[Jewelry making - Article 00378] - Re: [Orchid] Using the term semi precious gems

[Wayne Emery]

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    Leonid is exactly right. I have cut a lot of all types of beryl,
    and, unless the material is internally fractured it is VERY hard
    (harder than tool steel) and quite tough, as well. Hardness and
    toughness are different qualities. Beryl has both. 

    The reputation that emerald has earned for being "delicate" is owed
    to the fact that the internal fractures (not inclusions) that make
    it weak are routinely hidden by "treatments". The PRIMARY reason for
    so many fractures in commercial emerald is the use of explosives in
    the mining areas. Production, production, production. 

    In highly commercialized areas, the explosives are used
    knowledgeably, but in many smaller operations throughout the world,
    miners use whatever they can get their hands. Often, they will use
    commercial dynamite, which has a fairly high detonation rate, when
    the appropriate choice would be ammonium nitrate, a low det rate
    explosive. It pushes or shoves....the dynamite shatters. And plastic
    explosive REALLY shatters. But they use what they have available. 

Wayne
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