Gemologist Guide to Identifying Sapphire
Sapphires are highly sought after and command high prices per carat when they have excellent clarity and color. When identifying sapphires you need to be aware sapphires come in different colors even though sapphire is the blue variety of corundum. Most of the time dealers will call sapphires that are not blue, fancy colored sapphires. […]
List of Blue Rocks and Minerals
Blue rocks and minerals are some of my favorite specimens because of their rarity and intense blue color. If you’re new to this rock-collecting hobby then you’ll need to understand there are more gems, minerals, crystals, and specimens than you can possibly count or remember. However, you’ll naturally fall in love with the ones that […]
List of Chatoyant Rocks and Minerals
Rocks and gemstones with a cat’s eye effect, also known as Chatoyance, are beautiful and unique stones that display a fascinating visual effect. They have an iridescent, twinkling quality that resembles a cat’s eyes or silk’s shimmer. When light shines on the surface of a chatoyance rock, the surface can appear to move like liquid […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Chyrsoberyl
Chrysoberyl is sought after by gemstone and specimen collectors because of its vibrant colors and unique crystal structure. During my time at the jewelry store, I rarely saw a faceted chrysoberyl, and the local rock and mineral shows don’t have a plethora of natural crystals. If you have the opportunity to see and hold a […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Rhodonite
Rhodonite is a manganese mineral ranging in color from the lightest shade of pink to crimson red and has manganese oxide inclusions. These inclusions are known as dendrites and are easily recognizable because they display branches that resemble organic material. Black markings or dendrites form within rhodonite through oxidation that causes the pink colors of […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Ruby
Rubies have been mined for centuries because of their bright red color and rarity. Most casual owners of rubies are not aware sapphires and rubies are the same mineral and the color is what differentiates them. Corundum is the mineral class ruby is a part of and all colors, besides blue and red, are known […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Spessartite Garnet
Spessartite has a beautiful orange color, but iron impurities are typically present, giving the gemstone a reddish-orange or brownish-orange color instead. While brownish, reddish, and yellowish tints of Spessartite are frequent, pure orange is not. The most desirable color of this stone is a fiery red with slight orange tints. Spessartite garnets can be identified […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Almandine Garnet
Almandine garnets can be challenging to distinguish from other garnet types because they’re just red and the gemstone market is flooded with them. These beautiful gemstones usually have darker tones when compared to other red garnets. However, top-quality specimens have red colors that are similar to that of a ruby. How to Identify Almandine […]
List of Metallic Rocks and Minerals
Metallic rocks and minerals are some of my favorite specimens because of their metallic appearance but a few of them display a different color when you shine a light through them. If you’re new to this rock-collecting hobby then you’ll need to understand there are more gems, minerals, crystals, and specimens than you can possibly […]
List of Red Rocks and Minerals
Red is often associated with passion and strength, making it a beautiful and exciting hue to find in nature. From the glittering gems of rubies to the deep, earthy tones of Wulfenite, you can find many different red rocks and minerals. If you’re new to this rock-collecting hobby then you’ll need to understand there are […]