Maxixe Beryl
Maxixe (pronounced mah-she-she) beryl is not frequently seen in the market but when it does occasionally surface, it can cause a bit of confusion. It is a distinct variety of beryl that is commonly mistaken…
Gem NotesDaylight Fluorescent Opal
Semi-transparent to transparent opal that is capable of being faceted is not unusual. Most are familiar with the cherry opal from Mexico, ranging in color from a yellowish- orange to reddish-orange, some with a play…
Gem NotesVayrynenite
Väyrynenite [´vjairənə,nait] is an exceedingly rare manganese- beryllium phosphate mineral with chemical formula of Mn2+Be(PO4)(OH,F). Initially it was found by a Finnish mineralogist of Russian origin Oleg von Knorring (1915-1994) in Viitaniemi, Finland in 1939…
Gem NotesGrandidierite
Grandidierite has been a rare collector’s stone since its discovery in Tuléar Province, Madagascar at the end of the 19th century. It is a nesosilicate with a chemical formula of (Mg,Fe)Al3(BO4)(SiO4)O and crystalizes in the…
Gem NotesJeremejevite
INTRODUCTION Jeremejevite is a mineral species with the formula, Al6B5O15(OH,F)3. It is pronounced by replacing the “J” with “Y” so phonetically, it would be “yeremeyevite.” It was first discovered in 1883 on Mt. Soktuj in East…
Gem NotesRhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite has been used as an ornamental material for carvings, beads and inlays due to its low hardness, for a very long time. Beautiful pink color contrasting with white banding in massive form is the…
Gem NotesA Sapphire’s Secret
INTRODUCTION At Lotus Gemology, our Bangkok-based gem testing laboratory, we only test for two types of stones: corundum (ruby & sapphire) and spinel. As a result, we often get parcels of stones with similar attributes. This…
Gem NotesChrysoberyl
Introduction Chrysoberyl, BeAl2O4, is a mineral species with well-known varieties, namely alexandrite and chrysoberyl cat’s eye. Much has been written about chrysoberyl’s varieties, so this gem note is intended to focus on the transparent faceted material. Chrysoberyl…
Gem NotesHackmanite
Introduction Hackmanite, Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl2,S), is the rare variety of the mineral species sodalite. Sodalite is a translucent to opaque, dark blue to violet-blue material that is used for jewelry purposes, typically fashioned as cabochons or beads, while…
Gem Notes