Publish Year: - Title: Witnessing the 56th Myanma Gems Emporium Abstract: Buyers busy checking a jadeite boulder with high potential at the 56th Myanma Gems Emporium. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

Introduction
Since 1964, thousands of merchants have repeatedly attended the Myanma Gems Emporium to source premium gemstones produced from the legendary source of Myanmar (formerly Burma). Here the buyers compete in silent auctions arranged for each gem category. These include jadeite, pearls and colored gemstones. The emporium is under the management of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. Very few people have had the opportunity to observe this event other than the participants, organizers, and media. A team from GIA research and education was recently granted the opportunity to document the emporium for the first time in the Institute’s history. The 56th Myanma Gems Emporium was held in the country’s new capital city, Nay Pyi Taw, March 11–20, 2019. The team spent four full days at the beginning of this 10-day event witnessing the bustling activity that few outsiders get to experience.
Competing for the Top Green at the Jadeite Auction
Many people in the trade call the Myanma Gems Emporium the “Jade Auction” since jade—specifically jadeite—is the absolute star here. Out of the total of 7,747 gem lots offered, 6,973 consisted of jadeite, the majority being pieces of rough. A very limited amount of finished jadeite products was on offer as well. As the sole economically important source of jadeite, the emporium is the only official venue for buyers to source this material. It is well known that China bears a long history of jade appreciation and is the largest consumer market for jadeite. Nearly 3,000 Chinese buyers attended this year’s Emporium, together with about 1,500 local merchants, to compete for the top green.

Thousands of jadeite buyers come to the emporium each year to source their inventory. Viewing and evaluating the quality of their bidding targets is their daily task at the event. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.
Chinese buyers are mainly from Guangdong Province, the hub of jade manufacturing and trading. They come to the emporium in teams to share the workload. With the skyrocketing price of rough, they can also split the cost and the risk involved.

	Jade Overview

Jadeite Production and Its Various Appearances
While it is a trading platform, the emporium also provides a panorama of the ever-changing color, texture, transparency and pattern of jadeite. It is true that no two pieces of jade look the same. Myanmar has both primary and secondary jadeite deposits, though mining mainly happens on secondary deposits. All the lots at the emporium are from secondary deposits.

A typical jadeite boulder from an alluvial deposit. Boulders are often covered with skin, the weathered surface layer. Myanmar’s jadeite sellers are very good at showing the best appearance of jadeite rough by opening windows, show points, or slicing the boulder open. Although the two windows on this boulder show promising green color, buyers need to study the piece carefully to determine whether the rest is also of good quality. Photo by Tao Hsu/GIA.
A jadeite boulder’s anatomy includes two major components: skin and the underlying jadeite. The appearance of both can vary considerably depending on the fluid activity during the formation, the completeness of metamorphism, the degree of weathering, the growth environment, and other factors. Although boulders from the same deposit or location show some similarity, no reliable prediction can be made on the internal quality. Most striking is the immense contrast in the large rough pieces, while the finished pieces seen on the market, especially in fine jewelry, often show quite even color distribution and texture.

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Various Appearances
Even though the top green color, often called “imperial green,” is extremely rare, different shades (tones and saturations) of green still dominate the auction, most being of low saturation. Lavender and reddish hues are much rarer. Medium- to low-quality lavender rough lots are not that uncommon, and the color is often mixed with green areas in a single piece. Reddish and orange bodycolors are very hard to find. The authors saw some boulders with reddish fine-textured skin, which can potentially make cabochons and small pendants. Top-quality colorless (sometime referred to as “ice jade”) rough is also very rare at the emporium, which might explain the high price on this type of material in the consumer market.

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Colors and Patterns
Quality Evaluation
The most challenging and mysterious but exciting part of jadeite rough purchasing is quality evaluation. Becoming an expert buyer usually requires decades of experience. There is no shortcut to excel at this task, and “tuition” needs to be paid before mastering the job.

Thousands of jadeite buyers come to the emporium each year to source their inventory. Viewing and evaluating the quality of their bidding targets is their daily task at the event. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.
A general principle in the jadeite business is that the more you see, the more you pay. Some people choose to buy gambling stones with no show points or windows at all. Though they might pay less for the rough, the risk involved is overwhelmingly high. In the jade trade, there is a famous saying: nine out of ten gamblers go broke. Therefore, the vast majority of jadeite rough buyers go with a stone that has some exposure to indicate its internal quality.

Thousands of jadeite buyers come to the emporium each year to source their inventory. Viewing and evaluating the quality of their bidding targets is their daily task at the event. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.
Jadeite buyers at the emporium are well equipped with some hand-held tools. A strong flashlight, a spray bottle, a plastic bangle template, and an erasable marker are the necessities. A dual-intensity flashlight allows buyers to view the rough both indoors and outdoors. The spray bottle helps to wet the surface so color and texture can be better revealed. The bangle template is used to locate areas of the rough where bangles can be cut. Since bangles command the highest price in the trade, they are always the first thing rough buyers are looking to make. The erasable marker is used to mark on the rough any potential finished products such as bangles, beads, and pendants.

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Quality Checking
The factors buyers care most about are the color, texture, and transparency of the rough. After these three value factors, they also pay attention to how much of the material can be used to make profitable jewelry. In terms of color, even though the hue is obvious, the tricky part is that the finished product can show slightly different color appearance. This is partially due to uneven distribution of color and partially due to the path length of light—in other words, the distance light travels through the stone. Since most rough will be sliced into thinner slabs, the path length of the finished pieces is quite different compared to the rough. Experienced buyers tend to estimate the color appearance of finished products more accurately than people with very limited experience.

	Jade Evaluation

There is an unwritten rule in the jade trade that buyers would rather buy a green vein than a big patch of green on the surface. This is especially useful for buyers with little experience. When the green color distributes linearly as a vein and the seller slices the boulder open along the vein, the surface is full of green color but the depth of the green color is very hard to determine. If buyers can see the vein, it shows more potential since the vein clearly penetrates into the stone. There is still no 100% guarantee, since the vein could possibly thin out. This uncertainty is also the charm of jadeite rough purchasing and even the entire jadeite business.

If the sellers slice the boulder open along the green vein, it will probably display well but definitely sacrifice the thickness or volume of the green. Slicing perpendicular to the vein but also showing the side view of the green color distribution, as seen in this photo, can help the buyers more accurately estimate the value of the piece. Photo by Tao Hsu/GIA.
Buyers rely heavily on the flashlight to determine transparency and texture. The two value factors are often considered together as “water” in the jade trade. Depending on the halo and the depth of the light, buyers get a good idea of whether the rough’s “water” is high or low. After that, the quality is evaluated. Buyers also use the ruler along one side of the flashlight to measure the rough and then decide how much rough is useful and how many finished pieces can be produced. Sellers usually label fractures that have apparent durability concerns. However, it is unavoidable to see some fractures hidden inside the stone. This factor needs to be considered before determining the bidding price.

	Jade Show and Tell

Buying Process
Jadeite buying at the emporium is a laborious journey for every buyer. The first four days are reserved solely for viewing, while pearls and colored stones are both viewed and auctioned at the same time. Starting from the fifth day, bidding and the results revealed are in process together with more viewing activities. From day 5 through day 10, prices for all lots (6,973 in this case) are released gradually.

Hundreds of bidding boxes are arranged in rows starting from the fifth day of the event. Buyers often bid on many different lots. Sometimes it can be dozens of lots. They need to fill the bidding forms carefully to avoid any unnecessary financial loss caused by typos and mismatched lot numbers. Once bidding starts, they will also follow the results closely so they won’t miss their winning lots or be penalized. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.
Almost all the jade lots are spread out in dozens of metal roof sheds outside the air-conditioned main hall. There are a few extra showrooms in the main hall. In March, the average outdoor temperature here is around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes the buying process hot and dehydrating. In these conditions, buyers need water as much as the jade!

The layout of the 56th Myanma Gems Emporium. Illustration by Russel Samson/GIA.

Most of the jade lots take up considerable space and cannot be shown in the indoor hall. The vast majority is stored in open sheds where buyers can view mainly “utility-grade” jade. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

	Buying Process

The lots are presented in many different forms, including single boulders, multiple boulders, sawn slabs, small pieces ready for carving, and even bangle cores. The weight of a lot ranges from 40 g to over 5000 kg. Very limited amounts of finished goods are also offered as lots, including beads, bangles, teacups, and bowls. Complete beds were also on offer for those with more eccentric tastes.

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Different Formats of Jade Lots
Buyers need to check all lots briefly to narrow down the targeted group. Then they spend time studying the targeted lots in detail. This includes extensive viewing, measuring, and calculating as a group to make final bidding decisions. Value factors mentioned previously are carefully evaluated one by one. Once the bidding price is determined, buyers will drop their bidding form in the corresponding bidding boxes and wait for the final price to be announced. Sometimes mistakes happen, and there are quite strict rules for the buyers to follow.

	Bidding Mistakes

Exciting Auction Results and Impact
This year’s jadeite auction turned out some staggering numbers and outperformed the June 2018 emporium. For the past five years or so, the number of jade lots offered at the emporium has been declining from around 20,000 lots to around 7,000 lots this year. This shortage of supply is caused by the quick exhaustion of many deposits over the past two decades and the stricter regulations recently emplaced in the mining sector. This time, nearly 80% of the jade lots fell into the low-quality category, while less than 5% were considered fine quality.

A selection of jadeite auction results.
Going back 10 to 15 years, the Chinese domestic jadeite market experienced very fast growth. Jadeite jewelry prices kept going up until about 2015. During the past five years, linear price jump has stopped. The market is relatively stable but with some ups and downs. However, different market sectors changed differently. The slowdown and price dip mainly affected the middle to high market sector, while the low to middle sector in fact expanded with good sales numbers. At the same time, the low-quality and top-quality market stayed about the same.

	Jade Supply

On the other side, jadeite rough prices also experienced skyrocketing growth during the same time period. Now the rough price is at a pretty high point. Many buyers are more cautious, but when the quality is great, big capital is still spent on the rough. This is well reflected by the results here at the emporium.
Out of the 6,948 jade lots, 5,263 were sold for 474.1 million euros ($539 million). This represents a turnover rate over 75%. Buyers also felt that the quality of jade lots was better than the previous year. The king of the all jade lots was lot number 4996, with a final price tag of 10.59 million euros. Second place went to lot 5219, with a final price of 9.11 million euros. There were more than a dozen jade lots that sold for over 1 million euros. With the high prices of jadeite rough, it is unlikely that finished jadeite jewelry prices will drop in the very near future.

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The King of All Lots

The Pearl Rising Star: Burmese Pearl Auction

	Pearls

Pearl lots on sale at this year’s emporium.
Burmese pearls are farmed in the waters around the islands of the Myeik (Mergui) archipelago. One state-owned farm and eleven local and foreign joint venture companies operate pearl farms, some with hatcheries, between Mali Island in northern Myeik and St. Luke’s Island in southern Myeik. Pinctada maxima oysters are raised there, and when they reached adulthood, shell bead nuclei are implanted to grow bead-cultured pearls. Non-bead cultured pearls (keshi) sometimes form as a byproduct, and these are popular within the trade. The usual sizes for the bead cultured pearls range from 11 mm to 19 mm, and the colors obtained are in the white to golden range including cream, silver, and other colors.

Map showing the locations of the twelve farms that operate in the Myeik (Mergui) archipelago.
All pearls are examined and graded by staff of the Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE). The main factors evaluated are size, shape, color, luster and nacre quality. The highest-grade lots comprise color-matched, round, pure golden pearls, while other lots consist of lower-quality goods that are not so carefully matched.
A significant number of pearl buyers were women, many of whom were Chinese. The other two main nationalities present were local buyers and Indians. They inspected the pearls in daylight or under daylight-equivalent desk lights and paid close attention to the matching of the pearls on all quality factors with an eye on finished products. However, some of the lots were intentionally of low quality and mixed sizes, and the GIA team soon learned that the buyers bid on such lots with the intention of processing them via peeling and polishing to dramatically improve their appearance.

Most of the pearl buyers at the emporium are ladies working in a family business, learning the trade from their mothers. This young lady is checking the surface quality of a pearl for blemishes or irregularities. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

Pearl buyers pay close attention to the matching of pearls in a lot. Even though the lots are graded by color, shape, and other characteristics, there are still differences between pearls within a single lot. Subtle differences in luster, color, and overtone can have a large impact on the price of the jewelry, so these need to be taken into account when buying the starting materials. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

At the emporium’s pearl sale, the pearls have been evaluated and are grouped in parcels based on their size, color, and luster. All pearls in a given lot originate from the same company, which might operate different farms. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

Not all pearls are round… Several lots comprised a wide variety of pearl shapes and colors. While round pearls are often used for the classic strands, these more irregular pearls are commonly used in other jewelry types. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

Three tables with rows of pre-sorted pearl lots were ready for buyers to examine. The lots could be inspected for up to fifteen minutes at a time at a table in the viewing area. Each lot was weighed before take-in and upon return to make sure all was in order. Photo by Nicholas Sturman/GIA.
Prior to the emporium’s opening ceremony, GIA’s Nicholas Sturman and Joyce Wing Yan Ho gave presentations to MPE officials and staff in the gem museum within the confines of the emporium venue. The GIA presentations, organized by Tin Chaw in conjunction with the MPE, covered the farming of cultured pearls in Myeik and other locations around the world as well as the identification and classification of pearls using GIA protocols. The GIA team in turn was treated to a presentation by an MPE representative on the pearl production process, which included very useful information on the procedures and operations used by the pearling companies in Myeik.

Colors from the Legendary Source: Burmese Colored Stones Auction

	Colored Stones

In addition to jade, Myanmar has deposits of almost every other colored stone.
Rubies are the most coveted of colored gemstones, and Burmese rubies are held in especially high esteem. There are three areas that produce rubies in Myanmar: Mogok, Mong Hsu, and Namya (Nanyazeik). Mogok rubies are rarely treated, while Mong Hsu material requires treatment with flux to optimize its appearance. During the auction, the majority of ruby lots are untreated, but some are treated and even cut. The best rubies presented at auction were two untreated rough rubies from Namya (Nanyazeik) with a good shape, color and fluorescence.
Sapphires from Mogok were also available, often as cut stones. Colors included blue and purple to more pastel colors and yellows.
Large volumes of peridot crystals from the Pyaung-Gaung mine in northern Mogok as well as a few lots of amber from the northern Kachin Province were offered for sale.
Most of the buyers of rough colored stones at the emporium are Burmese people, based out of Mogok and Yangon. Thai and Chinese buyers also have an interest in certain goods. Thai dealers look for untreated Mong Hsu rubies, while Chinese customers are more interested in finished products (i.e., cut stones). Stones are checked in front of wide windows with ample daylight to judge color but are also inspected with flashlights and loupes to reveal internal flaws.

Thai dealers are most interested in rubies, especially those from the Mong Hsu area. This material often requires heat treatment with flux, a skill created and perfected in Chanthaburi, Thailand. Close inspection of color zones and inclusions is necessary to estimate the value of the stone, even before treatment, since not every stone reacts in the same way. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

These two gem buyers from Mogok traveled to the emporium to acquire peridot crystals from the mines in their native region. They are shining a torch through the side of the crystal to evaluate its internal characteristics such as fractures or included crystals. The color of this stone was evaluated in natural light, without torches. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

While this 7 ct sapphire was not the largest one, it was the finest shown during the 56th Myanma Gems Emporium. The stone combines a good color intensity with high clarity. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

These four rubies are part of a larger lot put on offer. While they are a bit flat and have a slight window, their color is still magnificent. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.

An unexpected find at the auction was these two rubies from Namya (Nanyazeik) in northern Myanmar. The 7.5 and 4.5 ct stones have an attractive color and strong red fluorescence under long-wave UV, shown in the photo on the right. Photos by Wim Vertriest.

This pure green peridot crystal, about 6 cm high, was part of a larger lot comprising around 35 crystals of comparable size. This piece shows the orthorhombic crystal shape of olivine/peridot crystals. The faces show the etching typical for Mogok peridot. Photo by Wim Vertriest/GIA.
In March 2019, the Burmese government implemented mining legislation that installed a new license issuing system. In the three years before that (since late 2016), no new licenses were issued, which has seriously impacted colored stone production. This is especially the case for ruby mines, most of which have been closed for months if not years. This decrease in production in the main colored stone mining areas was clearly visible at the auction, where the volume and quality of rubies, sapphires, and other gems was significantly lower than previous editions. @topic:11


Publish Year: - Title: Gem Cutters Reveal the Beauty of Chalcedony Abstract: This iris agate from Mexico displays a dramatic swirl of spectral colors when light is transmitted through the stone from behind. Courtesy and photo by Robert Weldon/GIA

	The magnitude of the quartz family is second only to feldspar in the composition of Earth’s crust. Agate and jasper are varieties of chalcedony that are made up of tiny crystals of quartz not visible to the unaided eye. These micro- and cryptocrystalline forms of quartz have fascinated both kings and the common man since antiquity.

	Agate was first mentioned in literature in a treatise “On Stones,” by Theophrastus (372-287 BCE). He referred to it as a beautiful stone that was highly valued. Later, according to Pliny the Elder in his “Natural History” (77 CE), agate was much more plentiful and varied and thus its value decreased.

	Both Pliny and Theophrastus wrote that agate derived its name from the river Achates in Sicily, where it was likely found for the first time.

	Agates and jaspers are formed in infinite varieties of multicolored patterns − each a unique creation of nature’s art. They are found in rich fall colors of orange, brown and golden hues and form in layers or bands of colors. They also form as “thunder eggs,” which are nodule-like or geode-like formations. Amorphous and swirling patterns − that can resemble galaxies or orbiting planets – are visible in some agates.

	This award-winning photomicrograph is a slab of Brazilian agate that was sliced perpendicular to it formational layering and was polished. The minerals are goethite and hematite, but what the inclusion scene depicts is open to the imagination. Photomicrograph by John I. Koivula/GIA

	Fire agate breaks up reflected white light to reveal a spectrum of hues. Similarly, iris agate breaks up transmitted light, to exhibit a rainbow of color. Agates used as gemstones may be naturally colored, but they are also often dyed. This is true of intense pink, blue, or green agates. Agate is a porous material and lends itself well to color enhancement treatments.

	As with many gemstones, their trade names describe their appearance: poppy jasper, dendritic, lace, iris, fire and landscape agates, to name a few.

	Because of its beauty, relative abundance and suitability for carving, chalcedony has been widely used in jewelry and cameos (carved above the surface) and intaglios (carved below the surface) since ancient times in Europe and the Middle East.

	Before the time of Alexander the Great, chalcedony seals that could be pressed into wax to certify a signature or authentic a document, were usually depicted as animals or elements of nature. Alexander the Great commissioned a portrait cameo of himself in the image of a god, possibly the world’s first “selfie.” Later, family crests were carved intaglios that were also used as seals. Fine gem material and intricate carving was a mark of social status.

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	Idar-Oberstein, Germany is known for the finest agate carvings in the world. Agate has been mined there along the Nahe River Valley since the 1400s and the flow of the river was used to power the grinding wheels for stone cutting. The art of gem carving thrived in the region due to the abundance of agates, jaspers and other chalcedony.

	When agate deposits in Germany were depleted in the 1800s, gem cutters in Idar-Oberstein started to import material from Brazil. In addition to Brazil, deposits were discovered in Argentina and Uruguay in South America, and in localities in Europe, Australia and North America. This allowed the art of carving and gem cutting to continue to prosper.

	The Jerusalem Egg Collection, a collection of 850 carved gem and minerals, many of them agate, jasper and other microcrystalline quartz, represents a lifetime of work by Dieter Jerusalem, a modern master cutter from Idar-Oberstein. Other important modern gem carvers of the region include Bernd Munsteiner, his son Tom Munsteiner, Erwin Pauly, his son Hans Ullrich Pauly, Dieter Lorenz, Gerd Dreher and Patrick Dreher.

	The art of cutting and carving agates has since been emulated in other countries around the world and the first agate symposium was held in 2005 in Denver, Colorado. Since then, interest in the colorful microcrystalline quartz family has continued to grow.

	Suggested Reading List:

		Lynch, Dan R. and Bob Lynch (2011) Agates of Lake Superior. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, Minnesota

		Mayer, Dietrich (2014) Exquisite Agates. Bode, Lauenstein, Germany

		Zenz, Johann (2005) Agates. Bode, Haltern, Germany

		Zenz, Johann (2009) Agates II. Bode, Haltern, Germany

		Zenz, Johann (2011) Agates III. Bode, Lauenstein, Germany @topic:1


Publish Year: 2000 Title: Spring 2000 Gem News International Abstract: Tuscon 2000
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Amphiboles are Not Necessarily Jade
            Chitons in Jewelry
            Unusual Copal
            Newly Commercial Emerald Deposits in Colombia (La Pita and Polveros)
            Some New Examples of Drusy Hematite
            Orbicular Jasper from Madagascar
            Colorful Nephrite
            Tahitian and Australian “Keshi” Pearls
            Pyritized Ammonite from Russia, Sliced in a New Way
            An Update on Ruby and Sapphire from Chimwadzulu Hill, Malawi
            Another Locality in Paraíba for Cuprian Elbaite
            Tugtupite and Other Gem Materials from Greenland
            Large Faceted Zircon
Also Seen at Tucson (Including Gems & Gemology references)
            Pink and blue Madagascar sapphires (Summer 1999, Gem News, pp. 149-150)
            Nigerian pink tourmaline and rubellite (Winter 1998 Gem News, pp. 298-299)
            Spessartine (Spring 1999 Gem News p. 55; Winter 1999 Gem News, pp. 216-217)
            Multicolored sunstone from Oregon (Summer 1997 Gem News, p. 145)
            Russian demantoid garnets (Mattice et al., Fall 1999 G&G, pp. 151-152)
            Blue opal from Peru (Summer 1991, Gem News, pp. 120-121)
Treatments
            Moonstone with Dichroic Backing
            New Hues of Dyed Freshwater Cultured Pearls
            Heat-Treated Rubies: Glass or not Glass?
            Silicon Coating of Drusy Materials
Synthetics and Simulants
            Bicolored Synthetic Beryl, Resembling Tourmaline
Miscellaneous
            "Floating Diamonds” in Jewelry
            Bismuth Egg
Announcements
            GIA on the Internet
            Faceter’s Symposium 2000
            GANA Exhibit in Los Angeles
            Jewelry 2000
            Tourmaline 2000
            Gemstones at Upcoming Scientific Meetings

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: GIA Gem Project Corundum Abstract: Corundums (ruby and sapphires) occur in all colors of the spectrum, and have remained popular gemstones hi ancient times to the present day. Photo by Robert Weldon/GIA

Ruby and sapphire (usually blue, but also in every other color) have been the most important colored gemstones for several thousand years. Originating historically in southeast and central Asia, and more recently in eastern Africa, these colored varieties of the mineral corundum have been much sought as gems because of their rarity, color and durability. Gem corundum can display asterism and chatoyancy due to the presence of oriented mineral inclusions, and in some cases, a change of color when viewed under different light sources. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2008 Title: Winter 2008 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Visit to Andesine Mines in Tibet and Inner Mongolia
	            Gemological Properties of Andesine Collected in Tibet and Inner Mongolia
	            New Find of Vivid Kunzite from Pala, California
	            Natural Pearls of the Veneridae Family
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Synthetic Citrine with Abundant Nail-Head Spicules
	            Radiocarbon Dating of “Neptunian” Beads from Asia Proves Modern Origin
	            Purplish Blue Synthetic Quartz
Treatments
	            Dyed Chalcedony Resembling Chrysocolla
Miscellaneous
	            Update on U.S.-Myanmar Import Restrictions
Announcements
	            Starting with this issue, the conference and exhibit calendars will only appear online.

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Visit to Andesine Mines in Tibet and Inner Mongolia - Supplementary Photos
	Submitted by A. Abduriyim
	Winter, 2008

Gemological Properties of Andesine Collected in Tibet and Inner Mongolia - Supplementary Photos
	Submitted by A. Abduriyim and T. Kobayashi
	Winter, 2008 @topic:2


Publish Year: 2004 Title: Gem Treatment Disclosure and U.S. Law Abstract: In recent years, the obligation to fully disclose all gem treatments has changed from a mere ethical responsibility to a legal one. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission Guides for the gem and jewelry trade, which were fairly simple rules in the early 20th century, now require disclosure of any treatment to a gem material that substantially affects its value. In addition, all state deceptive trade practice regulations in the U.S. require that vendors not mislead customers as to the treatment status of gems they sell. Finally, vendors should also be aware that insufficient disclosure can subject them to substantial civil liability for fraud by nondisclosure. Several case studies demonstrate the serious risks involved in not complying with this body of rules and regulations. Suggestions for avoiding legal problems are provided.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Appendix A: Excerpts from the FTC Guides
Capsule Descriptions of Cited Cases
U.S. State Laws Governing Deceptive Trade Practices and Gem Disclosure Obligations
	Submitted by Thomas W. Overton
	Summer 2004 @topic:11


Publish Year: 2005 Title: Fall 2005 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
	            Gem Mosaics of Faceted Diamonds
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            An Unusual Emerald with Conical Growth Features
	            Fuchsite-Corundum Rock from Bahia, Brazil
	            Pen Shell Pearls—Nacreous and Non-Nacreous
	            New Sapphires from Tamil Nadu, India
	            Tenebrescent Scapolite from Afghanistan
Inclusions in Gems
	            “Medusa Quartz” with Gilalite Inclusions
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Fake Aquamarine Crystals from Mogok
	            More Faked Inclusions in Brazilian Quartz
Treatments
	            Natural Pearl with “Orient-Like” Coating
	            Fibrolite (Sillimanite) Dyed and Impregnated to Imitate Ruby
Conference Reports
	            Applied Diamond Conference 2005
	            Goldschmidt05
Miscellaneous
	            Historic U.S. Sapphire and Benitoite Mines Close
Conferences
	            Mineralien Hamburg
	            Visit Gems & Gemology in Tucson
	            CGA Gemmology Conference 2005
Exhibits
	            Cameos at the Met
	            Pearls at the Tokyo National Science Museum
In Memorium
	            Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr. (1906-2005), contributor and Editorial Review Board member

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

	Video Showing Tenebrescence in Scapolite from Afghanistan (see below)
	Submitted by Brendan M. Laurs
	October 18, 2005

	Tenebrescence in Scapolite @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Winter 2011 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Chondrodite from Mahenge, Tanzania
	            Blue Dolomite from Colombia
	            Fluorite from Namibia
	            Common Opal from Laverton, Western Australia
	            A Bicolor, Bi-Pattern Hydrophane Opal
	            Chatoyant Quartz with Cinnabar Inclusions
	            Quartz with Acicular Emerald Inclusions
	            Quartz Carving with Inclusions of Izoklakeite
	            Update on Ruby and Sapphire Mining in Pakistan
	            Vanadium-Bearing Color-Change Sphene from Pakistan/Afghanistan
	            Cobalt Blue-Colored Spinel from Khuoi Ngan, Vietnam
	            Trapiche Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar
Synthetics and Simulants
	            "Cat's-Eye Pearls": Unusual Non-Nacreous Calcitic Pearl Imitations
	            Large Synthetic Quartz
Treatments
	            Sugar-Acid Treatment of Opal from Wollo, Ethiopia
Conference Reports
	            32nd International Gemmological Conference
	            2011 NAG Institute of Registered Valuers Conference

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Fluorite from Namibia - Additional Spectra
Trapiche Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar - Additional Spectra
	January 9, 2012 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Winter 2010 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Amber with Mineral Inclusions
	            Additional Field Research on Tibetan Andesine
	            Aquamarine and Heliodor from Indochina
	            Dark Blue Aquamarine from Tsaramanga, Madagascar
	            Diopside from Pakistan
	            Record-Breaking Emerald Discovered in Hiddenite, North Carolina
	            Emerald-in-Matrix from Bahia, Brazil
	            5th Century Garnet Jewelry from Romania
	            Natural Pearl Diving Off the Coast of Bahrain
	            Update on Ruby and Sapphire Mining in Pakistan and Afghanistan
	            Rediscovery of Sapphires in Central France
	            Update on Sapphire Mining in Southern Madagascar
	            A Strongly Thermoluminescent Spodumene
	            “Neon” Blue-To-Green Cu- and Mn-Bearing Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Instruments and Techniques
	            Use Your LCD Screen as a Gemological Tool
	            Smartphone Photomicrography
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Filled Copal Imitation of Amber
	            Glass with Crystalline Aggregates
	            Synthetic Ruby Specimen Sold as Natural
Miscellaneous
	            Louis XV’s Golden Fleece—Recreated
Conference Reports
	            20th Annual Goldschmidt Conference
	            Carpathian and Balkan Geological Association (CBGA) meeting
	            European Diamond Conference
	            5th International Workshop on Provenance and Properties of Gems and Geo-Materials

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Diopside from Pakistan - Faceting Notes
Diopside from Pakistan - Raman Spectra
	January 14, 2011 @topic:2


Publish Year: 2010 Title: A Study of the Gems in Ciborium from Einsiedeln Abbey Abstract: The gemstones that adorn a late-16th-century ciborium from Einsiedeln Abbey in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, were investigated by nondestructive gemological methods and EDXRF and Raman spectroscopy at the Collections Center of the Swiss National Museum. The ciborium is decorated with 17 colored stones: 10 almandine garnets, four grossular garnets, and three sapphires. Inclusions in the sapphires and a historic description of the piece suggest a Sri Lankan origin for the gems.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Semiquantitative Analysis
Raman Spectra
	January 14, 2011 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Spring 2011 Gem News International Abstract: 2011 Tucson
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Faceted Cavansite
	            New Find of Green Grossular at Merelani, Tanzania
	            Blue Quartz Colored by Trolleite and Lazulite Inclusions
	            Spectral Interference in Quartz from India
	            Scapolite from India
	            Spinel from Northern Vietnam, Including a New Mine at Lang Chap
	            Gem Zektzerite
Synthetics and Simulants
	            “Coral Sea” Agate
	            Dendritic Agate in Doublets, Inlays, and Jewelry
GNI Regular Features
Diamonds
	            Artisanal Diamond Mining in Liberia
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Update on Emerald Mining at Kagem, Zambia
	            Pargasite from Tanzania
	            Scapolite from Afghanistan
	            Tourmaline Finds at Mt. Marie, Paris, Maine
	            The Origin of Color in Tourmaline from Mt. Marie, Maine
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Trapiche Emerald Imitation
	            A New Rough Nephrite Imitation
	            A Skillfully Crafted Non-Nacreous Pearl Imitation
	            Plastic-Coated Quartz, Imitating Emerald
Treatments
	            Lead Glass-Filled Trapiche Ruby
Miscellaneous
	            Myanmar Gem Emporium
In Memoriam
	            Kurt Nassau (1927-2010), scientist, contributor, and review board member for G&G

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Electron Microprobe Analyses of Inclusions
	May 2, 2011 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Spring 2010 Gem News International Abstract: 2010 Tucson
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Update on Ametrine from the Yuruty Mine, Bolivia
	            Andradite from China
	            Barite from Brazil
	            Hanksite as a Gem Material
	            Lepidolite Beads from Mozambique
	            “Soufflé” Freshwater Cultured Pearls
	            “Churrasco Quartz” with Tourmaline and Chamosite Inclusions from Brazil
	            Cat’s-Eye Rhodonite
GNI Regular Features
Diamonds
	            A Large Hydrogen-Rich Diamond with a Cuboid Phantom Cloud
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Diopside from Ihosy, Madagascar
	            Garnet and Zircon from the Solomon Islands
	            Tsavorite Mining at Namalulu, Northern Tanzania
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Treated CVD-Grown Pink Synthetic Diamond Melee
Treatments
	            A Be-Diffused Sapphire with Interesting Zoning Patterns
	            Dyed Conch Shell Beads
Miscellaneous
	            Unusual Gemstone Tapestry

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Electron Microprobe Data
	Submitted by Simona Mazziotti Tagliani
	May 5, 2010 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Summer 2010 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
	            Unusual Facet Arrangement Produces Scalloped Appearance in Diamond
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Chrysocolla Chalcedony from Acari, Peru
	            Recent Finds Of Kunzite in Pala, California
	            Natural Pearls of the Pectinidae Family: Review and Origin of Color
	            More on Ruby from Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
	            Ruby, Sapphire, and Spinel Mining In Vietnam: An Update
	            Sphene from Northern Pakistan
	            Spinel from Bawma, Myanmar
	            Tsavorite and Other Green Garnets Reportedly from Afghanistan
Synthetics and Simulants
	            An Unusual Lab-Grown Garnet: Calcium Niobium Gallium Garnet
	            Glass Imitations of Emerald with Straight Zones
	            “Nanogems”—A New Glass-Ceramic Material
	            Serpentine Doublets, Sold as Pietersite, from Arizona
Treatments
	            A Composite Coral Bangle
	            Lead Glass-Filled Ruby in Antique Jewelry
	            Tanzanite and Other Gems Set with Colored Adhesive
Conference Reports
	            1st Italian Conference on Scientific Gemology
	            Sinkankas Symposium 2010—Gem Feldspars
Miscellaneous
	            Gem News from Myanmar
Announcements
	            Updated CIBJO Blue Books Released
In Memoriam
	            Roy E. “Chip” Clark (1947-2010), scientific and studio photographer

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Supplementary Information and Photos
	Submitted by Mark Mauthner
	July 31, 2010 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Summer 2009 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Andradite from Erzincan, Eastern Turkey
	            Star Apatite: First Occurrence in the Gem World
	            A Chalcedony-Opal Cameo with Remarkable Inclusions
	            Citrine from Andongologo, Madagascar
	            “Sugarcane Emerald” from Brazil
	            Orange Kyanite from Tanzania
	            Rare Optical Phenomenon in Play-Of-Color Opal
	            Cultured Pearls from Fiji
	            Rare Necklace Made Of Natural Pearls from Different Mollusks
	            Colorless Petalite and Pollucite from Laghman, Afghanistan
	            Serpentine Cat’s-Eye
	            Zircon Mining in Cambodia
Conference Reports
	            GIT 2008
	            Sinkankas Spinel Symposium
Announcements
	            Gems Issue of Elements
	            Responsible Jewellery Council Announces Code of Practice

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Andradite from Erzincan, Eastern Turkey - Electron Microprobe Data
	Submitted by Alethea Inns and Brendan M. Laurs
	Summer, 2009
Colorless Petalite and Pollucite from Laghman, Afghanistan - Infrared Spectra
	Submitted by Erica Emerson and Paul Johnson
	Summer, 2009
Colorless Petalite and Pollucite from Laghman, Afghanistan - Faceting Notes
	Submitted by Robert C. Buchannan
	Summer, 2009
Cambodian Zircon Mining - Supplementary Photos
	Submitted by M. H. Smith and W. A. Balmer
	Summer, 2009 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Fall 2009 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
	            A Greenish Yellow Diamond with Glass Filling and HPHT Treatment
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Aquamarine with Ocean-Themed Inclusions
	            “Smoky” Gray Beryl
	            Chalcedony from Oregon with Pyrite and Cloud-Like Green Areas
	            Demantoid from Ambanja, Madagascar
	            Enstatite from Pakistan
	            Common Opal from Argentina
	            Mabe Pearls from Vietnam with Seashell Nuclei
	            Characterization of Some Pearls of the Pinnidae Family
	            Cat’s-Eye Phenakite
	            Color-Change Pyrope-Spessartine from Kenya
	            Preliminary Observations on New Rubies from Mozambique
	            Yogo Sapphire Update
	            Topaz with Unstable Brown Color
	            New Tourmaline Production from Keffi, Nigeria
	            “Lilac”-Colored Cu-Bearing Tourmaline from Nigeria
	            Triphylite from Brazil
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Colorless Synthetic Sapphire Imitating Rough Diamond
Miscellaneous
	            Update on Myanmar Gems
Conference Reports
	            3rd European Gemmological Symposium
Announcements
	            CIBJO Resources for Retailers
	            Gem Cutting Notes Available

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Demantoid from Ambanja, Madagascar - Additional Photos
Enstatite from Pakistan - Photomicrographs and Absorption Spectra
New Tourmaline Production from Keffi, Nigeria - Average Chemical Composition of Tourmaline by Electron Microprobe
Colorless Petalite and Pollucite from Laghman, Afghanistan - Faceting Notes
	Fall, 2009 @topic:2


Publish Year: 2007 Title: Summer 2007 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
	            Bar Code Technology Applied to Diamonds
	            U.S. Supreme Court Ruling may Affect Viability of Some Diamond Cut Patents
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            First Discovery of Amazonite in Mexico
	            Astorite: A Rhodonite-Rich Rock from Colorado
	            Color-Change Bastnäsite-(Ce) from Pakistan
	            Citrine with Pyrite Inclusions
	            Unusual Danburite Pair
	            Fluorite from Ethiopia
	            Heliodor and Other Beryls from Connecticut
	            Cat’s-Eye K-Feldspar and other Chatoyant Gems from Tanzania
	            Green Opal
	            Chinese Akoya Cultured Pearls
	            Pyrope-Almandine from Tanzania
	            Pink-to-Red Tourmaline from Myanmar
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Glass Object with Circular Bands
	            Heat-Treated Kashan Flux-Grown Synthetic Ruby
	            Synthetic Star Sapphire with Hexagonal Features
	            Pink Synthetic Spinel Colored by Iron
	            A New Imitation of Imperial Topaz
Miscellaneous
	            KPMG Report Predicts Growth for the Global Jewelry Industry
Conference Reports
	            Sinkankas Symposium: The Jades
Announcements
	            New CIBJO Blue Book Available
	            AGTA Spectrum Awards Competition
Exhibits
	            Exhibits at the GIA Museum in Carlsbad
	            Gold at AMNH
	            Wine and Gems in Dijon
	            Jewelry of Ben Nighthorse
	            Gems! Colors of Light and Stone at the Bowers Museum

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Additional Figures
	Submitted by Laurent Massi
	July 30, 2007 @topic:8


Publish Year: 2004 Title: Spring 2004 Gem News International Abstract: Tucson Report
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Yellow Cat’s-Eye Beryl from Brazil
	            Update on Demantoid and Cat’s-Eye Demantoid from Iran
	            Blue Omphacite from Guatemala
	            New Ruby Production from Malawi
	            Pink to Pink-Orange Spinel from Tanzania
	            Large Tsavorite and Green Grossular from Tanzania
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Color-Change Glass, Imitating Alexandrite
Treatments
	            Commercial Production of HPHT-Treated Diamonds Showing a Color Shift
Conference Reports
	            Accredited Gemologists Association Conference
GNI Regular Features
Diamonds
	            Update on Proprietary Diamond Cuts
	            A Diamond Exhibiting a Spectacular Phantom
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Black Horn Coral Coated with Artificial Resin
	            Petroleum Inclusions in Quartz from Pakistan: A Photoessay
Instruments and Techniques
	            New Swarovski Triplet Loupe
Conference Reports
	            Diamond Presentations at the Australian Diamond Conference
	            “Science of Gem Materials” Session at the MRS Meeting
	            Sinkankas Tourmaline Symposium
Announcements
	            Dr. Henry A. Hänni Receives AGA Bonanno Award
	            Dr. George R. Rossman Receives Feynman Prize
Conferences
	            JCK Show Las Vegas
	            Jewelry Camp 2004
	            Geoscience Africa 2004
	            International Geological Congress
	            5th European Conference on Mineralogy and Spectroscopy
	            Gems of Pacific Continental Margins
	            Diamond 2004
	            ICAM 2004 in Brazil
	            Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair
Exhibits
	            GIA Museum Exhibits in Carlsbad

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Table of Proprietary/Patented Diamond Cuts
	Submitted by Thomas W. Overton
	Spring 2004 @topic:8


Publish Year: 2004 Title: Fall 2004 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
	            An Untreated Type Ib Diamond Exhibiting Green Transmission
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
	            Gem Amphiboles from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Myanmar
	            Recent Gem Beryl Production in Finland
	            Hessonite from Afghanistan
	            Interesting Abalone Pearls
	            Rhodonite of Facet and Cabochon Quality from Brazil
	            Spessartine and Almandine-Spessartine from Afghanistan
	            Gem Tourmaline from Congo
Synthetics and Simulants
	            Dyed Horn as an Amber Imitation
	            Fake Inclusions in Quartz, “Made in Brazil”
Treatments
	            Dyed Cultured Pearls Fading on Exposure to Heat
Miscellaneous
	            Masterpieces of American Jewelry Exhibition
Announcements
	            G&G Beryllium Diffusion Article Wins AGS Liddicoat Journalism Award
	            Visit Gems & Gemology in Tucson
Exhibits
	            Pearls at the Royal Ontario Museum
	            Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show
	            Mineralien Hamburg
Conferences
	            Rapaport International Diamond Conference 2004
	            CGA Gemmology Conference 2004
	            Pegmatites at GSA
	            Antwerp Diamond Conference
	            Diamond Synthesis and History
	            GemmoBasel 2005

To view the full section, download the PDF above.

	DATA DEPOSITORY

Table 1: Slices
Table 2: Crystals (Blue to Green)
	Submitted by Brendan M. Laurs
	Fall 2004 @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: 6 Tips for the Best Gem Photos Abstract: Robert Weldon captures the vibrant color of the 79 natural rose color sapphires and 24 round pink and purple heated sapphires in this bracelet set in 18K rose and white gold accented with round diamonds. Courtesy of Omi Privé, photo by Robert Weldon/GIA

                      Robert Weldon, manager of photography and visual communications for GIA, has photographed some of the most extraordinary pieces of jewelry and gem specimens in the world. He has refined the art of gemstone photography through years of careful experimentation and persistence in capturing every detail of each piece. He knows how to use the best tools, environments, lights and props to showcase the beauty of the gems and jewels he sees through his camera lens.

He offered these six photo tips at the 2014 JCK Show in Las Vegas.

Tools

Camera and lenses – Use a high-end digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera capable of shooting images 16 mega pixels and above. A 60-80 mm macro lens capable of 1:1 magnification makes it possible for you to focus on your subject matter from a distance of 5 inches or more. Weldon traditionally uses a 105 mm lens.

	This Victorian gold snake bracelet (circa 1875) features woven, stamped and engraved gold set with diamond eyes. Gift of Mona Lee Nesseth, photo by Robert Weldon/GIA
Lighting – Studio strobe lights, continuous lighting, LED lights and simple flash units give you a variety of lighting options. The investment in a system can be significant, so carefully consider how gems or jewelry will be lit, and how light interacts with them.

Stage – Create a platform or area where your subject will be photographed. Many photo supply companies sell pre-fabricated light boxes, or you can use a white cloth tent or cocoon made of translucent plastic, to control the environment and create diffused lighting, which scatters light, softens shadows and provides uniform lighting for your subject.

A consistent light arrangement and staging is ideal for appraisers and jewelers who want to catalog what they have worked on or record inventory in an environment that does not change. This provides consistency in the way the images look, but little in the way of creativity or artistic license.

	This large, 201.06 carat ametrine is from Bolivia. Courtesy of Michael M. Dyber, gem designer, photo by Robert Weldon/GIA
Tripod – A tripod will help eliminate camera movement, especially with continuous lighting systems, and make it easier to compose the best possible photograph.

Tweezers, sticky wax or tape and gem cloths – Sticky wax and tape help the photographer address minute details, such as placement of the object on a stage. As in gemology, gem cloths are invaluable to clean a gem or remove fingerprints and dust. Tweezers are used to avoid getting new or more fingerprints on the gems, especially after they have been wiped with a gem cloth. Because items are magnified through macro photography, make sure such details to do not detract from the object.

Beautiful Objects
Choose the best-cut stone or the most beautifully made jewelry. A well cut stone that doesn’t show light leakage take less time to prepare for the photo and is easier to position in a flattering manner. That said, it is always good to change the position of a jewel, and remember to document a piece from the front and back.

	Left: Jeffrey Appling designed this bicolored tourmaline ring with green and pink gold, tsavorite garnet, pink sapphire and natural yellow diamonds. Courtesy Jeffrey Appling. Right: These diamonds – 22.32 ct macle, left, and 1.01 ct round brilliant – are from the Oppenheimer Collection. Gift of DeBeers. Photos by Robert Weldon/GIA
Background
Carefully choose the material that will act as a background to your subject matter. You want to make sure you choose a material – fabric, stone, tile, glass, or wood – whose texture or color doesn’t compete with the object. A good rule of thumb: if the subject matter is light, choose a dark background and if it is dark, choose a light background. This will ensure there is high contrast between the object and the background, which is always appealing to the eye. Also, white backgrounds tend to have a more clinical feel, while black often adds a dramatic touch.

Successful is when a viewer likes the “mood” of an image but is not distracted by the background. Remember, your gem or jewel is the focal point and most import aspect of the photo.

Props
Use props to tell the story of the piece. A cameo placed on ancient books, for example, conveys a sense of history. Make sure the colors of your props are different enough that the piece stands out from them or is complimented by them. You can also use props to establish the scale of the object.

	Left: Weldon used rare books from “Tablet to Tablet,” a library museum exhibit in Carlsbad, as a background for this cameo brooch. Courtesy of Elise Misiorowski. Right: The rectangular cushion-shaped amethyst and pearl brooch is displayed on blue fabric. Courtesy of KCB Natural Pearls. Photos by Robert Weldon/GIA
Post-Shot Processing
Most images can be enhanced with a little bit of Adobe Photoshop work. This photo-editing software makes it possible for you to clean dust and remove glue or sticky-wax that may be showing. While this software can be used to change color, it should only be used to correct the color to match the actual gemstone. In some cases, items can be cut out of a background, or a halo-lighting effect can be used to create a mood or spotlight a special aspect of the piece. Photoshop can also be used to convert the format of the photo for various media (print, email and web).

Never use Photoshop to change the “truth” of a photo. For example, don’t take out inclusions, abraded facet junctions or dramatically change the color of a stone, such as altering a pink stone to a deep red. It is unethical to make such significant changes without disclosing that you have done so.

Be Patient
Keep trying. Author Malcolm Gladwell often refers to the "10,000-Hour Rule" in his book “Outliers,” saying the key to success in any field is due, to a large extent, to practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours. Applying that adage to photography, consistent “perfection” comes after your 10,000 image.

	Designed in New York by Max Halpels for Bulgari, this floral platinum brooch is set with 47 natural, fancy colored and fancy cut diamonds that weigh a total of 29.38 carats. Courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, photo by Robert Weldon/GIA @topic:6


Publish Year: 2015 Title: Books: Exotic Gems, Volume 3 Abstract: By Renee Newman, softcover, 136 pp., publ. by International Jewelry Publications, Los Angeles, 2014, US$19.95.

	Renee Newman has created a niche for herself writing guides on different gem materials. Each one has been fact-filled and extremely useful as a buying guide for the general public and gem industry professionals alike. Exotic Gems, Volume 3: How to Identify, Evaluate, Select and Care for Matrix Opal, Fire Agate, Blue Chalcedony, Rubellite Indicolite, Paraíba and Other Tourmalines is the latest book in her Exotic Gems series.

	“Exotic gems” are defined by the author and Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “gems that are of foreign origin and/or strikingly, excitingly or mysteriously different or unusual.” The gems Newman discusses in this volume are certainly all of the above, and designers are using increasingly unusual materials to fabricate unique pieces of jewelry that reflect the individuality of their clients.

	The book begins with a helpful chapter that describes pricing factors and explains why a particular gem is priced the way it is. With the use of excellent photographs, the value factors for different cuts and saturations are pictured in great depth to help explain the variances in price. Comparisons like this are mentioned throughout the book relative to each gem discussed, each with pictures to reinforce the concept.

	Each gem type is described and discussed in its own chapter. In the case of tourmaline, there is a general chapter on the group, where the major species are listed along with their (complex) chemical formulas. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the various colors of tourmaline, where the proper terminology (e.g., verdelite for green, indicolite for blue) is clarified. A photographic journal of sorts, with captions and tips by master cutter John Bradshaw of Coast-to-Coast Gems, is included so that the importance of the rough’s orientation and the cutting process are properly understood.  Terminology of the different colors of tourmaline (i.e. verdelite for green, indicolite for blue) is discussed and clarified. Following chapters on Paraíba and other copper tourmalines are meticulous descriptions of the history and sources of blue to green tourmalines; pink and red tourmalines; yellow, orange, and brown tourmalines; and multicolored tourmalines (including bi- and parti-color and phenomenal varieties). Tips on evaluation and care are given for each color group. It is truly amazing how much valuable information has been condensed into such an easy format.

	The chapter on blue chalcedony contains identification information, accompanied by many photos that exhibit beautiful designs using this unsung gem. Geographic localities follow and include Malawi; Namibia; Indonesia; Mexico; Washington, Montana, California, and Oregon in the United States; and British Columbia in Canada. Assessing the quality of blue chalcedony is discussed, covering hue, tone, saturation, transparency, uniformity of color, clarity, cut quality, and sometimes size and locality. Stability and treatments are listed, followed by a section on care of the material.

	Lovers of the elusive fire agate will be pleased to find an informative chapter on this gem. History, deposits, and price factors precede an excellent section on the cutting of this material. Photos and captions by master cutter Ryszard Krukowski of Fire Agate Art Studio explain exactly why so much expertise on the part of the lapidary is required to bring out the magic in the material. Tips on care of the finished product follow.

	Matrix opal is the last gem addressed in this guide. Newman explores Queensland boulder, Yowah and Koroit, Andamooka, Mexican, and Honduran opal. The type and amount of material within matrix can dictate enormous differences in price. Generally, Queensland boulder opal commands higher prices than other types of matrix opal so locality can make a difference. The amount or absence of play-of-color, and the type of background the opal is viewed against, can also influence value significantly. Generally, the dark and black body tones are the most prized, because those colors provide a greater contrast to the play-of-color.

	One of the most noteworthy aspects of Newman’s many gem-related books is her use of photographs to illustrate quality and showcase modern designs that effectively and beautifully utilize the materials. Details on locality, treatment of material, and care tips are always well researched.

Exotic Gems, Vol. 3 belongs in the library of gem and jewelry appraisers as a quick and easy reference to the relative value factors of the stones discussed, and is also relevant for those who are lovers of unusual gem materials. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2006 Title: Summer 2006 Gems News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Alaskan Amber
            Update on Iridescent Andradite from Mexico
            Two Unusual Star Emeralds
            Faceted Blue Euclase from Colombia
            Color-Change Fluorite
            Herderite from Pakistan
            Jeremejevite from Myanmar and Sri Lanka
            Pink Opal from Monte Rosa, Peru
            Update on Prehnite from Australia
            Prehnite from Mali
            Natural Sapphire with Unusual Inclusions
            Sillimanite from India Resembling Moonstone
            Sphene from Afghanistan
            Uvite-Dravite Tourmaline from Morogoro, Tanzania
            Triploidite from China
            Väyrynenite from Afghanistan
Synthetics and Simulants
            Diffusion-Treated Synthetic Sapphire
Treatments
            Lead Glass–Filled Ruby Bead Necklace
Announcements
            AGTA Spectrum Awards Competition
            NAJA Conference Scholarship
Exhibits
            Upcoming GIA Museum Exhibits
            King Tut Returns

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2015 Title: A Closer Look at the Micro-World of Gems Abstract: The micro-world of gems lies at the very core of gemology. Information gathered from observations through the microscope serves as the very foundation for many conclusions drawn on a specimen, including identification, treatment detection, separation of natural and synthetic materials, and geographic origin. Even a gem’s genesis and the secrets of Earth’s depths may ultimately be revealed. This inner world waits for gemologists, both new and experienced, to take the time for a closer look, to dive into its depths, and to thoroughly explore its landscape. continual practice, careful observation, and patience will hone both technique and interpretive prowess.

In this series, we invite you to join us for an extended tour through the astounding beauty and variety found in the micro-world of gems and related materials.

View Gallery

	Photomicrograph Gallery
Introduction to the Micro-World of Gems - G&G’s new column takes a closer look at the hidden wonders found in gemstones.
Read More

Amber with Mite Inclusion - An unusual mite is preserved in a 30-million-year old amber specimen.
Read More

Apatite “Piñata” - A cracked apatite specimen reveals hidden treasure.
Read More

Iridescent Musgravite - A musgravite specimen’s inclusions result in an optical phenomenon unusual for the material.
Read More

Cat’s-eye Phenakite - Inclusions create chatoyancy in a colorless phenakite cabochon.
Read More

Unusual Pink Sapphire Bead - A pink sapphire bead with drill holes revealing ruby fragments is examined.
Read More

Bicolor Double-Eye Tourmaline - A tourmaline displaying different colors of chatoyancy on opposite sides of a double cabochon is examined.
Read More @topic:8


Publish Year: 2002 Title: Spring 2002 Gem News International Abstract: Special Report
            A New Corundum Treatment from Thailand
Tucson 2002
Conference Reports
            Highlights of the Tucson Diamond Symposium
            8th Symposium on the Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan
            Gemological Presentations at the 23rd Annual FM-TGMSMSA Symposium
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Amethyst from Afghanistan
            Fossilized “Stingray” Coral
            Canadian Emerald Discovery in the Yukon
            Red Andesine Feldspar from Congo
            Fluorite from Afghanistan
            Green Fluorite from the Rogerley Mine, England
            Demantoid Garnet from Iran
            Blue, Biaxial Positive Kyanite from Nepal
            Pargasite from China
            Cultured Pearls with Gem Inlays
            Ruby from Northern Kenya
            Black Spinel from Mexico
            More on Cuprian Elbaite Tourmaline from Nigeria
            Vesuvianite from Kenya
Synthetics and Simulants
            Star Opal Triplets
Miscellaneous
            Interesting Etch Features and Cavities in Beryl and Quartz
GNI Regular Features
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Recent Emerald Production from Hiddenite, North Carolina
            Star Emerald from Madagascar
            Tourmaline “Slider” in Quartz
Miscellaneous
            Illusion Mount™ Stone Holders
Exhibits
            GIA Museum Exhibits in Carlsbad
Announcements
            The JCK Show—Las Vegas
            3rd World Diamond Conference
            Jewelry 2002: A Celebration of Jewelry
            11th Quadrennial IAGOD Symposium and GEOCONGRESS 2002
            JA New York Summer Show
            FIPP 2002
            IMA2002
            Colorado Gems
            AGTA Spectrum Awards Competition

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: African Students Discover the Wonder of Gems Abstract: Thirty-five students from Johannesburg, South Africa, and Gaborone, Botswana, eager to get their first glimpse of gemology – from rough crystals to finished jewelry pieces – learned the basics of gemology, mineralogy and geology when GIA brought its Junior Gemologist Program workshops to Johannesburg and Gaborone for the first time.

In April 2012, students from Tshwaragano Primary School, Ikageng Primary School, Legae Academy and Mogoditshane Community Junior Secondary School, all in Gaborone, and PS Tsosane Primary School in Johannesburg, participated in the program. This was the first time that GIA offered the program in either country.

“Their fascination was evident during the science portions of the presentation,” said instructor Andy Lucas, product manager of gemology for GIA. “They were amazed when I showed them how gemstones form and where they come from. Their excitement grew as I explained how the rarity and romance of gemstones was tied to the science.”

The students, ages 10-15, also received hands-on, practical training with loupes and other specialized gemological equipment as they learned to identify and assess gems such as quartz, fluorite, corundum and calcite.

“Their excitement turned to outright exuberance,” Lucas said. “We practiced what they had learned about gemstone durability with hardness tests and showed them where each fell on the Mohs scale. I also demonstrated the basic principles of hardness and how stones of equal hardness can scratch each other – how diamond can scratch diamond, for example.”

The students also learned how to use standard gemological tools, including locking tweezers, a stone cloth and a jeweler’s loupe.

“The jeweler’s loupe was very popular: everyone wanted to look like a professional when they louped a stone,” he said. “They actually started out by looking at fingerprints – not the ones in stones, but the ones on their fingers.”

Lucas said the greatest excitement and fun happened when the students observed inclusions in gems using a professional gemological microscope.

“I loved seeing the awe in their faces as they discovered the horsetails, included crystals, multi-phase inclusions and fingerprints, inside stones,” he said.

Some students were so inspired by what they learned, they changed their career plans.

“I now want to be a gemologist. I wanted to be a graphic designer before because I’m good at design. This is my first time learning about diamonds,” wrote Maphanga Njabulo, an 11 year-old from PS Tsosane Primary School in Johannesburg. @topic:11


Publish Year: - Title: Fall 2011 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
            Type Ib Greenish Brown Diamonds with a Color Shift
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Gem-Quality Afghanite from Afghanistan
            Iridescent Ammonite from Madagascar
            Aquamarine from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam: Mining Update
            Purplish Blue and Red-Brown Chalcedony from Peru
            Update on Emerald Mining in Afghanistan
            A Deep Green Fuchsite-Rich Rock
            Color-Change Garnet from Nandagala, Tanzania
            An Examination of Some Colorless Gems from Myanmar
            Nuummite from Mauritania
            Blue Opal Showing Play-of-Color from Sinaloa, Mexico
            Pallasite Pendants
            Chinese Freshwater Cultured Pearls Beaded with Baroque Freshwater Cultured Pearls
            Quartz with Spessartine Inclusions
            Pink Cat's-Eye Quartz, with Color and Chatoyancy Caused by Tourmaline Needles
            An Exceptional Rhodochrosite Carving
            Sapphire and Zircon from Ethiopia
            Update on Sapphire Mining in Sri Lanka
            Green Cat's-Eye Spodumene from Brazil
            A Color-Zoned Topaz
            Variscite from Peru
Synthetics and Simulants
            An Accidental Corundum and Lead Glass Triplet?
            Glass Triplet Resembling Coated "Mystic Topaz"
Conference Reports
            ICA Congress 2011
            Scottish Gemmological Conference 2011
            Sinkankas Diamond Symposium
Miscellaneous
            A Jewel That Survived 9/11
            Update on Myanmar Gem Sales and Production

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Summer 2012 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Burmese Amber Update
            Aquamarine from San Bernardino County, California
            Trapiche Aquamarine from Namibia
            Champagne/Imperial Garnet from Lindi Province, Tanzania
            Rainbow Moonstone from Zambia
            Morganite from Ethiopia
            Large Natural-Color Freshwater Cultured Pearls with Drilled Beads
            Ruby and Sapphire Rush Near Didy, Madagascar
            Beryllium-Bearing Nano-Inclusions Identified in Untreated Madagascar Sapphire
            Blue Sapphire Discovery near Kataragama, Sri Lanka
            Sapphire and Ruby Carvings from Vietnam
            Color Suites of Zoisite from Tanzania
Synthetics and Simulants
            Partially Devitrified Glass Imitation of Hemimorphite
            Coated Quartz Imitation of Rubellite Tourmaline
Conference Reports
            10th Annual Sinkankas Symposium—Topaz
Miscellaneous
            Myanmar Gem Emporium and GEO Myanmar 2012

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2014 Title: Gem Session at 2014 GSA Meeting Abstract: Visitors to GIA’s booth at the 2014 GSA conference spoke with representatives, including Dr. James Shigley, left, to learn about GIA, gemology education programs, and career opportunities. Photo by Cathy Jonathan/GIA.

              A full-day session on gem materials was held Oct. 20, 2014, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in Vancouver.

The morning presentations focused mainly on diamonds. Thomas Stachel (University of Alberta) summarized work to constrain the geological conditions of diamond formation. It is thought to have formed in the mantle from an oxidized carbonate-bearing fluid with high carbon and low nitrogen concentrations. Eloïse Gaillou (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) discussed pink diamonds whose color originates from narrow lamellae created by plastic deformation parallel to the octahedral growth planes. These lamellae contain a high density of luminescent defects along with localized strain. As a result of plastic deformation in the mantle, these diamonds accommodate stress along the lamellae by mechanical twinning. The unidentified optical defects responsible for the pink coloration are also created by this deformation. Richard Wirth (GeoForschungsZentrum) described the use of a transmission electron microscope with a focused ion beam to characterize microstructures in materials. Blue color in quartz is caused by Rayleigh scattering from submicron- and nanometer-sized inclusions of mica, ilmenite, and rutile. The black color of carbonado diamond results from its polycrystalline nature and partially open grain boundaries that cause internal total reflection of light. Cloud-like inclusions in Madagascar sapphires are due to nanocrystalline titanium-rich oxide inclusions. Wuyi Wang (GIA) discussed the use of carbon isotope analysis to help distinguish natural diamonds from CVD-grown synthetic diamonds. He found no overlap in isotope composition between them, but within the synthetic diamonds there was variation between manufacturers and even from the same manufacturer. Karen Smit (GIA) described interesting features of diamond crystals from Marange, Zimbabwe, which display both cuboid and octahedral growth sectors and distinctive center-cross patterns (often highlighted by graphite-particle clouds). Mike Breeding (GIA) reviewed the properties of certain treated-color diamonds. Electron irradiation yields green colors in diamonds with higher nitrogen content, and blue colors in diamonds with lower amounts of nitrogen. Characterization of their optical defects provides a means of distinguishing them from natural-color diamonds. Troy Ardon (GIA) characterized some optical defects in hydrogen-rich diamonds from Zimbabwe. Spectral features associated with certain defects could be correlated with noticeable clouds in these diamonds. Robert Luth (University of Alberta) discussed a model of diamond formation in the mantle. He suggested that it takes place as carbon-hydrogen-oxygen (CHO) fluids rise in the lithosphere during isobaric cooling, or combined cooling and decomposition. This model helps explain a number of observations regarding the geologic occurrence of diamonds. Mandy Krebs (University of Alberta) discussed size frequency distribution as a predictive tool for macro-diamond grade at Canada’s Ekati mine. She found that Ekati diamonds of different size fractions display broadly similar nitrogen and carbon-13 isotope compositions. Mederic Palot (University of Alberta) studied diamonds from the Kankan deposit in Guinea that are believed to have formed at great depths (300 km in the mantle). Characterization of nitrogen and carbon isotopes indicates rapid ascent from the mantle to shallower depths. Charles Kosman (University of British Columbia) studied the chemical composition of mineral inclusions in alluvial diamonds from the Kasai area of Congo. These diamonds originated from the kimberlites around Lucapa in neighboring Angola, which contain a significant proportion (~ 20%) of eclogitic diamonds.

Dona Dirlam (right) talks with Dr. Eloïse Gaillou at the GIA booth. Photo by Cathy Jonathan/GIA.
The afternoon session covered a range of topics. Lee Groat (University of British Columbia) reviewed Canadian gem minerals. In addition to diamond, the country is an important source of nephrite jade, ammolite, and amethyst. Recent discoveries of ruby, sapphire, spinel, and emerald also show promise. David Newton (University of British Columbia) analyzed peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths from the Muskox kimberlite in northern Canada to better understand the rock types in the underlying mantle. Howard Coopersmith (Fort Collins, Colorado) described a placer deposit at Mount Carmel in Israel that has yielded diamond, ruby, sapphire, and natural moissanite crystals and fragments that appear to have originated from different igneous and metamorphic source rocks. Aaron Palke (GIA) presented a trace-element study of demantoid garnet as the basis for distinguishing this important gem material from different geologic and geographic sources. Cigdem Lule (Glenview, Illinois) discussed the need for a more systematic approach to gem nomenclature, which is often determined by jewelry trade practices, as opposed to the more rigorous procedure used for assigning new mineral names. Nancy McMillan (New Mexico State University) presented a multivariate chemical analysis of tourmaline, a mineral that can be an exceptional provenance indicator in detrital sediments. This analysis has proven successful in assigning tourmaline samples to different geologic environments. David Turner (University of British Columbia) conducted a study of sapphires and associated minerals from the marble-hosted Beluga occurrence in northern Canada by hyperspectral imaging over the 550–2500 nm range. This technique could be useful in the field for analyzing rock samples and in airborne surveys over terrain with good rock exposures. Philippe Belley (University of British Columbia) studied blue calcite skarn deposits in Ontario and Quebec. Their geologic setting and low iron content make them potential sources of grossular garnet and other gem minerals. J.N. Das (Geological Survey of India) reviewed the exploration and mining of diamonds and colored gemstones throughout India. Andrew Fagan (University of British Columbia) described the Aappaluttoq ruby and pink sapphire deposit in Greenland. Based on field studies, it appears to be the world’s largest geologically defined gem corundum deposit, with an estimated 400 million carats of material within 65 meters of the surface. Commercial mining is expected to begin in 2015. Sytle Antao (University of Calgary) studied optical anisotropy in cubic garnets, which has been recognized for more than a century but remains incompletely understood. X-ray diffraction study of several anisotropic samples revealed they contain two or three cubic phases with slightly different structural parameters. The intergrowth of these phases on a nano-domain scale produces the strain-induced optical anisotropy. Barbara Dutrow (Louisiana State University) discussed how tourmaline, an important accessory mineral in many geologic environments, can be used to help locate gem deposits.

In the separate poster session, Ellen Svadlenak (Oregon State University) and co-authors used electron microprobe analysis to study variations in the trace elements in emeralds from Muzo, Colombia. Lauren Forbes (Western Washington University) and co-authors analyzed emeralds from four different Muzo mines using SEM-CL (cathodoluminescence) along with LA-ICP-MS to better understand the chemical and physical conditions for their growth. All emeralds tested showed a strong red luminescence. The researchers concluded that Muzo emeralds are compositionally unique. Gena Philibert-Ortega (Murrieta, California) and co-authors described the scientific influence of James Sowerby’s rare five-volume British Mineralogy in the early 19th century. Elise Skalwold (Cornell University) and coauthors reviewed their research on a highly unusual blue inclusion in a diamond. While it was identified as olivine, the reason for the blue color remains a mystery.

An overview of the gem research session from the 2014 GSA meeting is available at https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2014AM/webprogram/Session35272.html. @topic:8


Publish Year: - Title: Valentine's Day Ideas: Red Gems Abstract: Think red for Valentine’s Day – as in red gemstones. The world of red gems is fascinating. They’re hot, sexy, confident, passionate... and never boring. Each red gem has its own personality – which radiates from every facet.

If you are shopping for a red gemstone for Valentine’s Day, there are several intriguing choices available and one is bound to be right for you. Colored stone experts at GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the world’s foremost authority in gemology, provide the following insightful glimpses into four of the most popular red gemstone choices:

Ruby: King of Red Gemstones
Mined in exotic locales around the world – including Myanmar, Madagascar, East Africa, and Sri Lanka – the ruby is the undisputed king of red gems. Ruby offers a distinctive range of red hues that vary from light (pinkish) to dark, velvety reds, and hits a brighter red in between. And, ruby is very hard – second only to diamond in hardness (resistance to scratching).

What’s the best ruby shade? It’s the one that speaks to you, as the potential wearer of this appealing gem. View the spectrum of red hues, and see which one best fits you. Keep in mind that vivid rubies are considered the highest quality, but they are rare and will thus be more expensive.

Spinel: The Great Pretender
GIA’s colored stone experts point out that quite a few famous “rubies” in royal jewels throughout the world are actually spinels – some even reside in the British Crown Jewels. Spinel has been mistaken for ruby for centuries.

Now that it has come into its own, spinel fans love its brilliance and hardness. They are also captivated by its rich reds, although the gem appears in a spectrum of other colors. Spinel is a durable gem that is affordable but also uncommon. It’s mined in Myanmar, Sri Lanka , Tanzania, Tajikistan (part of the former Soviet Union ) and Vietnam.

Garnet: The Popular Gem
Although garnets appear in many colors, red is the most admired. It’s also plentiful and affordable. Garnet is very durable, so it’s ideal for daily wear.

The three species of red garnet are almandine, rhodolite, and pyrope. Almandine garnet is a medium-red color. Rhodolite is found in red with purple or raspberry overtones. Pyrope, from the Greek word pyropus meaning “fiery-eyed,” is the darkest red garnet. The finest specimens have a glowing red color. Garnets are mined in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka .

Tourmaline: A Colorful Character
This colorful gemstone occurs in more colors and color combinations than any other gemstone variety, according to GIA. In the tourmaline family, a red gemstone is referred to as a rubellite. Widely available, rubellites also come in larger sizes, making them a favorite choice for contemporary jewelry. Important sources of rubellite are Brazil and Nigeria.

When shopping for gemstones, it’s advisable to go to a jeweler who has credentials from GIA, such as a Graduate Gemologist (GG) or Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP). GIA also offers identification reports on gemstones, including those discussed here, to verify their authenticity. @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Warm Up to Cocoa-Colored Gems Abstract: Chocolate has found its way to the necks, arms, hands, and bodices of fashion runway models.
According to experts at GIA (Gemological Institute of America), gemstones with warm, brown tones are heating up. And many of the world’s most influential designers in couture apparel and jewelry have built fashion menus around shades of brown – from the most delicate caramels and mochas to the darkest chocolates and coffees.

For the ultimate in russet glamour, think diamonds. Brown diamonds. A lightly tinted brown diamond, often marketed as a “champagne” diamond, or a darker “cognac” diamond, can accentuate a warm-toned wardrobe. The Institute, which grades many of the world’s diamonds, advises to always ask for a GIA Diamond Grading Report whenever purchasing a diamond.

Other brown and golden-colored gems that can heat up your wardrobe include sunstone, andalusite, citrine, tiger’s-eye, and amber. Fire opal is also a hot new front-runner in jewelry designs. Smoky quartz is sizzling too. Bold rings and pendants made of rough-cut crystals of rutilated quartz with gold and black needle-like inclusions remain popular.

Bronze-colored pearls can’t be left out either. From large Tahitians to fancy-shaped freshwaters, natural- and treated-color pearls come in a range of hues that complement sophisticated fall gem fashions.

The key to wearing the new browns in jewelry is to go for contrast: cognac diamonds juxtaposed with colorless diamonds; bronze pearls alternating with white pearls; and tiger’s-eye set in silver, just to name a few possibilities.

Other gems can create the same look, according to GIA’s gem mavens. Cat’s-eye, topaz, and brown zircon, and agate, even lesser-known gems like chrysoberyl and dravite, all provide the brownish shades favored by some designers. @topic:8


Publish Year: 2008 Title: Fall 2008 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Using Cucumbers to Unearth Dendritic Agates in Central India
            Fluorite Impersonating Blue Color-Change Garnet
            Colorless Forsterite from Mogok, Myanmar
            Colorless Forsterite from Tajikistan
            Natural Impregnation of a Rock by Copper Minerals
            Update on the John Saul Ruby Mine, Kenya
            Ruby and Other Gems from Nanyaseik, Myanmar
            An Interesting Zoned Sapphire Crystal from Winza, Tanzania
            A Tourmaline Crystal Within a Crystal
            Tourmaline from Muva, Mozambique
Inclusions in Gems
            Two Unusual Aquamarines
            An Interesting Rose Quartz from Madagascar
            Scapolite with Diopside Inclusions
            Spodumene from Afghanistan with Unusual Inclusions
Synthetics and Simulants
            Two Interesting Synthetic Rubies
Miscellaneous
            Update on U.S.-Myanmar Import Restrictions
Announcements
Gems & Gemology Wins Two Major Awards
Exhibits
            Exhibits at the GIA Museum
            The Aurora Collection at The Vault
            Gold in the Americas
            Portuguese and Brazilian Jewelry
            Nature of Diamonds at the ROM

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2008 Title: Summer 2008 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
            Bird-like Inclusion in Diamond
            A Colorless Diamond Showing Strong Phosphorescence
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Almandine-Spessartine from Lindi, Tanzania
            “Red Andesine” from China: Possible Indication of Diffusion Treatment
            Orange Beryl from India
            Chromium-Rich Clinochlore (Kämmererite) from Turkey
            Yellow Danburite from Tanzania
            Lawsonite from Marin County, California
            Green Mica (Paragonite) from Pakistan
            An Interesting Opal
            Engraved Black Cultured Pearls
Pinctada Maxima Cultured Pearls Grown Beadless in the Mantle
            Twinned Cultured Pearl
            Interplanetary Cat’s-Eye Peridot
            New Rubies from Central Tanzania
            Ruby and Sapphire Mining at Winza, Tanzania
            A Sapphire with En Echelon Inclusions
            Serpentinite Artifact Resembling Libyan Desert Glass
            Star and Cat’s-Eye Topaz from Brazil
            A New Source of Persian Turquoise: Kerman, Iran
            A Rare Faceted Yellow Vanadinite
Synthetics and Simulants
            Experimental CVD Synthetic Diamonds from LIMHP
            Unusual Glass Imitation of Rubellite
            Tourmalines and Their Imitations Obtained in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Conference Reports
            Sinkankas Garnet Symposium
            2008 Scottish Gemmological Association Conference
Announcements
            CIBJO Introduces Precious Metals Blue Book
Exhibits
            Exhibits at the GIA Museum
In Memoriam
            George S. Switzer (1915–2008), distinguished mineralogist

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2008 Title: Spring 2008 Gem News International Abstract: Tucson 2008
            Emerald-Bearing Gem Pockets from North Carolina
            Spessartine from Loliondo, Tanzania
GNI Regular Features
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Gem-Quality Afghanite and Haüyne from Afghanistan
            A Blue Manganaxinite
            Gem News from Myanmar
            Gems on the Market in Taunggyi, Myanmar, 1990–2007
            Large Gem Pocket Discovered at the Oceanview Mine, San Diego County, California
            Green Sodic Plagioclase from East Africa
            A Blue Topaz with 2500+ Facets
Synthetics and Simulants
            An Imitation "Elephant Pearl"
            An Interesting Synthetic Sapphire
Treatments
            Lead Glass-Filled Color-Change Sapphire
Miscellaneous
            Myanma Gem Emporium Offerings for 1992–2007
Conference Reports
            2008 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry
            Gemological LA-ICP-MS User Group (GLIUG) Workshop and Meeting
            First International Pearl Convention
Announcements
            New Portuguese-Language Gemology Newsletter
            Association of the Study of Jewelry & Related Arts
Exhibits
            Exhibits at the GIA Museum
            Diamond Divas
            Gems! Colors of Light and Stone at the Bowers Museum
            The Aurora Collection at The Vault
            Gold: Visions of the Americas
In Memoriam
            Grahame Brown (1936-2008), editor of The Australian Gemmologist

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: - Title: Winter 2007 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
            Colored Diamonds Break $1 Million per Carat with Record Auction Prices
            Namibian Diamond Mining by Namdeb
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Double Jeopardy in Amber
            Inclusions in Andradite from Namibia
            Andradite from Baluchistan, Pakistan
            Two Axinite Species from Tanzania
            Baddeleyite from Mogok, Myanmar
            Chrysocolla Chalcedony from Iran/Armenia Area
            Yellow-Green Clinohumite and Yellow Chondrodite from Tanzania
            Transparent Dumortierite and Sapphirine from Tanzania
            Brazilian Blue Opal, with Cristobalite and Quartz
            Otolith Pendant
            Goethite and Hematite Inclusions in Quartz from Mina Da Batalha, Brazil
            Sinhalite from Myanmar
            Field Study of Cu-bearing Tourmaline Mines in Mozambique
            New Cu-bearing Tourmaline from Nigeria
Synthetics and Simulants
            New Tairus Synthetic Beryl Simulating “Paraíba” Tourmaline
            An Unusual YAG with a “Reverse” Color Change
Conference Reports
            Geological Society of America 2007
            Goldschmidt 2007
            The Madison Dialogue Ethical Jewelry Summit
Announcements
            Visit Gems & Gemology in Tucson
Exhibits
            Exhibits at the GIA Museum
            Gems! Colors of Light and Stone at the Bowers Museum
            The Aurora Collection at “The Vault” at the London NHM

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2007 Title: Fall 2007 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
            Large Diamond Mine to be Developed in Saskatchewan, Canada
            Spurious “Spiral Phantom” in Diamond
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Color-Zoned Axinite from Pakistan
            Multicolored Fluorite from Brazil
            Cr/V-Bearing Kyanite from Madagascar and Elsewhere
            Blue-Green Opal from Iran
            A Remarkably Large Fire Opal Carving
            An Unusually Translucent Non-Nacreous Pearl
            A New Gemstone from Italy: “Violan Quartz”
            New Sources of Marble-Hosted Rubies in South Asia
            Cr/V-Bearing Green Spodumene from Afghanistan
Synthetics and Simulants
            Large Beryl Triplets Imitating Colombian Emeralds
            Glass Imitation of Blue Spinel
Treatments
            Dyed Greenish Blue Chalcedony from Brazil
Conference Reports
            First European Gemmological Symposium: “Presence and Future of Gemmology”
            30th International Gemmological Conference
            “Diamonds in Kimberley” Symposium
            Diamond 2007
Announcements
            Visit Gems & Gemology in Tucson
            MJSA Vision Awards Competition
Exhibits
            Gemstone Treasures from Namibia
            Wine and Gems in Dijon
            Jewelry of Ben Nighthorse
            Exhibits at the GIA Museum
            Gems! Colors of Light and Stone at the Bowers Museum
            The Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2007 Title: Spring 2007 Gem News International Abstract: Tucson 2007
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            “Emerald” Green Fluorite from India
            Cat’s-Eye Leifite from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
            Play-of-Color Opal from Piauí, Brazil
            Prehnite from Merelani, Tanzania
            Colorado Rhodochrosite Near End of Availability
            Serpentinite from Argentina, Marketed as “Andes Jade"
            New Variscite Production from Western Australia
Instruments and Techniques
            Portable Raman Spectrometer and the Crystal Sleuth Software
GNI Regular Features
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Amethyst from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
            Color-Zoned Andradite from Iran, with Calcite Inclusions
            Emerald with Unusual Growth Features
            Grossular and Clinozoisite from San Diego County, California
            New Pegmatite Gem Production from Tsarafara, Madagascar
            Pezzottaite from Myanmar
            Cat’s-Eye Prehnite
            Cat’s-Eye Topaz from Sri Lanka
            Tourmaline (Dravite and Liddicoatite) from Northeastern Mozambique
            Turquoise from Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico
Treatments
            Lead Glass–Filled Rubies with Hollow Backs Set in a Closed Back Mounting
Miscellaneous
            October 2006 Myanmar Gem Emporium, and Other Gem News from Myanmar
Announcements
G&G Online Calendar
Exhibits
            Colored Diamonds at the London Natural History Museum
            Bernd Munsteiner Carvings at the GIA Museum
            Symbols of Identity—Jewelry of Five Continents
            French Jewelry at the Legion of Honor
            Native American Jewelry
            Gold at AMNH
            Jewelry of Ben Nighthorse

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2006 Title: Winter 2006 Gem News International Abstract: Diamonds
            Update on Diamond Trading in Sierra Leone
            Jewelry Repair Damages a Diamond
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Green Augelite from Peru
            Bicolored Beryl from the Erongo Mountains, Namibia
            Diopside from Afghanistan
            California Jadeite with Copper Inclusions
            Labradorite from Chihuahua, Mexico
            Gem News from Mogok, Myanmar
            Moonstone from Madagascar
            A Large Phenomenal Fire Opal with Possible Uranium-Related Luminescence
            “Sunset” Quartz: A New Gem Material from Brazil
            Swedish Blue (Slag) and Swedish Iron Ore
            Tourmaline Mining at Nandihizana, Madagascar
            Green Uvite from Afghanistan
Synthetics and Simulants
            Synthetic Corundum “Gem Rough” in Tanzania
            Small Treated Synthetic Pink Diamonds Set in a Ring
Treatments
            Update on “Chocolate” Tahitian Cultured Pearls
            Treated Violetish Blue to Violet Quartz from Brazil
            Circular Ring-Like Inclusions in a Diffusion-Treated Sapphire
            Diffusion-Treated Synthetic Sapphire with Unusual Fluorescence
Conference Reports
            32nd Annual GSJ Gemological Conference
            International Mineralogical Association Biennial Meeting
Announcements
G&G Online Conference Calendar
            GIA’s Russell Shor Wins Liddicoat Journalism Award for Gems & Gemology Article
            Visit Gems & Gemology in Tucson
Exhibits
            Colored Diamonds at the Natural History Museum
            Jewelry History at the Newark Museum
            Symbols of Identity—Jewelry of Five Continents
            Gold at AMNH
            Jewelry of Ben Nighthorse
            South Sea Pearls at the GIA Museum
            French Jewelry at the Legion of Honor
            Native American Jewelry

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2006 Title: Spring 2006 Gem News International Abstract: Tucson 2006
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Aquamarine from a New Primary Deposit in Sri Lanka
            Massive Haüyne-Sodalite from Myanmar
            Gem-Quality Massive Pink Muscovite from Brazil
            Pyrope-Spessartine from Tanzania
            Transparent Faceted Sillimanite from India
            Sphene from Pakistan
            New Spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania
Inclusions in Gems
            Cuneiform Aquamarine Inclusion
            "Blood Trail” in Copal
            Colored Fluid Inclusions in Quartz
            "Platinum Quartz” with Star
Conference Reports
            New Madagascar Mining Laws
GNI Regular Features
Diamonds
            Black Diamond with Unusual Growth Structures
Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Sapphire with Unusual Color Zoning
            Väyrynenite from Pakistan
Synthetics and Simulants
            A Convincing Moonstone Doublet
            A Rutilated Quartz Doublet
            An Unusual Triplet
Miscellaneous
            New CRJP Code of Practices Released
            Update on the Use of Biological Remains in Gem Materials
Announcements
            AGTA Spectrum Awards Competition
Exhibits
            Arctic Jewelry
            King Tut Returns
            Charles Loloma Retrospective

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2005 Title: Winter 2005 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Ornamental Blueschist from Northern Italy
            Emerald Phantom Crystal
            Unusual Trapiche Emerald Earrings
            A Large Greenish Yellow Grossular from Africa
            An Opal Triplet Resembling an Eye
            Green Orthoclase Feldspar from Vietnam
            New Discoveries of Painite in Myanmar (Burma)
            Gem Plagioclase Reportedly from Tibet
            Spinel from Southern China
            Update on Tourmaline from Mt. Mica, Maine
Synthetics and Simulants
            Lizard in Amber?
            Cubic Zirconia as Rough Sapphire Imitation
            Barium-Rich Glass Sold as Diamond Rough
            “Color-Change” Glass Update
Conference Reports
            Diamond 2005
            Geological Society of America 2005
            World Diamond Conference, Perth, Australia
Exhibits
            Pearl Exhibit in Tokyo
            Cameos at the Met
            King Tut Returns

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2


Publish Year: 2005 Title: Summer 2005 Gem News International Abstract: Colored Stones and Organic Materials
            Demantoid from Northern Pakistan
            Pyrope-Almandine from Ethiopia
            New Ruby and Pink Sapphire Deposit in the Lake Baringo Area, Kenya
            Faceted Orange and Brown Sunstone from India
Inclusions in Gems
            Staurolite in Kyanite from Brazil
            Obsidian with Spessartine Inclusions
            Fluorite Inclusions in Quartz from Madagascar
            Bismuthinite Inclusions in Rose Quartz from Madagascar
Synthetics and Simulants
            Yellow Hydrothermal Synthetic Sapphires Seen in India
Treatments
            Interesting Heated Citrine
            “Chocolate” Tahitian Cultured Pearls
            Lead Glass–Filled Rubies Appear in the Middle East
Conference Reports
            Gemmobasel 2005
Exhibits
            Cameos at the Met
            Diamonds in London

To view the full section, download the PDF above. @topic:2