APPEARANCE OF CITRINE
Citrine is a variety of quartz that ranges from pale yellow to reddish brown in color. The yellow color, which differentiates Citrine from other quartz varieties such as Amethyst or Smokey Quartz, is due to traces of iron and silicon dioxide within the crystalline structure. Natural Citrine actually is quite rare and is more often created when Amethyst formations near natural heat sources in the Earth’s crust are heated beyond about 900 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point the Amethyst turns yellow or reddish brown becoming Citrine. Interestingly, Citrine may be returned to a purple color by applying beta radiation to it, and sometimes Citrine exhibits both colors, at which point it is referred to as Ametrine. These processes were originally discovered in the middle of the 18th century, but were quickly perfected resulting in a boom on Citrine in Europe. These days only a trained specialist can recognize these “burnt stones”.
HISTORY OF THE CITRINE
Because it is so rarely found in nature, there is very little mythology related to Citrine. However, Read more…
APPEARANCE OF SAPPHIRE
The most celebrated Sapphires are a rich, deep blue but Sapphire may be any color except red. Yellow, green, white, purple and even pink-colored corundum is referred to as Sapphire while true red-colored corundum is known as Ruby. While trace amounts of chromium result in the Ruby’s red color, it is other elements, notably iron and chrome that result in the different colored stones referred to as Sapphires. Read more…
APPEARANCE OF PERIDOT
The Peridot (pronounced: pair•a•doe) is the yellowish to olive green gem variety of the mineral olivine. Olivine itself is comprised of two other minerals, fayalite and forsterite, the main composition of each being iron and magnesium, respectively. Though most Peridot is the magnesium rich forsterite, it’s the amount of iron in olivine which contributes most to the final color of Peridot, with amounts less than 15% resulting in the higher quality gems. Other trace elements that contribute to its color are nickel and chromium.
Like other gemstones, Peridot crystals are formed by intense heat and pressure beneath the Earth Read more…
APPEARANCE OF THE RUBY
The Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. Although pure corundum is virtually colorless, the inclusion of trace amounts of chromium in it result in the Ruby’s red color. Other elements, such as iron will result in different colors, but all these varieties are referred to as sapphires. Only the red variety qualifies as Ruby.
Like other gemstones, Rubies are formed by intense heat and pressure beneath the Earth over millions of years. Interestingly enough, the chromium within the corundum tends to cause cracks within the crystalline structure. These cracks make it very difficult to find Rubies larger than about 3 carats. Consequently, larger Rubies, as well as those with minimal inclusions bring some of the highest prices paid of any gemstones in the world. Read more…
