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Ask any jeweler to list the gemstones with which they prefer to work, and sapphires and rubies would undoubtedly rank near the top. With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, these popular varieties of corundum have long been considered nearly impossible to damage, and they can easily withstand the melting point of even high karat gold solders. Not surprisingly, many jewelers feel a comforting sense of security when faced with a ruby- or sapphire-set piece. Which may be a problem.... (2003) Complete Story
Afghanistan's ruby/spinel mines are one of the great mysteries of gemology. Historically, rubies and red spinels have been produced from four areas: Burma, Sri Lanka, the Thai/Cambodian border (ruby only; no red spinel) and Afghanistan. While extensive accounts exist regarding the other deposits, in the twentieth century, little has been written about the rubies/spinels of Afghanistan. Indeed, many are totally unaware of the Afghan occurrences.... (2004) Complete Story
Silicates comprise about a quarter of the known minerals and almost 40% of the common ones. The basic unit of structure of all silicate crystals is the tetrahedron. There are four oxygen atoms, one located at each apex of a regular tetrahedron. A single silicon atom is located at the center of the tetrahedron. This silicon atom has a valence charge of 4, meaning that it is looking to acquire four electrons through sharing with other atoms to complete its outermost energy shell, known as the valence shell..... (2002) Complete Story
The gem's first known owner was Abu Said, a Moorish prince of Granada in Spain in the mid-1300s. Abu Said lost the gem, as well as his crown and his life, to Don Pedro the Cruel of Seville. In 1366 Don Pedro's own brother attacked him in turn, but Don Pedro successfully defended himself with help from the armies of the Black Prince of Bordeaux. As payment, the Black Prince demanded Don Pedro's prize jewel, and Don Pedro was in no position to.... (1997) Complete Story
The sorosilicate class of minerals is composed of more than seventy minerals. Most are rare, and only a few are used as gemstones or are cut for collectors. The exception, the lovely tanzanite of the zoisite group that forms in the orthorhombic crystal system, was discussed in a previous article. Since the optical and physical properties of the lesser known varieties vary and their use as gemstones is not common.... (2003) Complete Story
