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Stone Group labs
weekly gem challenge #1
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Bear & cara
williams

WHEN DO YOU NEED A GEM LAB?


Please take this quick test on the picture below. Just say to yourself or jot on a piece of paper what you think each of these gems are from left to right.
 

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Okay, if you’re like me you might have said peridot, aquamarine, amethyst, mint tourmaline and spessartite garnet.

Okay, are you ready for the real answer?
 

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They are all synthetic sapphires.


*ouch.


So much for sight ID’s.


Some basic training on a refractometer would have given you some good answers to work with.


But NOW comes the really tough part. Once you have identified a gemstone you need to answer….


IS IT A SYNTHETIC, or HAS IT BEEN TREATED??
 


Gemology has had to evolve in order to keep up with new technologies. When these synthetics and treatments technologies are occurring at the micro-nano levels, you need nanotechnology in order to detect them.


See some of the types of technical equipment used in Gem Labs today:
http://stonegrouplabs.com/?page_id=1001


Double Click the following article to read about Navigating Gem Labs:
http://stonegrouplabs.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Navigating-Gem-Labs1545.pdf

 

Next week we will discuss the mysterious world of

Diamond Screening Devices
 

Stay Tuned to Your MJA Virtual Conference Site!
 

-Bear Williams is Laboratory Director of Stone Group Labs, LLC,

based in Jefferson City, MO

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