gems, emerald, California, Julian, citrine, hematite, dolomite, schist-hosted

Located about 60 miles east of San Diego in the Julian Mining District, a new emerald deposit embedded in biotite schist has been discovered near the surface by author RE and Bruce Edley. While the area is known for pegmatites and hydrothermal deposits, emeralds had not been produced here previously; the recovered single crystals are mostly translucent dark green with inclusions and under 2 cm, alongside a few light-colored green beryl crystals from a nearby pegmatite.

gems, corundum, History.1, Roman jewelry; diadem; necklaces; Herculean knot; sapphires; pearls; long-distance Roman trade

A piece of jewelry consisting of twenty-five gold links in the form of Herculean knots arranged vertically was discovered in 2011 at Colonna (Rome) inside the sarcophagus of a complex female burial—a tomb with an inaccessible hypogeal chamber, dated to the late 2nd century CE. The object is 29 cm long, and all the links were designed to receive a secondary element, which survives in only seven cases: seven sapphires, totaling 46.20 carats. The complete absence of the other eighteen elements and their mounting system strongly suggests that they were pearls. To date, this ornament is unique among jewelry found in the territories of the Roman Empire. Chain necklaces with links in the form of simple Herculean knots—arranged horizontally—alternating with fixing-links strung with gems (mostly emerald prisms) are known in Roman jewelry thanks to their discovery in hoards dated to the 3rd century CE. The length of the object from Colonna and its position within the sarcophagus, near both the head and neck, suggest that it is one of the rare head ornaments attested in the 2nd/3rd century CE in the western provinces of the Roman Empire in high-status female burials, consisting of a diadem worn across or above the forehead, from ear to ear. The style of the diadem from Colonna, which particularly suits Antonine-era hairstyles, suggests that the piece was created between the early 140s and the mid-160s CE. Some final remarks are reserved for a possible symbolic interpretation of the form—already highly decorative in itself—of the Herculean knot.

gems, jade, pyroxene jade, jadeite, fei cui, synthetic jadeite, synthetic fei cui, simulants, HPHT

Jadeite, commonly known as jade, is a rare gemstone composed primarily of sodium aluminosilicate with the chemical formula NaAlSi₂O₆. Its physical and chemical properties are closely tied to geological processes, making it a key subject in both gemological and geological research. This dissertation investigates the high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) synthesis of sodium aluminosilicate jadeite, including systems doped with various oxides, in an effort to simulate natural jadeite formation environments. By studying the experimental conditions and the mineralogical and physical characteristics of synthetic jadeite, the work aims to explore the mechanisms of natural jadeite formation and its coloration process. The color and texture of jadeite are closely related to its crystallinity and internal structure. Key to producing gem-quality synthetic jadeite is enhancing the conversion of amorphous glass material to jadeite, maximizing transparency, and enabling coloring ions to enter the jadeite crystal lattice for stable coloration. This study optimized the synthesis assembly and processing of sodium aluminosilicate jadeite, successfully producing samples doped with different oxides and yielding several innovations: (1) An optimized experimental chamber for HTHP synthesis was designed, using a sodium chloride–zirconia composite as the pressure-transmitting medium. This ensured pressure and temperature stability while preventing sample breakage due to sticking with the medium. (2) The preparation process for doped glass was improved by mixing metaaluminate and sodium silicate nonahydrate with trace oxide colorants. Multiple quenching steps produced high-quality doped glass, effectively eliminating the common “black spots” and “color patches” seen in synthetic jadeite. (3) Jadeite synthesis was carried out under various pressures, establishing the pressure-temperature ranges required for HTHP synthesis. As pressure increased, the necessary synthesis temperature also rose. Undoped samples exhibited uniform, dense textures and no cracking, with a homogeneous white appearance, a pure jadeite composition, and typical silicate chain morphology and vibrational characteristics. (4) By doping with 0.4 wt.% of TiO₂, V₂O₅, Cr₂O₃, MnO, Fe₂O₃, CoO, NiO, and CuO, jadeite samples with gray, apple green, emerald green, pink-purple, light yellow-green, cobalt blue, yellow, and sky blue colors were successfully synthesized. XRD analysis confirmed that all samples were composed primarily of jadeite. When doped with 1.0 wt.% MnO, the jadeite turned bluish-purple, with synthesis possible at pressures as low as 2.5 GPa. (5) Microstructure, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy of the high-quality doped jadeite samples showed that those synthesized at higher pressures exhibited a fibrous woven texture resembling natural jadeite. At 5.0 GPa and 1450 °C, samples doped with 0.4 wt.% TiO₂, MnO, Cr₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ exhibited strong Si–O tetrahedral vibrational peaks at 373 cm⁻¹ and 698 cm⁻¹, identical to those of natural jadeite, with no extraneous peaks. Infrared spectra confirmed typical jadeite absorption features. (6) Elemental and UV–Vis spectral analysis of the doped jadeite samples indicated elemental compositions consistent with natural jadeite. The concentrations of color-causing ions matched the doping levels, suggesting effective incorporation into the crystal lattice. UV–Vis absorption spectra showed distinct ion absorption peaks corresponding to each dopant, consistent with the mechanism of coloration through ion-based color centers.

gems, beryl, emerald, Madagascar

Emerald deposits in eastern Madagascar near Mananjary were discovered in the 1970s by Jeannot Andrianjafy and have yielded some high-quality emeralds. There are currently a few mining sites being worked by Andrianjafy’s children. This article characterises emerald samples that were collected in 2019 at two of the deposits—Ambodivandrika and Ambatomaneno, in the northern and southern parts of the area, respectively—where the mineralisation occurs in schist associated with pegmatites. The samples from each deposit showed some significant differences in their internal features and trace-element composition (i.e. alkalis and others such as Mn, Zn and Ga). Emeralds from both mines share many characteristics with those from other schist-type deposits, such as in Zambia, Brazil and elsewhere.

gems, beryl, emerald, Russia, Malysheva, Russian beryl, emerald mines, Ural Mountains, inclusions

Russian emeralds have been mined since the mid-nineteenth century near Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. They are classified as schist-related emeralds, meaning they formed in the reaction zone of a pegmatite intruding into schists. Similar emeralds are found in Zambia, Brazil, and Ethiopia. All of these deposits can show a similar inclusion scene (S. Saeseaw et al., “Geographic origin determination of emerald,” Winter 2019 G&G, pp. 614–646). A 1.489 ct Russian emerald crystal collected by GIA at the Mariinsky Priisk mine showed several interesting included crystals. The crystals appeared as long yellowish brown rods (figure 6). In some cases, they appeared as a group of disordered coarse needles (figure 7). They were identified by Raman spectroscopy as rutile. Although rutile crystal inclusions are common in schist-related emeralds, this crystal morphology is unusual and has not previously been mentioned in the literature. Therefore, this inclusion might be unique and different from the other schist-related emerald sources. These unusual patterns could potentially be an indicator of Russian origin.

gems, beryl, emerald, Pakistan, emerald inclusions, emerald spectroscopy

In this paper, the inclusions and the structural water in the microchannel in emeralds from Pakistan were investigated by using optical microscopy, infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and electron microprobe analyzer (EPMA). The emeralds from Pakistan contain type I and type II waters. The infrared spectra show that the intensity of water type II (5270, 3600, 1632 cm⁻¹) is much stronger than water type I (1600 cm⁻¹). Most of the multiphasic inclusions in these emeralds are of biphasic elongated shape or are “neck-licking” inclusions, which consist of liquid (H₂O) and gas, including carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) + nitrogen (N₂) + methane (CH₄). The main solid inclusions are magnesite, dolomite, muscovite, and quartz. These inclusions and infrared spectra contribute to distinguishing Pakistani emeralds from emeralds of other origins.

gems, corundum, Tanzania.12, Kenya, Longido, garnet, spinel, quartz, beryl, emerald

A focus on the minerals and gemstones of the East African region. A comprehensive introduction unpacks the topic and the regional geology; it is followed by an A to Z of minerals and gemstones, incorporating detailed text and multiple images for each specimen. The large format allows for a superb selection of photographs – pre-cut and polished specimens (and images to portray uses and jewelry where relevant) – to bring the subject alive.

gems, jade, pyroxene jade, jadeite, fei cui, synthetic jadeite, synthetic fei cui, simulants, HPHT

Using Al₂(SiO₃)₃ and Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O as raw materials, jadeite was successfully synthesized from its glass phase under 6.0 GPa pressure in a doped system, through advances in high-temperature and high-pressure techniques and improvements in glass material processing. Characterization by XRD, FTIR, and SEM confirmed that the resulting samples exhibited a high degree of luster and transparency, with emerald-like appearance achieved at 6.0 GPa and 1530 °C. The primary phase of the synthetic material was NaAlSi₂O₆, featuring a silica tetrahedral molecular structure, high crystallinity, fine grain size, and a dense, orderly texture. The hardness and density of the synthetic jadeite closely matched those of natural jadeite, suggesting that such research can contribute significantly to understanding the natural formation processes of jadeite.

gems, Arabic mineralogy, corundum, history.1, spinel, pearl, jaspis, turquoise, peridot, amethsty, rock crystal, quartz, bezoar stone, rhino horn, diamond, garnet, pearl, emerald

Nuḫab aḏ-ḏaḫāʾir fī ʾaḥwāl al-ğawāhir – newly translated, annotated, and supplemented with explanations by Ahmed Sadouki. Includes 24 color illustrations of gemstones. Ibn al-Akfānī was one of the most distinguished physicians in the history of the Bīmāristān al-Manṣūr, the largest and most advanced hospital of its time, completed in 1284 in what is now Cairo. The hospital had 8,000 beds, was divided into specialized departments, featured a convalescence center, and provided its services—ranging from diagnosis and treatment to full recovery—free of charge to all subjects, regardless of religion, skin color, gender, or social status. As the hospital’s chief quality inspector and an expert in gemstones, medicinal herbs, and the preparation of simple and compound remedies, Ibn al-Akfānī was responsible for personally assessing the quality and composition of every acquisition before purchase. It was within this role that he compiled his Book of Stones. Ibn al-Akfānī’s Book of Stones is a practical and objective handbook for physicians, designed to help them evaluate the quality and value of gemstones, understand their origins, and apply their therapeutic properties. The author explicitly states that he summarizes only the essential knowledge passed down by earlier scholars, deliberately omitting myths and legends. Ibn al-Akfānī died of the plague in 1348. The Qalāwūn Complex still stands today, housing a Quranic school, a hospital, and a mausoleum.The series Islamkundliche Untersuchungen was established in 1969 by Klaus Schwarz Verlag and has become one of the most important publication platforms for Islamic studies in Germany. With over 330 volumes, it covers the history, culture, and societies of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, as well as Central, South, and Southeast Asia.

gems, inclusions, beryl, emerald, Ethiopia

In 2016, a new deposit of emeralds was discovered in the rural village of Kenticha and Dermi in the Seba Boru distinct near the town of Shakiso, which is located in the Oromia province in the Southern Ethiopia. GIA had the opportunity to study many samples from this new deposit.