The first "Treasures of the Earth" exhibition showcasing the relationship between natural and cultural heritage opened in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Monday.

The two-month event, housed in the National History Museum (NHM) and jointly organized by the NHM and the Earth and Man National Museum, brings together over 125 small and large, raw and processed crystals and precious stones, some of them never shown before.

Spessartine garnet from China, fire opal and aquamarine from Kazakhstan, ruby from Sri Lanka, turquoise from the United States, nephrite from Russia, quartz from Brazil, and gold nuggets and jasper from Bulgaria are among the exhibits.

Ancient and medieval jewelry is also on display, such as earrings and a necklace with garnet, a lid of gold, and a crown with 346 gemstones, almost 300 of which are rubies.

Ameliya Gesheva, Bulgaria's deputy minister of culture, said at the opening ceremony that the event, organized by two national institutions, showed that collaboration was the shortest and most meaningful way to achieve good results.

"I hope we will see many good initiatives that you will do together; initiatives showing that harmony between nature and human activity is most important," Gesheva said.