Some of the most superb jewellery is made using semi-precious gemstones. A gem is a mineral, a rock or a petrified material that is cut or faceted and polished before it be capable of be used in jewels.
Some gemstones are quite rare, such as amazonite, which is a bright green diversity of feldspar. Formerly it was obtained approximately exclusively from Russia, but recently it was establish in Colorado and Madagascar. Its limited occurrence makes it prized as a gem stone.
Citrin, also called citrin quartz, is an amber colored gem stone.
Aventurine is usually a green gem stone, but be capable of be orange, brown, yellow or grey. The rarest is red and highly prized as a gem stone.
Cordierite is a magnesium, iron and aluminum cyclosilicate, the transparent diversity of which is iolite, which is used as a precious stone. The name, iolite, is derived from the Greek word for violet.
Lapis lazuli is a stone which has been classified as a gem stone. This deep blue gem stone dates back to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
Jade is an interesting gem stone. The name is applied to two diverse silicate materials. It is a extremely tough material and was first used for axe heads, knives and weapons. It was barely whilst other materials were found that could be used for these purposes that jade become a prized gem stone. Nephrite is either green or creamy in color, when jadeite comes in a variety of colors. In New Zealand, where nephrite jade is known as greenstone and not gem stone, the Maoris consider it a treasure. In traditional Maori designs, this gem stone is still widely used to make jewels. Jade is the official gem stone of British Columbia. Many minerals are sold as jade. These be capable of certainly be used as gem stones, but are not the real thing.
Turquoise is an additional gem and ornamental stone. The name is a especially old word , almost certainly derived from the French meaning Turkish stone, although turquoise was not found in Turkey, but was traded there. Iran and the Sinai Peninsula were sources of exceptionally fine turquoise. In the United States, the deposits were mined by pre-Columbian Native Americans. Nowadays there is some imitation turquoise, which is so good, that only an expert may well tell the difference between the real stone and the fake!
It’s possible that rings and bracelets and necklaces made with these semi-precious gemstones can not be as valuable as say, gold or diamonds, but they can be exquisite and highly prized. Of course, if the diamond is flawed, it may well be impressive to the friends and acquaintances of a newly engaged damsel, but is not of great value.
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