Opal Gemstones - A Collection of Historical Articles on the Origins, Structure and Properties of Opal
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Opal Gemstones - A Collection of Historical Articles on the Origins, Structure and Properties of Opal - Read Books Ltd.
Opal Gemstones
A COLLECTION OF
HISTORICAL ARTICLES ON THE ORIGINS,
STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF OPAL
By
VARIOUS AUTHORS
Copyright © 2021 Read & Co. Books
This edition is published by Read & Co. Books,
an imprint of Read & Co.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any
way without the express permission of the publisher in writing.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library.
Read & Co. is part of Read Books Ltd.
For more information visit
www.readandcobooks.co.uk
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO GEMMOLOGY
PRECIOUS OPAL
By Hodder M. Westropp
THE OPAL
By Edwin W. Streeter
OPAL
By Lewis E. Aubury
OPAL
By G. F. Herbert Smith
OPAL
By Michael Weinstein
OPAL
By Herbert P. Whitlock
OPAL
By G. F. Herbert
OPAL
By Edward Henry Kraus
OPAL
By Kathleen Gough
OPAL
By Marcus Baerwald
INTRODUCTION
TO GEMMOLOGY
Gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gems and gemstones. It is considered a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy. Although some practice gemmology as a sole profession, often jewellers become academically trained gemmologists, qualified to identify and evaluate gems. Rudimentary education in gemmology for jewellers and gemmologists 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 ‘Gemmological Institute of America’ and the ‘American Gem Society’. There are now several professional schools and associations of gemmologists and certification programs around the world.
The first gemmological laboratory serving the jewellery trade was established in London in 1925, prompted by the influx of the newly developed ‘cultured pearl’ and advances in the synthesis of rubies and sapphires. There are now numerous Gem Labs around the world requiring ever more advanced equipment and experience to identify the new challenges - such as treatments to gems, new synthetics and other new materials. Gemstones are basically categorized based on of their crystal structure, specific gravity, refractive index and other optical properties such as pleochroism. The physical property of ‘hardness’ is defined by the nonlinear ‘Mohs Scale’ of mineral hardness. Gemmologists study these factors while valuing or appraising cut and polished gemstones. Gemmological microscopic study of the internal structure is used to determine whether a gem is synthetic or natural, by revealing natural fluid inclusions and partially melted exogenous crystals, in order to demonstrate evidence of heat treatment to enhance colour. The spectroscopic analysis of cut gemstones also allows a gemmologist to understand the atomic structure and identify its origin; a major factor in valuing a gemstone. For example, a ruby from Burma will have definite internal and optical activity variance as compared to a Thai ruby.
Gem identification is basically a process of elimination. Gemstones of similar colour undergo nondestructive optical testing until there is only one possible identity. Any single test is indicative, only. For example, the specific gravity 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; however, there is overlap between ruby and glass. And, as with all naturally occurring materials, no two gems are identical. The geological environment in which they are created influences the overall process, so that although the basics can be