I've been browsing here for a while and finally decided to set up a user account.
I'm Charlie, from the Great Lakes region of the USA. Spurred by the rapidly developing interest of someone very dear to me, after a long time away I've dusted off my hand lens, dug out my instruments, and returned to the parallel studies of mineralogy and gemology. Didn't think it would ever happen, but there you go -- and it feels good, even if it's not my nine-to-five (though it would be nice if it were).
My gemological education has been largely self-directed, and ancillary to my undergraduate and graduate work in mineralogy and mineral optics back in the early 1990s -- though it's a natural relationship, I suppose. I've been considering something more formal, perhaps correspondence - though I'm not near as young as I used to be (suggestions would be most welcome, as there seems a lot of rubbish amongst the rubies).
Why staurolite? I co-authored a paper on its natural weathering and the relationship between etch morphology and crystal structure way back in the "before time". Seemed appropriate.
Greetings and welcome. We are very happy that you found us and we're looking forward to your posts.
We are all here to help.
Before signing up for any courses, run it by us.
Talk soon!
arglthesheep wrote:
welcome charlie, you found the right place to be
Stephen Challener wrote:
I'm glad you found the site!
1bwana1 wrote:
Welcome, Looking forward to watching your renewal in this field. Let us know how we can help.
glhays wrote:
Welcome Charlie! No better time then the present and enjoy the rekindled interests.
Thank you all for your kind welcome. It makes this old orthosilicate feel at home.
A question, if I may - as I've started teaching someone about the wonders of gemology (and mineral optics, as part of my cunning plan), I'm trying to find a "student set" of stones, the type of thing that might be provided to students to use in learning the instruments and the basics of identification. I don't seem to be able to choose the right combination of key words to have m searches bring back anything useful. Any advice on this would be a great help. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to the collection I learned from many years ago. (Death, heirs that said "gems? MONEY!", etc. Very sad.)
If another board would be a better location for this question, I'd be happy to post it there.
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
I used to sell sets I called "STUDY STONES" and have some left somewhere.
All the gems have been positively identified (by me) and the original set contained a mystery stone which is deceptive in appearance but can be positively identified using standard gemological tools.
I found the old post I had describing them:
Quote:
GemologyOnline.com has put together a set of Student Study Stones to help familiarize students and hobbyists with use of the polariscope, refractometer, spectroscope and hydrostatic specific gravity balances and microscopic characteristics.
The set includes: Citrine Aquamarine Ruby Topaz Amethyst Peridot Iolite Opal Rhodolite Garnet Tourmaline and One Mystery Stone that can NOT be sight ID'd.
All gems have been tested and positively identified. All display easily readable refractive indices and all are large enough to get reliable SGs. Many display optic figures and diagnostic inclusions.
Price: $59 includes shipping within the United States, and $75 International Priority Mail. PM for instructions on ordering.
Quote:
I found an updated list (2018), but it did not include a mystery stone The set includes: Citrine Aquamarine Ruby Topaz Amethyst Peridot Iolite Opal Rhodolite Garnet Pink Tourmaline Labradorite Zircon Dark blye sapphire Apatite Smokey quartz with and easy to see bulls-eye optic figure
You can't use the PM function yet, but if you are interested just reply here and I'll start looking for them.
I used to sell sets I called "STUDY STONES" and have some left somewhere.
All the gems have been positively identified (by me) and the original set contained a mystery stone which is deceptive in appearance but can be positively identified using standard gemological tools.
I found the old post I had describing them:
Quote:
(snipped)
Quote:
I found an updated list (2018), but it did not include a mystery stone The set includes: Citrine Aquamarine Ruby Topaz Amethyst Peridot Iolite Opal Rhodolite Garnet Pink Tourmaline Labradorite Zircon Dark blye sapphire Apatite Smokey quartz with and easy to see bulls-eye optic figure
You can't use the PM function yet, but if you are interested just reply here and I'll start looking for them.
This sounds ideal for my purpose. I do hope you can find a set.
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
This is what I currently have for a set:
Aquamarine Colorless topaz w/ azotic coating on pavilion make it appear a saturated teal Rhodolite garnet Iolite Australian White Opal, cabochon with polished bottom Labradorite cabochon with polished bottom Sapphire Chrome Pyrope Brown tourmaline: this would have been a mystery stone in the past Peridot Pink tourmaline Pink corundum, bit shy of being a ruby Smoky Quartz with bulls-eye optic figure Citrine Untreated apatite xl from Agfhanistan with polished side for RI, Large size for SG practice
For my students I have sets of "challenge" stones primarily based on color. Red, Orange/Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Colorless, and one set phenomenal stones.
These sets all have mixtures of natural, synthetic, and simulants. I have tried to collect samples in each color set that all look as closely alike as possible. Some not typical colors for their species like your tourmaline.
It takes a lot of stones to make this set, some not inexpensive so I don't sell sets. It is very rewarding for me when one of my students gets all of them correct. Most do get to that point thankfully.
Aquamarine Colorless topaz w/ azotic coating on pavilion make it appear a saturated teal Rhodolite garnet Iolite Australian White Opal, cabochon with polished bottom Labradorite cabochon with polished bottom Sapphire Chrome Pyrope Brown tourmaline: this would have been a mystery stone in the past Peridot Pink tourmaline Pink corundum, bit shy of being a ruby Smoky Quartz with bulls-eye optic figure Citrine Untreated apatite xl from Agfhanistan with polished side for RI, Large size for SG practice
Cost $65 including postage.
That sounds good to me. As I can't do PMs yet, kindly email the details to me through the board.
You should have received my set. It was left on your stoop. 10:40am. Let me know.
I emailed you, but I thought I should also follow up here. Thanks again; these have already been a great help. ("That 5mm brilliant-cut thing they sent along free with your order and told you was a peridot? Nope, far too much dispersion and an RI off the scale. This is what a peridot looks like; you got a yellow-green CZ. Now here's how you go through the tests..." Teach a lady to fish, and all. )
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