[Jewelry making - Article 00639] - Re: [Orchid] Topaz Vs. Quartz

[The Doctor]

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>       is topaz different than quartz? 

    Hi Jocelyn. 

    Yes, topaz and quartz are very different. Unfortunately in the
    jewelry world, gemstone misnomers abound and "smoky topaz" is one
    that's been around for a good while. But here are some fundamental
    differences between topaz and quartz: 

    Quartz is silicon dioxide, or SiO2 and forms in the trigonal crystal
    system, while topaz is Al2(F,OH)2SiO4 and forms in the orthorhombic
    system. Topaz is also harder than quartz at 8 (quartz is 7) but it
    has a perfect basal cleavage and can break along it very easily,
    making quartz a bit tougher. The optic character of topaz is biaxial
    positive, but quartz' is uniaxial positive. I could go on and on with
    refractive indexes, specific gravities and the rest of the
    characteristics gemologists use to identify them, but I'm not sure it
    would help you and I'm fairly sure you don't have the equipment to
    take the readings. But, even with formal gemological training, anyone
    can make a mistake, or be fooled. 

>         does anyone recommend a simple layman's book for the
>     composition of stones? i just read on the archives that
>     "Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline quartz, has many varieties
>     including agate, onyx, carnelian, chrysoprase . . ." i'd like to
>     know more information like this. 

    I don't know of a mineral composition book that was written in
    layman's terms, but a lot of people start out with Rocks, Minerals
    and Gemstones, by Walter Schumann. I can recommend something even
    better, though: The Internet. One really great link about gem and
    mineral composition is: 

    http://webmineral.com/crystall.shtml  The Crystallography link and
    the Determinative Mineralogy links can help you lots, as can many of
    the others there. 

    To learn about gemology and gem identification, one of the best
    sites around is www.yourgemologist.com Every facet of gemology and
    gem ID can be found there, from gemstone characteristics to the
    equipment used to ID them. Just wait until you realize just how much
    of the material we use as gemstones is basically SiO2!!! 

>        i also found on a website that all their garnet beads of the
>     purply/red color were dyed. is that always the case with that color
>     garnet? and what color was it before? 

    No, that isn't always the case, and it seldom is with any species or
    variety of garnet. However, I have read here on Orchid of dyed
    garnets that lose their color simply by a soak in water. I've never
    seen a garnet do that, though, so I've no idea what color they would
    have been before. Hopefully, someone else here will know. 

    I realize that I've suggested some courses of exploration that may
    be more academic than you'd like (gemology can be boring to many),
    but it really does take some research to gain the knowledge you need
    to make good buying decisions in the world of gemstones and jewelry.
    To help you best with the quartz/smoky topaz problem, I'd say your
    best first step would be to seek out and learn as many of the most
    common gemstone misnomers you can, and learn what they really are.
    Here are a few examples: 

    smoky quartz: smoky topaz, burnt topaz, Scotch topaz pyrope garnet:
    Colorado ruby, Cape ruby, Arizona ruby spinel: Balas ruby, spinel
    ruby, almandine spinel, sapphire spinel, sapphirine dyed black
    chalcedony: black onyx (yeah, it's almost always dyed) calcite: onyx,
    onyx marble 

    Anyway, I'm sure you can begin to see how confusing it can get.
    You'll find that practically every gemstone has at least one
    misnomer that can confuse you. Get to know them, and you'll be much
    more difficult to fool. GIA's Gem Reference Guide is not cheap by
    any means, and it isn't in layman's writing, but it lists all the
    characteristics of common gem materials (and some uncommon ones),
    including most misnomers. It also includes typical enhancements such
    as heat, irradiation, dye, polymer impregnation, etc., and the
    typical methods of those enhancements. 

    I'm sorry, Jocelyn, that I couldn't simply list a book that has a
    quick, easy system of gem properties in layman's terms, but the
    reality of the gem world is based in scientific study, even if that
    study consists of years in the business, looking at them every day
    as opposed to years in the classroom, reading books and taking
    equipment measurements and peering through microscopes. But, I do
    hope somebody here has one to offer, because I'll probably be the
    first to order one!!! 

James in SoFl

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