[Jewelry making - Article 00252] - Re: [Orchid] Semi-precious stone identification

[H.Durstling]

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    Hi, Semi precious stone identification is always problematical simply
    because the stones are of lesser value and to that extent fall
    outside the scope of gemology and gemological associations. To put it
    in an exaggerated way, no one cares very much what you might want to
    call it. 

    By that I don't mean to disparage such stones. In fact, they are
    among my personal favorites. The pattern variation in agate for
    example is endless and hence always offers fresh possibilities. 

    The names for agate and jasper tend to be descriptive: plume agate,
    moss agate, picture jasper, poppy jasper, fortification agate, lace
    agate, etc. Sometimes the geographical location is included in the
    name, as in Nipomo tube agate, Morgan Hill poppy jasper. Sometimes
    the geographical designation is all you get, as in Montana agate or
    Laguna agate from Laguna Mexico. 

    The best way I can think of to become familiar with these terms and
    stones is to frequent the shows. And even then, there's always
    something new, or one person will call his stone a moss agate and his
    neighbor will cal;l the same stone a plume agate. In addition to
    that, June Culp Zeitner's "Gem and Lapidary Materials" is a good
    reference. Zeitner focuses on the semi-precious to a greater extent
    than the Schumann "Gemstones of the World" which has already been
    mentioned and which covers both. But if you had to get only one
    single reference, go for "Gemstones of the World" - in my view by far
    the best and most comprehensive guide. 

    Ironically the very term semi-precious is frowned upon; the
    preferred term is gemstone - precious, three-quarter-precious or
    semi-precious, they are all gemstones. But sem-precious is so much in
    the lingo that it will probably never be displaced. 

Cheers,
Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada


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