Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Figure credits
- Part I Structural features of minerals
- Part II Physical investigation of minerals
- Part III Variety of minerals and mineral-forming processes
- Part IV A systematic look at mineral groups
- Part V Applied mineralogy
- 30 Metalliferous mineral deposits
- 31 Gemstones
- 32 Cement minerals
- 33 Minerals and human health
- 34 Mineral composition of the solar system
- 35 Mineral composition of the earth
- Appendices
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- Plate section
- References
This chapter is part of a book that is no longer available to purchase from Cambridge Core
31 - Gemstones
from Part V - Applied mineralogy
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Figure credits
- Part I Structural features of minerals
- Part II Physical investigation of minerals
- Part III Variety of minerals and mineral-forming processes
- Part IV A systematic look at mineral groups
- Part V Applied mineralogy
- 30 Metalliferous mineral deposits
- 31 Gemstones
- 32 Cement minerals
- 33 Minerals and human health
- 34 Mineral composition of the solar system
- 35 Mineral composition of the earth
- Appendices
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Introduction
The first mineral you ever examined conscientiously was probably a gemstone, and gems are the objects that most people associate directly with minerals. Note that in many cases the names used for gems are different from those of the regular minerals that they represent. For example, ruby and sapphire are varieties of corundum, emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl, and alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl. In addition, the weight units used in gemology are different from those used in ordinary science. The most common weight unit is the carat, which corresponds to 0.2 g. Table 31.1 lists some of the important minerals that are used as gemstones.
Gemstones have been defined as minerals that are highly valued for their beauty, durability, and rarity; they may be worn for adornment or used to decorate art objects. Since they are rare, they have a high value. In fact the values of diamond, alexandrite, ruby, and emerald, the most precious gemstones, all exceed the value of gold (by weight unit) by a factor of about 3000 (Table 31.2).
Today many gems can be produced industrially, with properties similar to those of their natural counterparts. These artificial gems, however, sell at only a fraction of the price of the equivalent natural stones. Nevertheless, gem synthesis is a huge industry, both for jewelry manufacturing and industrial applications.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- MineralsTheir Constitution and Origin, pp. 532 - 549Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004
References
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Elwell, D. and Scheel, H. J. (1975). Crystal Growth from High-Temperature Solutions. Academic Press, London, 634pp
Harlow, G. (ed.) (1998). Nature of Diamonds. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 278pp
Hughes, R. W. (1997). Ruby and Sapphire. RWH Publishing, Boulder, CO, 512pp
Hurlbut, C. S. and Kammerling, R. C. (1991). Gemology, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, 336pp
Jahns, R. H. (1983). Gem materials. In Industrial Minerals and Rocks, 5th edn, ed. S. J. Lefond, vol. 1, pp. 279–338. American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineering, New York
Keller, P. (1990). Gemstones and Their Origins. Van Nostrand and Reinhold, New York, 144pp
Keller, P. (1992). Gemstones of East Africa. Geosciences Press, Phoenix, AZ, 144pp
Liddicoat, R. T. (1989). Handbook of Gem Identification, 12th edn. Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, CA, 450pp
Nassau, K. (1980). Gems made by Man. Chilton Book Co., Radnor, PA, 364pp
Nassau, K. (1984). Gemstone Enhancements. Butterworths, London, 221pp
Read, P. G. (1999). Gemmology, 2nd edn. Butterworth, London, 326pp
Schumann, W. (1997). Gemstones of the World. Sterling Publ., New York, 271pp
Shigley, J. E. and Kampf, A. R. (1984). Gem-bearing pegmatites. A review. Gems Gemol., 20, 64–77
Sinkankas, J. and Read, P. G. (1986). Beryl. Butterworths, London, 225pp
Sofianides, A. S. and Harlow, G. E. (1990). Gems and Crystals from the American Museum of Natural History. Simon and Schuster, New York, 208pp
van Zyl, A. A. (1988). De Beers' 100. Geobulletin, 31, 24–28
Webster, R. and Read, P. G. (1994). Gems: Their Sources, Descriptions, and Identification, 5th edn. Butterworth, Oxford, 1026pp
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