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TOUGHNESS CHART
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CREATING WITH GEM BEADS.
Here is information for using the following chart:
TOUGHNESS CODE: POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELENT. (WEAKEST TO STRONGEST).
COLOR CODE: BLACK= BK, BLUE= BL, BROWN= BR, COLORLESS= CL, GOLD= GD, GRAY= GY, GREEN= GN, PINK= PK, ORANGE= OR, RED= RD, VIOLET= VL, WHITE= WT, YELLOW=YW, WHITE= WT, OPAQUE=OP, TRANSPARENT=TP, DARK= DK, LIGHT= LT
HARDNESS CODE: 1 TO 10 (SOFTEST TO HARDEST).
| GEM NAME |
COLORS
|
|
TOUGH-NESS
|
NOTES |
| AMBER |
YW, BR, GN, OR, RD |
2-2.5 |
POOR |
AVOID HEAT, FLAME, ACIDS, CAUSTICS, ALCOHOL, PERFUME, CLEANERS |
| APATITE |
PK,YW,GN,BL,VL |
5 |
FAIR |
BRITTLE. AVOID ACID. SYNTHETIC IN TRADE. COMPOSES BONE. |
| ARAGONITE |
CL, GN,VARI |
3.5-4 |
POOR |
SOFT, BRITTLE, AVOID ACIDS. COMPOSES PEARLS, M-O-P, MARBLE |
| BERYL GROUP |
|
7.5-8 |
|
|
|
EMERALD
|
DEEP GR-YW/GN |
7.5-8 |
POOR-GOOD |
BRITTLE, STONE HAS INCLUSIONS.
AVOID: HEAT,CLEANERS, SOLVENTS
|
|
|
Lt – Dk BL, B/G |
7.5-8 |
GOOD |
AVOID HEAT & USE CAUTION IF IT HAS LIQUID INCLUSIONS & FEATHERS. |
|
BIXBIT
|
GOOSEBERRY RED |
|
GOOD |
|
|
GOLDEN BERYL
|
LEMON/YW-GOLD/YW |
|
GOOD |
INCLUSIONS RARE. DECOLORIZATION AT 482 DEGREES F. |
|
GOSHENITE
|
COLORLESS |
|
GOOD |
USED AS IMITATION DIAMOND OR EMERALD BY ADDING COLORED FOIL . |
|
MORGANITE
|
PINK-VIOLET, SALMON |
|
GOOD |
INCLUSIONS RARE. POOR GEMS IMPROVED BY HEATING ABOVE 752 DEGREES F. |
| AZURITE |
DK/BL, AZURE/BL |
3.5-4 |
POOR-FAIR |
CRYSTALS CUT FOR “SPECIMEN”, ONLY. MASS MATERIAL CAN BE USED. |
|
AZURITE BLOCK
|
DK & AZURE BLUE |
|
POOR-FAIR |
MAN-MADE. BLUE AZURITE & GREEN MALACHITE MIXED IN RESIN. |
|
AZURITE, IN MATRIX
|
BU, GN,RD,CREAM |
4+ |
FAIR-GOOD |
MIX OF AZURITE, MALACHITE, CUPRITE & OTHER COPPER MINERALS. |
| CALCITE |
CL, BL,BN,YW,VARI |
3 |
POOR |
SOFT, BRITTLE, CLEAVES |
| CHALCEDONY |
BLUISH, WT, GY |
6.5-7 |
GOOD |
AKA ONYX, HEAT MAY CHANGE COLOR EASILLY TAKES COLOR DYES. |
|
|
FLESH RED-BROWN RED |
|
GOOD |
TODAY MOST IS DYED & THEN HEAT TREATED. |
|
SARD
|
REDDISH BROWN-BROWN |
|
GOOD |
TODAY MOST “SARDS” ARE DYED. |
|
|
GREEN-APPLE GREEN |
|
GOOD |
SUNLITE & HEAT CAN FADE COLOR. MAY RECOVER IN MOIST STORAGE |
|
HELIOTROPE
|
OPQ.DK/GN W/RED SPOTS |
|
GOOD |
AKA: BLOODSTONE |
|
DENDRITIC AGATE
|
CL-WHTISH/GY W/DK. DENDRITES |
|
|
AKA: SCENIC AGATE, MOSQUITO STONE, PICTURE AGATE, ETC. |
|
|
CL W/ GN, BN, RED INCLUSIONS |
|
|
|
|
AGATE
|
ALL COLORS, BANDED |
|
GOOD |
MANY ARE CHEMICALLY COLORED, CAN INCLUDE CRYSTALS. MANY VARIETIES ARE NAMED BY THEIR COLOR, PATTERNS, AND/OR ORIGIN. |
|
JASPER
|
ALL COLORS & PATTERNS |
|
GOOD |
CONSIDERED CHALCEDONY, BUT STRUCTURE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. VARIETIES ARE NAMED BY THEIR COLORS, PATTERNS, AND/OR ORIGIN. |
|
PETRIFIED WOOD, BONE, ETC.
|
WARM COLORS W/PATTERNS |
|
|
ORIGINAL STRUCTURES REPLACED BY AGATE, JASPER, OPAL. |
| CHAROITE |
LILAC-VL, “FLAMED” |
5-6 |
|
NEW MINERAL, FROM SIBERIA. RECOGNIZED 1978. |
| CHRYSOBERYL |
GD/Y,GN/Y,GN,RD,BN. |
8.5 |
EXCELENT-GOOD |
|
|
CHRYSOBERYL CAT’S EYE
|
|
8.5 |
EXCELENT-GOOD |
THE ONLY REAL CATS’ EYE”. OTHERS MUST NAME GEM. AVOID HEAT. |
|
ALEXANDRITE
|
CHANGES GN-RED |
8.5 |
GOOD |
DAYLITE=GREEN & INCANDESCENT=RED, SENSITIVE TO KNOCKS. HIGH HEAT CAN CAUSE COLOR CHANGES. ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE GEMS . |
|
CHRYSOCOLLA
|
GREEN, BLUE |
2-4 |
POOR |
SOFT, BRITTLE ANCIENT GEM. SILICIFIED GEM INTERTWINED WITH AZURITE, MALACHITE, AND OTHER COPPER BASED GEMS. |
| CHRYSOPHRASE |
|
|
|
SEE CHALCEDONY |
| CINNABAR |
RED, PALE BLUE |
2-2.5 |
POOR |
MOST COMES FROM CHINA AND IS CARVED, LACQUERED WOOD. REAL CINNABAR IS POISONOUS MERCURY ORE W/DROPS OF LIQUID MERCURY. |
| CORAL |
RD,PK,WT,BK,BL |
3-4 |
FAIR-GOOD |
AVOID HEAT, FLAME, & ACID. MOST CHINESE IS DYED & CAN FADE. |
| GEM NAME |
COLORS
|
|
TOUGH-NESS
|
NOTES |
| CORUNDUM GROUP |
ALL COLORS |
9 |
EXCELENT (EXCEPT FRACTURED STONES) |
AVOID HEAT W/IRRADIATED STONES. AVOID HEAT & SOLVENTS W/ OILED OR DYED GEMS. BORAX ETCHES SURFACE. . |
| RUBY |
VARYING REDS |
9 |
EXCELENT |
“ “ “ “ . |
| SAPPHIRE |
ALL EXCEPT RED |
9 |
EXCELENT |
“ “ “ “ . |
| DIAMOND |
CL & ALL |
10 |
GOOD-EXCEPTIONAL |
CAN CLEAVE IF EDGE IS KNOCKED. HIGH HEAT CAN ETCH FACES. |
| DIAMOND-COLORED& |
ALL |
10 |
GOOD-EXCEPTIONAL |
HEAT ALTERS COLOR IN NATURAL GREEN & ALL IRRADIATED . |
| DOLOMITE |
NONE, PASTELS |
3.5-4 |
FAIR |
EASILLY DYED, AVOID ACIDS MOST IS DYED & GIVEN TRADE NAMES. . |
| DIOPSIDE |
GN,YW,BK,NONE |
5-6 |
FAIR-POOR |
CLEAVES EASILLY . |
| STAR DIOPSIDE |
BLACK |
5-6 |
FAIR-POOR |
4 POINTED STAR, CLEAVES . |
| CHROME DIOPSIDE |
EMERALD GN |
5-6 |
FAIR-POOR |
CLEAVES . |
| DIOPTASE |
EM/GN-BL/GN |
5 |
FAIR |
BRITTLE. |
| DUMORTIERITE |
DK/BL-VL/BL, RD/BN |
7-8.5 |
FAIR |
|
| FELDSPAR GROUP |
MOST. |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
CLEVAGE PERFECT & IN 2 DIRECTIONS. HEAT MAY CRACK OR CLEAVE . |
| AMAZONITE |
GN, BL/GN |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
MOTTLED OR EVEN COLOR. IMPORTANT GEM IN MORACCO & No..AFRICA |
| MOONSTONE |
CL, YW, WT. |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
VITRIOUS LUSTER W/BLUE FLASHES. SENSITIVE TO PRESSURE. . |
| ORTHOCLASE |
OP. CHAMPAIGN |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
VITRIOUS LUSTER. . |
| LABRADORITE |
DK/GY-GY/BK |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
AKA SPECTROLITE. COLORFUL METALIC PLAY OF COLOR, BRITTLE. . |
| SUNSTONE |
OR, RD/BN |
6-6.5 |
POOR |
AKA AVENTURINE FELDSPAR. BRITTLE. . |
| FLUORITE |
CL, ALL |
4 |
POOR |
CLEAVES EASILLY. BRITTLE, AVOID HEAT, FLAME, SULFURIC ACID. . |
| GARNET GROUP |
ALL COLORS |
6.5-7.5 |
FAIR-GOOD |
AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. |
| PYROPE |
RED [W/BRN TINT] |
|
|
IMITATIONS MADE OF RED GLASS |
| RHODOLITE |
ROSE VAR. PYROPE |
|
|
|
| ALMANDINE |
RED W/VIOLET TINT |
|
|
|
| SPESSARTINE |
ORANGE-RED/BROWN |
|
|
|
| GROSSULAR |
CL, GREEN,YELLOW,BROWN |
|
|
|
| HESSONITE |
RED/BROWN |
|
|
AKA CINNAMON STONE |
| HYDROGROSSULAR |
OPQ/GREEN, DENSE OPAQUE GREEN |
|
|
AKA: AFRICAN JADE, TRANSVAL JADE . |
| TSAVORITE |
GREEN-EMERALD/GREEN |
|
AKA: TSAVOLITE |
|
| ANDRADE [VAR.] |
BLACK,BROWN,YELLOW/BROWN |
|
|
|
| DEMANTOID |
GREEN-EMERALD/GREEN |
|
|
THE MOST VALUABLE GARNET |
| MELANITE |
OPAQUE BLACK |
|
|
USED FOR MOURNING JEWELRY. CONFUSED WITH BLACK GLASS. . |
| TOPAZOLITE |
YELLOW-LEMON/YELLOW |
|
|
|
| UVAROVITE |
EMERALD GREEN |
|
|
|
| GASPEITE |
OPQ. LT/GREEN |
4.5-5 |
|
VITRIOUS LUSTER |
| GNEISS |
GY,GRNISH,BRNISH, REDISH |
|
GOOD |
A ROCK, BLACK & WHITE, COMPOSED OF QUARTZ & FELDSPAR. USED IN AFRICA & BY ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS |
| GOLD IN QUARTZ |
GOLD & WHITE |
2.5-3 + 7 |
GOOD |
CRYSTALINE GOLD FINGERS IN MILKY QUARTZ MATRIX. . |
| GOLDSTONE |
GOLD, BLUE |
6 |
GOOD |
MAN MADE. COPPER & BRASS FILINGS IN COLORED GLASS. AKA. AVENTURINE GLASS. |
| GYPSUM |
WT,YISH,PK,BLUISH |
2 |
POOR |
AKA:SELENITE. FIBEROUS, SILKY LUSTER. VERY HEAT & ACID SENSITIVE |
| GEM NAME: |
COLORS:
|
HARDNESS: |
TOUGHNESS: |
NOTES
|
| HEMATITE |
METALIC BK/GY |
5.5-6.5 |
EXCELENT |
HEAVY, IRON BASED GEM. FORMERLY USED AS MOURNING JEWELRY. |
| HEMATINE |
METALIC BK/GY |
5.5-6.5 |
EXCELENT |
TRADE NAME FOR SYNTHETIC HEMATITE. SLIGHTLY MAGNETIC. |
| HOWLITE |
SNOW WHITE |
3-3.5 |
POOR |
W/ BLACK &/OR DK/BROWN VEINS. SOFT & POROUS, DYES EASILY. |
| HOWLITE TURQUOISE OR LAPIS |
|
|
|
DYED TO SIMULATE TURQUOISE AND LAPIZ. |
| IOLITE |
BL,VL,BRNISH |
7-7.5 |
FAIR |
AKA: CORDIERITE, “WATER SAPPHIRE”. COLOR CHANGE BY AXIS VIEWED. CLEAVAGE 1-DISTINCT. HEAT MAY FUSE STONE. ATTACKED BY ACIDS. |
| IVORY |
WHITE, CREAMY |
2-3 |
FAIR |
ORGANIC. HEAT SHRINKS & DISCOLORS. ATTACKED BY CHEMICALS .AVOID SOLVENTS. YELLOWS WITH AGE. PERFUME,LOTIONS, ETC .CAUSE DISCOLORATION |
| JADE GROUP |
|
|
|
|
| JADEITE |
GN & ALL COLORS |
6.5-7 |
EXCEPTIONAL |
AVOID HEAT, MAY DEGRADE COLOR. FUSES EASILY. AVOID ACIDS & STRONG SOLVENTS. DYED: MAY FADE. |
| IMPERIAL JADE EMERALD GREEN |
|
|
|
MOST VALUABLE JADE.. |
| NEPHRITE JADE |
GREEN & ALL |
6-6.5 |
EXCEPTIONAL |
|
| JET |
DEEP/BK, DK/BN |
2.5-4 |
POOR |
GEM COAL.. AVOID HEAT, BURNS EASILY. USED IN MOURNING JEWELRY. |
| KYANITE |
BL-CL,BL/GN |
4-4.5 / 6-7 |
POOR |
BRITTLE, CLEAVES, VARIABLE HARDNESS & CLEAVAGE. . |
| LAPIZ LAZULI |
BL, VL.,GRNISH/BL |
5-6 |
FAIR |
A ROCK INCLUDING: LAZURITE, CALCITE, PYRITE, & OTHER MINERALS. AVOID HEAT: MAY CAUSE COLOR CHANGE, AVOID CHEMICALS., IF DYED, MAY FADE AND AVOID ACID, ACETONE AND OTHER SOLVENTS. |
| LEPIDOLITE |
PK, LILAC,YISH,WT |
2.5-3 |
POOR |
FOUND WITH TOURMALINE INCLUSIONS. |
| MALACHITE |
LT-BK/GN, BANDS |
3.5-4 |
POOR |
SENSITIVE TO HEAT, ACIDS, AMMONIA, HOT WATERS, AND CHEMICALS.FUSES EASILY BY TORCH. DUST IS POISONOUS. |
| MARBLE |
YW/GN,WT,BN,STRIPES |
3.5-4 |
FAIR |
AKA:MEXICAN ONYX, HONEY ONYX. AVOID ACID. POROUS-DYES EASILY |
| MOLDAVITE |
GREENS |
5.5 |
GOOD |
A GREEN TEKTITE. NATURAL “IMPACT GLASS”, OR MAYBE A METEORITE. |
| MOTHER-OF-PEARL |
MANY |
2.5-3.5 |
GOOD |
AVOID HEAT & ACIDS, BLACKENS IN FLAME, DYES EASILY / CAN FADE. . |
| OBSIDIAN |
BK,GY,BN,GN |
5-5.5 |
GOOD |
A ROCK. NATURAL VOLCANIC GLASS. CAN HAVE GOLD, SILVER, OR RAINBOW SHEEN. SNOWFLAKE HAS WHITE SPHERES OF CHRISTOBOLITE . |
| OPAL GROUP |
ALL, W/OPALESCENCE |
5-6.5 |
POOR-FAIR |
HEAT TURNS STONE WHITE OR BROWN & DESTROYS PLAY OF COLORS. AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. HEAT & STRONG LIGHT DEHYDRATE STONE CAUSING CRAZING OR FRACTURING. SENSITIVE TO PRESSURE &KNOCKS, ACIDS & ALKALIES. |
| PRECIOUS OPAL |
|
|
|
OPALESCENCE, RAINBOW LIKE IRRIDESCENCE, & PLAY OF COLORS. |
| WHITE OPAL |
WHITE W/”FIRE” |
|
|
WHITE BASE WITH PLAY OF COLORS |
| BLACK OPAL |
DK COLOR BASE |
|
|
DK/GREY, DK/BLUE, DK/GREEN, & GREY-BLK BASE W/ PLAY OF COLORS DEEP BLACK IS VERY RARE. BLACK OPALS ARE RARER THAN WHITE . |
| OPAL MATRIX |
|
|
|
BANDS OR INCLUSIONS OF OPAL IN MATRIX ROCK |
| HARLEQUIN OPAL |
TRANSPARENT-TRANSLUCENT W/EFFECTIVE SEGMENTED COLOR PATTERNS. |
|
|
A MOST DESIRABLE OPAL. |
| JELLY OPAL |
BLUISH-GREY W/LITTLE PLAY OF COLOR. |
|
|
|
| FIRE OPAL |
ORANGE |
|
|
LITTLE OPALESCENCE. USUALLY MILKY & TURBID. BEST ARE CLEAR & TRANSPARENT. VERY SENSITIVE TO ANY STRESS & HEAT. |
| COMMON OPAL |
ALL COLORS |
|
|
USUALLY OPAQUE AND NO PLAY OF COLOR. PERUVIAN PINK & BLUE |
| GEM NAME |
COLORS |
HARDNESS |
TOUGHNESS |
NOTES |
| PEARL |
WHITE & MANY |
2.5-4.5 |
USUALLY GOOD BUT VARIABLE |
THIN NACRE MAY CHIP OR FRACTURE EASILY. AVOID HEAT & ACIDS. MOST WHITES ARE BLEACHED. MODERATE HEAT & STRONG LIGHT PROMOTE DEHYDRATION & CRACKING. SOME DYE COLORS MAY FADE |
| NATURAL PEARL |
|
|
|
PRODUCED WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP. RARELY ROUND. HISTORICALLY FROM SEA AND FRESHWATER MOLUSKS. |
| CULTURED PEARLS |
|
|
|
PRODUCED BY INSERTING A “SEED” INTO THE MOLLUSK. |
| SALTWATER C.P. |
|
|
|
PRODUCED BY INSERTING A SHELL OR SHAPED BEAD INTO A SALTWATER MOLLUSK & RAISED IN SALTWATER “FARMS”. LAYERS OF NACRE OVER CENTER BEAD. HIGHEST % OF ROUND PEARLS. |
| FRESHWATER C.P. |
|
|
|
PRODUCED BY INSERTING A PIECE OF TISSUE INTO THE MOLLUSK AND RAISED IN FRESHWATER POND. F.W.PEARL IS ALMOST SOLID NACRE. |
| MABE PEARL |
|
|
|
AKA: BLISTER PEARL. PRODUCED BY ATTACHING A BEAD OR SHAPED OBJECT TO THE SHELL OF A MOLLUSK & ALLOW IT TO BE COVERED WITH WITH NACRE. THE PEARL IS CUT FROM THE SHELL, FILLED, & BACKED. . |
| PERIDOT |
YW/GN, OLIVE, BN |
6.5-7 |
FAIR-GOOD |
AKA: OLIVINE, CHRYSOLITE. AVOID ACIDS & HEAT. TENDS TO BURST UNDER GREAT STRESS. FACET EDGES CHIP EASILLY. CATS’-EYE AND STAR PERIDOT ARE POSSIBLE AND RARE |
| PYRITE |
BRASS/YW-GY/YW |
6-6.5 |
FAIR-POOR |
.AKA: “FOOLS’ GOLD”, WRONGLY CALLED MARCASITE. BRITTLE. |
| QUARTZ GROUP |
MOST COLORS |
7 |
GOOD |
AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. BRITTLE. |
| ROCK CRYSTAL |
COLORLESS |
7 |
|
CLEAR, CAN HAVE CHEVRONS & OTHER INTERNAL PATTERNS. |
| SMOKEY QUARTZ |
BROWN-BLACK,SMOKEY GREY |
|
|
AKA: MORION & CAIRNGORM. CALLED “SMOKEY TOPAZ”. HEAT FADES . |
| AMETHYST |
VIOLET |
|
|
AVOID STRONG LIGHT (FADES) & HEAT (FADES, &/OR BECOMES CITRINE. |
| CITRINE |
LT-DK/YELLOW,RED/BROWN |
|
|
HEAT FADES |
| AMETRINE |
VIOLET & YELLOW |
|
|
MIX OF AMETHYST & CITRINE. |
| MILK QUARTZ |
OP. WHITE |
|
|
AKA: SNOW QUARTZ, WHITE QUARTZ. |
| PRASIOLITE |
LEEK-GREEN |
|
|
PRODUCED BY HEATING VL AMETHYST OR YWISH QUARTZ. SUN FADES. |
| ROSE QUARTZ |
STRONG-PALE PINK |
|
|
COLOR CAN FADE. RUTILE INCLUSIONS CAN PRODUCE A 6 POINT STAR.. |
| RUTILATED QUARTZ |
GOLDEN, REDDISH |
|
|
QUARTZ CRYSTAL W/ RUTILE NEEDLE INCLUSIONS. |
| TOURMALINATED QUARTZ. |
CLEAR W/GN OR BK |
|
|
QUARTZ CRYSTAL W/ BLACK OR GREEN TOURMALINE NEEDLES. . |
| AVENTURINE |
GREEN, RED/BROWN, GOLD/BROWN |
|
|
IRIDESCENT SPARKLES. TRADE NAME: “INDIAN JADE”. |
| PRASE |
LEAK-GREEN |
|
|
OPAQUE AGREGATE. AKA: EMERALD QUARTZ. |
| BLUE QUARTZ |
BLUE |
|
|
TURBID AGREGATE. AKA: SAPPHIRE QUARTZ. |
| LEMON QUARTZ |
YELLOW/GREEN |
|
|
|
| GEM NAME: |
COLORS: |
HARDNESS: |
TOUGHNESS: |
NOTES |
| RHODOCHROSITE |
ROSE/RED-YELLOWISH |
4 |
FAIR |
STRIPED. STALAGTITE FORMED. |
| RHODONITE |
DK/RD-FLESH/RD |
5.5-6.5 |
GOOD |
BLACK DENDRITIC INCLUSIONS. CAN BE PINK/GREY. |
| FOWLERITE |
BROWNISH OR YELLOWISH TINT |
|
|
|
| RUBY IN ZOISITE |
|
|
|
SEE ZOISITE |
| SCAPOLITE |
YW, PK,VL, CL |
5.5-6 |
POOR |
VITRIOUS LUSTER. CATS’EYES ARE KNOWN. |
| SERPENTINE |
GN, YELLOWISH, BN |
2.5-5.5 |
FAIR |
SENSITIVE TO ACID. INPROPERLY CALLED A “JADE”. |
| SODALITE |
WT, BL, GY |
5.5-6 |
GOOD |
CONFUSED WITH LAPIZ LAZULI. |
| SPHENE |
YW, BN,GN, REDDISH 5-5.5 |
FAIR |
|
AKA: TITANITE. HEAT CHANGES COLOR TO RED OR ORANGE. |
| SPINEL |
ALL |
8 |
GOOD |
MAY BE BRITTLE. LIGHT COLORS MAY FADE IN INTENSE HEAT. MANY FAMOUS & HISTORIC RUBIES ARE ACTUALLY SPINELS. |
| SPODUMENE GROUP |
GNS, VTS |
6.5-7 |
POOR |
AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. FUSES EASILLY UNDER TORCH. COLOR STRONGEST ON AXIS.
|
| HIDDENITE |
YW/GN, GN/YW, EMERALD GN |
|
|
IF IRRADIATED, GREEN FADES IN MINUTES TO HOURS. |
| KUNZITE |
PINK/VIOLET, LIGHT VIOLET |
|
|
MOST STONES ARE LIGHTLY COLORED AND COMMONLY FADE.BROWNISH AND GREEN/VIOLET COLORS CAN BE IMPROVED BY HEATING TO 300 deg.F. |
| SUGILITE |
VIOLET |
5.5-6.5 |
GOOD |
TRANSLUCENT TO OPAQUE. |
| TANZANITE |
|
|
|
SEE ZOISITE |
| TIGER’S EYE |
GD/YW, GD/BN |
6.5-7 |
GOOD |
HAS A WAVY EYE EFFECT. AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. RED IS DYED. |
| HAWK’S EYE |
BLUE/GRAY, BLUE/GREEN |
|
|
SAME EFFECT AS TIGER’S EYE. SENSITIVE TO ACID. |
| TIGER IRON |
GD/YW, GD/BN, REDS |
|
|
AKA: TIGER’S EYE MATRIX. AGGREGATE LAYERS W/ IRON OXIDE . |
| TOPAZ |
ALL & CL |
8 |
POOR |
YELLOW WITH RED TINT.IS MOST COMMON, PINK TO REDDISH-ORANGE YELLOWISH-BROWN GEMS. THERE IS NATURAL BLUE TOPAZ, BUT MOST BLUE STONES ARE COLORLESS TOPAZ THAT HAS BEEN IRRADIATED & THEN HEATED. AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. LIGHT BLOWS CAN CAUSE CLEAVAGE. HEAT MAY CAUSE COLOR CHANGE OR FADING. CITRINE & SMOKEY QUARTZ ARE WRONGLY CALLED TOPAZES. |
| TOURMALINE GROUP |
ALL |
7-7.5 |
FAIR |
MOST CRYSTALS HAVE MORE THAN ONE COLOR. “WATERMELON” HAS A RED INTERIOR & A GREEN EXTERIOR. DEEP PINK & GREEN ARE THE MOST DESIREABLE. TOURMALINE CATS’-EYES OCCUR. AVOID THERMAL SHOCK. COLOR CHANGES PRODUCED BY IRRADIATION ARE NOT PERMANENT. HEAT CAN CAUSE SOME GREENS TO CHANGE COLOR.LATELY, VARIETY NAMES ARE BEING DROPPED AND STONES ARE CALLED “TOURMALINE”, PRECEEDED BY THE COLOR NAME. |
| TURQUOISE |
SKY-BL, BL/GN, |
5-6 |
POOR-GOOD |
ALSO, APPLE-GREEN & BROWNS. USUALLY INCLUDES VEINING &/OR MATRIX. STONE SCRATCHES EASILLY. THE COLOR CAN BE RUINED BY: HEAT, LIGHT, PERSPIRATION, OILS, COSMETICS, & HOUSEHOLD DETERGENTS, AND BY THE LOSS OF THE STONE’S WATER CONTENT. MUCH TURQUOISE IS COLORED AND STABLIZED WITH RESINS. SOME STONES HAVE THEIR COLOR STABLEIZED W/ELECTRICITY “WHITE BUFFALO” IS MAGNESITE & NOT TURQUOISE. |
| UNAKITE |
MIXED GN, PK, WT. |
|
GOOD |
OPAQUE GRANITIC ROCK W/FELDSPAR, QUARTZ, EPIDOTE, ETC. . |
| VARACITE |
YW-GN, BLUISH |
4-5 |
FAIR |
FREQUENTLY INTERMIXED WITH A BROWN MATRIX. |
| VERDITE |
LT-DK GREEN |
3 |
FAIR |
OFTEN SPOTTY. A SERPENTINE ROCK. TRANSLUCENT-OPAQUE. |
| ZIRCON GROUP |
ALL & CL |
6.5-7.5 |
FAIR-POOR |
KNOWN SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, BUT UNDER NUMEROUS NAMES. HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX AND STRONG DISPERSION PRODUCES GREAT BRILLIANCE AND INTENSIVE FIRE. BRITTLE AND SENSITIVE TO KNOCKS & PRESSURE. EASY EDGE DAMAGE. HEAT CAN CAUSE COLOR CHANGES. SOME COLORS PRODUCED BY HEATING CAN REVERT TO THE ORIGINAL COLOR WHEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT. CAT’S-EYE |
| HYACINTH |
YW, YW/RD-RD/BN |
|
|
|
| JARGON |
STRAW/YW-ALMOST COLORLESS |
|
|
|
| STARLIGHT |
BLUE |
|
|
CREATED BY HEATING & CAN FADE W/EXPOSED TO UV &/OR SUNLIGHT. . |
| ZOISITE GROUP |
|
7-6 |
POOR |
|
| TANZANITE |
TP. SAPPHIRE BL, AMETHYST, VL |
|
|
IN GOOD QUALITY STONES THERE IS A COLOR CHANGE FROM BLUES UNDER DAYLIGHT TO VIOLETS UNDER ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. BY HEATING TO 400-500 deg.C YELLOWISH AND BROWN TINTS VANISH AND THE BLUE DEEPENS. THE GEMS CAN BE BRITTLE, CLEAVES, AND ABRADES EASILY.AVOID HEAT AND THERMAL SHOCK. FUSES UNDER TORCH. TANZANITE CAT’S EYES ARE FOUND. |
| THULITE |
DENSE, OPAQUE PINK |
|
FAIR-GOOD |
“LAPIZ NEVADA” IS A THULITE-DIOPSIDE SKARN ROCK . |
| ANYOLITE |
GREEN W/BLACK & RUBY INCLUSIONS |
|
|
AKA: RUBY IN ZOISITE. BLACK INCLUSIONS ARE HORNBLEND. |
|
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