News Archive

Gem Note: Hauyne

Introduction: Haüyne is an extremey rare mineral, a member of the sodalite group, and is even more rare as a gemstone with the formula (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,CL)1-2. It is sometimes seen in the literature as hauyne or…

World of Gems Conference IV

In this the fourth biennial international gem conference, speakers from varying areas of expertise offered lectures on many subjects. The program began with a historical look at the beginnings of the GemGuide, with the many…

Serendibite

Introduction: Serendibite is an extremely rare mineral with the chemical formula Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20. The mineral was first discovered in 1902 by G.T. Prior and A.K. Coomaraswamy at Gangapitiya, which is near Ambakotte, approximately 12 miles (20 km…

The Ivory Pandemonium

The noble and ethical standing of the US Government on illegal ivory trade is certainly welcomed by the environmentally conscious both in the US and abroad. A similar ban on ruby and jade, however, doesn’t give much…