Gemstones

'''Gemstones'''

Also known as Gems, Jewels and Precious Stones. Most gemstones are classified as [[Minerals|minerals]] with rare exceptions such as pearls, amber, coral and jet. 

==Types of Gemstones==

===Apatite===

===Azurite===

===Benitoite===

===Beryl===
====Aquamarine====
====Emerald====
====Heliodore====
====Morganite ====

===Chalcedony===
====Agate====
*Dendritic Agate / Scenic Agate
*Eye Agate / Orbicular Agate
*Fire Agate
*Iris Agate
*Landscape Agate
*Sardonyx / Sard
====Aventurine====
====Black Chalcedony / Black Onyx====
====Bloodstone====
====Carnelian====
====Chrysoprase====
====Heliotrope ====
====Jasper====

===Chrysocolla ===

===Chrysoberyl===
====Alexandrite====
====Cat's Eye====

===Cordierite===
====Iolite====

===Corundum===
====Ruby====
====Sapphire ====

===Diamond===

===Diopside===
====Chrome Diopside====

===Feldspar===
====Moonstone====
====Sunstone====

===Fluorite ===

===Garnets===
Unlike other gem families whose color variations result due to the presence of impurities, garnets colors  are due to differences in their actual chemical structure. Therefore they are classified as a 'group' unlike other families that are classified as a 'species'.
====Almandite====
* Demantoid
* Rhodolite
====Andratite====
====Grossularite====
*Hessonite
*Tsavorite
====Malaya====
====Pyrope====
* Rhodolite
====Spessartine====
====Uvarovite====

===Grossularite===


===Hematite===

===Jadeite===
====Jade====

===Kyanite===

===Labradorite===

===Lapis Lazuli===
Lapis lazuli is a mixture of minerals lazurite, calcite and sometimes pyrite and is classified as a rock. In the jewelry industry it is often referred to simply as 'lapis'.

===Malachite===

===Nephrite===
====Jade====

===Olivine===
====Peridot====

===Opal===

===Organic===
====Amber====
Although found in the earth Amber is was produced by living organisms and is not considered a mineral, instead being classified as a mineraloid.
====Corel====
====Ivory====
====Jet====
Although found in the earth Jet is was produced by living organisms and is not considered a mineral, instead being classified as a mineraloid.
====Pearl====
====Shell====

===Quartz===
====Amethyst====
====Ametrine====
====Citrine====
====Rock Crystal====
====Rose Quartz====

===Rhodochrosite===

===Sinhalite===

===Sodalite===

===Sphene===
====Titanite====

===Spinel===


===Sugilite===

===Spodumene===
====Hiddenite====
====Kunzite====

===Topaz===
*Blue Topaz
*Red Topaz

===Tourmaline===
*Green Tourmaline
*Paraiba Tourmaline
*Tri-color Tourmaline

===Turquoise===

===Zircon===

===Zoisite===
====Tanzanite====

==History==
Throughout history people have always admired the beauty of gemstones and due to their rarity, placed have value on them.

==Gem Identification==
Methods used to identify gems from similar looking species, separate them from imitations and to recognize enhancements and treatments. Since most gemstones are minerals that have a uniform chemical composition, giving them a consistent set of physical and optical properties, accurate measurement of these properties greatly helps gem identification.

===Issues===
Largest issues of gem identification are failing to consider all possibilities and misinterpreting test results.

==Imitations==
High value of gems have led to various forms of imitations over the years.

==Treatments==
Treatments developed to raise apparent value of stones.



[[Category:Gemology]]