Post by 1dave on Nov 22, 2020 17:03:26 GMT -7
Gemstones
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Utility is in the shaping and durability.
Value is in the scarcity and desirability of the object and the wealth of the collector.
As far back as we have been able to research, people have always been attracted to pretty rocks and shells. Perhaps for over 50,000 years those easily shaped into weapons or tools are noted as special stones: Flint, obsidian, agate, jasper and jade.
Extra special stones entered human awareness for unusual toughness and beauty within the past 10,000 years:
Jade was revered in early China, Southeast Asia, India, Korea, Meso-America, and New Zealand.
Dushan Jade (Henan Province, China) was being mined as early as 6000 BC.
Utilitarian and ceremonial jade items have been found in the Liaoning province and Inner Mongolia (Hongshan culture 4700–2200 BC), in the Ningshao area in the Yangtze River Delta (Liangzhu culture 3400–2250 BC) and In the Yin Ruins of the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1050 BC) in Anyang.
Cardinal (of the greatest importance; fundamental.) gems are gemstones which have traditionally been considered precious above all others. All are shrouded in superstitions powers. The classification of the cardinal gems dates back to antiquity, and was largely determined by ceremonial or religious use and rarity.
The five traditional cardinal gems are:
Royal Purple - Amethyst (quartz) first discovered in Europe ~ 3000 BC. Many different superstitious beliefs formed. The ancient Greeks believed it to ward off intoxication, so named it “amethystos”, which means “not drunken.” It was a precious stone until huge amounts were discovered in Brazil.
Red - Rubies (corundum) were mined in Burma as early as 2500 BC.
Green - Emeralds (beryl) were first mined from the Emerald Mountains of Egypt ~ 2000 B.C.
Blue - Sapphires (corundum)were prized by the rulers of ancient Persia ~ 800 BC.
Clear - Diamonds were first noticed in Vedic India ~ 800 B.C.
Precious stones and semiprecious stones are terms that were created in the mid-1800’s (after the huge amethyst discoveries in Brazil) to describe gemstones. The distinction between precious and semi-precious stones are their rarity, durability, and their quality. Desirable stones found in abundance were labeled semi-precious, and a stone that was rare would be categorized as precious and more valuable. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds were classified as precious stones, and all other desirable stones are classified as semi-precious.
Their rarity, beauty, and method in which they are presented all add to the allure of a precious stone. Any accessory containing a precious stone would be deemed sophisticated and worn by someone of high class.
Despite the distinction and classification of precious stones vs. semi-precious stones, it is not necessarily true that a precious stone is always more valuable or rare than a semi-precious stone. Today value is measured by various factors, and precious stones often do not hold more value than semi-precious stones. A green garnet known as Tsavorite is classified as a semi-precious stone, however if flawless, it is considered more valuable than an emerald, which is classified as a precious stone. However, the label is still valuable and is used worldwide to promote and sell jewelry.
The Four surviving Precious Stones: Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond.
Beryl is most well-known from granite pegmatites. It can also be found in some igneous rhyolite deposits, metamorphosed mica schists and metamorphosed impure limestones.
Composition Beryllium aluminum silicate, occasionally with some sodium, lithium, and cesium
Chemical Formula Be3Al2Si6O18, Hardness 7.5-8.
Beryl is naturally transparent, however inclusions and impurities may make it opaque. All gemmy transparent varieties are highly valued, but the other forms of Beryl in opaque crystals are much more common. Some of the largest natural crystals known are of Beryl, with enormous crystals having been found in several pegmatite occurrences.
It occurs in a diversity of colors, and has several important gemstone varieties. The green variety, Emerald, is one of the most precious gems. Only green Beryl with a deep green color is called Emerald; light green Beryl is simply "Green Beryl" (or Heliodor if it has a yellowish color.)
Pure Beryl is colorless. However, a wide range of impurities cause the diverse amount of colors and many varieties. Emerald is the most famous member of the beryl family. The green color in Emerald is usually caused by traces of the element chromium, and the blue color of Aquamarine usually by iron.
Emerald - The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
Aquamarine, another important gemstone, is the greenish-blue to blue variety of Beryl. Green Beryl from certain localities can be heat treated to produce sky-blue Aquamarine.
Other popular gem varieties of Beryl are the pink Morganite, and the yellow Heliodor and Golden Beryl.
A deep red variety of Beryl, known as Red Beryl is extremely rare, and only comes from two localities in Utah. When in good specimens, Red Beryl commands an outstanding premium and is very difficult to obtain.
Corundum occurs as a mineral in mica schist, gneiss, and some marbles in metamorphic terrains. It also occurs in low silica igneous syenite and nepheline syenite intrusives. Other occurrences are as masses adjacent to ultramafic intrusives, associated with lamprophyre dikes and as large crystals in pegmatites. It commonly occurs as a detrital mineral in stream and beach sands because of its hardness and resistance to weathering. The largest documented single crystal of corundum measured about 65×40×40 cm (26×16×16 in), and weighed 152 kg (335 lb). Four corundum axes were found dating back to 2500 BCE from the Liangzhou culture in China.
Chemical Formula: Aluminum oxide, Al2O3. Hardness 9.
Rubies are corundum which contain chromium impurities that absorb yellow-green light and result in deeper ruby red color with increasing content. Purple sapphires contain trace amounts of vanadium and come in a variety of shades. Corundum that contains ~0.01% of titanium is colorless. If trace amounts of iron are present, a very pale yellow to green color may be seen. However, if both titanium and iron impurities are present together, and in the correct valence states, the result is a deep-blue color and known as Blue Sapphire.
Ruby has been called the most precious of the 12 stones created by God.
Ruby is one of the most historically significant colored stones. Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible, in association with attributes like beauty and wisdom. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.”
The name ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, which means “red.” The glowing red of ruby suggested an inextinguishable flame burning in the stone, even shining through clothing and able to boil water.
Sapphires are mined in about twenty different countries – including Thailand, China, Madagascar and Australia – but Thai sapphires are very sought after because of their high quality.
Sapphires have been a notable symbol throughout Hebrew lore. They were a sign of truth, royalty and sincerity. All through the bible the appearance of sapphires is showcased. In Exodus, the sapphire represented the Lord’s holy character and his divine nature. In Exodus we find vague descriptions of sapphires placed under the Lord’s feet to signify that the foundation on which everything the Lord does was built on his holy character and divine nature.
Sapphires come in a variety of colors, but are mostly associated with blue hues. A sapphire of another color, like pink, white or yellow, is generally called a fancy sapphire. The blue sapphire represents peace and serenity. It is seen many times in ancient religious writing to symbolize purity, wisdom, loyalty and faith. Sapphires are mined throughout Africa and Asia, but can be found in Australia and the U.S. The sapphire is the birthstone for September.
Diamond is the most popular of all gemstones. The diamond is the highest valued precious stone, which takes millions of years to form. A diamond is a mineral compound made of pure carbon and is the hardest natural substance on the planet. Diamonds are so strong, they can only be cut or polished by another diamond. The name itself is derived from the Greek word “adamus,” which means “invincible.” Diamonds are typically colorless, but yellow, brown, green, gray, black, pink, blue, red, and purple stones can also be found along the diamond color spectrum. Jewelry-grade diamonds are rated based on color from bluish-white to yellow, and on clarity, which ranges from pure to various levels of flawed. Diamonds are measured in carats—the higher the carat weight and purity level of a stone, the more valuable the gem. The diamond is the birthstone for April.
Formula - C, Hardness 10.
The world’s love of diamonds began in India, where diamonds were gathered from the country’s rivers and streams. Some historians estimate that India was trading in diamonds as early as the fourth century BC. The country’s resources yielded limited quantities for an equally limited market: India’s very wealthy classes. Gradually, though, this changed. Indian diamonds found their way, along with other exotic merchandise, to Western Europe in the caravans that traveled to Venice’s medieval markets. By the 1400s, diamonds were becoming fashionable accessories for Europe’s elite.
In the early 1700s, as India’s diamond supplies began to decline, Brazil emerged as an important source. Diamonds were discovered in the pans of gold miners as they sifted through the gravels of local rivers. Once it reached its full potential, Brazil dominated the diamond market for more than 150 years.
Diamonds have a long history as beautiful objects of desire. In the first century AD, the Roman naturalist Pliny stated: “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.”
In the 1870s, annual production of rough diamond was well under a million carats. By the 1920s, the figure was around three million carats. Fifty years later, annual production approached 50 million carats, and in the 1990s it surpassed 100 million carats per year.
At the end of the 1970s, the world’s most important rough diamond producers were South Africa, Zaire (now renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo), and the former Soviet Union. In the 1980s, output of higher-quality diamonds from Russia and South Africa remained relatively constant, but Zaire’s production of lower-quality diamonds more than doubled.
Semiprecious Gemstones:
Afghanite, Agate, Alexandrite, Amazonite, Amber, Amethyst, Ametrine, Ammolite, Andalusite, Andesine Feldspar, Apatite, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Azurite.
Bastnasite, Beads, Benitoite, Beryl, , Black Star Diopside, Bloodstone.
Calcite, Calligraphy Stone, Carnelian, Cavansite, Chalcedony, Charoite, Chrome Diopside, Chrysanthemum Flower Stone, Chrysoberyl, Chrysocolla, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Coral.
Danburite, Diaspore, Dioptase, Druzy.
Eudialyte.
Fire Agate, Fluorite, Fuchsite.
Garnet.
Hackmanite, Heliodor, Hematite, Hiddenite, Howlite.
Iolite, Ironstone.
Jade, Jasper, Jeremejevite.
Kunzite, Kyanite.
Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Larimar, Lava Rock, Lazurite, Lepidolite,.
Magnetite, Malachite, Meteorite, Mexican Fire Opal, Moldavite, Moonstone, Morrisonite,
Morganite.
Obsidian, Onyx, Opalite, Orthoclase.
Pearl, Peridot, Peruvian Blue Opal, Petalite, Pietersite, Prasiolite (Green Amethyst), Prehnite, Pyrite.
Quartz.
Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Rhyolite, Rubelite, Ruby & Zoisite.
Scapolite, Selenite, Septarian, Seraphinite, Serpentine, Shell Stones, Shiva Lingam, Sillimanite, Sodalite, Spectrolite, Sphalerite, Sphene, Spinel, Spodumene, Stichtite, Sugilite, Sunstone, Super Seven.
Tanzanite, Tektite, Tiffany Stone, Tiger Eye, , Tiger Iron, Topaz, Tourmaline, Tremolite, Triphane, Turkiyenite, Turquoise.
Variscite, Verdite.
Zebra Rock, Zircon, Zoisite.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Utility is in the shaping and durability.
Value is in the scarcity and desirability of the object and the wealth of the collector.
As far back as we have been able to research, people have always been attracted to pretty rocks and shells. Perhaps for over 50,000 years those easily shaped into weapons or tools are noted as special stones: Flint, obsidian, agate, jasper and jade.
Extra special stones entered human awareness for unusual toughness and beauty within the past 10,000 years:
Jade was revered in early China, Southeast Asia, India, Korea, Meso-America, and New Zealand.
Dushan Jade (Henan Province, China) was being mined as early as 6000 BC.
Utilitarian and ceremonial jade items have been found in the Liaoning province and Inner Mongolia (Hongshan culture 4700–2200 BC), in the Ningshao area in the Yangtze River Delta (Liangzhu culture 3400–2250 BC) and In the Yin Ruins of the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1050 BC) in Anyang.
Cardinal (of the greatest importance; fundamental.) gems are gemstones which have traditionally been considered precious above all others. All are shrouded in superstitions powers. The classification of the cardinal gems dates back to antiquity, and was largely determined by ceremonial or religious use and rarity.
The five traditional cardinal gems are:
Royal Purple - Amethyst (quartz) first discovered in Europe ~ 3000 BC. Many different superstitious beliefs formed. The ancient Greeks believed it to ward off intoxication, so named it “amethystos”, which means “not drunken.” It was a precious stone until huge amounts were discovered in Brazil.
Red - Rubies (corundum) were mined in Burma as early as 2500 BC.
Green - Emeralds (beryl) were first mined from the Emerald Mountains of Egypt ~ 2000 B.C.
Blue - Sapphires (corundum)were prized by the rulers of ancient Persia ~ 800 BC.
Clear - Diamonds were first noticed in Vedic India ~ 800 B.C.
Precious stones and semiprecious stones are terms that were created in the mid-1800’s (after the huge amethyst discoveries in Brazil) to describe gemstones. The distinction between precious and semi-precious stones are their rarity, durability, and their quality. Desirable stones found in abundance were labeled semi-precious, and a stone that was rare would be categorized as precious and more valuable. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds were classified as precious stones, and all other desirable stones are classified as semi-precious.
Their rarity, beauty, and method in which they are presented all add to the allure of a precious stone. Any accessory containing a precious stone would be deemed sophisticated and worn by someone of high class.
Despite the distinction and classification of precious stones vs. semi-precious stones, it is not necessarily true that a precious stone is always more valuable or rare than a semi-precious stone. Today value is measured by various factors, and precious stones often do not hold more value than semi-precious stones. A green garnet known as Tsavorite is classified as a semi-precious stone, however if flawless, it is considered more valuable than an emerald, which is classified as a precious stone. However, the label is still valuable and is used worldwide to promote and sell jewelry.
The Four surviving Precious Stones: Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond.
Beryl is most well-known from granite pegmatites. It can also be found in some igneous rhyolite deposits, metamorphosed mica schists and metamorphosed impure limestones.
Composition Beryllium aluminum silicate, occasionally with some sodium, lithium, and cesium
Chemical Formula Be3Al2Si6O18, Hardness 7.5-8.
Beryl is naturally transparent, however inclusions and impurities may make it opaque. All gemmy transparent varieties are highly valued, but the other forms of Beryl in opaque crystals are much more common. Some of the largest natural crystals known are of Beryl, with enormous crystals having been found in several pegmatite occurrences.
It occurs in a diversity of colors, and has several important gemstone varieties. The green variety, Emerald, is one of the most precious gems. Only green Beryl with a deep green color is called Emerald; light green Beryl is simply "Green Beryl" (or Heliodor if it has a yellowish color.)
Pure Beryl is colorless. However, a wide range of impurities cause the diverse amount of colors and many varieties. Emerald is the most famous member of the beryl family. The green color in Emerald is usually caused by traces of the element chromium, and the blue color of Aquamarine usually by iron.
Emerald - The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
Aquamarine, another important gemstone, is the greenish-blue to blue variety of Beryl. Green Beryl from certain localities can be heat treated to produce sky-blue Aquamarine.
Other popular gem varieties of Beryl are the pink Morganite, and the yellow Heliodor and Golden Beryl.
A deep red variety of Beryl, known as Red Beryl is extremely rare, and only comes from two localities in Utah. When in good specimens, Red Beryl commands an outstanding premium and is very difficult to obtain.
Corundum occurs as a mineral in mica schist, gneiss, and some marbles in metamorphic terrains. It also occurs in low silica igneous syenite and nepheline syenite intrusives. Other occurrences are as masses adjacent to ultramafic intrusives, associated with lamprophyre dikes and as large crystals in pegmatites. It commonly occurs as a detrital mineral in stream and beach sands because of its hardness and resistance to weathering. The largest documented single crystal of corundum measured about 65×40×40 cm (26×16×16 in), and weighed 152 kg (335 lb). Four corundum axes were found dating back to 2500 BCE from the Liangzhou culture in China.
Chemical Formula: Aluminum oxide, Al2O3. Hardness 9.
Rubies are corundum which contain chromium impurities that absorb yellow-green light and result in deeper ruby red color with increasing content. Purple sapphires contain trace amounts of vanadium and come in a variety of shades. Corundum that contains ~0.01% of titanium is colorless. If trace amounts of iron are present, a very pale yellow to green color may be seen. However, if both titanium and iron impurities are present together, and in the correct valence states, the result is a deep-blue color and known as Blue Sapphire.
Ruby has been called the most precious of the 12 stones created by God.
Ruby is one of the most historically significant colored stones. Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible, in association with attributes like beauty and wisdom. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.”
The name ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, which means “red.” The glowing red of ruby suggested an inextinguishable flame burning in the stone, even shining through clothing and able to boil water.
Sapphires are mined in about twenty different countries – including Thailand, China, Madagascar and Australia – but Thai sapphires are very sought after because of their high quality.
Sapphires have been a notable symbol throughout Hebrew lore. They were a sign of truth, royalty and sincerity. All through the bible the appearance of sapphires is showcased. In Exodus, the sapphire represented the Lord’s holy character and his divine nature. In Exodus we find vague descriptions of sapphires placed under the Lord’s feet to signify that the foundation on which everything the Lord does was built on his holy character and divine nature.
Sapphires come in a variety of colors, but are mostly associated with blue hues. A sapphire of another color, like pink, white or yellow, is generally called a fancy sapphire. The blue sapphire represents peace and serenity. It is seen many times in ancient religious writing to symbolize purity, wisdom, loyalty and faith. Sapphires are mined throughout Africa and Asia, but can be found in Australia and the U.S. The sapphire is the birthstone for September.
Diamond is the most popular of all gemstones. The diamond is the highest valued precious stone, which takes millions of years to form. A diamond is a mineral compound made of pure carbon and is the hardest natural substance on the planet. Diamonds are so strong, they can only be cut or polished by another diamond. The name itself is derived from the Greek word “adamus,” which means “invincible.” Diamonds are typically colorless, but yellow, brown, green, gray, black, pink, blue, red, and purple stones can also be found along the diamond color spectrum. Jewelry-grade diamonds are rated based on color from bluish-white to yellow, and on clarity, which ranges from pure to various levels of flawed. Diamonds are measured in carats—the higher the carat weight and purity level of a stone, the more valuable the gem. The diamond is the birthstone for April.
Formula - C, Hardness 10.
The world’s love of diamonds began in India, where diamonds were gathered from the country’s rivers and streams. Some historians estimate that India was trading in diamonds as early as the fourth century BC. The country’s resources yielded limited quantities for an equally limited market: India’s very wealthy classes. Gradually, though, this changed. Indian diamonds found their way, along with other exotic merchandise, to Western Europe in the caravans that traveled to Venice’s medieval markets. By the 1400s, diamonds were becoming fashionable accessories for Europe’s elite.
In the early 1700s, as India’s diamond supplies began to decline, Brazil emerged as an important source. Diamonds were discovered in the pans of gold miners as they sifted through the gravels of local rivers. Once it reached its full potential, Brazil dominated the diamond market for more than 150 years.
Diamonds have a long history as beautiful objects of desire. In the first century AD, the Roman naturalist Pliny stated: “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.”
In the 1870s, annual production of rough diamond was well under a million carats. By the 1920s, the figure was around three million carats. Fifty years later, annual production approached 50 million carats, and in the 1990s it surpassed 100 million carats per year.
At the end of the 1970s, the world’s most important rough diamond producers were South Africa, Zaire (now renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo), and the former Soviet Union. In the 1980s, output of higher-quality diamonds from Russia and South Africa remained relatively constant, but Zaire’s production of lower-quality diamonds more than doubled.
Semiprecious Gemstones:
Afghanite, Agate, Alexandrite, Amazonite, Amber, Amethyst, Ametrine, Ammolite, Andalusite, Andesine Feldspar, Apatite, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Azurite.
Bastnasite, Beads, Benitoite, Beryl, , Black Star Diopside, Bloodstone.
Calcite, Calligraphy Stone, Carnelian, Cavansite, Chalcedony, Charoite, Chrome Diopside, Chrysanthemum Flower Stone, Chrysoberyl, Chrysocolla, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Coral.
Danburite, Diaspore, Dioptase, Druzy.
Eudialyte.
Fire Agate, Fluorite, Fuchsite.
Garnet.
Hackmanite, Heliodor, Hematite, Hiddenite, Howlite.
Iolite, Ironstone.
Jade, Jasper, Jeremejevite.
Kunzite, Kyanite.
Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Larimar, Lava Rock, Lazurite, Lepidolite,.
Magnetite, Malachite, Meteorite, Mexican Fire Opal, Moldavite, Moonstone, Morrisonite,
Morganite.
Obsidian, Onyx, Opalite, Orthoclase.
Pearl, Peridot, Peruvian Blue Opal, Petalite, Pietersite, Prasiolite (Green Amethyst), Prehnite, Pyrite.
Quartz.
Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Rhyolite, Rubelite, Ruby & Zoisite.
Scapolite, Selenite, Septarian, Seraphinite, Serpentine, Shell Stones, Shiva Lingam, Sillimanite, Sodalite, Spectrolite, Sphalerite, Sphene, Spinel, Spodumene, Stichtite, Sugilite, Sunstone, Super Seven.
Tanzanite, Tektite, Tiffany Stone, Tiger Eye, , Tiger Iron, Topaz, Tourmaline, Tremolite, Triphane, Turkiyenite, Turquoise.
Variscite, Verdite.
Zebra Rock, Zircon, Zoisite.
Please add to the list.
Super Seven is a mineral that actually contains seven different individual minerals. The seven minerals in super seven are Amethyst, Cacoxenite, Clear Quartz, Geothite, Rutile, Smokey Quartz, and Lepidocrocite.
The main part of Super Seven is made from Quartz so the stone is very durable. The Quartz acts as a strong vessel to protect the minerals inside the stone. The Rutile and Cacoxenite can be seen as golden needles inside the stone.
The main part of Super Seven is made from Quartz so the stone is very durable. The Quartz acts as a strong vessel to protect the minerals inside the stone. The Rutile and Cacoxenite can be seen as golden needles inside the stone.