Geology 101

[Wordy]

OK I will sign up!

[MinnaCaroline]

Sign me up!! Do we get to see these gems?

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

If not though, Google Images it is!

[Wordy]

shinies

[MinnaCaroline]

and sparkles! incidentally my nic-name is Sparkalicious ;D

[Markanite]

I'll sign up too Ipadonia! I know nothing about Geology

[Birodalma]

I'll sign up.

[HumanSanity]

*signs up*

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

Lecture 1: Silicates, Feldspars and Quartz forms

Minerals and Gemstones occur in many different groups. These can be Sulphides, Oxides, Halides and Silicates. The main chemical group for minerals and gems is the silicates. Every mineral in this group contains Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) which will be further explained in the chemistry lecture. The Silicates also contain two familiar types of minerals and gems. Quartz and Feldspar. The difference between them is that quartz is just SiO2 in different forms with the occasional additon of water, whereas Feldspars can contain alkali metals in them like Potassium which give them a very special attribute. This attribute occurs in several feldspars when cut en cabochon (covered in the cutting and polishing lecture). You may be familiar with the popular 'Moonstone' used in jewellrey. Moonstones are just feldspars (usually Anorthoclase) cut to show their silvery iridesence and lustre. This concludes our lecture on Quartz and Feldspars. If you would like some further information please PM me about your specific interests.

Homework Tasks:

1. Reseach your favourite type of Quartz. The types are: Rock Crystal, Smoky Quartz, Milky Quartz and Phantom Quartz, Rose Quartz, Citrine, Amethyst, Aventurine, Cat's Eye Quartz and Rutilated Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Chalcedony, Chrysoprase and Prase, Carnelian, Onyx and Sard, Heliotrope/Bloodstone and Jasper, Agate and Opal.

2. List the several moonstone feldspars and their chemical compostion.

3. Explain the connection between Amethyst and Citrine and how the market uses it's connection. This will require reasearch.

4. Figure out the Silicate Structure group of Quartz and feldspar: e.g.phyllosilicates.

PM me with your answers. Due on Tuesday next week.

Have fun,
Professor iPad

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

You only need to research one Quartz type, sorry if I didn't make that clear. Also on next week's lecture I will post pictures of MY Quartz and Feldspar collection.

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

Minna, Biro and HumanSanity. Please have your assignments in ASAP. Next lecture is on Friday.

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

I have realised from my last class that I was a bit hard on you guys. So I'm willing to dumb it down. However, I still wnat thorough answers. Pictures will be posted probably Tuesday so dont ask for them yet. Today's lecture is about everyone's favourite part of gemstones: Cuts, Polishes, Sparkles and Shines. We'll be learning about the best gems in the world, different cuts, how they cut diamonds, the hardest natural substance and scams that the gem companies don't want you to know!

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

Lecture 2: Cuts, Polishes, Sparkles and Shines

Everyone knows gemstones as being sparkly and shiny like in the ads, but how do they get a lump of rock into a dazzling crystal? How do they cut diamonds (Carbon) the hardest substance on Earth? What are the bets gems in the world? Well this lecture will tell you all about that. First of all I'd like to explain the cutting and polishing process that every gemstone and mineral goes through if they want to be in jewellery.
Step 1. Gems are mined and are sent to a lab for inspection
Step 2. The gems are laser cut and polished like hell!
Step 3. The most popular cuts chosen are, Cat's Eye, Star, Brilliant and Teardrop.

Cuts get their names from the shapes they resemble. When a gemstone is cut Cat’s Eye (en cabochon) a large slit occurs over the gem making a Cat’s Eye type effect. Gemstones can also be engraved or tumbled. The cuts that apply to all gemstone go as followed: Baguette, Table, Square, Scissor, Octagonal, Cushion, Round, Mixed, Oval, Pendeloque and Marquise.

Gem companies often exploit gemstones to the fullest extent and believe me, it’s pretty sickening. Gemstones in their natural habits are far more beautiful than tiny little rocks sitting on a ring of gold. But, because this lecture is about how companies exploit them here is how they do it. Companies often fill Emeralds with vegetable oil because emeralds often have natural cracks and impurities in them. Some people also try to pawn off Amber as Topaz but a way to tell if you’re being ripped off is that Amber has a plastic like feel where as topaz is fairly hard. Cubic Zirconia, Quartz, Glass and even Fluorite have been tried to pass off as diamonds, they are all much, much softer than diamonds so if it breaks when you throw it off a building you’ve probably got a fake.

Although gem companies make millions off of exploitation real gems in their natural habits are often visited in museums around the world, particularly the Smithsonian. This small paragraph will teach you about the worlds best gems.
The American Golden Topaz were found in Brazil and are about the height of a standing newborn baby. The Hooker Emerald was found in Colombia and consists of a square cut emerald with lots of diamonds on the outside. The Imperial Topaz is another Mega Topaz from Brazil and is a whopping 93.6 carats. Finally, the Blue Heart diamond is a 30.82 carat diamond with a delicate hue of blue similar to that of the Hope Diamond.

The final part of this lecture is about how they cut Diamonds. In case you haven’t yet realised, Diamonds are almost indestructible. They can withstand extreme heat and cold, pressure, force, can cut glass and quartz and are the tough guys of the gem world. But of course Diamonds don’t occur in pretty little cuts, they usually start off as coal. After millions of years of pressure Diamonds are formed in the Earth’s crust. So how do they cut Diamonds? Diamonds are usually cut with lasers or a grinding wheel called a scaif. Diamonds can also be chiselled or cut with industrial diamond saws. Diamonds can lose as much as 60% of their weight when cut so you’re only paying for about half a diamond.

Thanks for reading this week’s lecture. It’s a big one so Homework will be on Tuesday.

[MinnaCaroline]

What's the homework?

[iPad/GIR - The Awesome One]

Here's the Homework!

1. Explain the cut and polish process.
2. List at least 3 different cuts.
3. Explain what a scief is.
4. Tell me some scams of the Jewel Companies.
SUPERHARDQUESTION!!!: What are Blood Diamonds?