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 Post subject: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 10:00 pm 
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Is this aquamarine? What is that white line thing? I've heard chinese people like to soak the aquamarine stones in acid bath and make them clear, is there a way to tell whether or not a aquamarine stone was treated with acid or not?


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 11:21 pm 
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I don't think we can tell anything from this photo. it just looks like a crack.

Acid would not help aquamarine. That might be one of the lies dealers are telling to explain the odd smooth surface on resin-filled aquamarines which have been hitting the market.

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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 5:41 am 
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it's probably not aquamarine. My guess : glass

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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:52 pm 
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Hi TastyGem.
Have you considered getting a polariscope reaction, refractive index or specific gravity of the stone?

Any empirical information would help.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 1:42 am 
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Stephen Challener wrote:

Acid would not help aquamarine.


Then how come those clear looking aquamarines are so cheap in china? I just thought that they must have come up with some creative ways to make low quality aquamarine stones look nice?

Stephen Challener wrote:
That might be one of the lies dealers are telling to explain the odd smooth surface on resin-filled aquamarines which have been hitting the market.

The resin-filled aquamarines that you are talking about are from China, right? Or other countries have started making resin-filled gemstones as well?

Stephen Challener wrote:
I don't think we can tell anything from this photo. it just looks like a crack.

When you look at it from another angle, it doesn't look like a line: (see picture)
Could that be some kind of inclusions....?


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 1:57 am 
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marcm wrote:
it's probably not aquamarine. My guess : glass


Glass....? :smt010
But it is not clear like glass thou. It has some sort of white lines.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 2:09 am 
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Barbra Voltaire, FGG wrote:
Hi TastyGem.
Have you considered getting a polariscope reaction, refractive index or specific gravity of the stone?

Any empirical information would help.
(
I only have chelsea filter, uv Flashlight, and magnifier... Is polariscope very useful when it comes to identify gemstones? (may be I should get one if it is not too expansive)


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 2:29 am 
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Also, when I inspected it with a magnifier, I saw some purple lines, what could those lines be? Fillings? But shouldn't (resin)fillings be orange or yellow color?


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 11:42 pm 
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None of the instruments you have will identify anything. Sorry.

You can see, TastyGem that this thread is going nowhere. We are no closer to identifying your unknown.
A polariscope can helpdetermine if a gem is amorphous, isotropic or singly or doubly refractive.
Do you have a laptop (not a cell phone) and a pair of polarized sunglasses?
If the answer is "yes" you have a makeshift polariscope.

May I suggest that you go to a meeting of your closest Gem & Mineral Society (Rock Club) and ask them to help you learn how to identify unknowns.
http://the-vug.com/educate-and-inform/r ... gem-clubs/
Follow the page down for listing of state clubs.

If you live in the Bay Area, I'll help you out.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 12:31 am 
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Look, you can buy a fairly competent gem ID setup for not much money out of China. A polariscope, Refractometer, Dichroscope, and darkfield loupe would cost just a few hundred dollars. That is way less that you are going to lose making mistakes by buying fakes, or failing to recognise profitable opportunities when buying in unsophisticated markets.

You actually have no choice. You are never going to get the answers you keep looking for by posting bad images on an internet forum.

Where do you live ?


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 12:37 am 
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Instruments can be useless without the skill to interpret results.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 1:11 am 
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Barbra Voltaire, FGG wrote:
Instruments can be useless without the skill to interpret results.


I agree completely Barbara.

But there are enough good YouTube videos on how to use the basic instruments, that will enable him to get enough data to post. At that point we have a shot of helping him. Right now we have nothing to work with.

My prediction is that he, like so many, will fall for the one of the various point and shoot gem meters out there that pretend to give an identification. The learning curve is very intimidating to so many.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 12:58 pm 
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Good point Steve.
DO NOT GET A GEM METER!!!
I always suggest a gem and mineral clubs because their members have instruments at the club and can teach others how to use them.


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 Post subject: Re: Aquamarine: What is this?
PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 1:36 pm 
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I just posted a link to an instrument set which was featured in the latest Journal of Gemmology here:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=25486


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