Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary characteristics of a gem?
What is the primary characteristics of a gem?
- It is beautiful, durable, and rare (correct)
- It is a natural, inorganic substance
- It is a rare stone
- It has a regular crystal structure
What is the term for a family of gems from several closely related mineral species?
What is the term for a family of gems from several closely related mineral species?
- Group (correct)
- Mineral
- Chemical composition
- Crystal structure
What is the purpose of treating gems?
What is the purpose of treating gems?
- To improve their marketability and availability (correct)
- To change their chemical composition
- To create a new mineral species
- To increase their rarity
What is the most valuable colored stone imported into the US?
What is the most valuable colored stone imported into the US?
What is the term for a substance that consists of atoms of only one kind?
What is the term for a substance that consists of atoms of only one kind?
What is the term for clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they buy?
What is the term for clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they buy?
What is the term for an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem?
What is the term for an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem?
What is the term for a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical composition and usually characteristic structure?
What is the term for a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical composition and usually characteristic structure?
What can affect the availability and price of a gem?
What can affect the availability and price of a gem?
What is the purpose of giving a gem an appealing name?
What is the purpose of giving a gem an appealing name?
What is the main difference between natural and organic gems?
What is the main difference between natural and organic gems?
What is the primary goal of gem treatments?
What is the primary goal of gem treatments?
What is the attitude of most consumers towards gem treatments?
What is the attitude of most consumers towards gem treatments?
What is the commonality among gems from the same group?
What is the commonality among gems from the same group?
What determines the characteristic of a mineral?
What determines the characteristic of a mineral?
What is the primary purpose of disclosure in gem sales?
What is the primary purpose of disclosure in gem sales?
What influences the price of a gem?
What influences the price of a gem?
What is the term for a gem's internal arrangement of atoms?
What is the term for a gem's internal arrangement of atoms?
What is the term for a gem that is produced by natural processes without human help?
What is the term for a gem that is produced by natural processes without human help?
What is the purpose of giving a gem a appealing name?
What is the purpose of giving a gem a appealing name?
What is the term for a substance that consists of atoms of different kinds?
What is the term for a substance that consists of atoms of different kinds?
What subcategory of species,is based on color, transparency, or phenomenon?
What subcategory of species,is based on color, transparency, or phenomenon?
What type of chemical element is made up of silicon and oxygen?
What type of chemical element is made up of silicon and oxygen?
An amorphous mineral is lacking what?
An amorphous mineral is lacking what?
What material is composed of masses of mineral crystals of one or more kinds?
What material is composed of masses of mineral crystals of one or more kinds?
What is the trade term for a the location(s) or area which a gem is found?
What is the trade term for a the location(s) or area which a gem is found?
Study Notes
Key Concepts in Gems
- To be a gem, a mineral must be beautiful, durable, and rare.
- Most gems are minerals, mined by independent miners using small-scale mining methods.
- An appealing name can increase a gem's marketability.
- Treatments improve the marketability and availability of many gems.
- Despite extensive treatment, emerald is the number one colored stone by value imported into the US.
- Most consumers accept gem treatments if they're ethically disclosed and explained in a positive way.
- Changes in a gem's source country can drastically affect its availability and price.
Key Terms
- Amorphous: lacking a regular crystal structure.
- Group: a family of gems from several closely related mineral species.
- Atom: the basic structural unit of all matter.
- Inorganic: composed of, or arising from, non-living matter.
- Chemical composition: kinds and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material.
- Chemical element: a substance that consists of atoms of only one kind.
- Crystal structure: regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material.
- Disclosure: clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they buy.
- Mineral: a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical composition and usually characteristic structure.
- Natural gems: gems produced by natural processes, without human help.
- Organic: produced by, or derived from, a living organism.
- Phenomenon: an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem.
Key Concepts in Gemology
- Most gems are minerals that must be beautiful, durable, and rare to be considered gems.
Gem Treatments and Disclosure
- Treatments can improve the marketability and availability of gems.
- Many consumers accept gem treatments if they are ethically disclosed and explained in a positive way.
Gem Industry and Market
- Changes in a gem's source country can greatly affect its availability and price.
- Emerald is the number one colored stone by value imported into the US, despite extensive treatments.
Gemology Terminology
- Amorphous: lacking a regular crystal structure.
- Group: a family of gems from several closely related mineral species.
- Atom: the basic structural unit of all matter.
- Inorganic: composed of, or arising from, non-living matter.
- Chemical composition: the kinds and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material.
- Chemical element: a substance that consists of atoms of only one kind.
- Crystal structure: a regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material.
- Disclosure: clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they buy.
- Mineral: a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical composition and usually characteristic structure.
- Natural gems: gems produced by natural processes, without human help.
- Organic: produced by, or derived from, a living organism.
- Phenomenon: an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem.
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