Invitation to the Accompanying Exhibition to “Minerals Brno”
October 21, 2025 / 1:28 PM
At this year’s autumn edition of Minerals Brno (November 22–23, 2025), an accompanying exhibition is once again planned in the gallery of Pavilion B. This time, it will focus on another major part of the mineralogical system — silicates, partially following up on the previous accompanying exhibition held in autumn 2023, which presented carbonates.
Due to the extensive nature of the silicate system, the exhibition will be divided into two parts. The 2025 edition will cover the first half of the silicates (neso-, soro-, cyclo-, and borosilicates), while the second half is tentatively planned for 2026.
This year’s part of the silicate system will feature many important gemstones, fundamental rock-forming minerals, and popular species from both public and private collections.
Among the highlights will be the extensive garnet group, represented by most of its major species. Visitors will see examples of pyrope — Czech garnet from classic localities such as Třebenicko near Litoměřice, Vestřev near Hostinné, and the Kolín region.
Almandines will be displayed in many color shades from both Czech and international localities (Bory, Přibyslavice, Senorady, Šumperk area, etc.). Spessartines of excellent quality will come from China, while hessonites will stand out particularly from Jeseník and Šumperk (Žulová, Vápenná, Sobotín) and from Italy.
Other exceptional garnet specimens include andradites from Dashkesan, Azerbaijan, Sinyarechenskoye in the Far East, and black melanites from northern Kazakhstan (Sokolovskoe). Particularly attractive are the bright green uvarovites from the Urals.
Among the zircons, visitors will admire perfect honey-brown crystals from Lovozero, Russia. Staurolites will be represented both by Czech specimens from the Jeseník region and by outstanding intergrowths from Kejvy, Russia. Andalusites will be shown from Bory and the Jeseník area; topazes from Krupka, Horní Slavkov, Cínovec, as well as from the USA and Nigeria.
Epidotes will be represented by specimens from Sobotín and the Jeseník area, and vesuvians from the same region, along with classic samples of “egeran” from Hazlov near Cheb.
Attention will also be drawn to samples of Russian charoite, distinguished by its unique purple coloration.
Another numerous group of silicates, the beryls, will be represented mainly by blue aquamarines from Maršíkov, including faceted stones. Global occurrences of aquamarine from Pakistan and Afghanistan will also be displayed. Deep green emeralds will come from both the Urals and Colombia. Golden heliodors, including faceted gems, will be shown primarily from Volhynia, Ukraine.
Among the less commonly known gem silicates are cordierite and sekaninaite, the latter first described from Moravia, both notable for their blue-violet hues.
Another large group of silicates, the tourmalines, will be presented in virtually all colors. Black tourmalines — schorls — will be shown mainly from the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Colored elbaite crystals, less common in Czech localities, will be exhibited from Rožná, Řečice, Dobrá Voda, and other sites.
Among vividly colored silicates, we should also mention deep blue chrysocolla (e.g. from Novoveská Huta, Slovakia), sometimes used as a gem material, and emerald-green dioptase from Congo, Namibia, and Kazakhstan.
In addition to the silicates mentioned in this announcement, visitors will be able to explore many rarer and very rare silicates, including specimens from the Khibiny and Lovozero massifs in Russia, the Murun massif, and the Dara-i-Pioz massif in Tajikistan. Many of these minerals are known only from their type locality or from just a few sites worldwide.
At this year’s exhibition of the first half of the silicate system, visitors will be able to admire around 500 specimens of natural and faceted minerals. The exhibition team cordially invites everyone to enjoy this brief journey into the world of silicates.
On behalf of the organizing team:
RNDr. Luděk Kráčmar and Radek Votava
