jade

Purple gemstones are among nature’s rarest treasures, making them perfect for distinctive jewelry and impressive collections. Though…

Diamond is the hardest natural material in the world. However, it’s also brittle. Scientifically speaking, hardness measures the ability…

The optical properties of minerals attract our eyes and can give a specimen a unique character. However, mineral physical properties are also…

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

Hot point testing can determine if a gem or mineral is plastic imitation. It can also reveal if a stone is treated with wax or plastic. By Donald Clark,…

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

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

Despite some commonalities, there are significant differences between gemology and mineralogy. In this article, we’ll look at the materials…

We live in a world of minerals. They’re closer to you than you might realize, even if you don’t wear any gemstone jewelry. Minerals…