Crystals of India
New special exhibit features 50 jaw-dropping crystalline specimens, opens at HMNS at Sugar Land Dec. 12
SUGAR LAND: Discover the Crystals of India at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, on exhibit from Dec. 12, 2014 – May 5, 2015.
Originating from India’s Deccan Plateau, a large geologic formation that comprises most of the southern part of the country, the exhibition features a never-before-seen collection of almost 50 of the most beautiful and most perfectly formed natural mineral crystals ever found anywhere in the world. The beds of basalt rock, within which these crystals were formed and found, were created by massive lava flows from enormous volcanic eruptions that occurred more than 65 million years ago. Some paleontologists speculate that these massive volcanic eruptions may have even accelerated the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.
For this exclusive engagement, the temporary exhibition hall at the HMNS at Sugar Land will be transformed into a jewel box that will highlight these exquisite mineral masterpieces in a setting more befitting an installation of the crown jewels—made complete with dramatic lighting and custom display cases.
The pieces on display in Crystals of India represent the “best of the best” and were high-graded from a collection that has been painstakingly assembled over the last several decades. These beautifully crystallized, natural mineral specimens (fittingly dubbed “The Flowers of the Mineral Kingdom”) were carefully excavated from quarries throughout India over the last half century. It is safe to say that tens of thousands of quarry workers blasted apart—and picked through—billions of tons of rock, by hand, in order to preserve these breathtaking mineral treasures for our visitors to enjoy.
Crystals of India is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Local support is provided by the City of Sugar Land, Texas and Sudha Chittaluru, M.D (Internal Medicine) – First Colony Primary Care.
Tickets for Crystals of India are now on sale and may be purchased online. For more information, visit the museum’s web site at www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, a historic prison building in the residential community area of Telfair opened to the public, transformed – as the new Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. This satellite facility of HMNS includes four permanent galleries reflecting the most popular exhibit areas of the downtown Museum location. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the 43,000 square foot building and the surrounding 5.5 acres of land that house the museum present a variety of compelling traveling exhibitions. Located at 13019 University Blvd. (at the corner of University and New Territory Blvds.), a visit to HMNS at Sugar Land is always an adventure.