More on Gemstone Treatments

Dyed Chalcedony

Since I am interested in knowing how and why gemstones are treated, I thought you might like to know to.  

Many dealers treat gemstone materials through several of the methods listed below.  The reason being, to gain higher prices when selling on the world markets.

The goal of any gem treatment is to improve the stone's color and clarity. Some methods help to remove inclusions; some fill the cracks in a stone; other methods can make clear crystals appear colorful.

The following list will help you identify and understand some of the gemstone treatments known to exist in the gem trade. Some of these treatments are temporary, while others are permanent.

Heating : Heat is used to achieve a desired alteration of color, clarity, and /or phenomena. This is a permanent treatment. Examples: Tanzanite, Blue Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Citrine, Aquamarine, Quartz.

Diffusion: The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism-producing inclusions. This is a permanent treatment. Examples: Topaz, Sapphire.

Irradiation : The use of neutron bombardment to alter a gemstone's color; may be followed by a heating process. This is a permanent treatment. Examples: Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Diamonds.

Coating : The use of surface enhancements such as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects. This is a temporary enhancement.Examples: Emerald, Opal.

Dyeing : The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity.  Sometimes stable, but often not, may fade or bleed. This is a temporary enhancement. Examples: Chalcedony, Quartz, Agate.  Sometimes (not always) also used to intensify the color of Amethyst, Garnet, Iolite and many other stones.

Dyed Pink Chalcedony

Oiling/Resin Infusion : The intentional filling of surface breaking cavities with a colorless oil, wax, natural resin, or unhardened man-made material into fissured transparent gemstones to improve appearance. (i.e., oil, man-made resin, cedar wood oil, Canada balsam, paraffin, etc.) This is a temporary enhancement. Examples: Emerald.

Filling : As a by-product of heat enhancement, the presence of solidified borax or similar colorless substances. This is a temporary enhancement. Examples: Emerald, Opal.

Infilling : The intentional filling of surface cracks or fractures usually with glass, plastic, or other hardened foreign substances to improve durability, appearance and / or weight. This is a temporary enhancement. Example: Emerald, Mexican Opal.

Waxing/Oiling : The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin and oil in porous opaque gemstones to improve appearance. This is a temporary enhancement. Examples: Emerald, Opal.

Laser : The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions in diamonds. This is a permanent treatment.

Vacumn Deposition  : A newly patented process, that deposits a permanent coating. Stable. This is how all "Mystic Topaz", Green Topaz, and most or probably all Pink Topaz available to the average consumer is acquirred.

Stabilization :  The use of resin like coatings. Usually stable, but may attract grime and discolor. Common with Turquoise.  Sometimes a dealer may incorrectly use this term for chips that have been reconstituted and dyed.

June's Birthstone, Moonstone

The month of June actually has 3 stones considered to be its birthstone.  One of them is moonstone.  Moonstone is considered a "modern birthstone" by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.

Moonstone is part of a family of gemstones known as feldspar.  They range in clarity from semi transparent to opaque and you can find them colorless, and in colors such as mocha brown, yellow, pink, blue, white, orange or peach, gray, green, or silver.  

Rainbow moonstone is an opalescent gem that has a white or blue sheen or shimmer that it reflects under certain lighting conditions.  This shimmer looks like the stone has a glow from within.   This glow is called adularescence.   The most highly valued rainbow moonstones would be colorless, semitransparent to nearly transparent, without visible inclusions, and a vivid blue adularescence, also known as blue sheen.

Along with adularescence, some moonstones show chatoyancy, also called the cat’s-eye effect.  I have found this more in the peach and gray shades of the moonstone. 

Around 100AD, moonstone was used in jewelry by the Romans who believed that the stone was formed by the light of the moon. In India, moonstone is considered a sacred and magical stone. It is believed to bring good fortune, enhance passion, protect women and children, mothers and babies, and to balance the emotions.  A gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.   Moonstone was very popular during the early 20th century and was used extensively in art nouveau jewelry.

Moonstone is not very durable or hard gemstone compared to other gems used for jewelry.  Use a bit of caution and care in handling this gem or a piece of jewelry with this gem in it.  Do not use any harsh chemicals or cleaners to clean your gems. Avoid using ultrasonic cleaners or steamers. Simply use a mild soap and a soft cloth to clean your gemstones. Rinse well under warm water your gemstone to remove any soapy residue. Moonstone is considered sensitive to pressure, so do not set your stones using  tension-style mountings. Always remove moonstone jewelry before exercising, playing sports or performing household chores. When storing your moonstone, store them separately and away from other types of gems and jewelry, whether harder or softer. If possible, wrap your stones individually using a soft cloth, or you can place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box for added protection.


The highest quality moonstones are found in Sri Lanka and India.   Other notable sources include Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Tanzania, and the United States.  Rainbow moonstone can be found in Brazil, Europe, India, Australia, Germany, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Tanzania, and Pennsylvania and Virginia in the U.S.

Dyeing Chalcedony

Chalcedony is one of my favorite gemstones. It is a porous stone so colored dyes can be used to enhance and change the color of the stone.

Deep Red Chalcedony Briolettes

 Chalcedony is quartz that is made from tightly packed microscopic crystals.

In nature, chalcedony can be a subtle variation of almost any color: red, orange, green, black and some forms of bluish-gray. Stronger colors, such as reddish orange, green and yellow may be natural or dyed.

The dyeing process reportedly was discovered in the 1800s in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, one of the world’s leading gem cutting centers.

The process involves the use of strong acids to “open the pores.” Then the chalcedony is submitted to a variety of repeated and prolonged immersions in metallic compound solutions that impart color. Reds, oranges and yellows are placed in iron oxide compounds; greens in chromium compounds; blues in cobalt compounds. Generally, dyed chalcedony has a vivid color and, under microscopic examination, can have concentrations of color along the edges.

Dyeing generally doesn’t affect the value of chalcedony, most of which is moderately priced. The treatment processes that impart color are considered permanent by the gemstone trade.

Golden Chalcedony Briolettes

 Natural Chalcedony is usually a blue/grey/lavender shade. It can also occur naturally in pale pinks or greens, but usually even these colors are acquired by dyeing. It is important to know that dyed stones can fade with exposure to light.

Gemstone Treatments

Though not commonly known to the public, many gemstones are treated in some way to enhance their color and clarity.  These treatments are common and widely accepted in the industry, and normally do not de-value the stone.

Most retail jewelers do not divulge this information to their buying public and sometimes they themselves are not aware of it.  If they are a reputable and ethical establishment, they will be honest if queried on the subject.  Don't expect this information to be offered without inquiring first.

The most common treatments used on natural stones that I have come across are listed and explained here.

Heat treatment is the exposure of a gem to high temperatures to alter its color and/or clarity.  This is the most common method used to color enhance gems.  The most common gems that use heat treatment are:  amber, aquamarine, amethyst, citrine, ruby, sapphire, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline and zircon.  Heat treatment is considered durable and permanent under normal handling conditions.   The heat may render the gems slightly more brittle than usual, so care must be taken not to damage pointed faceted corners and edges.

Dyeing introduces colored dyes into porous or fractured gems to change their color. Such fractures are sometimes purposely induced by heating the gem so that an otherwise non-porous material can more readily accept the dye.  The most common gems that are dyed are:  pearls, coral, turquoise, lapis, howlite, nephrite jade, chalcedony, quartz, emerald, and ruby.  Dyed gems can be quite durable, but is ultimately dependent on the stability of the dye itself.  Many dyes can be removed if the gem comes into contact with a solvent such as alcohol or acetone.  Some dyes are unstable with exposure to the ultraviolet in sunlight and can fade over time.  The best treatment for dyed gems - care must be taken to not bring them in contact with chemicals such as acetone or alcohol, which could dissolve the dyes, or have them exposed to prolonged periods of sunlight (such as leaving it on a sunny window ledge) which could cause the dyed colors to fade.

Surface Coating alters a gem’s appearance by applying a coloring agent like paint to the back surfaces of gems (a treatment known as “backing”), or coating the  gems surface with such enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects.  The most common gems that use this treatment are:  diamonds, tanzanite, topaz, coral, pearls, and quartz.  Coated gems tend to have a softer surface and/or the coating may not adhere well to the underlying gem.  These thin-film surface coatings are susceptible to scratching, particularly along facet edges and junctions.  Do not allow any hard or abrasive objects to come in contact with coated gems.


Impregnation stabilizes porous gemstones using a colorless bonding agent, such as polymer, wax or plastic, to add durability and improve appearance.  The most common of these gemstones include:  turquoise, lapis lazuli, jadeite, nephrite, amazonite, rhodochrosite and serpentine.  Many impregnations are often “skin deep” and due to the melting point of plastic and wax, can be susceptible to heat damage. Plastic impregnations are considered durable in gem materials such as turquoise as long as they are not subjected to heat or chemicals.  Care must be taken not to subject gemstones with wax or plastic impregnations to heat, such as that encountered by a jeweler’s torch, since these will likely melt the material.

Irridation uses neutrons, gamma rays, beta particles or high energy elections to alter the color of gemstones.  This is sometimes followed by a heat treatment to further modify the color.  This second step also known as a “combination treatment.  The most common gems that use this treatment are:  diamonds, corundum, topaz, pearl, quartz, some varieties of beryl and spodumene.  Some irradiated gems’ color fades upon exposure to strong light.  Blue topaz, diamond and quartz tend to have very stable colors as long as they are not exposed to high temperatures.  Irradiated colored diamonds' colors may be damaged if the diamond is exposed to the heat of a jeweler’s torch.  In the beryl and spodumene gemstones, the irradiated color tends to be short lived and fades upon exposure to bright light.

Fracture or Cavity Filling is filling surface-reaching fractures or cavities with a glass, resin, wax or oil to conceal their visibility and to improve the apparent clarity of gem materials, appearance, stability, or in extreme cases—to add to a slight amount of weight to a gem. The filling materials vary from being solids (a glass) to liquids (oils), and in most cases, they are colorless (colored filler materials could be classified as dyes).  The most common gems that use this treatment are:  diamond, ruby, emeralds, quartz, aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline and other transparent gems.  Durability?  Much depends on the filler. Glasses tend to be harder and therefore more durable than resins, oils or waxes. Changes in air pressure, proximity to heat, or by exposure to chemicals can all affect the appearance of filled gems by potentially altering or removing the filler substance.

Diffusion uses chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism, or star like, producing inclusions as in the star sapphire.

Bleaching is using a chemical to alter or rid a porous gem of all of it's color.  Some gemstones are bleached and then dyed, a form of “combination treatment.”  Jadeite jade, pearls, coral, chalcedony and tiger’s eye quartz may be bleached to lighten their color.

Oiling and/or Resin Infusion is filling the surface of breaking fissures in gems with colorless oil, wax, resin or other colorless substances, except glass or plastic to improve the gemstone's appearance.

Waxing is the impregnation of colorless wax, paraffin and oil in porous, opaque or translucent gemstones to improve appearance.

There may be more ways in which gemstones are treated to enhance their color and durability.  These are the more common ones I have come upon as a gemstone buyer.  If possible, try to purchase untreated gemstones.  Know that because they are more rare, they will also be a higher price than treated gemstones.

(Information for this article has come from 2 sources: from the blog Unicorn's Garden and the GIA website)

Purchasing Jewelry With Gemstones? Consider This... (part 1)

There are many things to consider before buying gemstone jewelry. This is especially if you are considering purchasing a precious stone, a ruby, emerald, sapphire, or a diamond.  Gemstone prices are guided by the desirability, quality and the availability of the stones.

Color
The color is the most defining factor when evaluating the colored gems. The more attractive the color, the higher is the value. The highest quality gemstones have a pure color and posses very slight shades of other colors. Tone represents the depth of the color, which can range from colorless to black. The tone of a gemstone is described as “light”, “medium-light”, “medium”, “medium-dark”, and “dark”. Bright, rich and intense colors are valued over those that are too dark or light. Colors that are dulled by tones of black, gray or brown are regarded as less desirable.

Optical Effects
The brilliant colors displayed by some specific gemstones are optical effects caused when white light is split into its constituent colors. Some gems exhibit unusual optical effects known as phenomena that rare and beautiful and add immense value to the gems. The Cat’s Eye Effect, the Star Effect and the Color Change Effect are very popular phenomena.

1-Chatoyancy
Chatoyancy or the Cat’s Eye Effect is a reflection effect appearing as a single bright band of light across the gemstone's surface. It is generally found in Chrysoberyl, Tourmaline and Tigers Eye.

2- Asterism
Asterism or the Star Effect appears as two or more intersecting bands of light across the gem's surface. The phenomenon is commonly found in Ruby, Sapphire and Garnet.

3- Color Change
Color change gems have the capacity to distinctly change their regular color when viewed under two different light sources. The phenomenon commonly in Alexandrite, Sapphire and Color Change Garnet.

Labradorite Cabochon

4- Iridescence
Iridescence refers to the rainbow like color effects as seen in some specific gems. It is generally found in Opal, Ammonite and Moonstone.

Rainbow Moonstone Cabochon

5- Aventurescence
Aventurescent gems posses colorful play of glittering reflections from small metallic inclusions. The phenomenon is common in Sunstone, Aventurine Quartz and Gold Stone.

Sunstone Pendant

March's Birthstone, Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. Its name comes from the Latin "aqua," meaning water, and "mare," meaning sea. Aquamarines are available in the pale blues, pale blue-greens, and pale greens. This stone is usually clear, and the iron content of the stone gives it its green color. In the past, green aquamarines were highly valued. Now it is the bluer shades of the stone that are prized. Depending on how you look at the stone, you may see shades of blue so pale it looks colorless. Almost all aquamarines available to consumers have been heat treated to deepen the blue color and get rid of the green color. These gemstones are almost entirely free of inclusions.

An aquamarine is a very hard stone, ranging on the Mohs scale at 7.5 to 8. The hardness of the stone makes it more durable and less likely to scratch.

The best way to clean an aquamarine is with warm, soapy water and an old toothbrush. Be sure to rinse the soap away thoroughly. Be sure to use warm water and not hot. The extreme in temperature for aquamarines, and many other gemstones, can damage the stone. It is best to avoid harsh chemicals and household detergents. An ultrasonic cleaner is also not advisable.

The best quality aquamarines come from Brazil. There stones weighing up to several kilos have been found. Other areas include Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, the Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and the United States.

In ancient times, the aquamarine was regarded as a sailor's lucky stone. The Egyptians and Sumerians believed it was a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth. According to folklore, the aquamarine would bring victory in battle and legal disputes. It was also considered an especially effective cure for problems with the jaw, throat, stomach and toothaches. During the Middle Ages, the aquamarine was considered a very popular oracle, and when cut into the shape of a crystal ball, could help predict the future.

According to old traditions, the wearer of an aquamarine was promised a happy marriage. Aquamarine is also considered the anniversary stone for the 19th year of marriage.

Semi Precious Gemstones Peach Moonstone

Moonstone was once extremely popular, particularly in the time of Art Nouveau about a hundred years ago. Also in recent years it has seen an increase in demand, unfortunately Moonstone, particularly fine Moonstone, is becoming increasingly rare.

The valued bluish and nearly transparent Moonstones are most often found in Sri Lanka. There are also known deposits of Moonstones in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Norway, Switzerland, Tanzania, and the United States.

A symbolic substitute for the name Moonstone is “Selenite”, relating to the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene. Moonstone was popular with the Romans, believing it was formed out of the Moonlight.

In India it is considered to be a sacred and magical stone, bringing about pleasant and beautiful dreams and appreciated as a “dream stone.”

Moonstone is associated with the heart chakra. It is said to enhance passion, sensitivity, intuition, physical abilities, and is said to bring good fortune. Moonstone is a stone of protection, protecting women and children, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth. Physically it is said to aid the wearer's pituitary gland and digestive system and also to fight against obesity. The moonstone is also said to calm emotions and ease hormonal and menstrual problems.

Special care should be taken when wearing and cleaning the stone because of its fragility. Small damages that may occur after prolonged usage can be corrected somewhat easily. This can be accomplished by having a jeweler polish the stone in such a way that will regain its adularescence. The scientific term for the kind of shimmer that gives this stone its magical look is schiller or adularescence. Peach Moonstone exhibits a shimmering peach hue with a glistening luster.

Care & Cleaning:
Moonstone jewelry can be cleaned in warm water with a mild detergent and a soft brush. As with most gemstones, Moonstone should be kept away from exposure to excessive amounts of heat and household chemicals which can cause the stone to erode or cause color change. Keep your Moonstone jewelry in a fabric-lined box away from other jewelry, so as to avoid chipping, damage, or scratching.


By Jewelsite.com
Encyclopedia Gemstones

Semi Precious Cabochons in Amethyst, Peridot and Quartz

I added more beautiful semi precious cabochons to Tiger Bead Store this morning.


These amethyst cabs are a deep purple color. They are 5mm in size. Beautiful cut and clarity.


Honey quartz. This is a new gemstone for Tiger Beads. I love the color! It is a warm toned brown. Yes, similar to the color of honey. These gems are 5mm in size. I will be listing more honey quartz in 2 sizes that are square in shape.


And peridot rounds. I haven't purchased peridot for Tiger Beads before because of the cost. I got a good deal on these pretties. They are 5mm in size and a beautiful color with good clarity.

I will be adding more semi precious cabochons soon. More chalcedony, quartz, moonstone and more. So keep coming back!

Semi Precious Cabochons

A cabochon is a stone that is cut with a highly polished rounded or convex top with no faceting, with a flat or slightly domed base. A cabochon may be cut in any shape, though oval is by far the most common. Certain stones are almost always cut as cabochons, including opal, turquoise, onyx, moonstone, and star sapphire.

Technically, cabochons are not really "cut." Rather they are shaped and then polished. It is thus a much simpler task to produce a cabochon than it is to cut a faceted gem with many faces. Before the art of faceting was developed, all gemstones were produced as cabochons, though some were intricately carved as well.

Once the technology and skill was available to facet gemstones, why were cabochons still produced? The question is an interesting one because different gems are cut as cabs for different reasons. In many cases it is because the gem has special properties that are displayed only when it is cut as a cabochon. Examples are gems that display asterism (the star effect) or chatoyancy (the cat's eye effect) or iridescence (e.g., opal) or adularescence (e.g., moonstone).

Most gems that are opaque rather than transparent are cut as cabochons rather than faceted. You will also see lower grade material in gemstones such as sapphire, ruby and garnet cut as cabs. If the gem material has very good color but is not sufficiently transparent or clean to be faceted, it can still be shaped and polished to be a very attractive cabochon. It is also common to cut softer stones as cabs. They can easily be scratched and the minute scratches show much less on a cabochon than on a faceted stone.

(Original Article by Gemselect.com)

BIG Bead Sale at Tiger Beads

Time to clear out the inventory to make way for new items at Tiger Beads. I have many great bead deals listed, many strands below wholesale. Take a look. You may find just what you need for your next creation!

FedEx Delivers a New Order

Hurray! FedEx just delivered a new order from one of my suppliers. Always one of the best days in my whole life. Just a joke. My son used to say that whenever something good happened to him such as seeing a Batman movie or not having to go to school for some reason.

But it is exciting. Receiving new gemstones is like being a kid in a candy store. As a jewelry artist, these are the tools of the trade. Not the boring tools like pliers and wire cutters, but the pretty, fancy stuff, that enhance a design.

I ordered cabachons in different stones than I currently have available at Tiger Beads, and new briolettes, labradorite and iolite. I hope to get the photography started today so I can list them in the store.

Stop by soon, even just to look if you have an interest in gemstones.

New Cabachons

I am beginning to carry cabachons for ring and pendant designing. Some are calibrated in size and others have been cut to a custom size. The stones are beautiful. Take a look:


Prehnite Rounds


Moonstone Rounds


Turquoise


Charolite

I will be adding many more so keep coming back!

Misleading the Public with Gemstone Names

I read a very interesting forum on Etsy talking about how some "gemstones" are not really gems but glass, or a different stone dyed or treated to look like a certain stone. I found this forum both interesting and informative so I decided to do a little research of my own.

Gemstones are in the odd position of having one foot in the technical world of mineralogy and one foot in the commercial world of jewelry. The true names for gemstones are mostly derived from the Greek or Italian languages. The original names are meaningful and carry some significance while the fancy trade names that unscrupulous jewelers and dealers use are meant to influence innocent buyers into purchasing a less expensive stone at the price of a more valuable one. It's also a well-known fact in the jewelry industry that gemstones with difficult, confusing or obscure names are difficult to sell to the average consumer.

Here is a partial list of misnamed gemstones:

*Charoite is charoite. Not sugilite or purple stained agate.
*Goldstone is glass with copper in it. Not gold Not a stone.
*Cherry and blueberry quartz is glass.
*Crackle fire agate. Crackled? Yes. Fire agate? No.
*Green opal is chalcedony.
*Howlite Turquoise is not turquoise.
*There is no such thing as white turquoise.
*Any fruit or candy named gem is not that gem.
*Serpetine is not jade.
*African Turquoise is not turquoise - it is a variety of jasper found in Africa.
*African Jade is not jade but a type of garnet that resembles jade in color and texture.
*New Jade and Olive Jade are actually serpentine.
*Yellow Turquoise is usually a jasper or serpentine.

There is no:

*Russian Sugilite
*New Jade
*Sugilite Jasper
*Crab Fire Agate
*Chinese Charoite
*Flower Charoite
*Charoite Quartz

Generally speaking, be very skeptical of two-name names such as new jade, or yellow turquoise, of names with locations like Russian sugilite, or Chinese charoite, and of names with strange modifiers such as alabandine ruby or occidental diamond. Also, be careful of names that are not spelled correctly such as emeralda for emeralds.


For more information and an extensive list gems and names:
http://www.gemscape.com/html/misnomer.htm

Another valuable source for this article:
www.gemselect.com

More New Briolettes

In my ever widening search to find the best beads for my bead store, I came across these beauties.


Lovely Pink Amethyst. This is a very pretty, almost delicate looking stone. These gems are a pale pink color.


These gems are a Sky Blue Chalcedony faceted briolette. Gorgeous color.


Labradorite. My favorite.


And Green Amethyst faceted pear briolettes.

For more detailed information on any of these beads, visit Tiger Beads.

Tiger Beads is also having a SALE ON ALL WOOD BEADS. They are 25%OFF for a limited time. I have a very nice selection available. Stop by if you are interested.

Beautiful Briolettes

Briolettes, my favorite. Lovely shapes, lovely colors. What's not to like?







From the top photo down:

Citrine
Beer Quartz
Smokey Quartz
Pink and Purple Chalcedony
Natural Chalcedony
Purple Veined Chalcedony

For more information, please go to Tiger Beads.

More Pretty New Beads

All of these new beads are available at Tiger Beads. They are part of my last shopping spree.


Sparkly Neon Micro Faceted Apatite Rondelles


Blue Flash Labradorite Heishi Beads


Juicy Mango Chalcedony Round Beads


And Rainbow Moonstone Micro Faceted Rondelles

Sunstone

I seem to really like the shiny, sparkly gemstones. Sunstone is one of them. The nicest sunstone I have found is from a local supplier. These pendants are the second batch I have purchased from him. And here is my first ever video on my blog.



These are just a few of the pendants I currently have in my bead store.






I did a little research because I was interested in knowing where sunstone comes from.

"Sunstone is the State Gem of Oregon, a prime source for this beautiful gem.

Sunstone is metallic in appearance and comes in red, orange or green colors. However, cleaner red sunstone is very rare and it commands true gemstone prices. The stone is a composition of oligioclase feldspar which also contains hematite or goethite. The presence of hematite or goethite creates a reflections of light, hence the name sunstone.

Sunstone is formed in molten lava and is discharged onto the surface with the help of a volcano. The lava weathers away or is broken. Fine crystals of sunstone is then released. The Oregon sunstone is found with copper in it which is the cause for the range of colors in the stone from water color to yellow and many shades of green, red and pink.

In ancient times, this stone was used by natives for barter. It was also believed by the Vikings to be a talisman for navigation. Today, it is widely linked with human being as protective energy. It lends extra energy at times of stress or ill health."

Information from www.MineralsZone.com

New Beads

Here are some of the new beads I have purchased for Tiger Beads lately.


Lepidolite Rondelles (this photograph is darker than the actual beads)


Lepidolite Rounds


Caribbean Blue Jade Rounds


Angelic Crab Agate Rounds


And Deep Red Chalcedony Briolettes

There will many more new beads coming!
Check out Tiger Beads for more information on all strands.

Labradorite

While surfing the web, I came across some very good information about one of my favorite stones, labradorite. If you like this stone like I do, you may be interested in reading this.


"The most evident feature used to identify labradorite is the labradorescence. Labradorescence is the color display resulting from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect happens because a ray of light enters a layer and is refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in. The wavelength could correspond to the wavelength of a particular color, such as blue. The effect depends on the thickness and orientation of the layers.


Labradorite derives its name from the peninsula of Labrador in Newfoundland, Canada, one of the places where it is found. This is a stone that often shows a play of colors which may include white, gray, green, bluish, reddish or yellow. In addition labradorite may be colorless."

Copyright - © 2006 Ganpati Jewels, 1046, sitaram ji ki gali, johari bazaar, jaipur, India. All rights reserved.

Museum of Natural History

To continue on about my trip to NY, while I was there I went to the Natural History Museum. I hadn't been there since I was a kid. It was packed the day I went because it was saturday and rainy outside. This took away from it being really fun because you had to dodge so many people. But I am glad I went anyway.

So of course, it seems everyone starts at the top floor which is the dinosaur exhibit. It is pretty cool there. Here are just a few picks from that exhibit.




I tried to take more photos but the Museum was either too dark, too crowded to take a picture, or the specimen was in an acrylic case and there was too much glare in the photo. Oh well.

One of the best exhibits for me was the mineral and gem exhibit. This included one large room and small rooms that housed many, many samples of gemstones. I was in heaven! I took many photos but I do not remember what the specimens were. I apologize.



These first 3 photos are of labradorite. It was a beautiful, large chunk of stone.



As you can probably guess, amethyst, a large, lovely chunk of amethyst.


A nice size chunk of gold.


Some type of quartz?


Rose quartz?

And this one I really am not sure of.

This room was cool. If you get a chance to go there, take a look. You will not be disappointed.