I purchased a gemstone yesterday It is like pathmaraga but in Sri Lanka one local lab didn’t give pathmaraga for this they are telling can give vivid pink to this can you. But it has orangey pink look can any GIA gemologist tell me is it pathmaraga 6 posts - 3 participants Read full topic ..read more

Sorry about quality of pics, they are vid stills. On the top of this larger karst rock if you look closely you can see a perfectly hexagonal rock that looks like an old wooden 2x2. It isn’t, it’s hard like rock, and based on where I saw this, a beach that can only be accessed at a very low tide, in Malaysian Borneo, and how it sticks out of this very hard larger rock, I don’t think it can be fossilized wood, I can’t imagine how it got there and there was nothing like it anywhere around that area. Can rock grow like crystal? I climbed on the rock and struck it with my hand and a metal flashligh ..read more

I’m stuck on identifying these two types of stones. The group on the left are opaque and I guess i would describe the luster as “waxy” or maybe “silky”. They are tough to get an RI with my cheap refractometer, but I think it’s around 1.6-1.66 (that may be wrong, tho). They are pretty hard, a bit more than 7, I think (steel won’t scratch them and they just barely scratch glass). Since they are wholly opaque on the surface, I cant see any inclusions inside. The SG or about 3-3.4. The two on the right are translucent and have a beautiful forest green color with a luster as you can hopefully see i ..read more

Hello all, I am struggling to ID a few stones and I was hoping I could get some help from you all. Note, I do not have particularly high-end measuring equipment, but I tested a few times and I think the details are pretty close. Also, note that these are ancient, in other words they were worked/cut/finished, etc. in ancient times. I have a few ways that I can be certain this is the case, but I share that because I can’t say what may have been the effect of time on the appearance, which is probably worth mentioning as a factor in identifying (their color, surface markings, etc. may have changed ..read more

hello, is there any whatsapp, telegram group? 2 posts - 2 participants Read full topic ..read more

Wanted to post a review of the microscope I purchased just over six months ago. I feel that I have had enough time working with it to make a non-biased assessment of its capabilities. I bought the scope from here: AmScope 3.5X-90X Jewelry Gem Stereo Microscope + Dual Halogen + 10MP U – Microscope Central. This is not a paid endorsement for the vendor, but after taking some time reviewing the AmScope and comparing the features I was looking for, against a few other brands, the vendor above had the lowest price (at the time of purchase). Sellers on Amazon and Ebay have models similar to this, bu ..read more

Hi everyone! I wanted to share this with the group. Recently came across this amethyst gemstone and was taken back by the number and type of inclusions/features. Spent a lot of time today trying to get good images and I think I finally got a couple. The stone was mined near Morogoro, Tanzania. I acquired some of the rough material along with this and one other cut stone. The vendor called this “Stained Glass Amethyst” 15.2 x 11.1 x 7.6mm 7.96 cts.; emerald cut. I was about to do identification tests …but didn’t get past the loupe exam before throwing this under the microscope. I will post addi ..read more

Howdy! I have an extensive mineral/fossil/gem collection here at home and they’re currently spilling out of every room in my house (and amazing problem to have I must say). I justify all of my purchases by saying they’re for my business I’ll be opening when I graduate from GIA here soon, haha. I’m in the middle of organizing it all, but I get sidetracked and distracted easily (ooh new shiny rock syndrome). I digress… the reason I’m posting in here is because I have been thinking for a while now that because I live in California, I need to get insurance to cover damage if an earthquake or thef ..read more

Just purchased a sample of what I believe to be slag glass. Rich green in color no U.V. reaction so its not uranium glass. Has very clear appearance internally hardly any bubbles but does have small white patches of inclusions. Also has Phantom crystal pockets that are roundish in shape with a growth structure similar to Malachite but is light mint green. I know very little about this type of material and I am needing as much accurate information on this as possible. Will take pics and post soon. Thank you all in advance for your consideration and help. 3 posts - 1 participant Read full topic ..read more

I have a 726 citrine that I found about 6 miles from hiddenite mines. I have a plot of land out that way and with it being as big as it is I’m sure there’s probly more. I’m interested in selling but IDK the value of it tho. 2 posts - 2 participants Read full topic ..read more