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Questions and Answers
What is the primary characteristic of top-quality turquoise?
What is the primary characteristic of top-quality turquoise?
What is the typical luster of Lapis Lazuli?
What is the typical luster of Lapis Lazuli?
What is the primary market for high-quality turquoise jewelry?
What is the primary market for high-quality turquoise jewelry?
What is the term for the shade finest Lapis Lazuli that is medium to dark in tone and highly saturated?
What is the term for the shade finest Lapis Lazuli that is medium to dark in tone and highly saturated?
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What is the name of the trade grade of Lapis Lazuli that is characterized by its intense, uniform, medium-dark, slightly violetish blue color?
What is the name of the trade grade of Lapis Lazuli that is characterized by its intense, uniform, medium-dark, slightly violetish blue color?
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What is the typical toughness of Lapis Lazuli?
What is the typical toughness of Lapis Lazuli?
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What is the type of matrix that can be found in turquoise?
What is the type of matrix that can be found in turquoise?
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What is the typical color range of Lapis Lazuli?
What is the typical color range of Lapis Lazuli?
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What is an inclusion of Lapis Lazuli that might be present in some specimens?
What is an inclusion of Lapis Lazuli that might be present in some specimens?
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What type of jewelry is Lapis Lazuli often used in?
What type of jewelry is Lapis Lazuli often used in?
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What is the characteristic of Chilean Lapis Lazuli ?
What is the characteristic of Chilean Lapis Lazuli ?
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Which gemstone is known for its 'swirling surf' appearance?
Which gemstone is known for its 'swirling surf' appearance?
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What is the characteristic of Turquoise gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Turquoise gemstone?
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What is the characteristic of Sugilite gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Sugilite gemstone?
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Which gemstone is known for its 'fools gold' appearance?
Which gemstone is known for its 'fools gold' appearance?
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What is the characteristic of Rhodochrosite gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Rhodochrosite gemstone?
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Which gemstone is known for its 'black diamond' appearance?
Which gemstone is known for its 'black diamond' appearance?
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What is the characteristic of Azurite gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Azurite gemstone?
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What is the characteristic of Charoite gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Charoite gemstone?
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What is the characteristic of Fluorite gemstone?
What is the characteristic of Fluorite gemstone?
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What is the name of the grading system for lapis lazuli in Afghanistan?
What is the name of the grading system for lapis lazuli in Afghanistan?
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Which of the following gemstones is often found along with copper deposits?
Which of the following gemstones is often found along with copper deposits?
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What is the name of the ceramic process used to imitate lapis lazuli?
What is the name of the ceramic process used to imitate lapis lazuli?
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Which of the following gemstones has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5?
Which of the following gemstones has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5?
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What is the name of the trade name used to describe pyrite in the trade?
What is the name of the trade name used to describe pyrite in the trade?
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Which of the following gemstones are natural imitations of turquoise?
Which of the following gemstones are natural imitations of turquoise?
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Where is the famous Sleeping Beauty mine located?
Where is the famous Sleeping Beauty mine located?
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What is the name of the blue gemstone that is only found in Russia?
What is the name of the blue gemstone that is only found in Russia?
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Which of the following gemstones is often imitated using glass and plastic?
Which of the following gemstones is often imitated using glass and plastic?
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What is the name of the blue gemstone that is often described as 'robin's-egg blue'?
What is the name of the blue gemstone that is often described as 'robin's-egg blue'?
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Which of the following gemstones is occasionally flecked with spots of bright red, pink, or orange?
Which of the following gemstones is occasionally flecked with spots of bright red, pink, or orange?
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What is the chemical composition of Turquoise?
What is the chemical composition of Turquoise?
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Which of the following gemstones is known for its 'spider web' matrix?
Which of the following gemstones is known for its 'spider web' matrix?
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What is the primary cause of color change in Turquoise?
What is the primary cause of color change in Turquoise?
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What is the purpose of dyeing Lapis Lazuli?
What is the purpose of dyeing Lapis Lazuli?
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What is the term for Turquoise that has been polymer- impregnated with colorless wax or dyed wax?
What is the term for Turquoise that has been polymer- impregnated with colorless wax or dyed wax?
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Which of the following gemstones is often carved into game boards, bowls, and dagger handles?
Which of the following gemstones is often carved into game boards, bowls, and dagger handles?
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What is the primary difference between Lapis Lazuli and Sodalite?
What is the primary difference between Lapis Lazuli and Sodalite?
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Which of the following gemstones is typically NOT seen in cabochons and beads, as well as carvings?
Which of the following gemstones is typically NOT seen in cabochons and beads, as well as carvings?
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What is the name of the province in Afghanistan where high-quality Lapis Lazuli is mined?
What is the name of the province in Afghanistan where high-quality Lapis Lazuli is mined?
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Study Notes
Gemstones and Minerals
- Lapis Lazuli:
- Semitranslucent to opaque, waxy to vitreous luster
- Finest color is violetish blue, medium to dark in tone, and highly saturated with no visible calcite
- May contain flecks of gold-colored pyrite
- Trade grades are based on color, with Afghan being intense and uniform, and Russian being various tones and intensities of blue
- Turquoise:
- Semitranslucent to opaque, waxy luster
- American and Mexican turquoise is light blue to greenish blue, while Egyptian turquoise is greenish blue to yellowish green
- Even distribution of color is preferred
- Malachite:
- Vivid bluish green to green hue, silky to vitreous luster
- Distinctive banding
- Azurite:
- Dark blue to violetish blue, semitranslucent to opaque, vitreous to waxy luster
- Azurite-Malachite:
- Blend of the two gems, with bands of oceanic blue and green, giving a swirling surf effect
- Fluorite:
- Comes in many colors, but "Blue John" is most popular, with bluish violet to purple curved or angular bands on a reddish to colorless background
- Sugilite:
- Rich red-purple to bluish purple hue, semitransparent to opaque, waxy to vitreous luster
- Charoite:
- Luscious violet color, forming the background for swirls, veins, and patches of black, gray, white, and brownish orange
- Onyx Marble:
- Fairly subdued, with bands of grays and whites
- Rhodochrosite:
- Fine quality transparent pink to dark red, resembling ruby's color
- Translucent and opaque aggregate specimens are plentiful, with soft-edged bands of white, gray, brown, or yellow
- Rhodonite:
- Rosy hue, warm orange-pink to brownish or purplish red, with black veins or patches
- Rarely transparent, generally opaque
- Hematite:
- Opaque dark gray to black gem, sometimes called "black diamond"
- Pyrite:
- Opaque material with a metallic brassy yellow appearance, often mistaken as fallen meteorite or "fool's gold"
- Unakite:
- Granite aggregate consisting of quartz, pink feldspar, and green epidote, with a pink and green color scheme
Largest Consumers
- Lapis Lazuli: used in commercial jewelry and cutting-edge designer jewelry
- Turquoise: top-quality turquoise with no matrix commands the highest prices, with the largest and most consistent market in the American Southwest
Color/Hue Range/Value
- Lapis Lazuli: semitranslucent to opaque, with a waxy to vitreous luster, and a range of colors from violetish blue to deep violet blue to royal blue
- Turquoise: light blue to greenish blue to yellowish green, with Egyptian turquoise being more greenish blue to yellowish green
Variety/Species/Group
- Fluorite: variety "Blue John"
- Onyx Marble: a variety of calcite
Chemical Composition
- Lapis Lazuli: aggregate of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite
- Turquoise: hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate
- Malachite: trace elements of copper
- Azurite: trace elements of copper
- Sugilite: trace elements of manganese
- Rhodochrosite: trace element is manganese
Forming Source
- Lapis Lazuli: frequently contains whitish calcite matrix, with flecks or veins of glinting yellow pyrite
- Turquoise: limonite or sandstone, with Limonite matrix creating dark brown markings in turquoise
Common Cuts
- Lapis Lazuli: cabochons, beads, inlays, and tablets
- Turquoise: cabochon, round or oblong beads, small flat piece inlays
- Malachite: inlays and carvings, and also in bead necklaces and other jewelry
- Sugilite: typically seen in cabochons and beads as well as carvings
- Charoite: most often made into cabochons, beads, and carvings
- Onyx Marble: bookends and other carvings
- Rhodobite: carved or cabochon
- Hematite: often cut into beads, cameos, intaglios, and cabochons
- Sodalite: cabochons and beads, as well as into slabs used for inlays in boxes, clock cases, and other items
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Description
Identify minerals based on their characteristics, such as color, luster, and composition. This quiz covers pyrite, calcite, turquoise, malachite, and azurite.