Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA

Contributor

Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.

Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com

Articles by Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA

Nephrite Jade Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Nephrite Jade Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Nephrite is one of the two distinct minerals commonly known as jade. While nephrite doesn't match the variety or the...
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Jadeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Jadeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of two distinct minerals commonly known as jade, jadeite is the rarer and harder variety. Rich green jadeite, known...
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Variscite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Variscite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With beautiful green to blue-green colors and interesting patterns, variscite is a popular hobbyist material for cabochons.
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Legrandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Legrandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Too soft for jewelry use, legrandite is a popular collector’s mineral because of its intense yellow color and aesthetic crystal...
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Chrysoprase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chrysoprase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chrysoprase is apple-green chalcedony that derives its color from nickel. Its hardness and striking color make it a popular gemstone...
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Smithsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Smithsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Smithsonite occurs across the globe, but facetable crystals are extremely rare. These gems can show a wide range range of...
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Vivianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Vivianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Vivianite is so fragile and soft, any faceted gems would be difficult to handle safely, let alone wear. Nevertheless, its...
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Eudialyte Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Eudialyte Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although lapidaries can cut cabochons and decorative objects from massive or translucent eudialyte crystals, transparent material suitable for faceting is...
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Benitoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Benitoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With dispersion higher than diamond and sapphire-blue body color, benitoite is one of the most attractive of all rare gems....
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Covellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Covellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although covellite has attractive blue colors and shows iridescence, this rare mineral is difficult to cut. You can scratch it...
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Bytownite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bytownite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although bytownite occurs throughout the world, this feldspar variety is rarely encountered in gem-quality condition.
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Villiaumite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Villiaumite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A little-known and rare collector’s gemstone, villiaumite is very difficult to facet. Its toxicity also makes it inadvisable to handle...
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Pearl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pearl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pearls are the only gems found within living creatures, both salt and freshwater mollusks. However, most pearls on the market...
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Red Beryl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Red Beryl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Originally known as bixbite, red beryl is one of the rarest, most desirable, and most expensive gemstones. Most fine crystal...
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Heliodor Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Heliodor Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Heliodor is a member of the beryl family. This stone is known for its range of yellow colors — from...
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Morganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Morganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A member of the beryl family, morganite shows a range of pink colors due to traces of manganese. Recently, this...
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Proustite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Proustite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Proustite crystals have magnificent red colors and good brilliance. Although facetable, they're too soft for jewelry use but highly desired...
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Wulfenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wulfenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although aesthetically magnificent wulfenite crystals are often too thin, soft, and sensitive to cut for jewelry, rare faceted pieces are...
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Rutile Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rutile Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Though perhaps best known as inclusions within other gems, rutile crystals themselves can be faceted or cabbed as curiosities for...
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Xonotlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Xonotlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Xonotlite is strong and can take a good polish. However, these gems are extremely rare, both as a species and...
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Leucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Leucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although abundant in various lava rocks, leucite is extremely rare in gem-quality form and often has a milky or cloudy...
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Zektzerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Zektzerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Small, cuttable crystals of very rare zektzerite are found only in a mountainous location in Washington state. Faceted pieces would...
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Gemstone Optics: The Basics

Gemstone Optics: The Basics

Accurately measuring optical properties is critical for identifying gemstones. This article covers the basic terminology and concepts of gemstone optics....
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Petalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Petalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gem-quality, colorless, facetable petalite is rare and desirable to collectors. More so if the stones are large and free of...
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Rhodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ranging in color from pink to a fine rose red, rhodonite is a popular material for jewelry and decorative objects....
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Danburite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Danburite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A very durable gemstone, danburite is an excellent choice for jewelry use. Although the mineral isn't rare, large facetable pieces...
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Apophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Apophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although not suitable for jewelry, apophyllite is a popular collector's piece. Perhaps the whitest of all gems, some cut specimens...
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Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarest of all facetable gems, cut cuprites can show magnificent deep red color. However, these beautiful stones...
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Anhydrite (Angelite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Anhydrite (Angelite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rare and difficult to cut, anhydrite is seldom faceted. However, this material can be carved into beautiful objects. “Angelite,” a...
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Parisite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Parisite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

More well-known as rare inclusions in emeralds, parisite crystals are usually small and seldom faceted.
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Sphene (Titanite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sphene (Titanite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sphene, also known as titanite, has rich body colors, strong trichroism, and a fire that exceeds diamond. Although softer than...
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Axinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Axinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

When faceted, the members of the axinite mineral group are usually intensely pleochroic, with rich brown and purple colors dominating....
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An Introduction to Gemstone Inclusions

An Introduction to Gemstone Inclusions

Gemstone inclusions are materials trapped inside gems as they form. Learn how gemologists use inclusions to help identify gemstones and...
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Euclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Euclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although hard enough to be worn safely in jewelry, euclase in beautiful colors is rare over a few carats. It’s...
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What is Gemstone Cleavage?

What is Gemstone Cleavage?

Gemstone cleavage is a break in a crystal along internal planes. Learn the science behind this and the difference between...
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Grossular Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Grossular Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Grossular garnets come in almost every color, even colorless, except blue. However, unlike other garnets, they’re rarely red or dark....
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Demantoid Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Demantoid Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarest garnet varieties, demantoid can have a green color that rivals emerald and a fire that exceeds...
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Phenakite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Phenakite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rare phenakite is a very hard gem material suitable for jewelry. Usually colorless, cut stones have little fire but can...
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Rose Quartz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rose Quartz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A popular variety of colored quartz, rose quartz makes a durable jewelry stone. Although commonly cabbed and carved, more transparent...
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Tugtupite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tugtupite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gem collectors prize tugtupite, the "Reindeer Stone," for its rich colors and intense reaction to ultraviolet light. Sporadically used in...
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Serandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Serandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

To date, only one locality — Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada — has produced facetable serandite. These extremely rare gems...
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Humite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Humite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Clinohumites and chondrodites can make beautiful gemstones with rich colors, but these members of the humite mineral group are rare...
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Weloganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Weloganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Truly a collector’s gem, weloganite is very rare and seldom cut. This stone can show pale yellow colors.
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Colemanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Colemanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Colemanite is an abundant mineral, and transparent material isn’t rare. However, gem cutters rarely facet these typically pale stones. Difficult...
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Dolomite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dolomite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although transparent dolomite crystals are fairly abundant and popular collector’s items, faceted gems are soft, fragile, and rarely seen in...
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Cryolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cryolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Typically colorless with a “sleepy” look, cryolite is rarely found in nature. Rough suitable for gem faceting is extremely scarce....
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Cobaltite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cobaltite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cobaltite cabochons can have a lovely metallic luster. However, this gem material is very seldom faceted.
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Chambersite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chambersite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chambersite is an exceedingly rare mineral. Although it has properties suitable for jewelry use, its crystals occur in very small...
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Barite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Barite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Massive white barite (also called known as baryte) looks like marble and could be used for decorative purposes. In spite...
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Anorthite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Anorthite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The rarest plagioclase feldspar, anorthite is very rarely faceted.
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Datolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Datolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Polished and sliced datolite nodules can show off very attractive colors. Datolite is a popular collector’s mineral, but faceted and...
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Rhodochrosite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodochrosite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Beautiful rose red to pink rhodochrosite crystals are popular with mineral collectors. Although very soft, opaque stones have been fashioned...
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Descriptive Crystallography for Gemologists

Descriptive Crystallography for Gemologists

Crystallography is the study of crystalline solids. Learn the most common terms gemologists use to describe the structure of crystal...
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Scorodite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Scorodite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With lovely colors and intense pleochroism, faceted scorodite is a prize for collectors of the rare and unusual. However, it’s...
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Anglesite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Anglesite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although anglesites with pale colors can show great dispersion and brightness, they’re difficult to cut and inadvisable to wear. Faceted...
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Kyanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kyanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kyanite’s physical properties make it very difficult to facet. However, it’s a popular collector’s gem, especially in sapphire-blue colors.
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Amazonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amazonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A green to blue-green variety of microcline, amazonite makes a wonderful gemstone for cabbing and carving.
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Siderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Siderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Siderite is difficult to cut, but this light brown collector's gem has yielded faceted pieces of great beauty.
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Serpentine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Serpentine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The gem material known as serpentine actually encompasses several related mineral species. For millennia, people have cut serpentines into beautiful...
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Anatase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Anatase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Anatase occurs in many beautiful colors, such as deep indigo and amber yellow. However, these rare gems are seldom transparent...
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Purpurite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Purpurite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Purpurite is too soft for jewelry wear and never transparent. Nevertheless, lapidaries have cut cabochons from this material with magnificent...
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Creedite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Creedite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Probably fewer than a dozen creedite gems have ever been faceted. This rare mineral is rarer still as a cuttable...
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Ludlamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ludlamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ludlamite has a lovely green color, but cut stones are extremely rare. Large crystals of this phosphate mineral are known...
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Gemstone Color Measurements and Specifications

Gemstone Color Measurements and Specifications

Gemstone color measurements are hard to make with conventional color-order systems. Learn how recent colorimetry tech advances have improved accuracy....
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Oregon Sunstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Oregon Sunstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

While feldspar sunstones from sources around the world have been used for carvings and cabochons, Oregon sunstone material has proven...
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Prosopite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Prosopite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Prosopite is usually a nondescript mineral with no gem significance. However, beautiful blue specimens are sometimes cut for jewelry.
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Hematite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hematite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hematite has a long history of use as a pigment. As a gemstone, this material is often carved but very...
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Wavellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wavellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wavellite is a very attractive mineral, well-known to collectors. Its radial aggregate crystal clusters can be cut into extremely interesting...
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Stibiotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Stibiotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rare stibiotantalite possesses an interesting mix of physical and optical properties that help distinguish it from other earth-toned gemstones. However,...
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Understanding Gemological Formulas

Understanding Gemological Formulas

Gemological formulas identify the chemical composition of gems and minerals. Learn what the symbols, numbers, and parentheses mean.
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Tanzanite (Zoisite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tanzanite (Zoisite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tanzanite has had a rapid rise to prominence among jewelers and gem enthusiasts. Although naturally reddish brown, this transparent zoisite...
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Apatite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Apatite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although too brittle for most jewelry use, properly cut apatite gems are truly magnificent. A collector could assemble a suite...
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What is Gemstone Luster?

What is Gemstone Luster?

Gemstone luster describes how a gem's surface looks when it reflects light. Learn the common terms gemologists use for this...
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Herderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Herderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Herderite is a rare collector's gem, especially in larger sizes. Although too soft for daily jewelry wear, this material is...
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Sodalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sodalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Typically blue, durable, and easy to cut, sodalite is highly desired by hobbyists. Even stones that lack transparency make lovely...
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Mellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Mellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Mellite is a rare and unusual organic gemstone. Although soft and fragile, the “honey stone” is quite beautiful when cut....
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Fluorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Fluorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although too fragile for most jewelry use, fluorites are often faceted for collectors. They occur in a wide range of...
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Grandidierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Grandidierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A rather rare mineral, lovely blue-green grandidierite is seldom seen in gem or jewelry collections. Translucent material is sometimes cut...
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Tektite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tektite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tektite is a natural glass formed from the ejected debris of meteorite impacts. Though most pieces are very small, some...
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Andalusite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Andalusite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Strongly pleochroic, andalusite can show shades of green, brown, and red when viewed from different directions. Although tough enough for...
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Bloodstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bloodstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Also known as heliotrope, bloodstone is the traditional March birthstone. This dark green, opaque chalcedony with red to orange spots...
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Ametrine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ametrine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ametrine is a variety of quartz that displays bands of both amethyst purple and citrine yellow. These gems are typically...
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Kämmererite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kämmererite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A beautiful but rare mineral, kämmererite is extraordinarily difficult to facet. As a result, the availability of cut gems is...
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Opal Stones and Gems: Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Opal Stones and Gems: Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Opals are in a class by themselves. As a species, opal is so unique it has its own descriptive vocabulary....
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What is Moonstone Gemstone? Value, Price, and Color

What is Moonstone Gemstone? Value, Price, and Color

Found all over the world, moonstone is prized for its blue to white adularescence — a billowy, moonlight-like sheen. Despite...
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Amethyst Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amethyst Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amethyst is crystalline quartz in colors ranging from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. The February birthstone makes a fine,...
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Jet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Jet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Historically a popular black gem, jet has declined in popularity in modern times. Although jet jewelry has been long associated...
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Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although commonly associated with the color red, garnets can be found in almost any color and are popular choices for...
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Andradite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Andradite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Andradite is one of the most sought after garnet species. Although more sources have been discovered in recent decades, gem-quality...
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Almandine Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Almandine Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Almandine is perhaps the most common garnet species. Forming series with pyrope and spessartine garnets, these gems occur in the...
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Spurrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Spurrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An attractive but uncommon mineral, spurrite has seldom been cut as a gemstone. However, it has the hardness and tenacity...
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Kurnakovite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kurnakovite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kurnakovite is difficult to cut, inadvisable to wear, and usually colorless. Consequently, faceted specimens are extremely rare.
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Rhodizite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodizite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodizite is tough enough to make an excellent jewelry stone. However, it's quite a rare mineral. Faceted specimens are extremely...
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Epidote Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Epidote Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The epidote mineral supergroup contains many related species of interest to collectors. However, epidote itself is the one most likely...
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Obsidian Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Obsidian Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Obsidian is the most common form of natural glass and occurs in many attractive varieties. Since prehistoric times, people have...
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Aquamarine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Aquamarine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Named after the color of sea water, aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Readily available...
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Pollucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pollucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Colorless pollucites lack fire when cut and are usually small. However, this very rare cesium mineral is a coveted collector's...
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Coral Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Coral Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Coral is the external skeleton of a tiny, plant-like marine animal called the coral polyp. The structures that result from...
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Scapolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Scapolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although not well known, scapolite would make an attractive gem material for both jewelry enthusiasts and mineral collectors. It comes...
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Malachite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Malachite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Malachite is a beautiful decorative stone. Its rich, patterned coloration in shades of green is unique among gems. Malachite's low...
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Charoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Charoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With light to medium dark purple colors and swirling patterns, charoite is usually quite distinctive. No other material is likely...
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Phosgenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Phosgenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rare phosgenite typically shows pale colors. This material is difficult to cut and too soft for jewelry wear. However, its...
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Cerussite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cerussite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

As beautiful as a diamond, a faceted cerussite actually has higher dispersion and usually excellent transparency, colorless or light body...
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Milarite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Milarite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Very rare milarite crystals can occur in green and yellow colors. Transparent material can yield small but pleasant looking faceted...
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Magnesite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Magnesite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Transparent, gem-quality magnesite is rare and beautiful, with colors ranging from colorless, white, and gray to a yellowish brown.
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Eosphorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Eosphorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Faceted eosphorites in pale colors are quite attractive and easy to cut. However, these very rare gems are too soft...
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Chiolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chiolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chiolite makes a challenging gem. It's difficult to cut, extremely rare, and has little appeal. It's solely a curiosity in...
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Hambergite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hambergite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although hard enough for jewelry use, rare hambergite is a gem for collectors of the unusual. Its combination of high...
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Sphalerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sphalerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sphalerite occurs in many colors. With a dispersion over three times that of diamond and an adamantine luster, faceted specimens...
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Aragonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Aragonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Aragonite is more commonly found as a constituent of pearl and shell nacre than as a crystal suitable for gem...
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Amber Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amber Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amber is the hardened resin of ancient pine trees. This organic substance is most well-known for the incredible inclusions of...
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Sapphirine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sapphirine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sapphirines are durable but very rare gemstones. Although named after their typically sapphire-blue color, these gems can occur in different...
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Lazulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lazulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lazulite makes a magnificent, deep blue gemstone. Although the mineral itself occurs widely, gem-quality rough is limited. Specimens are prized...
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Adamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Adamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although adamite occurs in many localities, it's very rarely cut as a gem. This mineral is much too soft and...
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Staurolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Staurolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Staurolite crystals in opaque cross shapes are popular gemstones. However, this material is very rarely transparent or facetable. These dark...
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Amblygonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amblygonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Amblygonite gems are usually pale straw yellow. Although they are too soft and cleavable to make good ring stones, collectors...
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Celestite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Celestite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Soft, fragile, and hard to cut, celestite or celestine is seldom seen in gem collections. These gems are usually colorless...
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Lapis Lazuli Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lapis Lazuli Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lapis lazuli has been used since ancient times and remains popular today. This gemstone has been prized for its bright,...
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Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, and Imitations, Part 5: Gemstone Treatments

Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, and Imitations, Part 5: Gemstone Treatments

Identifying gemstone treatments is difficult even for experienced gemologists. Learn about the many different ways gem color and clarity are...
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Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tourmaline is a name applied to a family of related minerals with widely varying properties. Tourmalines make very popular jewelry...
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Rubellite Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rubellite Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rubellites are tourmalines with reasonably saturated dark pink to red colors and medium to dark tones. They make excellent jewelry...
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Gemstone Treatment Codes

Gemstone Treatment Codes

The AGTA has proposed the use of gemstone treatment codes to promote disclosure and a common language for these procedures....
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Malaya or Malaia Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Malaya or Malaia Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Malaia or malaya garnets are typically light to dark, slightly pinkish orange, reddish orange, or yellowish orange in color. This...
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Pyrope Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrope Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrope always occurs in series with other garnet species. Common, dark red garnets are a mixture of almandine and pyrope....
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Topaz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Topaz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The traditional November birthstone, topaz is a popular gem. Although frequently associated with golden yellow as well as blue, it...
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Gemstone Thermal Properties

Gemstone Thermal Properties

Non-destructive tests are critical for gemologists trying to identify gems. Learn how measuring thermal properties, especially thermal inertia, can help....
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Mali Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Mali Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarer varieties in the garnet group, Mali garnet is a blend of grossular and andradite. This gemstone...
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Rhodolite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodolite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rhodolites are purplish red garnets, a blend between almandine and pyrope in composition. These durable gems have become popular jewelry...
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Emerald Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Emerald Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Emerald has been synonymous with the color green since ancient times. A fine emerald is a truly breathtaking sight, and...
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Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Few gems have held our attention over millennia as well as sapphire. The pure blue colors and excellent durability of...
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Peridot Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Peridot Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The modern August birthstone, peridot has been prized as a jewelry stone since ancient times. Always green in color but...
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Ruby and Sapphire Origins

Ruby and Sapphire Origins

Ruby and sapphire origins greatly affect the values of these prized gems. Learn where these stones occur and how inclusions...
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Mimetite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Mimetite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Transparent mimetite crystals are extremely rare, and very few have ever been faceted. Cabochons with rich orange and yellow colors...
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Freshwater Pearls Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Freshwater Pearls Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Like their marine cousins, many freshwater mollusks can produce pearls. However, this rarely occurs in nature. Today, the majority of...
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Ammolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ammolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ammolite is a rare, iridescent, gem-quality material cut from the fossilized shells of extinct sea creatures. Found only in the...
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Pectolite (Larimar) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pectolite (Larimar) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Fibrous pectolite has long been a curiosity for gem collectors. Compact material can make wonderful cabochons, and transparent crystals are...
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Saltwater Pearls Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Saltwater Pearls Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although pearls are one of humanity’s most ancient gems, natural undersea beds of pearl-producing oysters now occur very rarely. Cultured...
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Väyrynenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Väyrynenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Väyrynenite is a very rare mineral. Crystals as well as faceted gemstones in reddish, pinkish, and orange colors are prized...
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Pyrargyrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrargyrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Deep red pyrargyrite occurs in a number of localities in well-formed but small crystals. However, facetable rough is rare and...
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Dioptase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dioptase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dioptase has a beautiful, emerald-like green color. Although this mineral isn’t rare, gems are seldom faceted because of a paucity...
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Microlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Microlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ranging in color from pale yellow to brown, reddish, and green, microlite cabochons are prized by collectors. Faceted gems are...
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Haüyne Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Haüyne Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the major mineral constituents of lapis lazuli, haüyne is rarely found and faceted as a distinct gemstone. Collectors...
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Ekanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ekanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A relative newcomer to the world of gemstones, ekanite is rare and usually quite radioactive. When cabbed, some ekanites can...
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Beryllonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Beryllonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Difficult to facet and typically colorless, beryllonite is a rare collector’s gem. Some specimens can show a striking cat’s eye....
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Friedelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Friedelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Friedelite is not abundant, and gem-quality material is rarely seen even in large collections. Faceted gems are true collector's items....
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Azurite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Azurite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Collectors prize deep blue azurite crystals, but faceted gems are extremely rare. However, azurite frequently occurs mixed with green malachite,...
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Whewellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Whewellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Seldom seen even in mineral collections, whewellite is very rarely faceted. It’s mostly desired as a curiosity because of its...
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Spessartite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Spessartite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Usually orange to reddish brown, gem-quality spessartite or spessartine garnets are somewhat rare. However, as blends with other garnet species,...
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Jeremejevite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Jeremejevite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Jeremejevite would make a durable and attractive jewelry stone, but this rare mineral occurs even more rarely as facetable material....
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Turquoise Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Turquoise Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With striking sky blue to blue-green colors, turquoise has been prized by cultures all over the world for over 5,000...
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Zircon Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Zircon Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Don’t be confused by the name. Zircon is a natural, magnificent, and underrated gemstone that has been worn and treasured...
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Sugilite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sugilite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

What is the color of sugilite? Grape jelly purple is a good description. More popular among consumers in Asia than...
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Tsavorite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tsavorite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An emerald-green variety of grossular garnet, tsavorite is one of the most popular and expensive varieties of garnet. Suitable for...
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Gypsum Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gypsum Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gypsum is one of the most abundant minerals, but gem-quality crystals are very rare. This material is extremely difficult to...
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Algodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Algodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bright, silvery metallic cabochons of algodonite and domeykite are attractive and unusual. Faceted pieces are rarely seen but very beautiful...
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Citrine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Citrine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Citrine is the yellow to red-orange variety of crystalline quartz. Clever marketing and the rise of “earth tone” fashions have...
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Crocoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Crocoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lovely saffron-colored crocoite is quite a rare mineral. Although too soft and brittle for jewelry wear, a few crystals have...
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Boracite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Boracite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

With light blue and green colors, no cleavage, and high hardness, boracite is an uncommon mineral. Unfortunately for jewelry lovers,...
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Scheelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Scheelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Large, faceted scheelites are among the most beautiful of all collector’s gemstones. They occur in many colors and fluoresce very...
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Willemite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Willemite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Willemite is prized for its intense green fluorescence. Too fragile for jewelry use, faceted specimens are extremely rare.
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Brazilianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brazilianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brazilianite's lovely green to yellow colors make it a must for gem collectors. Large faceted stones are often flawed, but...
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Yugawaralite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Yugawaralite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Yugawaralite is a very rare colorless to pinkish zeolite mineral. Little facetable material exists, so a cut yugawaralite would be...
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Pyroxmangite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyroxmangite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyroxmangite grains are rare, seldom clean enough to facet, and difficult to cut. However, when cut, they are extremely beautiful...
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Phosphophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Phosphophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Renowned for its delicate blue-green shades, phosphophyllite’s beauty is enhanced by expert cutting. Unfortunately, this gem is quite fragile and...
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What is Gemstone Luminescence?

What is Gemstone Luminescence?

Gemstone luminescence is a glow that occurs when certain stones are subjected to energy such as UV light. This effect...
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Thaumasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Thaumasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

For a long time, rare thaumasite crystals — pale, fragile, and with little to no fire — were interesting primarily...
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Augelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Augelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Soft and brittle, rare augelites are difficult to cut and unsuitable for wear. Faceted transparent pieces are only found in...
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Cassiterite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cassiterite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cassiterite is a durable gemstone with tremendous dispersive fire, especially visible in properly cut pale-colored stones. As the principal ore...
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Ceruleite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ceruleite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A little-known gem material of truly exquisite color, sky-blue ceruleite takes a very high polish easily and quickly. However, fine,...
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Sarcolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sarcolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sarcolite is an extremely rare mineral. Tiny, colorless to “fleshy pink” gems have been cut only from material from one...
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Sulfur Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sulfur Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although sulfur is very abundant, facetable material is not. Sulfur is also enormously difficult to cut and almost impossible to...
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Chrysoberyl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chrysoberyl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although many gems show a cat’s eye effect, when the term “cat’s eye” is used alone, it always refers to...
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Hemimorphite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hemimorphite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Massive hemimorphite can have a very delicate, blue color. However, it's seldom cut because not very much has appeared on...
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Alexandrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Alexandrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

“Emerald by day, ruby by night,” alexandrite is well known for displaying one of the most remarkable color changes in...
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Painite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Painite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Until 2001, only three painite crystals were known to exist. Since then, additional discoveries have produced many more specimens of...
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Papagoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Papagoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cerulean blue papagoite crystals are too small for faceting. However, massive material mixed with quartz can be cabbed, while quartz...
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Brucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brucite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brucites are extremely difficult to cut. Although too soft for jewelry use, faceted pieces would be great additions to collections...
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Brookite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brookite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Brookite usually occurs in very dark colors, transparent only in small fragments. Cuttable crystals are exceedingly rare, making attractive faceted...
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Triphylite (Tryphylite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Triphylite (Tryphylite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Triphylite is one of the world's rarest gems. The IGS had the extraordinary privilege of examining a discovery of facetable...
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Witherite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Witherite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Easy to cut but too soft and fragile for jewelry, a faceted witherite would make an unusual addition to a...
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Hessonite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hessonite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Also known as the “cinnamon stone,” hessonite is the yellow-orange to reddish orange variety of grossular garnet. Hessonites can make...
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Uvarovite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Uvarovite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Always a dark, rich green color, uvarovite is one of the rarest members of the garnet family. Usually only seen...
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Niccolite (Nickeline) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Niccolite (Nickeline) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Niccolite’s delicate peachy red color and metallic luster looks beautiful when polished. Gem cutters typically carve this gem material into...
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Hurlbutite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hurlbutite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hurlbutite is an extremely rare mineral. Minute, colorless faceted stones have been cut from fragments.
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Millerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Millerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Millerite has a rich, attractive yellow color. Massive millerites can sometimes be cut into cabochons but are too soft for...
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Realgar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Realgar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although this common arsenic sulfide mineral occurs worldwide, cut gem-quality realgar is extremely rare. This fine, red stone is very...
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Palygorskite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Palygorskite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although marketed as “angel skin opal,” “rock wood,” and “mountain leather,” palygorskite is neither opal, wood, nor leather. This unusual,...
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Hureaulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hureaulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hureaulite can show rich and lively pink, rose, and orange colors. However, this collector's gem is rarely cut.
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Chabazite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chabazite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although faceting chabazite isn't too difficult, it's too soft for jewelry. However, only a handful of cut chabazites may exist...
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Basics of Gemstone Density and Specific Gravity

Basics of Gemstone Density and Specific Gravity

Gemologists sometimes measure gemstone density or specific gravity to help with gem identification. Learn the basics of this property and...
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Marcasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Marcasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Marcasite has a long history of use as a decorative and jewelry material. However, this brassy colored, metallic stone is...
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Cinnabar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cinnabar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Magnificent red cinnabar is extremely soft and fragile, so faceted material is rare. It's cut primarily for collectors and carvings....
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Chrysocolla Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chrysocolla Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pure blue chrysocolla is extremely soft but interesting to gem collectors. On the other hand, chrysocolla that forms as gel...
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Spinel Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Spinel Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Although long known best for being misidentified as ruby, spinel is a beautiful gem in its own right. Its colors,...
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Chalcedony Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chalcedony Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Technically, chalcedony (kal SED' uh nee) is any form of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz, (meaning any form of quartz whose...
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Agate Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Agate Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Agate is a variety of chalcedony that exists in many colors and is often commercially dyed. Agate is distinguished by...
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Corundum Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Corundum Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Next to diamond, corundum is the hardest mineral known and is very compact and dense, with no cleavage. As a...
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Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 2: Crystal Growth

Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 2: Crystal Growth

Learn about the different crystal growth methods used to artificially create gemstones in laboratories.
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Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 3: Synthetic Diamond

Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 3: Synthetic Diamond

Learn about synthetic diamond creation and the challenges buyers face determining whether a diamond is natural or artificial.
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Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 4: Synthetic Gemstone Guide

Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 4: Synthetic Gemstone Guide

Many varieties of gems besides diamond can be created in the laboratory. Our synthetic gemstone guide covers many examples and...
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Sunstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sunstone Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sunstones contain hematite or goethite inclusions, which reflect light in parallel orientation and create a sparkling sheen in gold to...
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Andesine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Andesine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

These feldspars are rarely encountered in gem form. Andesine's occurrence is widespread throughout the world, in a great variety of...
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Oligoclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Oligoclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Oligoclase gems are feldspars that are part of a solid state series between albite and anothrite.
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Albite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Albite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Albite, usually colorless but sometimes yellow, pink, gray or reddish. Translucent albite is sometime colored green by chrome jadeite. It...
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Peristerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Peristerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Peristerite is primarily oligoclase with a complex mixture of feldspars. It has iridescence that is either blue or white.
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Perthite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Perthite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Perthite is a blend of microcline, albite and oligoclase. It is usually brown and white. May have gold or white...
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Sanidine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sanidine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sanidine is a mineral of volcanic rocks, rarely considered a gem. While occasionally brown or yellow, most examples are colorless....
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Orthoclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Orthoclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Orthoclase is best known for moonstone. It is occasionally a transparent, faceted gem.
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Feldspar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Feldspar Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Feldspars are the most common minerals at the Earth's surface. In fact, if the entire composition of the Earth's crust...
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Zunyite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Zunyite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Zunyite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Zunyite...
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Zincite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Zincite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Zincite is a very rare mineral. It’s also difficult to cut, which makes faceted zincite one of the rarest of...
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Wilkeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wilkeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Wilkeite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Wilkeite...
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Wardite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wardite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wardite is another of the many phosphates that have been cut by collectors. It is pale colored and not terribly...
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Wollastonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Wollastonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Interesting cabochons have been cut from wollastonite, especially from the fibrous material (which yields catseye stones) and the reddish material...
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Ulexite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ulexite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The fibrous material cuts interesting catseye cabochon gems, but they are curios only since they are much too soft and...
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Vanadinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Vanadinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Very few vanadinites have ever been cut. This is unfortunate, since their red, orange, and brown colors are rich and...
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Tremolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tremolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

It is possible to misidentify tremolite, mistaking it for other amphiboles. Hexagonite is the rarest of the gem varieties of...
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Taafeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Taafeite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Taaffeite reacts to most gemological tests like mauve-colored spinel, but can be distinguished on the basis of its birefringence. Additional...
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Talc Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Talc Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Talc Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Talc...
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Tantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tantalite is too dark to be of use as a faceted gem but is sometimes cut as a collector curiosity,...
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Strontianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Strontianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Strontianite is a collector’s oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little...
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Tephroite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tephroite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Tephroite is generally reddish brown and barely translucent. However, it takes a good polish and is massive enough to make...
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Thomsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Thomsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Thomsonite cabochons take a high polish but are somewhat brittle. These are especially lovely when a pinkish gray eyelike pattern...
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Stichtite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Stichtite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Stichtite is not facetable, but the pink color is quite striking in cabochons. Cut stones are especially beautiful when there...
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Stolzite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Stolzite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Stolzite is a rare mineral; much rarer than wulfenite and usually occurs in very minute crystals. However, the Australian crystals...
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Sogdianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sogdianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sogdianite is an extremely rare mineral, suitable for cabochons. The color is striking and the material is hard enough to...
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Smaltite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Smaltite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Smaltite is a collectors oddity, cut only as cabochons. It is seldom seen in collections since it is not especially...
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Simpsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Simpsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Simpsonite is an extremely rare gemstone. The material from Western Australia is bright yellow-orange and very beautiful. The mineral is...
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Sinhalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sinhalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Long thought to be brown peridot, sinhalite was investigated in 1952 and found to be a new mineral. When cut,...
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Sillimanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sillimanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The fibrolite from Burma and Sri Lanka is well known to gem collectors, and highly prized because of its great...
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Shortite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Shortite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Shortite is an exceedingly rare, not overly attractive mineral. Cut gems are among the rarest of all faceted stones. The...
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Shattuckite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Shattuckite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Shattuckite is often mixed with quartz, and data often reported for properties may be erroneous. The cabochons are rich blue...
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Sellaite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Sellaite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Sellaite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Sellaite...
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Senarmontite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Senarmontite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Senarmontite is a rare mineral, restricted in occurrence to the presence of antimony sulfide ores. It is much too soft...
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Samarskite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Samarskite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Samarskite is a very heavy material from which lustrous black to brownish cabochons are sometimes cut as curiosities. The material...
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Pyrophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrophyllite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrophyllite resembles talc in many ways and is indistinguishable by eye from soapstone. Chemical tests are needed to distinguish them....
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Pyrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrite is more commonly known as fool’s gold and is familiar to nearly every mineral collector. It has been used...
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Pyrrhotite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pyrrhotite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Pyrrhotite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Pyrrhotite...
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Pumpellyite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pumpellyite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The gem variety of pumpellyite, chlorastrolite, is best known from the Lake Superior district of the United States. It typically...
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Powellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Powellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Powellite Jewelry and Gems. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Powellite...
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Prehnite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Prehnite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Prehnite is popular as a cabochon material among hobbyists because of its lovely green and blue-green to yellow colors. Completely...
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Pentlandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pentlandite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pentlandite resembles other yellowish metallic minerals and is cut by collectors as a curiosity. The cut stones are quite attractive...
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Pargasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pargasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The amphibole group is very large and extremely complex and contains numerous distinct species that vary subtly in chemistry and...
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Periclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Periclase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Periclase has been synthesized in large masses in the laboratory, but these have no market significance. A faceted natural periclase...
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Neptunite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Neptunite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Neptunite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Neptunite...
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Natrolite, Mesolite, Scolecite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Natrolite, Mesolite, Scolecite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

All three minerals are fibrous or elongated zeolite minerals. Faceted gems are almost always elongated emerald cuts or step-cuts.
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Nepheline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Nepheline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

A variety called elaeolite is red, green, brown, or gray, massive or in crystals filled with minute inclusions. These inclusions...
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Nambulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Nambulite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The color of Namibian nambulite is a striking orange-red, very intense, and not really like any other gem I have...
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Monazite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Monazite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Monazite may be partially metamict, with N=1.79. Stones can be an attractive yellow or brown color but are usually small....
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Mordenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Mordenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Compact, fibrous material is cabbed because the fibers provide a chatoyancy that sometimes yields weak catseyes. Coloration in the material...
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Meliphanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Meliphanite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Meliphanite is an extremely rare gemstone, and perhaps fewer than 5-10 faceted stones have ever been cut.
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Manganotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Manganotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Manganotantalite makes a spectacular red brown gem that is a very rare collector’s item. Transparent material is light enough in...
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Linarite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Linarite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The blue color of linarite is magnificent, and it is a pity that large facetable rough has not been found....
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Lepidolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lepidolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Reddish granular or massive lepidolite is usually slabbed for ornamental purposes, such as ashtrays paperweights, and bookends. Faceted micas are...
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Lawsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lawsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Lawsonite is extremely rare as a faceted stone, seldom reported and generally unavailable.
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Langbeinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Langbeinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This material is nondescript and is cut solely as a curiosity. The gems are soft, pale colored, or colorless, with...
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Kornerupine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Kornerupine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Star kornerupine also has been found (Mogok, Myanmar) but is very rare. Kornerupine is generally dark brown or green and...
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Inderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Inderite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Inderite is very soft and difficult to cut, and only a few stones have been cut by hobbyists. There is...
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Huebnerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Huebnerite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

It should not be difficult to find numerous small faceted huebnerites among larger gemstone collections. Certainly ample material exists to...
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Howlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Howlite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Howlite is always opaque in nodules; it is an abundant material and easy to acquire. Sometimes it contains black, threadlike...
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Holtite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Holtite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This mineral was first noted in 1937 but was not described in detail until 1971. It has not yet been...
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Hodgkinsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hodgkinsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Hodgkinsonite is one of the rarest of all collector gems. Cut stones are bright and richly colored, but the crystals...
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Gaylussite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gaylussite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This mineral is very hard to cut because of extreme softness and cleavage. Gaylussite dries out slowly in air and...
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Gadolinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gadolinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This is not a terribly attractive gemstone, but faceted gems would be a tremendous rarity. The material is quite brittle,...
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Fergusonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Fergusonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This mineral is not abundant and is known from various localities. Cabochons are cut merely as curiosities, as they have...
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Euxenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Euxenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Euxenite is seldom seen in collections. Most collectors would not regard the mineral as facetable, but transparent fragments and areas...
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Ettringite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ettringite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ettringite is not generally facetable. Any cut stone would be considered an extreme rarity.
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Enstatite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Enstatite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Most gem enstatites have indices in the range 1.663-1.673. The brown and green gems from Tanzania are enstatites, as are...
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Dumortierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dumortierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dumortierite is a beautiful and very hard material, eminently suitable for jewelry. The cabochon material is the only generally known...
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Diopside Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diopside Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Violane has been used for beads and inlay—transparent material is always very tiny. The color of this material is deep...
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Dickinsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Dickinsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

This mineral is seldom even mentioned in the gem literature because it is so rare and has been so seldom...
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Diaspore Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diaspore Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diaspore is hard enough to make a durable jewelry stone, but the typical light brownish color is not easy to...
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Cancrinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cancrinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cancrinite is one of the most attractive of all opaque or translucent gem materials. It is a bit too soft...
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Canasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Canasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The material usually seen on the market as “canasite” is purplish in color. It is frequently confused with another purplish...
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Calcite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Calcite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Calcite is common and abundant throughout the world. The material has little intrinsic value since it is not scarce. However,...
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Bustamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bustamite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Pale pink and brownish red bustamite can make a very attractive faceted gem. However, stones in large sizes are rare...
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Breithauptite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Breithauptite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Breithauptite is a curiosity cut for collectors, although it could be worn with care in jewelry. The color is extremely...
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Cordierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cordierite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The crystal structure of cordierite has many similarities to that of beryl; indialite, the dimorph, in fact has the same...
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Beryl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Beryl Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The beryls are among the most popular, and also the most expensive, of all gems. A wide range of color...
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Chromite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chromite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Chromite is shiny and black, and makes a curious-looking cabochon with no special attraction. Occasionally, a cabochon has a reddish...
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Childrenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Childrenite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cut childrenite is a great rarity, and all gems are small. Cut eosphorite is more abundantly available, though both materials...
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Catapleiite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Catapleiite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

The only reported cut catapleiite is from Mte. Ste. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, in the form of tiny colorless gems.
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Bornite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bornite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bornite is suitable only for cabochons. The bronzy color rapidly tarnishes in air to a magnificent iridescent color display, mostly...
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Boleite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Boleite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Cut boleite is strictly for collectors, since it is soft and very rare. Faceted gems of any transparency should be...
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Bismutotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bismutotantalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Extremely rare as a cut gem, even in very complete collections. Many of the minerals in the tantalite group have...
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Bayldonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bayldonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Bayldonite is a nondescript greenish material that has been cut into cabochons by enterprising collectors of the unusual. Cut bayldonites...
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Analcime Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Analcime Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Large colorless crystals of Analcime are a great rarity although small transparent crystals are abundant. Faceted gems are extremely rare...
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Actinolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Actinolite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Actinolite is a member of a series that contains varying amounts of iron and magnesium.
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The Optical Spectrum and the Spectroscope

The Optical Spectrum and the Spectroscope

The spectroscope is a device that separates white light into an optical spectrum of component colors that can aid in...
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Understanding Color in Gemology

Understanding Color in Gemology

The color of a mineral or gemstone is one of the primary attributes used for identification,but it is, unfortunately, one...
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Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 1: An Introduction

Understanding Gem Synthetics, Treatments, And Imitations, Part 1: An Introduction

Tech advances and market forces make it essential for gem buyers to know the science behind synthetic gemstones and gem...
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Labradorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Labradorite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Labradorite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Labradorite....
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Quartz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Quartz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

An overview on Quartz Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of a...
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Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diamond is the most romanticized and heavily marketed of all gemstones. Nearly every jewelry establishment handles diamonds, even if it...
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