8/18/2019 Gemology - Wikipedia

Gemology
Gem ology or gem m ology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. It is considered a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy . Some jewelers (and many non
jewelers) are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify and ev aluate gems. [1 ][2 ]

Contents
Background
Gemological instruments
General identification of gems
Identification by refractive index
Identification by specific gravity
Identification by spectroscopy
Identification by inclusions
Institutes, laboratories, schools, and publications
References
A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling
rough rock with abrasive grit in a rotating drum. The
Background biggest pebble here is 40 millimetres (1.6 in) long.

Rudimentary education in gemology for jewelers and gemologists began in the nineteenth century , but the first qualifications were instigated after the National Association of Goldsmiths of
Great Britain (NAG) set up a Gemmological Committee for this purpose in 1908. This committee matured into the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (also known as Gem-A), now an educational charity and accredited awarding body
with its courses taught worldwide. The first US graduate of Gem-A's Diploma Course, in 1929, was Robert Shipley , who later established both the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society . There are now sev eral
professional schools and associations of gemologists and certification programs around the world.

The first gemological laboratory serv ing the jewelry trade was established in London in 1925, prompted by the influx of the newly dev eloped "cultured pearl" and adv ances in the sy nthesis of rubies and
sapphires. [3 ] There are now numerous gem laboratories around the world requiring ev er more adv anced equipment and experience to identify the new challenges - such as treatments to gems, new
sy nthetics, and other new materials.

It is often difficult to obtain an expert judgement from a neutral laboratory . Analy sis and estimation in the gemstone trade usually hav e to take place on site. Professional gemologists and gemstone
buy ers use mobile laboratories, which pool all necessary instruments in a trav el case. Such so-called trav el labs ev en hav e their own current supply , which makes them independent from
infrastructure. They are also suitable for gemological expeditions.

Gemstones are basically categorized based on their cry stal structure, specific grav ity , refractiv e index, and other optical properties, such as pleochroism. The phy sical property of "hardness" is defined
by the non-linear Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

Gemologists study these factors while v aluing or appraising cut and polished gemstones. Gemological microscopic study of the internal structure is used to determine whether a gem is sy nthetic or
natural by rev ealing natural fluid inclusions or partially melted exogenous cry stals that are ev idence of heat treatment to enhance color.

The spectroscopic analy sis of cut gemstones also allows a gemologist to understand the atomic structure and identify its origin, which is a major factor in v aluing a gemstone. For example, a ruby from Gemmological travel lab KA52KRS
Burma will hav e definite internal and optical activ ity v ariance from a Thai ruby .

When the gemstones are in a rough state, the gemologist studies the external structure; the host rock and mineral association; and natural and polished color. Initially , the stone is identified by its color, refractiv e index, optical character,
specific grav ity , and examination of internal characteristics under magnification.

Gemological instruments
Gemologists use a v ariety of tools and equipment which allow for the accurate tests to be performed in order to identify a gemstone by its specific characteristics and properties.

These include:

Corrected 10× loupe

Microscope
Refractometer

Polarising filter
Magnifying eyepiece
Contact liquid for RI (refractive index) up to 1.81
Polariscope

Optic figure sphere

Dichroscope
Spectroscope (handheld or desktop)
Penlight
Tweezers
Stone cloth
Color filter
Immersion cell
Ultraviolet lamp

General identification of gems

Gem identification is basically a process of elimination. Gemstones of similar color undergo non-destructiv e optical testing until there is only one possible identity . Any single test is indicativ e, only . For example, the specific grav ity of ruby is
4.00, glass is 3.15–4.20, and cubic zirconia is 5.6–5.9. So one can easily tell the difference between cubic zirconia and the other two; howev er, there is ov erlap between ruby and glass.

And, as with all naturally occurring materials, no two gems are identical. The geological env ironment they are created in influences the ov erall process so that although the basics can be identified, the presence of chemical "impurities" and
substitutions along with structural imperfections create "indiv iduals".

Identification by refractive index

One test to determine the gem's identity is to measure the refraction of light in the gem. Ev ery material has a critical angle, abov e which point light is reflected back internally . This can be measured and
thus used to determine the gem's identity . Ty pically this is measured using a refractometer, although it is possible to measure it using a microscope.

Identification by specific gravity

Specific grav ity , also known as relativ e density , v aries depending upon the chemical composition and cry stal structure ty pe. Heav y liquids with a known specific grav ity are used to test loose
gemstones.

Specific grav ity is measured by comparing the weight of the gem in air with the weight of the gem suspended in water. Traditional handheld refractometer

Identification by spectroscopy
This method uses a similar principle to how a prism works to separate white light into its component colors. A gemological spectroscope is employ ed to analy ze the selectiv e absorption of light in the gem material. Essentially , when light passes
from one medium to another, it bends. Blue light bends more than red light. How much the light bends will v ary depending on the gem material. Coloring agents or chromophores show bands in the spectroscope and indicate which element is
responsible for the gem's color.

Identification by inclusions
Inclusions can help gemologists to determine whether or not a gemstone is natural, sy nthetic or treated (i.e. fracture-filled or heated).

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8/18/2019 Gemology - Wikipedia

Three inclusion phases in rock

crystal quartz The curvature observed in this
synthetic color-change sapphire is
due to a process known as the
Verneuil Process or, flame fusion.
During this process, a fine crushed
material is heated at extremely high
temperatures. The crushed material
is then melted which drips through a
furnace onto a boule. This boule
where the corundum cools down and
crystallizes, spins and thus causes
the curved striations. Natural
corundum does not form this way
and lacks the curved striations.

Institutes, laboratories, schools, and publications

Institutes and laboratories

American Gem Society - AGS

Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences - AIGS
Gemmological Institute of India - GII
Canadian Gemmological Association - CGA
Canadian Institute of Gemmology - CIG
European Gemological Laboratory - EGL
Gemmological Association of Australia - GAA
Gemmological Association of Great Britain - Gem-A
Gemological Institute of America - GIA
Gübelin Gem Lab - GGL
Hoge Raad voor Diamant - HRD
International Gemological Institute - IGI
Italian Gemmological Institute - IGI
Laboratoire français de gemmologie - LFG
Swiss Gemmological Institute - SSEF
Universal Gemological Laboratories- GCI
Gemmological Institute of India - GII
Center of Gemological of Indonesia - COG
Publications

Gems & Gemology

References
1. "Gemologist" (http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/199281010.html). Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Photius Coutsoukis and Information Technology Associates. 2003. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
2. "An Introduction To Gemology - International Gem Society" (https://www.gemsociety.org/article/an-introduction-to-gemology/). International Gem Society. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
3. Read, Peter G. (2005). Gemmology (https://books.google.com/books?id=t-OQO3Wk-JsC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=gemological+laboratory+of+London+1925&source=bl&ots=p1I02yDDm0&sig=buy7sBvHutGxg7OzDlWSbHuo8ng&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUK
Ewjhz_W4jPrVAhVk8IMKHbCKBEwQ6AEITzAK#v=onepage&q=gemological%20laboratory%20of%20London%201925&f=false). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 9780750664493.

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