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It seems that everyone likes the greens in chemically colored gemstone. Probably this is because greens are almost universally pleasing to the eye. No doubt this accounts for the great popularity of naturally green gemstone such as jade, chrysoprase, emerald, malachite, etc. Fortunately, there are several processes that will impart green hues to some gemstone varieties. Some of these are bluish-green and are included here rather than among The Blues... (1991) Complete Story
The most important detail in the preparation of gemstone for chemical coloration is that it be clean. Oil and grease, especially, must be entirely removed. I have found it practical to keep a bucket of detergent solution (ordinarily laundry detergent) standing beside the slab saw. Two or three cups full of detergent powder in about four gallons of water (in a five gallon bucket) is adequate. As the slabs come from the saw, they are dropped carefully into the bucket and allowed to accumulate there.... (1991) Complete Story
The prime requisite for coloration of gemstone is that it be porous . That is to say there must be spaces or vacancies into which the coloring chemical, in solution, can penetrate deeply in order to impart the desired color. These spaces are usually spoken of as "pores", but from what I have been able to observe, they are not pores in the sense of parallel tubes. Rather, they are....
(1991) Complete Story
