You Know Your State's Capital, but What about the Official State Gemstone?

If you are one of those people who can name all 50 State capitals, you are good!  Gemstones are officially adopted as well, however, not many people memorize the State Rocks, other than maybe the State they grew up in and went to school.  Gemstones, minerals and rocks are so unique and beautiful and their properties and characteristics are fascinating.  So many factors such as environmental conditions, other chemicals present, etc. affect the formation and substance of stones providing us with a huge number of varieties of colors and structures to admire.

So, what are the State Rocks for the 50 States?  Surprisingly, not every US State has adopted an official gemstone, mineral or rock.  Some States have several, and Texas even has their own official cut for a gem, the Lone Star Cut:



Texas Offical Gem Cut - The Lone Star Cut

I grew up in Michigan and early in school we all had to memorize the State Symbols.  The State Stone for Michigan is the Petoskey Stone.  As kids, we use to find them near lakes.  Spotting them is not too difficult as they have round, spikey circle patterns due to the fossilized coral.  Kids like to find fossils and there is something special about holding a rock that is over 300 million years old!

Petoskey Stone

Another State Rock that's easy enough to remember is California's State Mineral, Gold!  The Golden State also had a State Stone - Serpentine.  This stone, also refered to by some as New Jade has green color and may range from yellower greens to bluer greens.  NOTE:  In 2010 scientists moved to have Serpentine removed as the State Stone due to the fact it is a source for Chrysotile, a form of Asbestos, which is a human carcinogen!  The actual gemstone Serpentine is not toxic, but it is a host for Chrysotile, which has been found formed within the stone.  Making jewelry from Serpentine is not going to pose a health risk, unless you are smashing it up, year after year, releasing what may be lurking inside! 



Serpentine Rough

California also has a State Gemstone - Benitoite.  I've never heard of this gem, so I did some research.  It is a rare, blue gem found almost exclusively in California.  It turns light neon blue under florescent light!  Here is a photo:

Benitoite

Faceted Benitoite gemstone jewelry is very beautiful!  I'll certainly add that one to my gemstone collection wish list!

Well, there are many more interesting State stones and for a complete list and to look up your favorites, visit this site for a nice, handy chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_minerals,_rocks,_stones_and_gemstones

Comments?  I'd love to hear from you!





How To Identify Gemstones Part 1

This blog post defines and describes one important tool used in gemstone identity verification:  The Spectroscope.  This tool provides information to help identify a gemstone, however, it is only one piece of the puzzle and there are several other tests needed for an accurate conclusion.  I will discuss those tests in follow up posts.

I have a passion for gemstones and find it very interesting to find out all I can about each gem I own and use when making jewelry.  The details give me a clearer awareness of just how to design a piece of jewelry with each stone.

Of course, I first need to be sure that each gemstone is identified correctly and verify this information with the tools available.  If I am selling a piece of gemstone jewelry, it must be correctly identified.  A Ruby must be a genuine Ruby, not just take someone else’s word that it is.  I must note that I have worked hard to find reputable, competent sources for my gemstones and have NEVER had a gem be anything other than exactly what was described!

The most important information needed about an unknown gem is the Refractive Index (RI) and the Specific Gravity (SG).  Accurate RI readings are generally not difficult to achieve with a Refractometer.  Specific Gravity measurements are time consuming and may not be accurate, involving formula calculations and reference charts.  Software designed to make identification more accurate and swifter, called Gemology Tools, makes identifying a gemstone painless and achievable.

Most gem identification requires more than just RI and Specific Gravity and the Spectroscope is often used to make the final determination.  Some stones and many rough stones can be identified with just the Spectroscope.

Every gemstone has specific spectral lines emitted due to their chemical composition.  When a light source is directed at a gem, the light is redirected and in general terms, absorbed or emitted thru the gem.  The Spectroscope is used to record the light leaving the gem and determine what was absorbed or emitted.  This shows, for example, the colors of the rainbow, minus the colors that were absorbed.  These patterns of missing color are then compared to a chart of known gems to identify the material the light is passing thru.




The Spectroscope is the optical device used, and is actually simple to make at home with items you may already own!

Follow this link to see the instructions to build your own Spectroscope.
http://tinyurl.com/nxdo9m

For a Make at Home High Resolution Spectrograph, follow this link.  It includes a place to upload your file for analysis!!:
http://tinyurl.com/ylsjkdz

Now you are wondering where to find the charts that show the patterns of spectral lines for each gemstone!  There are several great gemology books available with gemstone details and identification techniques.  There are also some helpful links to websites with more information.  Here are a few recommendations:

“Gem Identification Made Easy, Fourth Edition: A Hands-on Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling“  by Antoinette Leonard Matlins (Author)

www.gemologyonline.com

Good Luck!