Kunzite

Of all the transparent pink gemstone kunzite distinguished bright colors, durability and luster.
Class-Silicates (Inosilikaty)
Crystal system Monoclinic-
Hardness-6 ,5-7
Fracture - Geometrical
-Perfect Cleavage
Glitter-Glass
Color features-White
Named in honor of the gem mineralogist George F. Kunz, who found it in 1902 in the field Branchvilskom (Connecticut, USA).
Appearance
Kunz is pink variety of spodumene, having a higher lithium content than other varieties of this mineral. Usually occurs as dlinnoprizmaticheskih crystals and forms lamellar aggregates. Vertical faces of crystals are hatching and are extremely large (up to 12 m long and 2 m wide). In Brazil, near the village of Gobernador-Valladares (Minas Jeu Rice), have been found, no doubt, the best in the world of crystals of this mineral. Weight of one of them was more than 7 pounds. Sometimes crystals acquire an uncommon form of needles or flat twins, are woven together in a heart shape.
Perfect cleavage, shown along the length of the main prism emphasizes excellent gloss and color of this gemstone.
Association
In most cases, kunzite form an independent reservoir. However, in granitic pegmatites he can meet with other lithium aluminosilicates, particularly lepidolite (pink mica), rubellite (red-pink tourmaline), morganite (pink beryl), quartz (rose quartz and rock crystal) and albite, as well as various typical of pegmatite phosphates: apatite, childrenitami, eosforitami and others left before rauchtopaz with kuntsitom and elbaite
King of pink
The intensity of the pink-kuntsita depends on the content of lithium to aluminum. More intense pink color have the crystals in which the lithium content is higher.
-Kunze has a curious optical properties - polihroizmom. You can see the different shades of pink, changing the angle of view on the crystal or faceted stone.
- Few minerals have the same or better pink. Rival kuntsitom can only rubellite and some morganite.
- Separate, paler copies kuntsita processed by gamma rays to enhance color. However, over time (by sunlight) acquired color is lost, and the stone back to its original color.
A little-known stone
If spodumene is an important source of lithium, the kunzite is of great interest to collectors and jewelers.
Did you know that ...
Strong acids do not affect the kunzite, and all care for him is to ensure to avoid strong shocks, causing a bundle of stone.
Kunze, as a whole, not assessed, so finding jewelry with kuntsitom difficult, even in Europe. However, in the U.S. and England, he was recognized and highly regarded for its beautiful pink color. Many jewelry houses use the stone to create their jewelry.
The value of the mineral
In some countries, Kunze, as a color variety of spodumene, is widely used in jewelry. Usually used cut "diamond" with a lot of big faces, emphasizing the natural luster and iridescence. On the other hand, the crystals of this gemstone is highly prized by collectors for the color pink, and their value reaches impressive sums. Spodumene, do not meet the necessary requirements in color and transparency to be precious stones, together with lithium micas are a source of lithium, which is used in medicine, pyrotechnics, photographs, X-rays and other purposes
Interesting figures
Weight of 100 tons and more than 15 meters in length is large crystals kuntsita.
880 carats (176 grams) weighs largest faceted kuntsita instance, received facet trillion. Mined at the mine ITAM-Bakuri (Minas Gerais), is stored in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
Lithium
Of spodumene are lithium - an element that has found application in many areas of science. In the aerospace industry, for example, is used for the manufacture of lithium hydride fuel spaceships, and lithium hydroxide - to clean air.
Where seen kunzite
Kuntsita major supplier with good quality crystals is Brazil. Enjoys great fame Kiyston large deposit in South Dakota (USA). Good copy is in Mozambique, Madagascar and the United States (California). Not so long ago were discovered large deposits kuntsita in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The variety of diamond jewelry

The desire to be beautiful, probably born with a woman, and perhaps before it. Men look at women's beauty in different ways, and so, unfortunately, women are rarely interested in the opinion of the stronger sex, because it is enough to please themselves, and the rest - as would appendage. Although, according to themselves lady beautiful they are just for men.

Strong floor also makes contribution to the well of feminine beauty, for diamond jewelry, mostly buys it man. And here is a matter directly related to the male taste. Going to the jewelry store, eyes run in different directions. Want to buy your favorite all that lies on the counter, running ahead of man's logic, but still, something men stops. No, it's certainly not about money, it's something completely different. The desire to become more specific as you want to give something from what breathtaking. Silver rings, gold earrings, platinum pendants - like it or not, but it's just metal. Certainly, it is beautiful, just not enough of the very completeness, raisins, the most important thing. Diamonds can add decorations and make them unique.

For many thousands of years, no stone was able to beat a diamond. Try as he might jewelers all over the world, giving the other stones are the same shape and faceting, the result was one - diamond won. The situation has not changed and today, this stone makes thrill anyone who sees it. Well-cut diamond - is a masterpiece of art of any master. For his work is tremendous many months of work. Maybe that's why the people who bear the product with these magnificent stones, feel proud and unmatched.

Any product, whether it's earrings, brooch, pendant or ring, in which there is a diamond, giving majestic views of its owner. There is no such woman, who you would not have broken the heart of such a gift. And it certainly will not find a man who would not give half lives for these moments of exultation to the woman, at the sight of such a gift. Brilliant indeed work wonders with people, and those who have never in my life experienced this moment, lost a lot. Money comes and goes - it is a dogma, but diamonds are forever.

Every man wants to give his woman diamond jewelry. And it is quite natural, because for a man beloved original and unmatched. But it is not a representative of the stronger sex, aware of the fact that, first of all, it makes a pleasant himself, and for the sake of those minutes to live.

Formed as aggregates of crystals

Mineralogists interesting not only the sequence of growth of one mineral species to another, but also to highlight each form of the mineral. Often a substance crystallizes in the form of a completely different, sometimes bizarre, aggregates.
Why is the same mineral can form aggregates of different species? Development of individuals and their splice depends on the conditions of education. The units are composed of a mineral called homogeneous or monomineral. Having grown up in the nature of the crystals can be placed in the space randomly or in order.
Irregular intergrowths
The name refers to units with a disorderly arrangement of crystals.
Granular
This is the most basic units of irregularities. These include, for example, include marble, composed of calcite grains.
Geodes and Druzes
In geode crystals cover the inside of the cavity. To friends and brushes crystals growing on an exposed surface. In the form of friends and geodes crystallizes many minerals, including widespread, such as calcite and quartz.
Rounded and branched
Frequent grozdevidnoy units, round and kidney-shaped, formed by individual spherulites. Each spherulite is a spherical selection consisting of the finest crystals that grow from a central location in all directions, firmly adhering to each other. Aggregate of many spherulites has burgistuyu surface. Such forms of isolation are common in goethite and marcasite. Spherulitic structure characteristic of stalactites with stalagmites.
Dendritic aggregates, or dendrites, shaped like a tree branch. Such
type of education is common in fast crystallization with a sharp decrease in temperature. Often in the form of dendrites crystallized native metals (silver, gold and copper) and some oxides and hydroxides (pyrolusite, psilomelane).
More correct
In fibrous aggregates thin crystals (fibers) are oriented parallel to each other. These growths are more ordered and are particularly characteristic of chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite and other minerals, united by the common term "asbestos".
Lamellar aggregates characteristic of minerals with a very perfect cleavage, such as mica and gypsum. In foliated aggregates individual grains resemble leaves. So stand barite and some zeolites.
Among the rarer units - such bizarre forms as "cockscomb" marcasite. It consistently crystals grow in one plane. Roses and rosettes (depending on size) in the form of aggregates called a rose. Thus, the famous "Desert Rose" folded gypsum mixed with sand, because they are formed in desert conditions.
Regularities splices
When you first look at these units in their appearance captured some geometric pattern. Location of individuals subject to the peculiarities of the crystal structure of the mineral. Mesh aggregates are formed at the intersection of the crystals at an angle given by the geometry of the crystal structure. These units are characteristic sagenita - needle varieties of rutile. In the case of radiating aggregates prismatic crystals grow from one point to the sides like spokes on a bicycle wheel. This category also includes rolling aggregates, which are incomplete circle. In the sheaf-like aggregates of prismatic crystals as if in a bun at the base, and their peaks freely apart, like ears of corn into sheaves. So crystallized natrolite and stilbite. Avtoepitaksicheskimi called aggregates formed by different generations of a single mineral. Crystallographic axes previously formed and re-growing crystal coincide, so the "new" individual is a natural continuation of the "old." This often occurs with quartz vein. Separate cases are auto-epitaxy scepter quartz, amethyst which grows on rock crystal. In parallel units crystals fused together the edges. Such splice formed tabular hexagonal crystals vanadinita looks like a mosaic. The regular units called twins grow together if individuals can mentally combine with each other in mirror image in the plane or a rotation around an axis
Doubles
Minerals form twins by different laws. How will the twinning splice depends on the characteristics of the crystal structure of the mineral.
In nature, the formation of twins - a common phenomenon typical of 80% of chemical species. Specific patterns of aggregates can serve as a reliable diagnostic of the mineral. Therefore, gathering a collection, it is necessary to get acquainted with common types of twins.
What is a double?
Twins called legitimate units, individuals who can mentally combine with each other by reflection in the plane of symmetry or rotation about an axis. So, to imagine the simplest double, attach the plate of gypsum crystals narrow edge to the mirror - get a classic double fusion, called "swallow tail." Legitimate aggregates of a few individuals are called the tees chetvernikami, shesternikami.
TYPES simular
Depending on the form of the unit and the law twinning distinguish different types of twins. In case with "swallow tail", which is a double fusion, forming its crystals are reversed with respect to each other. Typical examples of this type of twins are also Japanese counterpart quartz and frequent doubles spinel and diamond. In the case of twins germination impression that they form crystals penetrate each other. In fact, individuals have grown at the same time, equally "share" a common part of the crystal together. These twins are very characteristic of staurolite, pyrite, calcite, dolomite.
It happens that the crystals simulate a higher symmetry than the one that is inherent in this mineral in reality. They are called mimetic twins. For example, T-form hexagonal crystals of aragonite, although aragonite belongs to the orthorhombic system. Called polysynthetic twins, the addition of many individual crystals, fused on the same plane. They are very typical of albite. Whereas in the cyclic and crank some individuals twins fused with constant mutual twinned orientation, like rutile, chrysoberyl, cerussite.
Why is there a simular
The emergence of a variety of factors contribute to the twins in the first place particular relative position of seed crystals during crystallization from solution or melt. If the crystallographic directions of nascent crystals are the same, formed generally parallel to the machine if they are focused on one of the twin laws - grows double. In addition, the twins in the mineral may occur during the transition of one polymorph to another. For example, high-temperature hexagonal quartz into a low temperature to form a trigonal dofineyskih twins. Also may cause doubles mechanical effect on the crystals. In particular, in the calcite marble observed polysynthetic twins, because these rocks formed at high pressures.
DIVERSITY simular
The crystal structure of each mineral favors the formation of only certain types of twins, typical for him. For example, twins and other kalinatrievyh orthoclase feldspar (anorthoclase, sanidine and microcline) obey the three laws of twinning: Carlsbad, bavenskomu and manebahskomu. In Carlsbad twin individuals, fused along one plane are rotated relative to each other by 180 °. For cassiterite, tin is an important mineral, as well as rutile typical articulated counterparts, like the open mouth chicks. Pyrite forms a counterpart of the "Iron Cross", presented two pentagondodekaedrov germination. For staurolite characterized counterparts in the form of a cross with the right angles and Saltire (with an angle of 60 °).
WHAT minerals form a twinning
Susceptible to the formation of twins, many mineral species. We list the most famous cases. Diamond, representative of the class of native elements, forms a counterpart to spinel law. In the class of sulfides and sulfosalts twins are very characteristic of arsenopyrite (in the form of a cross), bornite (shesterniki), chalcocite, chalcopyrite, cinnabar, galena, sphalerite and tetrahedrite. Halides differ doubles sprouting on fluorite law. In a class of oxides and hydroxides have been mentioned twins cassiterite, rutile, spinel and chrysoberyl. Among the most famous stand carbonates pseudohexagonal aragonite and cerussite tees, different twins of calcite and dolomite. In sulphate famous twins of gypsum, and among the phosphates - gerderita and monazite. In the class of silicate minerals, a lot of doubles. In particular, kalinatrievye feldspar and albite polysynthetic twins mentioned above. They can add doubles germination chabazite, cross chetverniki harmotome, doubles fusion titanite and tees sprouting micas.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH DOUBLE
Some units that are considered twins, in fact they are not. For example, aggregates of cubic crystals of pyrite deposits Navahun (province La Rioja, Spain) at times very much like twins, but in reality only approximately imitate their symmetry. The same thing happens with some units needles that intersect with each other and create the illusion of the twin law. Some splices two quartz crystals are sometimes mistaken for Japanese counterparts. To determine the double in front of you or not, you need to explore the geometry of the sample. Twins of the same type have fixed angles between faces. In addition, the twins are distinguished by twin incoming angles or joints which separate individuals are fused together. On the faces of polysynthetic twins manifested twin hatch.

Pearl

Pearls - the only jewelry materials produced in the body of mollusks, and he is, perhaps, one of the oldest stones used for decoration because they do not require additional treatment. For many centuries, high-quality pearls sold for exorbitant prices, but with the arrival on the market of cultured pearls in the 1920-1930's of this price leading to an end.
The formation of a pearl in an oyster clam bags is a reaction to the presence of particles of irritating him. Clam series wraps its layers of crystals of aragonite (calcium carbonate), and fastened together with organic matter, konhialinom. The layers build up, like a bulb, and there is a gem. Aragonite crystals are placed in the same order as the shingles on the roof - hence the unique pearl luster.
In cultured pearl serves as the core of the bead, which lays clam layers of natural nacre. The best method for identification of cultured pearls is to check the X-rays - is perfectly visible beneath the bead core (see photo 56). A good layer of natural pearls cultured pearl is thick enough, the same low-quality, it's just a thin film on the surface of the beads. We had to handle a necklace of cultured pearls with a thin layer of nacre, the beads under him were clearly visible. The thickness of the nacreous layer of cultured pearls can range from about 0.5 mm to 3 mm.
I must say that the man who once studied the pearl begins to understand the variety, the most important when working with natural samples. Pearl should have good color and luster, and the best pearls - pink color, and his "skin" should be as smooth as possible, intact. Low-quality color cultured pearls are usually wax on the surface of visible defects, similar to the following form to fill. The better the color and luster, the higher the cost of a pearl. Big natural gems of good color, shiny, smooth and correct form, is still extremely expensive. This gem of more than 10 mm in diameter is considered a rare and highly valued. Even necklaces of cultured pearls in the auction can cost over a million dollars.
"Baroque" gems and pearls of irregular shape, cultured or natural, are much less round and the correct form of the samples. "Blister" gems cut from the clam shell, so they take the shape cabochon. Two blister pearls, fastened together, can simulate a large round pearl, if the line of glue to mask the rim. Pearls "Jap" or "Mabe" also blister, and their core is the drive, the cost of any small blister pearls.
"Imitation" of pearls are usually glass beads, which layer of the "Eastern essences", extracted from fish scales, or hollow beads coated with the same substance inside. To check in this case, you can rub the old gem on the front teeth, with natural or artificial pearl will be a little rough, and the simulation will be smooth.
Pink pearl-like coral, shells and grow in different characteristic "ognepodobnym" pattern on the surface, visible with a magnifying glass, and silver glitter. The best of them can cost up to several thousand pounds.
Freshwater pearls have much less brilliance, it can be found in jewelry XIX - early XX century, usually pearls extracted from the River Tay
in Scotland, and from the Mississippi to the U.S.. Nuclear-free cultured pearls produced in the river farms in Japan, and more recently - in China, in large quantities, such gems weigh less than conventional cultured samples are whiter, but they can be custom painted, their shape more oval. Once you see, then they are easy to distinguish, their cost is low.
Natural "black" pearls are rare and highly valued. Cultured pearls are sometimes stained with silver nitrate, making it look like the black, but this induced color is darker and homogeneous. There are ways to grow cultured black pearls, and if it reaches a significant sample size, and their cost can be high.
In determining the quality of pearl lover is best to contact a reputable gemological laboratory, X-ray equipment where there is, in addition, buying an expensive pearl buyer may request the seller a certificate confirming its origin.

Pomegranate

The name "pomegranate" is not so much a particular stone, but rather to a group of minerals with the same chemical composition and cubic crystal lattice. Most garnets found in jewelry, red, or brown-red color, they are inexpensive, but they can be quite beautiful. The best examples of painted and chromium-called "pyropes" color close to Rubin. Jewelers typically do not specify whether or pyrope garnet almandine, or even any kind, because it has little effect on the value of the stone. In the past, popular attractive tangerine orange grenades spessartite, known as the "mandarin garnets."

Grenades are rarely the subject of forgery, because the are cheap and of themselves. For red garnet crystals can be taken, made of red glass, designed to simulate the ruby. It is worth noting that the grenades are often subject to numerous defects and crystalline inclusions. Their constants, in particular the index of refraction, are too broad to be useful lover, in addition, they are, like crystals, have a single refraction.

However green garnet - a rare and valuable stone. Qualitative demantoidny grenades variety of andradite, can be very attractive due to the level of dispersion, higher than that of diamond, because of which demonstrates the great stone "fire" and the game. His best samples have shiny grass-green, but confusing them with emerald impossible because of a yellowish hue, and high gloss. Green garnets, which first appeared on the market in the second half of the XIX century, the mining in the Urals, and often they can be found in the products, dating from about 1895 up to the First World War.

Best examples can cost several thousand dollars per carat, but their size is rarely more than 5 carats, most of these stones are small. Their characteristic inclusions called I-it's brown asbestos fibers. It is for them the easiest to distinguish this stone, because the index of refraction of demantoid (1.89) is beyond the scale of the refractometer. Only some of the stones by color may seem like an expressive bright green demantoids, peridot close to the samples with a pale color, but he has a strong double refraction and read the index of refraction 1.67.

However, remember that some artificial grenades specially painted chrome to mimic demantoids, but these stones do not have specific defects, and they almost never occur in jewelry. Not long ago, in Kenya, in the National Park Ttsavo was open field, which produces attractive green grossular garnets, they are distinguished by a shade of green foliage, but they are not characteristic of demantoid fire and they are relatively soft and susceptible to abrasion. The cost of these stones varies greatly. They are easily distinguishable by refractometer (refractive index - 1.74).

Wulfenite

Usually included in the group of minerals forming the lead ore. Copies of the bright colors and well formed crystals are highly valued by collectors.
Wulfenite named after the Austrian mineralogist Franz von Wolf, who found the mineral in Carinthia (Austria). It is also called yellow lead because of the high density, the presence of lead ore and characteristic color.
EDUCATION AND APPEARANCE
Wulfenite - secondary mineral formed in the oxidation zone of ore deposits containing lead and molybdenum minerals. Usually associated with cerussite, vanadinitom, limonite and anglesite. Wulfenite occurs in the form of massive coarse-and fine-grained aggregates or crystallizes in the tetragonal system, the most characteristic of him. Crystals - square and thin, sometimes there are prismatic (Los Lamentos, Mexico) and bipyramidal (Austria, Mexico). For vulfenita also characterized by flat (tabular or plate) crystals of bright colors, which may contain impurities of other minerals, which give them different colors.
SOME PRECAUTIONS
Wulfenite easily melts and lends itself to strong acids. When cleaning is necessary to be very careful and use only mild soap, because strong cleaners can make it dull.
Crystals vulfenita
Being a rare mineral, wulfenite can be any collection of minerals. Its crystals are different exquisite colors ranging from yellow to orange and red. There are also colorless, brown, blue and gray crystals. The latter are of particular interest to know mineralogists.
Interesting field
At present the world's finest specimens are mined in the mine vulfenita Red Cloud Silver District (Arizona, USA). They differ in size, splendor and spectacular fiery red. World-famous designs have recovered from the mines of Los Lamentos, Chihuahua (Mexico) and Twiss (Morocco).
An important component of
Wulfenite - a major source of molybdenum, a chemical element that has a high priority for the steel industry.
Molybdenum - metal light gray with a melting point 2b20 ° C. In free form not found in nature. Molybdenum is part of superalloys essential for nuclear and missile technology.
Reliable friend
Use for the production of molybdenum alloy steel provides a material that is much superior in quality than conventional steel. Molybdenum steel, among others, may be quenched at the highest temperatures. In addition, molybdenum is a replacement for the more expensive items, such as nickel. Among the structures in the construction where such steel, the most impressive, perhaps, are suspension bridges. It is made of molybdenum steel cables that support these amazing structures.
MOST FAMOUS
In 1846, engineer John Roebling built the first suspension bridge in the world. The design length of 308 meters located on the Ohio River in Wheeling (Eastern Virginia, USA). His most famous suspension bridge, no doubt - "Golden Gate" (1937). He crosses the San Francisco Bay.
Where seen wulfenite
Mineral found in abundance where there are large deposits of lead, for example, in the U.S., especially in the border states of Mexico, and in Mexico itself, in Morocco, Namibia and Iran.
The central span of the bridge reaches a length of 1280 meters, its support pylon 227 meters.
Red cloud
The most beautiful kind vulfenita has a blood-red color and is mined in Arizona. It is called «Red Cloud», or "Red Cloud", in honor of the great Sioux chief Red Cloud, who led the war in 1866, the American Indian tribes of the west against the white colonists.
Link
The use of molybdenum in steel production yielded an ideal material for the construction of suspension bridges. The photo on the left was captured Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, connecting the Japanese city of Kobe with Awaji Island. It is the longest bridge in the world, reaching 3,911 meters.

Rose Quartz

"King" of translucent quartz. Rare instances of transparent stone differ stunning beauty, and can be very expensive. Despite its fragility, this type of quartz is widely used in the manufacture of simple decorations.
Quartz - the most common mineral of the crust, which is found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Quartz color is variable and depends on the presence in it of any impurities. In the presence of manganese, titanium or quartz takes the stunning color, which varies from pale pink to bright pink. This variety is called pink quartz. Ignition is a colorless quartz and irradiated with X-rays - black.
Rare Crystal
Usually pink quartz aggregates presented microcrystals, and only occasionally
There are single crystals. Large pink quartz veins often intersect quartz veins milk. Large crystals of rose quartz a few centimeters across rare and always in demand. The most valuable of the varieties of this stone is considered to be a blood-red crystals or sirenevato colors mined in Madagascar, particularly when it comes to almost transparent copies.
Rose Quartz: artificial stones and imitation
For the manufacture of imitation rose quartz glass is often used, processed accordingly to play veins and inclusions characteristic of these stones. Recognize such a simulation can be small air bubbles, testifying to its artificial origin. In addition, imitation rose quartz made of synthetic spinel. Some of the imitations are so successful that could well be mistaken for a real rose quartz.
Symbol of love
Quartz in all its diversity has always played a significant role in the history of mankind. Rose quartz is usually symbolized love.
Where he meets Rose Quartz
Best rose quartz mined in Madagascar, and most rose quartz - in Braziolii.
Since ancient times, quartz played an important role in human life. It was widely used in the manufacture of weapons, utensils, tools, jewelry, ornaments and magic crystals. Some of its varieties even attributed healing properties. It was believed, for example, quartz helps zarubtsovyvatsya wounds.
Crystals for collectors
Rare, beautiful rose quartz crystal formation lovers became available recently. Most of them are produced in Brazil, and these crystals in high demand. Famous are beautiful mixed crystal formation of quartz and other relatively rare minerals such eosfo Rita, and rosherita vardita. Parallel groups rose quartz crystals and eosforita residents of the state of Minas Gerais for bizarre appearance called "Hairy." Within the United States there are amazing crystals in druses, which are parallel groups on smoky quartz.
Small masterpieces
Plain pink quartz is processed in the form of cabochons or beads for necklaces, and the most transparent specimens are difficult cutting. In addition, this stone is widely used for carvings and decoration. Some of them are works of art.

Diamond

Diamond - a special mineral: it is not only superior in value other precious stones, but also has extraordinary significance for science. In addition, this is the hardest of all known minerals.
Diamond - the hardest known mineral. In addition, he is the most refractory and heat-conductive element. Diamonds are jewelery and technical. Transparent jewelry used to make diamonds from the technical make diamond bits for drilling, details of devices.
Solid, but fragile
The Greeks named the diamond named "Adamas" which means "invincible". Indeed, the hardness of diamond makes it amazingly strong: it can not be scratched by any other mineral, and its cutting and polishing have to use another diamond. However, despite its hardness, the diamond is very fragile, and enough bounce to split it.
Where to find the diamond
Unlike most of the minerals diamond formed at great depths. Diamonds on the surface are the craters of ancient volcanoes - kimberlite pipes. Small crystals sometimes bring meteorites to the ground.
How much is a diamond
Very often confuse the uninitiated "diamond" and "brilliant." In fact, the diamond - a diamond special cut. It emphasizes the inherent internal play of light, which is due to refraction of light rays and magnified by the right cut. Price of diamonds can reach incredible heights, depending on the purity, weight, cut and color of the stone. Find a good diamond - not an easy task: to get a little gem in polkarata weight (round brilliant 5 millimeters in diameter), it is necessary to sift several tens of tons of rock.
King of gems
Extremely rare, glowing from within and extremely hard, diamond on the right is the first among the precious stones.
Diamond - the king of precious stones. Possession of diamonds for centuries been the privilege of kings and high society. Many of the famous diamonds exported from India and South Africa, to take its rightful place in the rare beauty of jewelry.
The legendary "Cullinan"
The largest diamond in history was the diamond, "Cullinan", also known as the "Star of Africa". This diamond found in one of South Africa's mines and weighed 3106.0 carats, or 650 grams, was presented in raw form to King Edward VII. He ordered the cut and facet stone in 1906. All from a giant diamond received 105 cut stones. The largest, "Cullinan I», weighing 530 carats was inserted into the scepter of the monarch.
Diamond color
Most of the diamonds are colorless, but some of them have a particular color, often invisible to the naked eye. In addition, across the yellow and brown diamonds, and more rarely pink, red, blue, green, gray and black.
Did you know that:
In the past attributed to a variety of diamond properties, such as: identify poisons to protect against plague. Napoleon ordered his sword inserted into fabulously expensive diamond "Regent", following the ancient belief that a diamond makes its bearer invincible.
Where there are diamonds
Most of the diamonds are concentrated in the Southern Hemisphere. Old diamond deposits in India are completely exhausted, and today the best stones come from South Africa and Australia. Other major suppliers of diamonds are Russia, Brazil and Venezuela.

Rutile

Due to the variety and effectiveness of shapes and colors that spread around the world mineral - one of the most beloved by collectors.
Rutile occurs in sedimentary rocks, and also in modern alluvial deposits of river and coastal-marine type. Also forms intergrowths with magnetite and hematite. In addition, the hair-like intergrowths found in quartz and granite. Rutile is a critical component of titanium ore.
Variety of colors
Name this mineral comes from the Latin «rutilus», which means "red", and this color is dominant among crystals of rutile. But painting rutile ranges from blood red to dark brown, orange and golden yellow that. In addition, there are black and silver specimens, owe their color impurities niobium, iron, or tantalum. The best crystals of rutile are found in the cracks of "alpine" type, but good examples of this mineral come across in many places around the world. Large crystals are usually brown or black, and often are processed in cabochon. Less common are transparent red crystals, from which the real gems.
Three minerals with the same composition
In nature, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is found in the form of three minerals - rutile, anatase and brookite. They have the same chemical composition, but different shape of the crystal lattice. This phenomenon is called polymorphism. Transparent crystals of minerals, especially brookite, very rare and is always a price collectors.
Rutile
 Has a tetragonal system and is usually presented in the form of prismatic, often very long and thin crystals.
Brooke's
Has orthorhombic, that blit-chatye crystals and yellow, reddish-brown or black. Brookite crystals look like yellowish or reddish brown diamonds.
Anatase
Has the same symmetry, as rutile, but occurs only in the form of small crystals of a few millimeters, often have the form of two pyramids joined at the base of the brown color, with shades of blue, yellow, red or black. Collectors interested in patterns of brown color.
Did you know that ...
Because titanium is hardly found in the objects around us, people consider it a rare metal. In fact, it is one of the most common of minerals not only in the earth's crust, and in the universe.
Rutile is prized by collectors for the original crystals toggle doubles. He also has wide practical application.
FROM rutile to titanium
Rutile - a type of raw material for titanium metal with a wide industrial application: production of enamels, lacquers and paints - only the most modest of them. Titanium has become an indispensable material in a number of industries, from aerospace to textiles and steel. Use it in medicine for making joint prostheses. One of the last areas of applications of titanium - architecture. They, for example, decorated facade of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Titanium implants
 Titan - the only metal that is not rejected by the body. So it is used for the manufacture of joint prostheses.
Natural treasures
Thanks to its beautiful natural form of rutile is of great interest in terms of mineralogy.
Geometric shapes
For rutile characteristic combination of two or more crystals of the twin-contact with each other on one side and forming an angle. This form is known as "crank twins."
Venus Hair
The name refers to one kind of inclusions of rutile, sagenita. They have the form of crossed golden needles and can be found in clear quartz.
Crystal Rainbow
Nature is sometimes bizarre growths bright red crystals of rutile on hematite crystals or another color Ti Zheleznyak.
Where seen rutile
Rutile is distributed worldwide. The largest deposits are located in the U.S., Brazil, Australia, Russia and Switzerland.

World of colored diamonds

At various times, various popular color diamonds. In the XIX century, the most popular blue diamonds. Beginning in the 1970s, appeared on the market rose, cognac, wine, purple and red. The rarest of colored diamonds - red and green. The prices of these stones are not just high, and incredibly high. Even 10 years ago, only a very small circle of wealthy connoisseurs could afford possession. Natural colored diamonds are very rare, only one out of a thousand diamonds are colored.

For a long time, the origin of colored diamonds has remained a mystery, and only a few decades ago, the mystery of their origin was disclosed. Diamond color is dependent on many factors, including the presence of foreign elements in it. Each colored stone colors only nature at will: boron makes brilliant blue, hydrogen - purple, nitrogen - yellow, manganese - pink.

Black Diamond is obtained due to penetration into diamond or graphite inclusions of hematite. Also affect the color of natural radiation and pressure deep below the earth. Some experts believe that the matter of violations of the atomic lattice. The growing popularity of colored diamonds jewelers pushed to seek technologies to improve color stone, begun by nature.

Colored diamonds do not have radiance inherent in their white counterparts, so few jewelers taken their cut. This is sort of bracket. To the diamond "light a fire", requires a truly mathematical solution.
Therefore, each jewelry house honor the creation of the collections of jewelry with colored diamonds.

Buying colored diamonds - a great opportunity to invest money, because every year they are only getting more expensive.

Since the 1990s, the world of fashion jewelry firm occupied a niche black diamonds that are now classics. These gems are perfect in combination with rubies or emeralds.
Jewelry with black diamonds look flashy, but at the same time very stylish. Framed in white gold, they create a unique impression graphic quality or Gothic. They received special recognition in the male collections. Despite the fact that the cost of black diamonds are much lower than colored or colorless, strength and other qualities they are the same.

Diamond

Cut diamond is called a diamond.

Before we describe the basic method of distinguishing diamonds, it will be useful to list the criteria for their evaluation. Unlike other stones, diamonds valued most for the lack of color. However, only some of them are actually completely colorless, others have a slight yellow or brown tint. Colorless diamonds are called "white", but there is for white graduation.

The color of the diamond is usually estimated in comparison with a set of stone-samples. Most respected organization conducting such assessments, it is the American Gemological Institute (GIA); graduation in alphabetical order, he proposed, has spread around the world, evaluation «D» is given the best white or colorless stones, followed by the remaining letters until «Z» after which the stones have been quite pronounced yellow tint and are regarded as "colored." By category «D», «E» and «F» are colorless or "white" diamonds, and the difference between them is almost impossible to see with the naked eye, even upon closer inspection.

However, despite the fact that they are almost indistinguishable visually, these stones vary greatly in price. For example, the brilliant cut stone with a color category «D» 5 carat weight without internal cracks worth five thousand dollars per carat (U.S. - international currency in which diamonds are evaluated) rock category "E" of the same weight and purity will cost about 70% This price per carat category «F» - 50%, and the category of «L»-only 17%. Certainly, buyers seek to acquire the best stones, even for big money.

Set free from defects in the research process stone at tenfold magnification. Stone, in which such an increase cracks are found, is considered "internal integrity» (IF). The presence of tiny cracks means lower category WS, grade 1 or 2. If the crack is a little more rock is classified as VS, grade 1 or 2. The next category - SI, when the crack is visible to the naked eye, although it is very small. Further stones recognized "defective» (I). In this case, the crack is so pronounced that affect the brilliance of the stone. Damage to the surface, even a small, also means that the stone does not fall into the category of IF, though the certificate may state that he is "potentially integrity", if it repeatedly sanded, although it will be a short weight loss.

As is the case with color defects strongly affects the value of the stone: we recall the same example with brilliant cut stone weighing 5 carats and color category «D» - without cracking it will cost five thousand dollars per carat for any cracks category WSI it will be 70% of the price per carat, and in the presence of cracks category SI - 32%.

The cut is also an important factor in evaluation of diamonds: classic rock bulk diamond cut XIX century can cost 25% less than the modern rock in a good treatment. "Fire" is the best stone is visible, if brilliant cut is achieved by "total internal reflection", in which the lower edge of stone acts like a mirror, reflecting the light coming into the stone at each other and throwing it back, already overwhelmed by all the colors of the rainbow. At the beginning of XX century, jewelers began to realize that this effect is achieved only in strict compliance with the proportions of the diamond cutting and at certain angles between faces. Unfortunately, while much of the lost weight uncut diamonds, and as many old stones were re-cut, they have lost some of its value. In recent years, however, the newly increased interest in ancient rocks cut "roll", which experts valued for their uniqueness and beauty, as well as rare. More difficult to assess facets fancy stones, such as emerald, diamond cut "pear" (an archaic name - "pandelok") or "Marquis". In this case, the same weight proportions of stones can vary greatly, in addition, the price affects the quality of treatment. The most expensive are the stones, the cut of which is recognized as the "most suitable" or "exemplary."

Fancy cut influenced fashion. For stones weighing more than 20 carats of cut "emerald", "Marquis" or "pear" is preferable to the classic diamond and if give brilliant cut stone is 40 carats, it will be virtually impossible to insert into the ring, but if you choose the form of the "Emerald", it will just gorgeous. For stones less than 10 carat brilliant cut is more appropriate than fantasy.

Finally, consider the weight of the stone: diamond weighing 0.99 carats will cost much less than diamond weighing 1.10 carats stone weighing exactly 1 carat is much more difficult to sell, because even a small sanding edges to eliminate chafing, arising during socks, will lead to the weight of the stone will be less than 1 carat. Price per carat for a 2 carat stone will be higher than that of a 1 carat stone with the same color and clarity, the same for a 3 carat stone and so on. With a weight of over 10 carats rarity of such a stone will greatly increase its value. Therefore, when evaluating diamonds have to balance between the four main categories: color, clarity, cut and weight.

In nature there are diamonds of different colors. Most often, these shades of yellow and brown. The classification includes "colorless" and "almost colorless" stones. Depending on the degree of color stones can be "with a faint color", "with a very light color," "painting with light" or "color", according to the American Gemological Institute of gradation (GIA). Considered the least valuable colored diamonds brown color, which is also called "cognac" or "cinnamon", although their cost makes adjustments fashion - because they look very attractive. They are followed by yellow colored diamonds, the color "canary", the most popular stone colors "yellow daffodils". Blue and pink diamonds are extremely rare, so even weak expression of color are very expensive. Ideally, the blue diamonds have to be completely devoid of gray shades, and pink - brown. Until recently in Australia from Argyle diamond cores extracted in small amounts beautiful stones deep, pink, or even purple, despite the fact that their weight rarely exceeded 1 carat, for it offered a huge price.

The most rare are the green and red diamonds. The lucky winner of this stone can ask him almost any price: the emergence of the market produces a sensation. Recently, the highest price paid at auction for a red diamond weighing 0.95 carats - $ 880,000 ($ 926.315 per carat), which is 100 times more than the price of the best colorless diamond of the same size.

Some collectors collect only colored diamonds and have sufficient financial resources to acquire these rare examples of the treasures of the earth.

At the beginning of XX century, the discovery was made: diamonds, burned for some time with the salts of radium, get green. Unfortunately, after this procedure, radioactive stones were long, but walked the terrible rumors about how to die from skin cancer their hapless owners. Over time, this process has been enhanced and treated diamonds in nuclear reactors, making them different shades, but no residual radiation. To establish whether an artificially colored diamond, require sophisticated research that can only be done in the laboratory. Therefore, no colored diamonds are not put up for sale without a certificate of authority gemological laboratory, confirming the nature of natural color.

Amethyst

Easily recognizable purple amethyst crystals - the most valuable variety of quartz, used as decoration since ancient times.
Amethyst - is a crystalline mineral. Easily recognized by its purple color with shades of light pink to dark purple. Coloring crystal is most intense at the ends because of the impurities of iron. Amethyst can easily lose color when exposed to radiation and sunlight. Ignition to 400-500 ° C yellow crystals, becoming similar in color to the quartz citrine. Amethysts most beautiful colors are processed and used to make different kinds of jewelry. Less interesting pieces are ground and go on making jewelry, necklaces and bracelets. Interestingly, the amethyst stone is born under the sign of Aquarius.
Natural treasure
Amethyst crystals can reach a length of 35 centimeters. Most often found in the amethyst geodes basalt rock. Geodes - are natural cavities in rocks that are generally spherical in shape. On their inner walls of crystals of amethyst. The most valuable stones are mined in Brazil today
The family of quartz
Amethyst - is a variety of quartz, one of the most common minerals of the crust.
Rhinestone
Clear colorless variety of quartz macrocrystalline
Rauchtopaz
This variety of quartz, usually blackish or smoky brown hue.
Carnelian
Amorphous variety of quartz (chalcedony) is widely used in the manufacture of figurines and ornaments. Find a good crystal carnelian very difficult.
Milky quartz
The most common type of translucent quartz, owes its name to the milky white color.
Citrine
The crystals are lemon yellow. These crystals is extremely small, and are often "fake", calcining amethyst or smoky quartz.
Mystic stone
Amethyst was used by people since ancient times and in all ages had a deep symbolic and religious significance to many different cultures and peoples.
For centuries, different religions and cults believed amethyst symbol of spirituality. In ancient times, the high priest of the ancient Jews wore it on his chest, and in the Middle Ages was the amethyst stone of bishops and cardinals. Its deep purple color symbolized spirituality and indifference to worldly goods.
Ancient gem
Amethyst is very popular since ancient times, it is highly valued by jewelers ancient Egypt. Up to the XVIII century, this stone was one of the main jewels along with a ruby ​​and diamond. Now Amethyst is classified semi precious stones.
Stone, who had once been beautiful nymph
Legend has it that the god of wine Dionysus fell in love with a charming nymph named Ame-TEC and began to pursue her. To rid the poor nymph of Dionysus, the goddess of Arte-mis turned it into a beautiful gem. When Dionysus realized that did to Ametes, he repented of his deed, and sprinkled stone wine, which gives it a special amethyst color.
Where seen amethyst
In southern Brazil, on the border with Uruguay, are the largest deposits of amethyst in the world.

Kyanite

Amazing beauty of the sky-blue crystals of kyanite with nothing to confuse. The most reliable diagnostic feature of this mineral - hardness: steel knife easily scratched crystal along the extension, but not across.
The name of the mineral comes from the Greek word "kianos", which means "blue." The second common name Kyanite - kyanite - indicates a significant difference in the hardness of this mineral in different directions. Along the crystal relative hardness on the Mohs scale is 4, and across - 6.5-7. The absolute values ​​of microhardness in kyanite vary by eight times.
Buttresses CRYSTALS
Kyanite forms a transparent or translucent crystals prismatic, flattened shape. In appearance they resemble the boards, so called buttresses.
Kyanite usually painted in a nice blue-blue color, characteristic for this mineral. As a rule, the color of the crystals is not uniform: the brighter spots or stripes are combined with less colored areas. More rarely kyanite may be green or yellow, very rarely - a colorless, black.
BORN UNDER PRESSURE
In gneisses and schists kyanite acts as rock-forming mineral. These rocks were formed during regional metamorphism of rocks rich in aluminum high pressure in the atmosphere. In other words, kyanite crystallized deep in the earth's crust. It is associated with mica, corundum, tourmaline, and forms with staurolite correct fusion of brown-brown. Occasionally kyanite occurs in pegmatites and quartz veins.
Ore of aluminum and precious
Transparent crystals of kyanite prized in jewelry. The high content of alumina and is widespread in nature can be used as a valuable mineral ore.
Did you know that ...
Faceted blue kyanite looks like a sapphire, but has a lower hardness. Transparent blue kyanite can be confused with aquamarine. Jewelers distinguish these stones in density and refractive index. As part of kyanite 63.1% fall in alumina (A12O3). The same amount of this component include andalusite and sillimanite.
THE APPLICATION
From ores kyanite, sillimanite and andalusite after high firing are mullite. This substance is stable to acids and bases, high fire resistance and mechanical strength. Not surprisingly, one of the main industrial applications Kyanite - manufacture of ceramic and refractory products. It also is used to make insulation and chemically inert materials are not afraid even of hydrofluoric acid.
COMPLEX CUT
Kyanite known heterogeneity of hardness in different directions: it varies from 4 to 7 on the Mohs scale. In addition, this mineral is perfect cleavage in one direction. The combination of these properties - a difficult test for jewelers, granyaschih abrasive crystals and kyanite, Still a good master to achieve impressive results, playing with form and color. Depending on the crystallographic orientation of kyanite color changes from violet-blue to colorless or cornflower blue. In some crystals, color varies from yellow-green to green.
Hardness
Vary greatly in two directions hardness - a unique feature of kyanite. However, a number of other minerals hardness values ​​also vary depending on the orientation of the crystal. For example, the diamond has a hardness of each face is directly dependent on the concentration of atoms in the filed route. Jewelers use this property of diamond to best highlight its color and shine, while reducing consumption of the precious stone.
Where seen kyanite
The mineral is widely distributed in the earth's crust and is found throughout the world. The largest of its deposits are in Brazil, the United States (North Carolina, Georgia), and Switzerland. Russia has significant reserves of kyanite are known in the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and the Urals.

Alexandrite

Gem, first found in the Urals in 1830, on the day of maturity Prince Alexander II, was named after him.
In chrysoberyl, the third strength after diamond and corundum gemstone, there are two valuable varieties: alexandrite and cat's eye. The latter, which usually has a cold gray color, not to be confused with the much less valuable quartz cat's eye.
Rare stone
Alexandrite - the most rare type of chrysoberyl. It is a transparent or translucent mineral, forming flat crystals or twins. These crystals are found among the metamorphosed ultramafic rocks of surface and on alluvial deposits.
Change color
Depending on the light alexandrite changes color. In daylight it is emerald green or light because of the impurities of chromium, aluminum zameschayushih during the formation of the mineral. Under artificial light becomes purple or magenta. Also, the color of alexandrite can vary from red to yellow-orange depending on the angle at which it is viewed. This property he has to chromium and iron.
DPJ stones those who understand
So called experts gems three varieties of chrysoberyl: directly chrysoberyl cat's eye and alexandrite.
Chrysoberyl
Is yellow, yellow-green, green and yellow-brown in color, due to iron impurities. Mined in Brazil and Sri Lanka.
Cat's Eye
Of all the stones to the effect of "cat's eyes", this is the most beautiful. On the soft green or brown-gold background swims almost brilliant blue stripe resembling narrow cat's-eye.
Alexandrite
This is the most valuable of the three species. Thanks chromium alexandrite changes color depending on the light.
A rare and mysterious stone
Alexandria - a rare gem. It is produced by artificial means, but it is not for sale and for use in the aerospace industry.
Net alexandrite, pleasing eye shimmering light, is extremely rare. Stones of good quality and size are more expensive rubies and sapphires. With the exception of museum exhibits raw, whole alexandrite is cut. Since this stone is extremely hard, and in aggregated form, it takes an extraordinary brilliance and liveliness faces.
Famous examples
In Moscow the Mineralogical Museum of. Fersman is the most beautiful group of twins alexandrite 22 crystal, the largest of which has a size of 6x3 cm is also widely known two stones from Sri Lanka 43 and weighing 27.5 carats, are stored in the Natural History Museum in London, and the largest process instances of alexandrite in 66 carat - at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The largest stone is mined in Sri Lanka and weighs 94 carats.
Imitations
In Europe and North America to make quality imitation alexandrite. In the manufacture of such simulations typically use synthetic corundum, spinel, green glass.
Gem for high technology
There is nothing strange in the fact that Alexander is often surrounded by mystery. Production alexandrite so expensive that its production for resale does not make sense. However, it is produced with a different purpose. This stone filters out a certain part of the solar spectrum and is used in the manufacture of laser systems (top) and portholes satellites. And the challenge clear, transparent synthetic alexandrite cope better than natural.
Where seen alexandrite
Highest quality alexandrite mined in Tanzania. The richest deposits are located in Brazil and Sri Lanka.

Scheelite

Scheelite is highly prized for its beauty and crystal content of tungsten - a metal which is widely used in the industry and has for her important.
Scheelite - one of the few natural tungstate, which, coupled with the extensive use in the industry makes him a valuable mineral. The main feature of the scheelite is a bright glow in ultraviolet light. In this light scheelite becomes white and blue, or yellow.
Unusual mineral
Although scheelite - a rare mineral, its gorgeous crystals were found in many places. Scheelite crystals are transparent or translucent, and are presented in a variety of colors - from colorless to brown with a predominance of yellow and orange hues. Their size is usually small, though sometimes in the fields of Korea and Japan have come across instances of length 15-33 cm. In Spain, the beauty known crystals of La Parrilla (province Cáceres) and Estepona (Malaga Province).
Stone for collection
Crystalline and transparent samples scheelite used to make unusual brittle rocks, which lead to his collectors the transparency and color saturation.
"Baptism" scheelite
Was not considered a mineral scheelite until 1821, when he was baptized by the name of the great Swedish scientist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), the discoverer of chlorine and manganese. Scheele was the first person to receive from scheelite acid necessary for subsequent separation of tungsten
Did you know that
The term "tungsten" (also known as tungsten) is derived from the Swedish word "tung-the-wall", which means "heavy stone" and speaks of the high density of this mineral.
Gems of scheelite
very beautiful, but cost less than other precious stones because of their fragility.
Versatile material
Tungsten, used initially in dyeing by the highest heat resistance for part century has become an indispensable raw material for the defense and aerospace industry and electronics.
Scheelite - a major source of tungsten, a metal that has wide industrial applications and high economic value because of the highest heat resistance: tungsten melts at temperatures above 3410 ° C.
The new element
Discovery of tungsten in three phases: in 1779 German Peter Wolf discovered that the mineral known today under the name of wolframite, contains unknown science stuff. Then, in 1781, the Swedish chemist Scheele was tungstic acid from another mineral, now known as scheelite. Finally, in 1783, the Spanish chemists brothers d'Eluyar discovered that the acid produced from wolframite, scheelite produced from identical and in the same year identified a new element.
Humble beginnings
While tungsten is used primarily in dyeing to fix krasok.Germaniya first began using tungsten in the production of special steel alloys for the defense industry and the machine tool industry.
Scope
Tungsten is used to make light bulbs and, because of its resistance to high temperatures is in the production of electric valves, radio and X-ray equipment. Today it is widely used in the aerospace industry for the manufacture of the bow of the missiles
Unforgivable gaffe
V1913, a year before the outbreak of the First World War, the British were assured of absolute futility of tungsten. Germans, to uncover the secrets of metal, kindly offered to buy the English they have this "garbage". Englishmen gladly accepted, thinking it was a great deal, but the war showed them how they were wrong. To their horror, they discovered that the great weapon of the enemy made their own tungsten deposits of Cornish. That's when it became apparent that the knowledge can be much more dangerous weapon than a gun.
Where scheelite occurs
The largest deposits of scheelite are in China, Korea, the UK, Brazil, the U.S. and Spain.