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Phenomenal Gemstones Possess Striking Optical Effects, Making Them Truly a Sight for Sore Eyes
THE PHENOMENAL PROPERTIES OF GEMS Phenomenal gemstones possess striking optical effects, making them truly a sight for sore eyes. Here is GIA’s guide to understanding what makes each phenomenon so uniquely brilliant. ASTERISM CROSSING BANDS OF REFLECTED LIGHT CREATE A SIX-RAYED STAR-LIKE APPEARANCE. ASTERISM OCCURS IN THE DOME OF A CABOCHON, AND CAN BE SEEN IN GEMS LIKE RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES. ADULARESCENCE THE SAME SCATTERING OF LIGHT THAT MAKES THE SKY BLUE CREATES A MILKY, BLUISH-WHITE GLOW, LIKE MOONLIGHT SHINING THROUGH A VEIL OF CLOUDS. MOONSTONE IS THE ONLY GEM THAT DISPLAYS IT. AVENTURESCENCE FOUND IN NATURAL GEMS LIKE SUNSTONE FELDSPAR AND AVENTURINE QUARTZ, IT DISPLAYS A GLITTERY EFFECT CAUSED BY LIGHT REFLECTING FROM SMALL, FLAT INCLUSIONS. CHATOYANCY OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CAT’S EYE” EFFECT, BANDS OF LIGHT ARE CAUSED BY THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT FROM MANY PARALLEL, NEEDLE-LIKE INCLUSIONS INSIDE A CABOCHON. NOTABLE GEMS THAT DISPLAY CHATOYANCY INCLUDE CAT’S EYE TOURMALINE AND CAT’S EYE CHRYSOBERYL. IRIDESCENCE ALSO SEEN IN SOAP BUBBLES AND OIL SLICKS, IT’S A RAINBOW EFFECT THAT IS CREATED WHEN LIGHT IS BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT COLORS. LOOK FOR IT IN FIRE AGATE AND OPAL AMMONITE (KNOWN BY THE TRADE AS AMMOLITE). LABR ADORESCENCE A BROAD FLASH OF COLOR THAT APPEARS IN LABRADORITE FELDSPAR, IT’S CAUSED BY LIGHT INTERACTING WITH THIN LAYERS IN THE STONE, AND DISAPPEARS WHEN THE GEM IS MOVED. INSIDER’S TIP: THE MOST COMMON PHENOMENAL COLOR IN LABRADORITE IS BLUE. PLAY OF COLOR THE FLASHING RAINBOW-LIKE COLORS IN OPAL THAT FLASH AT YOU AS YOU TURN THE STONE OR MOVE AROUND IT. -
The Blue Star Sapphire
THE BLUE STAR SAPPHIRE Summary Item: Gemstone Species: Natural Corundum Variety: Star Sapphire Carats: 530 Origin: Sri Lanka Color: Blue Transparency: Transparent Enhancements: None Certificate: Gubelin Gemmological Laboratory Characteristics This magnificent specimen is an extremely rare and priceless gemstone. It was originally purchased in 1971 in Southern Sri Lanka from a gemstone dealer in the Hikkaduwa Region. It was unearthed from Sri Lankan soil, refined, and then protected for generations by a solitary family since 1971. The stone has been certified by Gubelin labs of Switzerland and inspected by the respected representatives of the Gem Corporation of Sri Lanka. What makes it so unique is the combination of exceptional color, transparency, saturation and display of distinct asterism. These qualities are more brilliant than any of the other known large 1 star sapphires. Phenomena Star sapphires are a type of sapphire that exhibit a star-like phenomenon known as asterism. These gemstones contain intersecting needle-like silk inclusions (often the mineral rutile, a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide) that cause the appearance of a six-rayed 'star'-shaped pattern that reflect and scatter light. This gemstone has a clear and centered “asterism”. Size At 530 carats it is second only to the Star of India1 the largest and most famous blue star sapphire in the world and currently part of the New York Museum of Natural History’s Morgan-Tiffany collection. Shape Its oval shape and double cabochon is perfectly proportioned and rounded seems to dwarf other notable large blue star sapphires such as the Star of Sri Lanka1 at 383 carats and 182 carats Star of Bombay1. -
AFMS Merit Badges
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES Future Rockhounds of America Badge Program Fourth Edition Jim Brace-Thompson AFMS Juniors Program Chair [email protected] (805) 659-3577 This packet is available on-line on the AFMS website: www.amfed.org © 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016 Jim Brace-Thompson & the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES Future Rockhounds of America Badge Program MISSION STATEMENT Future Rockhounds of America is a nationwide nonprofit program within the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies that develops and delivers quality youth activities in the earth sciences and lapidary arts in a fun, family environment. Our underlying goals are to foster science literacy and arts education through structured activities that are engaging and challenging and by which kids—and the adults who mentor them—learn while having fun. INTRODUCTION . Philosophy behind the FRA Badge Program & Suggestions on Using It I’ve developed this manual so as to enable the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies to sponsor a youth program via Future Rockhounds of America, a program that rewards kids on an on-going basis as a means of encouraging and cultivating their interest in the earth sciences and lapidary arts. Through this, each of our individual clubs and societies will uphold our chartered goals as nonprofit, educational organizations by actively seeking to foster and develop science literacy and arts education amongst our youngest members. My guiding philosophy has three underpinnings. They come from both my own values as a person invested in the positive development of young people and from a wealth of academic research indicating that if one wants to design and deliver programs that effectively promote positive development among young people, three steps are crucial to enact. -
Star Stones (Asterism)
Learning Series: Basic Rockhound Knowledge Star Stones (Asterism) When parallel, needle-like inclusions, or tube-like channels, are oriented along two or more of the crystal faces of a mineral, and when that stone is cut as a domed cabochon, a four- to six-rayed figure is displayed on the dome. This phenomenon of reflected light is called "asterism" and the gems are called star stones. The most commonly seen examples are star corundums; where there are inclusions of titanium oxide (rutile or "silk") parallel to three crystal faces giving a six-rayed star. In rare cases, a twinned crystal slightly offset with its own set of rutile needles can lead to the formation of a twelve-rayed star. Although rutile is an extremely common inclusion in sapphire, few good, natural, star sapphires are found. One of the major reasons is that the heating, which is almost universally done to sapphire rough, dissolves rutile needles; clarifying and sometimes color enhancing the stone, yes, but eliminating potential stars! [Rutile needles (silk) aligned in three directions in unheated corundum] [Star ruby, white star sapphire ring, rare bi-colored star sapphire] The only other gem which commonly forms stars is quartz, where the phenomenon tends to be more visible in transmitted than in reflected light. In this species, rose quartz is the most frequently asterated variety. Most citrine in commerce has been heated, which tends to dissolve the fine rutile inclusions necessary for star formation, so it is rather rare. In fine, near-transparent quartzes which have been cut to a spherical shape, multiple stars can form an intersecting pattern over the surface. -
Mining, Geology, and Geological History of Garnet at the Barton Garnet Mine, Gore Mountain, New York William Kelly
6: RARE EARTH ELEMENT AND YTTRIUM MINERAL OCCURENCES IN THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS 7 MINING, GEOLOGY, AND GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF GARNET AT THE BARTON GARNET MINE, GORE MOUNTAIN, NEW YORK WILLIAM KELLY New York State Geologist, Emeritus, Division of Research and Collections, New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230, [email protected] KEYWORDS: Garnet, Mining, Gore Mountain, Metamorphism, Lyon Mountain Granite ABSTRACT Garnet megacrysts commonly 30 centimters (cm) ranging up to 1 meter (m) in diameter occur at the summit of Gore Mountain, Adirondacks, NY and were mined there for abrasives for more than a century. The mine, owned by Barton Mines Co., LLC, is roughly 2 km x 150 m and is located in a hornblende-rich garnet amphibolite at the southern boundary of a metamorphosed olivine gabbro body that is in fault contact with charnockite. Barton supplies garnet, a chemically homogeneous pyrope-almandine, to the waterjet cutting, lapping, and abrasive coatings industries. The garnet megacrysts are reliably dated at 1049 ± 5 Ma. The growth of the garnet megacrysts was facilitated by an influx of hydrothermal fluid emanating from the ore body’s southern boundary fault. The fluids were most probably associated with the intrusion of the Lyon Mountain Granite (1049.9 ± 10 Ma) and/or associated pegmatitic rocks late in the tectonic history of the Adirondacks. INTRODUCTION The Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York are a small outlier of a larger body of rocks of similar age and geologic history that is located to the north in Canada. The Adirondack region can be loosely divided into amphibolite metamorphic facies Lowlands, in the northwest, and the granulite facies Central Highlands, which are 86 THE ADIRONDACK JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES VOLUME 21 87 7: MINING, GEOLOGY, AND GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF GARNET AT THE BARTON GARNET MINE, GORE MOUNTAIN, NEW YORK separated by a very large, northwest-dipping fault zone. -
Gulfport Gems
Est. 1979 Harrison County Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. Gulfport Gems Volume 40 September 2019 Number 9 Member of the American & Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Society P.O. Box 10136 www.facebook.com/gulfportgems Gulfport, Ms. 39505 Website: www.gulfportgems.org A message from the President. Notes from the editor . Nominating Committee Dear Members, Volunteers are needed to serve on the Nominating Committee to get candidates for Monica, Charlene and I are leaving on Sep- our board next year. tember first to go to William Holland for the week. For those of you that have been, you Please step up to this challenge. know what a wonderful experience it is. For Present Slate: October Election: November those of you that have not been, try it at least Sworn In: December Take Office: January once. It is truly worth your time. 49th Annual New Orleans Gem, I hope to have lots of new things to show at Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show the meeting. So far, I have not been disap- pointed. October 11th, 12th, & 13th Look forward to seeing everyone in a few Alario Center weeks. 2000 Segnette Blvd. Westwego, La. 70094 Sue West, President 10 am - 6 pm Fri & Sat 10 am - 4 pm Sunday Rocks, gems, minerals, and jewelry Displays Demonstrations Raffle Board Meeting Door prizes Gulfport Library - Old Hwy. 49 Shop for the holidays! Next Meeting will be in October See page 15 “”Shows & Events” for more details Gulfport Gems Vol. 40 Number 9 1 September 2019 Harrison County Gem & Mineral Society Harrison County Gem & Mineral Society Webpage and Editor. -
UNITED J STATES PATENT OFFICE
Patented Nov. 15, 1949 ’ 2,488,507 UNITED j STATES PATENT OFFICE , SYNTHETIC STAR RUBIES AND STAR SAP PHIRES, AND PROCESS FOR‘ PRODUCING SAME John N. Burdick and John w. Glenn, Jr., Ken more, N. Y., assignors to The Linde Air Prod ucts Company, a corporation of Ohio No Drawing. Application August 27, 1947, Serial No. 770,942 19 Claims. (01. 63-82) 1 This invention relates to a process for develop Other-objects are to provide a process for ing asterism in natural and synthetic corundum developing asterism in single crystals of ruby. crystals, such as crystals of ruby and sapphire, and sapphire containing oxide of titanium; to which contain oxide of titanium dissolved in provide a process for obtaining star ruby and alumina. The invention is also concerned with .star sapphire gemstones from non-asteriated asteriated single crystals of synthetic corundum single crystals of ruby and sapphire containing as articles of manufacture, for example synthetic oxide of titanium; and to provide a process for star rubies and star sapphires. intensifying asterism inasteriated ruby and sap For more than thirty years massive nongran phire crystals. ular synthetic rubies and sapphires of gem qual 10 The term “massive non-granular,” as used ity have been produced commercially on a large herein, is intended to designate singlev crystals scale by the process of Verneuil, as disclosed in as distinguished from‘ a sintered or agglomerated U. S. Patents 988,230 and 1,004,505. In that proc mass of granules. Moreover, this term is further } ess powdered alumina, with or without small intended to designate crystals which are larger percentages of coloring oxides, drops through 15 than such tiny particles or granules of corundum an oxy-h'ydrogen ?ame, fuses, and accumulates as are commonly employed in abrasives, those on a refractory support until a long, narrow, crystals designated by the term “massive non approximately cylindrical boule of the desired granular” being, indeed, large enough to be used size is formed. -
Definition of a Mineral Each Mineral Species Has Unique and Identifiable Physical Properties. Form and Habit Terms (Crystal Grow
Definition of a Mineral • A mineral is a naturally occurring, • homogeneous solid with a Physical Properties of Minerals • definite, but not fixed, composition, and Color, shape, density, • an ordered atomic arrangement that is hardness, etc • formed by inorganic processes. • A mineral is a natural, crystalline phase. Form and Habit Terms Each mineral species has (Crystal Growth Forms) unique and identifiable • Prismatic (well developed prism physical properties. faces) (Pyramidal) • Form and habit (Shape) • Columnar (Irregular prism faces) • Luster • Acicular (needle-like) • Color and Streak • Botryoidal (rounded growth surface) • Cleavage and Fracture • Tabular (Platey) • Hardness • Stellate (Radiating) • Density • Fibrous (fibers, asbestiform) • Tenacity • Dendritic (tree-like) Acicular Fibrous 1 Dendritic Dendritic Radiating Radiating Bladed Botryoidal 2 Prismatic Luster and Transparency • Luster • Transparency – Metallic – Opaque – Resinous – Translucent (waxy) – Transparent – Pearly – Greasy – Adamantine – Vitreous Metallic Adamantine Color and Streak • The reflectance color of minerals is strongly affected by transition metals (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu). (Also rare earths) Vitreous Pearly • Color in hand specimen may not be diagnostic. • Color in streak generally indicates presence of iron or other transition metals. Chatoyance, Asterism, Asterism: Star Sapphire and Luminescence • Chatoyance and asterism are optical effects due to diffraction of light from small inclusions. • Luminescence is emission of light. – Visible or UV (black light) – Tribo-luminescence: glow when rubbed – Cathodo-luminescence is emission of light from electron bombardment 3 Cleavage and Fracture Hardness What scratches what? • Crystals tend to break on planes of • 1. Talc 6. Orthoclase weakness. • 2. Gypsum 7. Quartz – Cleavage: perfect – Parting: irregular • 3. Calcite 8. Topaz – Hackly: very irregular • 4. Fluorite 9. -
Volume 35 / No. 1 / 2016
GemmologyThe Journal of Volume 35 / No. 1 / 2016 The Gemmological Association of Great Britain Save the date Gem-A Conference Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November 2016 Visit www.gem-a.com for the latest information Join us. The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, 21 Ely Place, London, EC1N 6TD, UK. T: +44 (0)20 7404 3334 F: +44 (0)20 7404 8843. Registered charity no. 1109555. A company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 1945780. Registered Office: 3rd Floor, 1-4 Argyll Street, London W1F 7LD. Conference_03-2016_March-April_Save The Date_A4.indd 1 12/04/2016 10:44:17 Contents GemmologyThe Journal of Volume 35 / No. 1 / 2016 COLUMNS p. 22 1 What’s New DiamondDect for diamond identification|Triple D photo kit|Upgraded Diamond- View|Variofoc LED lighting system|AGTA Tucson seminars| Responsible sourcing of coloured stones report|World Gold Council report|GSJ 2015 Annual Meeting abstracts|ICGL Newsletter|Large CVD synthetic diamond seen p. 64 by HRD Antwerp|MAGI diamond type report|SSEF Facette|Updated Journal cumulative index|Wyoming jade report|GemeSquare app and GemePrice 5.0|Historical reading lists|Hyperion inclusion search engine|Gems from the French Crown Jewels exhibit ARTICLES 6 Gem Notes Apatite from Iran|Purple apa- Feature Articles tite from Namibia|Cordierite from Madagascar|Emerald 28 Characterization of Oriented Inclusions in Cat’s-eye, and pyrite mixture from Co- Star and Other Chrysoberyls lombia|Garnet from Mahenge, By Karl Schmetzer, Heinz-Jürgen Bernhardt and H. Albert Gilg Tanzania|Grandidierite from -
Jog 35 5.Pdf
GemmologyThe Journal of Volume 35 / No. 5 / 2017 The Gemmological Association of Great Britain Contents GemmologyThe Journal of Volume 35 / No. 5 / 2017 COLUMNS p.386 373 What’s New Multi-colour-temperature lamp|PL-Inspector|AGTA report on Myanmar|ASEAN Gem & p. 388 Jewelry Review|Atypical pearl culturing in P. maxima|Conflict diamonds and Cameroon| Diamond origin identification using fluorescence|Global Diamond Industry 2016|ICGL Klaus Schollenbruch photo Newsletter|Japanese journal online|Raman spectrometer sensitivity|Gold demand trends 2016|Agate Expo DVDs|AGTA ARTICLES 2017 Tucson seminars|Color- Jeff Scovil photo Codex colour referencing system| Feature Articles GemeSquare and MyGem- ewizard apps|Gemewizard 404 Synthetic Emeralds Grown by W. Zerfass: Historical monitor calibration kit|Fabergé Account, Growth Technology, and Properties online|Reopening of The Lap- By Karl Schmetzer, H. Albert Gilg and Elisabeth Vaupel worth Museum of Geology 378 Practical Gemmology 416 Rethinking Lab Reports for the Geographical Moonstone mystery Origin of Gems By Jack M. Ogden 380 Gem Notes Red beryl matrix cabochons| Gemmological Briefs Ceruleite from Chile|Yellow danburite from Namalulu, 424 Fake Pearls Made from Tridacna gigas Shells Tanzania|Emerald from By Michael S. Krzemnicki and Laurent E. Cartier Ethiopia|Vivid purplish pink fluorite from Illinois, USA| 430 Large 12-Rayed Black Star Sapphire from Sri Lanka Colourless forsterite from with Asterism Caused by Ilmenite Inclusions Vietnam|Sapphire from By Thanh Nhan Bui, Pascal Entremont and Jean-Pierre Gauthier Ambatondrazaka, Madagascar| Colour-change scorodite from 436 Tsumeb, Namibia|Stichtite| Excursions Zoned type IaB/IIa diamond| Mogok, Myanmar: November 2016 Synthetic star ruby 444 Conferences AGA Tucson|GIT|Jewelry Industry Summit Cover Photo: High-quality rubies, sapphires 450 Letters and emeralds are typically ac- companied by geographical origin reports from gemmologi- 451 Gem-A Notices cal laboratories, as discussed on pp. -
CHAPTER 6 Physical Properties of Minerals
CHAPTER 6 Physical Properties of Minerals Introduction to Mineralogy, William D. Nesse Copyright © 2012, by Oxford University Press, Inc. Second edition Physical Properties of Minerals • Physical properties of minerals are controlled by chemical composition and structure • So, samples of same minerals exhibit the same properties • Thus physical properties can be used to identify minerals • Physical properties can be grouped into four categories Introduction to Mineralogy, William D. Nesse Copyright © 2012, by Oxford University Press, Inc. Second edition Properties based on 1.Mass (density and specific gravity) 2.Mechanical cohesion (hardness, tenacity, cleavage, fracture and parting) 3.Interaction with light (luster, color, streak, lumnescence) 4.Other Properties (magnetism, electrical etc) Introduction to Mineralogy, William D. Nesse Copyright © 2012, by Oxford University Press, Inc. Second edition Density • Density() : mass (m) per unit volume (v) = m/v (g/cm3) • Specific Gravity (G) = density of a material divided by the density of water at 4C G = /H2O is unit less because G is the ratio of two densities. – Since the density of water is 1 g/cm3, the numerical value of density and specific gravity are same in metric system Introduction to Mineralogy, William D. Nesse Copyright © 2012, by Oxford University Press, Inc. Second edition Specific Gravity • Specific Gravity depends on the chemical composition and how tightly the atoms are packed • Packing Index how tightly the ions are packed in a mineral: PI = (VI/Vc ) * 100 Where Vc is the unit cell volume and VI is the actual volume of the ions based on their ionic radii • Maximum packing index for a close packed structure of uniform spheres is 74% -- most minerals have values between 35 and 74 • Minerals formed at high pressure has higher PI : – Kyanite PI = 60.1 and G = 3.6 Andalusite PI= 52.3 and G = 3.1 • G depends on the composition also. -
The New Book
The Millennium Sapphire The Millennium Sapphire ______________________________________________________________ A Tribute to Humankind Cameron Cooper & Pascal Butel ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Breaux Press International Hong Kong, PRC Compilation © 2011 by Breaux Press International All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. The quotes in this book have been drawn from many sources and are assumed to be accurate as quoted in their previously published forms. Although every effort has been made to verify the quotes and sources, the Publisher cannot guarantee their perfect accuracy. First Edition First published in 2013 Breaux Press International, Two Exchange Square, 8th Floor, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong, PRC ® Printed and bound in the United States of America by: MyPublisher Inc., 400 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla, NY 10595 The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.” Cyril Connolly Preface In 1996, an exceptionally large natural sapphire crystal was discovered in northern Madagascar. Eventually, it made its way into the hands of someone who chose posterity over profit. This is the remarkable story of the Millennium Sapphire. Special thanks to designer Alessio Boschi, whose vision, masterful design skills and meticulous oversight assured the Millennium Sapphire was released from the precious crystal in which it was enclosed.