There is a small room in the "Earth’s Treasures" Gallery on the second floor of the Royal Ontario Museum. Before you enter, you will find colorful lights on the ground that can only be seen through a prism.
The light is caused by the dispersion of an 896-carat gemstone. The gem is called "Light of Desert" and is the largest Cerussite (lead carbonate mineral) in the world. It is placed in the display cabinet opposite to the door.
Walking around it, you can see all kinds of colors sparkling. However, this kind of mineral is very fragile and will break if touched or if the temperature is too low. If it drops to the floor, it will be broken to thousands of pieces. That’s why it’s display in a far back room, because museum is trying to eliminate the vibration impact from the subway.
The origin of the mineral is in Namibia, Africa, and it is cut in Arizona, the United States. Finally, it is moved to Toronto for display. Every time it is transported, it is packed with extreme care. You can watch a short video for a few minutes on a screen on the left outside the small room to learn more about the story of this gem.