Destructive Mineral Tests: Hot Point Testing
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,…
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,…
Mineral streak testing is fun if you have rough material to spare. It’s not recommended for finished gems, as there’s a good…
Scratch testing can help determine the Mohs hardness value of a mineral sample. If done carefully, this procedure can help mineralogists…
Why do mineralogists have an easier time identifying specimens than gemologists? Because they can more readily conduct destructive gemstone…
Cleavage is an often overlooked property when identifying minerals. In this article, we’ll address novice mineralogists’ questions…
In this article, we will discuss phyllosilicates and tectosilicates. These silicate subclasses include minerals crucial for technology and…
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…
Halides, carbonates, and sulfites are considered sedimentary minerals. In this article, you will learn about evaporites and how these three…
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