Stone Group labs
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weekly gem challenge #1
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.
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?
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