Can Gemstones Bring Prosperity to Malawi?
Deborah Craig FGA DGA, head of the Africa Team at International Women in Mining (IWIM) and board member within the organisation, reports on her recent trip to Malawi. Peaceful, democratic Malawi remains one of Africa’s least-developed countries. Yet this small landlocked place, affectionately known as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’, sits within the Mozambique Belt, […]
Exploring Inclusions in a Twelve Point Black Star Sapphire
This article by Guy Lalous ACAM EG summarises a technical article from The Journal of Gemmology discussing a giant 12-rayed black star sapphire from Sri Lanka with asterism caused by ilmenite inclusions. How can we classify solid inclusions? Solid inclusions are divided into three categories, by time of entrapment: those formed before the host crystal, called protogenetic; […]
What Makes the Alexandrite Colour-Change Effect so Special?
Sometimes known as ‘emerald by day, ruby by night,’ the gemstone alexandrite is a marvel of nature and the alternative birthstone for those born in June. Here, Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG explores the history, properties and colour change effect of this fascinating gem. Alexandrite is an extraordinary gemstone that appears green or red dependent […]
Gem Central Sri Lanka – A Gem of an Island
An extraordinary number of Gem-A and NAJ members came to this month’s Gem Central to hear Colin and Hilary Winter share their love and passion for Sri Lanka. Barbara Kolator FGA DGA reports on the evening. This October Colin and Hilary Winter will be hosting a joint Gem-A and NAJ trip to Sri Lanka and […]
Beginner’s Guide: What Can Emerald Inclusions Tell Us About Origin?
Emerald has long been one of the world’s most popular and valuable gemstones. Since the times of the Ancient Egyptians, emeralds have been viewed as tokens of good fortune and harbingers of new beginnings and rebirth. While emeralds are fascinating from a historical and culture perspective, they are equally exciting for gemmologists, particularly when it […]
Gem Central Delving into Organics with Maggie Campbell Pedersen FGA ABIPP
Gem-A president and organics expert Maggie Campbell Pedersen presented the April Gem Central at Gem-A headquarters. Angharad Kolator Baldwin reports on this fascinating evening. As the author of Gem and Ornamental Materials of Organic Origin and Ivory, Maggie was appointed Gem-A president last year. Her Gem Central evening was split into an informative talk on organics […]
Nuummite – the Origin of Colour
This article by Guy Lalous ACAM EG summarises a technical article from The Journal of Gemmology discussing the origin of colour and conditions of formation in violet-to-blue Nuummite from Simiuttat, Greenland. Nuummite is an iridescent orthoamphbiole rock found in the Nuuk Distruct in south-west Greenland. It has only been known in the trade since 1983. […]
Gem Central Exploring Ruby Treatments with Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG
Gem-A gemmology and diamond tutor Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG led a gem central titled Exploring the Differences between Glass In-filled, Flux Healed and Lead Glass-filled Ruby, in an informative and engaging gem central evening. Julia summarises the evening here for those that missed out. The latest Gem Central evening held on 30 April at […]
The Most Underappreciated Gemstone? Why We Love Rock Crystal
Everyone knows that lucky April-born souls have been blessed with one of the most prestigious birthstones: diamond. However, there is an alternative birthstone for the month and it’s a ‘hidden gem’… so to speak! Gem-A Member, Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG explains why rock crystal is worth your time and attention. Rock crystal is the […]
Zircon from Vietnam: Properties and Heat Treatments
This article by Guy Lalous ACAM EG summarises a study on the gemmological and physical properties of brown zircon from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, together with its chemical composition, Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet Visible Near InfraRed (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopic features. Zircon, zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) crystallises in the tetragonal system and has […]
