodalite stone
A colourful ceiling of the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
A colourful ceiling of the Natural Stone Museum of Shiraz
A photo of the museum taken from the exit door
A photo of the museum taken from the exit door