Some of nature's most unique and valuable treasures are on display in the Vault gallery.
See the world's largest collection of coloured diamonds (they also glow in the dark), and marvel at rare meteorites from out of this world.
Star specimens and exhibits
- a piece of the Winchcombe meteorite, from the first meteorite fall to have been recovered in the UK for 30 years
- the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds
- the Devonshire Emerald, one of the biggest and most richly coloured emeralds ever found
- the Murchison diamond-encrusted snuff box
The cursed amethyst and Latrobe gold nugget are currently off display.
Explore the galleries with the Museum map
Find out how to get around with the Museum map. There are four zones to discover.
Earthly and Ethereal: Minerals, Rocks and Gems
Explore the highlights of the geological collections, in an online exhibition.
A collaboration between the Museum and Google Arts & Culture.
Discover: minerals and meteorites
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CollectionsHow do coloured diamonds form?
Explore the science behind the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds.
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SpaceHow our solar system was born
Discover how a giant interstellar cloud known as the solar nebula gave birth to our solar system and everything in it.
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CollectionsThe Imilac meteorite: a gem as old as the solar system
Dr Caroline Smith sheds light on the secrets this rock holds about the formation of our own planet.
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SpacePortrait of a planetary scientist
Peering into our solar system's origins with light brighter than ten billion suns - discover the work of a planetary scientist.
