Gemstones of the World
Newly Revised Fifth Edition
The book is written for people who have no special training in geology or gemology. It explains how and where gems are found, how gems are mined, how they are cut, how some of them are treated, their physical properties, and how they are used by people. We use this book for learning and reference weekly. If we could have just one book about gems, this would be it!
Gemstones of the World | |
| Preface | 7 |
| Introduction | 8 |
| Gemstones and Their Influence | 8 |
| Terminology | 10 |
| The Nomenclature of Gemstones | 12 |
Origin and Structure of Gemstones | 14 |
| Crystal Systems | 17 |
Properties of Gemstones | 20 |
| Hardness | 20 |
| Cleavage and Fracture | 24 |
| Density and Specific Gravity | 25 |
| Weights Used in the Gem Trade | 30 |
| Optical Properties | 31 |
| Color | 31 |
| Color of Streak | 32 |
| Changes in Color | 33 |
| Refraction of Light | 36 |
| Double Refraction | 40 |
| Dispersion | 41 |
| Absorption Spectra | 44 |
| Transparency | 48 |
| Luster | 48 |
| Pleochroism | 49 |
| Light and Color Effects | 52 |
| Luminescence | 55 |
| Inclusions | 58 |
Deposits and Production of Gemstones | 61 |
| Types of Deposits | 62 |
| Mining Methods | 64 |
Cutting and Polishing of Gems | 68 |
| Engraving on Stones | 69 |
| Cutting and Polishing Agate | 70 |
| Cutting and Polishing Colored Stones | 71 |
| Cabochon Cutting | 71 |
| Faceting | 72 |
| Ball Cutting | 74 |
| Cylinder Cutting | 75 |
| Drilling Gemstones | 76 |
| Cutting and Polishing Diamond | 77 |
| Types and Forms of Cut | 79 |
| Types of Cut | 79 |
| Forms of Cut | 80 |
Classifications of Gemstones | 82 |
| Scientific Classification | 82 |
| Commercial Classification | 84 |
Value of Gemstones | 85 |
Description of Gemstones | 85 |
Best-Known Gemstones | 86 |
| Diamond | 86 |
| Diamond Occurrences | 88 |
| Diamond Production | 89 |
| Diamond Trade | 90 |
| Valuation of Diamonds | 92 |
| Famous Diamonds | 94 |
| Development of the Brilliant Cut | 96 |
| Corundum Species | 98 |
| Ruby | 98 |
| Sapphire | 102 |
| Beryl Species | 106 |
| Emerald | 106 |
| Aquamarine | 110 |
| Precious Beryl | 112 |
| Chrysoberyl | 114 |
| Spinel | 116 |
| Topaz | 118 |
| Garnet Group | 120 |
| Zircon | 124 |
| Tourmaline Group | 126 |
| Spodumene Species | 130 |
| Hiddenite | 130 |
| Kunzite | 130 |
| Quartz | 132 |
| Rock Crystal | 132 |
| Smoky Quartz | 132 |
| Amethyst | 134 |
| Amethyst Quartz | 134 |
| Citrine | 136 |
| Prasiolite | 136 |
| Rose Quartz | 138 |
| Aventurine | 138 |
| Prase | 138 |
| Blue Quartz | 138 |
| Quartz Cat's-Eye | 140 |
| Hawk's-Eye | 140 |
| Tiger's-Eye | 140 |
| Chalcedony | 142 |
| Carnelian | 142 |
| Sard | 142 |
| Chrysoprase | 144 |
| Bloodstone | 144 |
| Dendritic Agate | 146 |
| Moss Agate | 146 |
| Agate | 148 |
| Layer Stones | 158 |
| Jasper | 162 |
| Petrified Wood | 164 |
| Opal Species | 166 |
| Jade | 170 |
| Peridot | 174 |
| Zoisite Species | 176 |
| Tanzanite | 176 |
| Thulite | 176 |
| Anyolite | 176 |
| Hematite | 178 |
| Pyrite | 178 |
| Feldspar Group | 180 |
| Amazonite | 180 |
| Moonstone | 180 |
| Orthoclase | 180 |
| Labradorite | 182 |
| Aventurine Feldspar | 182 |
| Rhodochrosite | 184 |
| Rhodonite | 184 |
| Turquoise | 186 |
| Lapis Lazuli | 188 |
| Sodalite | 190 |
| Azurite | 190 |
| Malachite | 192 |
Lesser-Known Gemstones | 194 |
| Andalusite | 194 |
| Euclase | 194 |
| Hambergite | 196 |
| Iolite | 196 |
| Phenakite | 196 |
| Dumortierite | 198 |
| Danburite | 198 |
| Axinite | 198 |
| Benitoite | 200 |
| Cassiterite | 200 |
| Epidote | 200 |
| Idocrase | 202 |
| Sinhalite | 202 |
| Kornerupine | 202 |
| Prehnite | 204 |
| Petalite | 204 |
| Scapolite | 204 |
| Diopside | 206 |
| Beryllonite | 206 |
| Brazilianite | 206 |
| Amblygonite | 208 |
| Enstatite | 208 |
| Lazulite | 208 |
| Dioptase | 210 |
| Apatite | 210 |
| Sphene | 210 |
| Kyanite | 212 |
| Scheelite | 212 |
| Variscite | 212 |
| Fluorite | 214 |
| Hemimorphite | 214 |
| Smithsonite | 214 |
| Sphalerite | 216 |
| Cerussite | 216 |
| Chrysocolla | 216 |
| Serpentine | 218 |
| Stichtite | 218 |
| Ulexite | 218 |
| Tiger's-Eye Matrix | 218 |
Gemstones for Collectors | 220 |
Rocks as Gemstones | 244 |
| Onyx Marble | 244 |
| Tufa | 244 |
| Landscape Marble | 244 |
| Orbicular Diorite | 246 |
| Obsidian | 246 |
| Moldavite | 246 |
| Alabaster | 248 |
| Agalmatolite | 248 |
| Meerschaum | 248 |
| Fossils | 248 |
Organic Gemstones | 250 |
| Coral | 250 |
| Jet | 252 |
| Cannel Coal | 252 |
| Ivory | 252 |
| Odontolite | 252 |
| Amber | 254 |
| Pearl | 256 |
| Operculum | 265 |
| Mother-of-Pearl | 265 |
Imitation and Synthetic Gemstones | 266 |
| Imitations | 266 |
| Combined Stones | 267 |
| Synthetic Gemstones | 267 |
| Treatment | 271 |
| Genuineness Test for Diamond | 274 |
New on the Market | 276 |
Symbolic and Beneficial Gemstones | 283 |
| Cosmic-Astral Symbolic Stones | 283 |
| Medicinal Stones | 287 |
| Bibliography | 293 |
| Table of Constants | 295 |
| Index | 312 |