Fall 2011 Gems & Gemology
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Thermal Behavior of Afghanite, an ABABACAC Member of the Cancrinite Group
American Mineralogist, Volume 97, pages 630–640, 2012 Thermal behavior of afghanite, an ABABACAC member of the cancrinite group PAOLO BALLIRANO1,2,* AND FERDINANDO BOSI1,3 1Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Roma, Italy 2CNR-IGAG, Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Sede di Roma, Via Bolognola 7, I-00138 Roma, Italy 3CNR-IGG Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Sede di Roma, P.le A. Moro, 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy ABSTRACT Thermal behavior of afghanite, (Na15K5Ca11)Σ31[Si24Al24O96](SO4)6Cl6, P31c, a = 12.7961(7) Å, c = 21.4094(13) Å, an eight-layer member of the cancrinite group, has been investigated by combined electron microprobe analysis, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction. Non-ambient X-ray powder diffraction data were collected in the 323–1223 K thermal range on a specimen from Case Collina, Latium, Italy. Structural refinement and site assignment based on the bond-valence analysis, performed on room-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, provided more accurate site allocation of cations than the available model in the literature. The results show that the cancrinite cages alternating with the liottite cages are more compressed along the c-axis than the remaining ones. As a result the chlorine atom, located at the center of the cages, is driven off-axis to release the steric strain due to the cage compression. Thermal expansion shows a discontinuity at 448 K for both a and c unit-cell parameters, a feature previously reported for other cancrinite-like minerals. -
Palomar Gem & Mineral Club Newsletter
Palomar Gem & Mineral Club Newsletter August 2016 Volume 57 Issue 07 PGMC Annual Picnic We had our annual summer picnic last month at Jesmond Dene Park. As always Moni did a fine job of coordinating the event which included great food brought by everyone as well as a good time of comparing the fine rocks and gems we have found. We had a great slab swap between our members and everyone seemed to have a good time. As summer ends and we get ready to ramp up again, we hope everyone had a safe and productive summer. August is usually a down month for PGMC so that any specialty classes can take place at the shop and folks can go on vacation. We look forward to seeing everyone at the September meeting. Check out the rest of the newsletter for more information about September’s meeting as well as upcoming class schedules. We begin classes this week! 1 Textured Metal Class Come and join in the fun, learning to texture metal and make one-of-kind earrings (3 to 4 pairs) or a bracelet). They are great gifts. You may also learn how to make your own ear wires. Instructors: Diane Hall & Annie Heffner Location: Club Shop Dates: November 20, 2016 Time: 10am-4pm Fee: $35 plus supply cost (club membership required - $25 fee for single membership). You will need about 1 ounce of silver or copper sheet, which we will purchase for every one who is signed up by November 11th. Sign ups after that will need to provide their own material. -
The Wittelsbach-Graff and Hope Diamonds: Not Cut from the Same Rough
THE WITTELSBACH-GRAFF AND HOPE DIAMONDS: NOT CUT FROM THE SAME ROUGH Eloïse Gaillou, Wuyi Wang, Jeffrey E. Post, John M. King, James E. Butler, Alan T. Collins, and Thomas M. Moses Two historic blue diamonds, the Hope and the Wittelsbach-Graff, appeared together for the first time at the Smithsonian Institution in 2010. Both diamonds were apparently purchased in India in the 17th century and later belonged to European royalty. In addition to the parallels in their histo- ries, their comparable color and bright, long-lasting orange-red phosphorescence have led to speculation that these two diamonds might have come from the same piece of rough. Although the diamonds are similar spectroscopically, their dislocation patterns observed with the DiamondView differ in scale and texture, and they do not show the same internal strain features. The results indicate that the two diamonds did not originate from the same crystal, though they likely experienced similar geologic histories. he earliest records of the famous Hope and Adornment (Toison d’Or de la Parure de Couleur) in Wittelsbach-Graff diamonds (figure 1) show 1749, but was stolen in 1792 during the French T them in the possession of prominent Revolution. Twenty years later, a 45.52 ct blue dia- European royal families in the mid-17th century. mond appeared for sale in London and eventually They were undoubtedly mined in India, the world’s became part of the collection of Henry Philip Hope. only commercial source of diamonds at that time. Recent computer modeling studies have established The original ancestor of the Hope diamond was that the Hope diamond was cut from the French an approximately 115 ct stone (the Tavernier Blue) Blue, presumably to disguise its identity after the that Jean-Baptiste Tavernier sold to Louis XIV of theft (Attaway, 2005; Farges et al., 2009; Sucher et France in 1668. -
IOSEA Site Network
IOSEA Marine Turtle Site Network – Preliminary list of suggested candidate sites Sixth iteration: May 2014 Country Suggested priority sites Suggested by: Remarks / Clarification IOSEA non- (Indicate well-recognized signatories are name of site and other shown in italics information to identify its geographic location) Australia East Australia Current Manjula Tiwari Benson et al. 2011; Foraging areas for Extension (EAC) W.Pacific leatherbacks Torres Strait (plus PNG as Mark Hamann 5 species foraging & 3 species nesting well) Sir Edward Pellew Islands Mark Hamann 3 species nesting & 4 species foraging Bahrain Foraging between Eastern JD Miller No known nesting. However, Bahrain side of Bahrain and Hawar territorial waters are important foraging Islands areas for Hawksbills, greens, loggerhead turtles. ** this is regionally important foraging area Bangladesh St Martin’s Island JD Miller Olive ridley, also along mainland Sonadia, Kutubdia, Hatiya, JD Miller Green nesting Sandweep Islands ** these are regionally important nesting areas Brunei Darussalam Cambodia China Comoros Itsamia WIO-MTTF Djibouti Egypt Beaches of southern Sinai JD Miller Hawksbill & Green Nesting Peninsula Shadwan Island, Big Giftan JD Miller Hawksbill & Green Nesting Island Wadi El Gemal JD Miller Hawksbill & Green Nesting Zabargad Island JD Miller Green & Hawksbill Nesting ** these are regionally important sites Eritrea Mojeidi Island JD Miller Hawksbill nesting** this is a regionally important site France Mayotte Manjula Tiwari, WIO-MTTF Green turtles &hawksbills Europa Manjula Tiwari, WIO-MTTF Green turtles &hawksbills Glorieuses WIO-MTTF Tromelin WIO-MTTF . India Rushikuliya, Odisha (East B.C. Choudhury (ex-WII) Mass nesting ground of Olive Ridley coast of India) K. Sivakumar, Bivash Pandav, K. Suresh Kumar, WII Basudev Tripathy, ZSI Kartik Shanker, IISC and Dakshin Foundation C. -
Magnificent Jewels Spring 2013 Sale Highlights a 75.36Ct D/If Type Iia (Ex) Briolette Diamond Pendent Necklace Tops the Sale
PRESS RELEASE | HONG KONG | 7 MAY 2 0 1 3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SPRING 2013 SALE HIGHLIGHTS A 75.36CT D/IF TYPE IIA (EX) BRIOLETTE DIAMOND PENDENT NECKLACE TOPS THE SALE | Magnificent Jewels, Woods Room, May 28, 1:30pm, Sale 3218| Hong Kong – Christie’s Hong Kong will stage its Magnificent Jewels sale on May 28, 2013. Comprising over 290 jewels, the sale is estimated to realize in excess of HK$590 million/US$74 million. Signed pieces from world-class jewelry houses will be presented in the sale. A number of the fine jewels feature distinctive shapes, structures and colour combinations that will attract the attention of collectors with an eye for design. The leading highlight of the sale is a magnificent diamond and coloured diamond pendent necklace. Highlights also extend to an exceptional emerald and diamond necklace, and a ruby and diamond ring. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SALE With a blend of high-calibre craftsmanship, top-quality stones and unique design characteristics, three masterpieces stand out in this sale. The first, a magnificent diamond and coloured diamond pendent necklace (illustrated right, lot 1706, estimate: HK$66,800,000-98,000,000/US$8,500,000- 12,500,000), has a marquise-cut purplish pink diamond suspending a briolette diamond weighing 75.36 carats, the biggest briolette diamond that has ever appeared in auction. While less than one carat in every 100,000 carats of diamond will be found in a perfect condition, this briolette of imposing size is certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to be D colour and type IIa, indicating its internally flawless clarity, excellent polish, highest level of chemical purity and exceptional optical transparency. -
Translated from the Hmannan Yazawin Dawgyl
Burmese I11vasions of Siam, Translated from the Hmannan Yazawin DawgyL ...T . Preface. 'l' he materials for the subject of this paper ·were ch awn almost entirely from the Hmn.nn a 11 Yazawin Dclwg·yi, a H istory of Burm a. in Burmese co1npil eLl by order of King Dagyict <l W of Burma i11 the ycn.r 1 101 B unnese era., A. D . 182!J . The nn t.ive work lms be en closely ac1l1erec1 to in tl1i · pnper, so nmch so that it may he co nsidered a free translat ion ( lr the original coveri 11g t he ~_J e r i o d treated of. A resume of the whole of '\vhat i · containea h re IYill lJe found in Sir A. rtlnu Phayre's llislory of Bul'lna . J n hi s l1 ist ory Sir Art hur Phayre has <Li so f ollowetl t lJ e Hmanua n Yazawin L irly closely, a nd he has utilized a1l th e in fonnat.ion IYh i.ch tl~e 1mt. ire work can offer t hat is worthy of a place in a history w rit t<~ n on European lines aml an::mgo cl it, at least tLS regards the p t·e-Alaungpric period, alm ost in the ordet· it is give n in the orig· in al. But what a, wide difference t here is between history written according to nnti ve ideas and that wr itten ou E nropoa.n principles, a. nd how far Si r Ar thur Phayre has sifted nud coudensed tl1e infon nat.ion co ntained in the original may be imagined when fi fteen pages, each containi ng t wenty eigltt lines of print in the nati1 e hist ory are wo rl.: ed into thirty one lines in Sir Arthur P ha:r re'::; . -
Blue Diamond Prices Are on the Rise
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com. https://www.barrons.com/articles/blue-diamond-prices-are-on-the-rise-1518037930 Blue Diamond Prices Are on the Rise By Ariel R. Shapiro Feb. 7, 2018 4:12 p.m. ET The fancy color diamond market is on the upswing, according to a report, with blue diamonds seeing the largest gains. Blue diamonds saw a 5.9% increase in value in the fourth quarter of 2017 in a year-over-year comparison, according to data published on Feb. 1 by the Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF). Pink and yellow diamond prices decreased slightly in the same period, at 0.8% and 1.8%, respectively. The market overall was up 0.1%. A fancy vivid blue diamond ring (est. $14-18 million) goes on view at Sotheby's on Oct. 13, 2017 in London. ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES FOR SOTHEBY'S In November 2017, Christie’s sold a 8.67-carat fancy intense blue diamond ring in Geneva, Switzerland for $13.2 million. The reason for this disparity has less to do with demand, than it does with the rarity of the stone, says FCRF Chairman Eden Rachminov. Demand for yellow and pink diamonds is actually higher, but the amount of blue diamonds being mined is decreasing. “Almost nothing is coming out of the ground,” he says. Pink diamonds have seen the highest gains in the last 13 years with an overall appreciation of 361.9%, according to FCRF’s index, which is compiled through survey data provided by manufacturers and brokers. -
Marinellite, a New Feldspathoid of the Cancrinite-Sodalite Group
Eur. J. Mineral. 2003, 15, 1019–1027 Marinellite, a new feldspathoid of the cancrinite-sodalite group ELENA BONACCORSI* and PAOLO ORLANDI Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita` di Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, I-56126 Pisa, Italy * Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Marinellite, [(Na,K)42Ca6](Si36Al36O144)(SO4)8Cl2·6H2O, cell parameters a = 12.880(2) Å, c = 31.761(6) Å, is a new feldspathoid belonging to the cancrinite-sodalite group. The crystal structure of a twinned crystal was preliminary refined in space group P31c, but space group P62c could also be possible. It was found near Sacrofano, Latium, Italy, associated with giuseppettite, sanidine, nepheline, haüyne, biotite, and kalsilite. It is anhedral, transparent, colourless with vitreous lustre, white streak and Mohs’ hardness of 5.5. The mineral does not fluoresce, is brittle, has conchoidal fracture, and presents poor cleavage on {001}. Dmeas is 3 3 2.405(5) g/cm , Dcalc is 2.40 g/cm . Optically, marinellite is uniaxial positive, non-pleochroic, = 1.495(1), = 1.497(1). The strongest five reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d in Å (I) (hkl)]: 3.725 (100) (214), 3.513 (80) (215), 4.20 (42) (210), 3.089 (40) (217), 2.150 (40) (330). The electron microprobe analysis gives K2O 7.94, Na2O 14.95, CaO 5.14, Al2O3 27.80, SiO2 32.73, SO3 9.84, Cl 0.87, (H2O 0.93), sum 100.20 wt %, less O = Cl 0.20, (total 100.00 wt %); H2O calculated by difference. The corresponding empirical formula, based on 72 (Si + Al), is (Na31.86K11.13Ca6.06) =49.05(Si35.98Al36.02)S=72O144.60(SO4)8.12Cl1.62·3.41H2O. -
The Union Report the Union Report : Census Report Volume 2 Census Report Volume 2
THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census The Union Report The Union Report : Census Report Volume 2 Volume Report : Census The Union Report Census Report Volume 2 Department of Population Ministry of Immigration and Population May 2015 The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census The Union Report Census Report Volume 2 For more information contact: Department of Population Ministry of Immigration and Population Office No. 48 Nay Pyi Taw Tel: +95 67 431 062 www.dop.gov.mm May, 2015 Figure 1: Map of Myanmar by State, Region and District Census Report Volume 2 (Union) i Foreword The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census (2014 MPHC) was conducted from 29th March to 10th April 2014 on a de facto basis. The successful planning and implementation of the census activities, followed by the timely release of the provisional results in August 2014 and now the main results in May 2015, is a clear testimony of the Government’s resolve to publish all information collected from respondents in accordance with the Population and Housing Census Law No. 19 of 2013. It is my hope that the main census results will be interpreted correctly and will effectively inform the planning and decision-making processes in our quest for national development. The census structures put in place, including the Central Census Commission, Census Committees and Offices at all administrative levels and the International Technical Advisory Board (ITAB), a group of 15 experts from different countries and institutions involved in censuses and statistics internationally, provided the requisite administrative and technical inputs for the implementation of the census. -
Contributions to the Mineralogy of Maryland. by II
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CI RCULARS Publis/ied wit/i t/ze approbation ofthe Board of Trustees VoL. YIIJ.—No. 75.1 BALTIMORE, SEPTEMBER, 1889. [PRICE, 10 CENTS. SCIENTIFIC NOTES. Contributions to the Mineralogy of Maryland. By II. Mica Schist. No new minerals. It is doubtful whether all the schists of the Baltimore area are not sufficiently feldspathic to be regarded as GEORGE H. WILLIAMS. gneisses. Since the publication of the “Notes on the Minerals occurring in the III. Crystalline Limestone. In addition to the species, calcite, phlogo- Neighborhood of Baltimore” in 1887, a number of additions have been pite, brown tourmaline, tremolite, pyrite, and iron hydroxide, already made to our knowledge of mineral occurrences both in this district and in recorded as occurring in the crystalline limestones and dolomites of Balti- more distant parts of the State. I have therefore thought it worth while more county, we may now enumerate the following: Quartz, very common to publish a preliminary record of the principal of these, which may serve in rounded grey nodules known to the quarrymen as “flint;” much rarer as an appendix to the above-mentioned pamphlet. in well-formed limpid crystals. Mr. Tidy, for many years salesman for the I shall mention first the new minerals found within the Baltimore Beaver Dam marble company, told me of a remarkable druse of quartz neighborhood—the 625 square miles embraced within the limits of the crystals accidentally found by the breaking of a marble step. He described University Field Club map, to which alone reference was made in the the crystals as resembling tbe glass prisms frequently suspended from chan- “Notes “—and subsequently speak of such species a.s have come to my notice deliers. -
26 May 2021 Aperto
AperTO - Archivio Istituzionale Open Access dell'Università di Torino The crystal structure of sacrofanite, the 74 Å phase of the cancrinite–sodalite supergroup This is the author's manuscript Original Citation: Availability: This version is available http://hdl.handle.net/2318/90838 since Published version: DOI:10.1016/j.micromeso.2011.06.033 Terms of use: Open Access Anyone can freely access the full text of works made available as "Open Access". Works made available under a Creative Commons license can be used according to the terms and conditions of said license. Use of all other works requires consent of the right holder (author or publisher) if not exempted from copyright protection by the applicable law. (Article begins on next page) 05 October 2021 This Accepted Author Manuscript (AAM) is copyrighted and published by Elsevier. It is posted here by agreement between Elsevier and the University of Turin. Changes resulting from the publishing process - such as editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms - may not be reflected in this version of the text. The definitive version of the text was subsequently published in MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS, 147, 2012, 10.1016/j.micromeso.2011.06.033. You may download, copy and otherwise use the AAM for non-commercial purposes provided that your license is limited by the following restrictions: (1) You may use this AAM for non-commercial purposes only under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND license. (2) The integrity of the work and identification of the author, copyright owner, and publisher must be preserved in any copy. -
Examples from NYF Pegmatites of the Třebíč Pluton, Czech Republic
Journal of Geosciences, 65 (2020), 153–172 DOI: 10.3190/jgeosci.307 Original paper Beryllium minerals as monitors of geochemical evolution from magmatic to hydrothermal stage; examples from NYF pegmatites of the Třebíč Pluton, Czech Republic Adam ZACHAŘ*, Milan NOVÁK, Radek ŠKODA Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic; [email protected] * Corresponding author Mineral assemblages of primary and secondary Be-minerals were examined in intraplutonic euxenite-type NYF peg- matites of the Třebíč Pluton, Moldanubian Zone occurring between Třebíč and Vladislav south of the Třebíč fault. Primary magmatic Be-minerals crystallized mainly in massive pegmatite (paragenetic type I) including common beryl I, helvite-danalite I, and a rare phenakite I. Rare primary hydrothermal beryl II and phenakite II occur in miarolitic pockets (paragenetic type II). Secondary hydrothermal Be-minerals replaced primary precursors or filled fractures and secondary cavities, or they are associated with ,,adularia” and quartz (paragenetic type III). They include minerals of bohseite-ba- venite series, less abundant beryl III, bazzite III, helvite-danalite III, milarite-agakhanovite-(Y) III, phenakite III, and datolite-hingganite-(Y) III. Chemical composition of the individual minerals is characterized by elevated contents of Na, Cs, Mg, Fe, Sc in beryl I and II; Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al in bazzite III; REE in milarite-agakhanovite-(Y) III; variations in Fe/Mn in helvite-danalite and high variation of Al in bohseite-bavenite series. Replacement reactions of primary Be- -minerals are commonly complex and the sequence of crystallization of secondary Be-minerals is not defined; minerals of bohseite-bavenite series are mostly the latest.