aquamarine

This year, sellers at the Tucson Gem Shows reported observing a markedly different energy from their clientele. Rather than chasing the next new…

Although gemstone magnetism isn’t a commonly tested gemstone property, it may be useful for making quick separations outside the lab. By Richard…

In this article, we will discuss cyclosilicates and inosilicates. These two silicate subclasses include such well-known minerals as beryls,…

Silicates are the largest mineral class, making up over 90% of the Earth’s crust and mantle. Statistically, you are more likely to encounter…

In crystallography, mineral habits refer to the way crystals form within a specific mineral. In A Guide to Gem Classification, I mentioned that,…

Crystallography explores stunning mathematical concepts you can see in nature and art. In this article, we’ll discuss crystallography…

I’ve faced many questions about the element chromium (Cr), the red coloration of minerals, and the gemstone red beryl. One of the…

Many factors can contribute to a mineral’s color. However, some minerals can have many different colored varieties, while others only occur…

We tend to take light for granted. It’s such a common thing we experience every day. Rarely do we think of the scientific definition of light…