[Jewelry making - Article 00200] - Re: [Orchid] Africa Blue

[The Doctor]

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>         turns out dumortierite or dumortierite quartz is also known as
>     BLUE QUARTZ. i found this info on the internet on a mineral
>     collecting site.....thought it might help clear this up. so sorry,
>     it seems "blue quartz" to be a legit term in mineralogical circles.
>     Is it possible that different terms are used or acceptable in
>     mineralogical/lapidary or gemological circles??? 

    Not really - dumortierite is still dumortierite, even when found as
    an inclusion in quartz. That does not make dumortierite-included
    quartz "blue quartz" any more than a heavily garnet-included diamond
    would be a "red diamond" 

>        Dumortierite is a boro-silicate mineral that is used as a
>     popular ornamental stone. 

    Accurately, dumortierite is an ALUMINUM borosilicate mineral, which
    fact should make it obvious that is simply isn't quartz at all. But
    for those who still doubt, here is more evidence: 

    Quartz forms in the hexagonal crystal system, dumortierite is
    orthorhombic. Dumortierite's optic figure is biaxial negative, while
    quartz is uniaxial positive. Dumortierite's chemical composition is
    (Al,Fe)7BO3(SiO4)3O3, and quartz' composition is simply SiO2. These
    three fundamental differences should be enough to prove to any
    lapidary, mineralogist, gemologist or jewelry store owner that
    dumortierite is not blue quartz, nor is it quartz in any form. 

>          Massive dumortierite can be carved into cabochons, beads,
>     sculptures, eggs and spheres. A variety of quartz called
>     dumortierite quartz is massive quartz colored blue by included
>     crystals of dumortierite. 

    And here you prove the point, yourself. This quote doesn't call it
    blue "quartz" rather, dumortierite quartz. That is acceptable. It is
    also acceptable to say that the quartz is colored blue by
    dumortierite inclusions, but it is incorrect and misleading to say
    that it is blue "quartz." There may be, as you said, a mineral
    collecting site that uses the misnomer blue "quartz" for
    dumortierite quartz, but anyone can author a web page and say
    whatever they wish. You're better off looking at the chemical
    composition and optical qualities of the material to determine
    precisely what a mineral is rather than relying on somebody's web
    page or blog. You don't need gemological credentials to do it,
    either. 

    James in SoFl who would rather be gemologically accurate than
    mineralogically vague. It cuts down on the refunds. 


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