The Chinese fabric cushion box contains 1 mineral sample in a plastic container. The box has an inscription stuck to the underside of the lid:

'For NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE by T. C Hu

Gypsum CaSO4 . 2 H2O in hexagonal form gained at the ancient band of the SALT LAKE of Yunche. E 110.9’ N. 35. 0’.'

'Yunche' is the Xiechi lake 解池 at Yuncheng in Shanxi province 山西省运城. The note also references section 496 of the Meng xi bi tan 梦溪笔谈.