Take a look at these stunning shots by geologist Dmitry Kostin! Our friends have recorded a Russian-language podcast with him about recent expedition🇷🇺

We’re continuing our #GeoPhoto series, sharing beautiful landscapes and unique moments captured during geological fieldwork.

«Watermelon tourmaline» 🍉

— a visually stunning variety of the mineral tourmaline, celebrated for its distinctive colour gradient that looks like a slice of watermelon. This gemstone combines vibrant pink, green, and sometimes white tones within a single crystal, creating a natural masterpiece admired by collectors and jewellers alike.

📌 The term “watermelon tourmaline” first appeared in gemological literature in the 20th century, when gem cutters began highlighting the crystal’s natural pink-green cross-section. In high-quality specimens, when sliced and polished, the resemblance to a watermelon is so precise that it has become one of the most recognisable examples of natural mineral zoning.

What makes watermelon tourmaline truly special is its colour zoning — a phenomenon in which the crystal displays different colours from its centre to its edges.

🟢The core is usually pink or red, reflecting a higher concentration of manganese.
🟢 The outer layer is typically green, caused by an increase in iron or chromium during later stages of crystal growth.
🟠 Sometimes a white or colourless transition band forms between these zones, marking a change in the crystal’s chemical composition as it developed.

This gradual layering occurs as environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and fluid chemistry, fluctuate within the rock cavity where the crystal forms.

💡Where Can It Be Found?

Watermelon tourmaline occurs in pegmatites — coarse-grained igneous rocks that provide ideal conditions for large crystal growth.

The most famous deposits are found in Brazil, especially in the states of Minas Gerais and Paraíba. Other important localities include Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and the United States — notably California and Maine.

Hey everyone!
We’d like to draw your attention to an educational project created by our fellow geologists⤵️

🟠 It’s a unique programme by the Karpinsky Institute called “Inclusive Geology”, designed especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. The first video tour in russian sign language is dedicated to quartz.

⛓ Watch it and share the link with your friends — it’s truly fascinating!
Geology knows no boundaries!

Did the duck-billed dinosaur skeleton at the Karpinsky Institute Museum… escape?

🤍One of the museum’s most spectacular exhibits is, without doubt, a real dinosaur. Its remains were discovered in 1902 on the right bank of the Amur River in Russia. The skeleton of the herbivorous duck-billed dinosaur Mandschurosaurus amurensis stands about 4.5 metres tall and stretches 8 metres long. Its jaws, shaped like a duck’s bill, are widened at the front and were likely covered with a hard keratinous sheath.

⤵️⤵️⤵️⤵️ Can you guess which film this reminds us of? ⤵️⤵️⤵️

A young man, searching for a job, becomes a night guard at a museum — only to discover that it’s not as simple as it sounds. After all, his main task isn’t just to stop anyone from entering the museum… but to make sure that nothing inside ever gets out.

Night at the Museum 2006 🦕

In 2025 we celebrate an important milestone — the 100th anniversary of people’s diplomacy! 🤝🤝🤝

People’s diplomacy is a form of international dialogue that brings together scientists, educators, and cultural figures from different countries to share ideas, build partnerships, and create projects together.

🇷🇺 In Russia it is Rossotrudnichestvo that stands at the heart of this mission as the principal organization responsible for developing people’s diplomacy through cultural, educational, and humanitarian activities abroad. One of its most important contributions is the establishment of Russian Houses around the world — spaces where people can learn about Russian culture, science, and language, and connect through shared curiosity and creativity.

We take this opportunity to thank Rossotrudnichestvo for their continued support of our initiatives, including the Karpinsky Geological Classes. Cuba 🇨🇺 Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 — in each of these countries, Rossotrudnichestvo goes the extra mile in helping us organize events, whether it be an exhibition, a lecture, or a round table.

🇷🇺 Currently, two Russian Houses host the Karpinsky Classes — in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and in Astana, Kazakhstan.