Gilson Cat’s-Eye Synthetic Emerald
In the early 1960s, French ceramist and engineer Pierre Gilson succeeded in growing and producing flux synthetic emerald of commercially marketable quality.
Rose in Demantoid from Madagascar
Garnets have been known since antiquity. However, it was only during the late nineteenth century that the green variety demantoid—named for its “diamond-like” luster—was discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
Zircon Cluster in Ethiopian Sapphire
The presence of these zircon clusters might help separate Ethiopian sapphire from other basalt-related sources.
Prismatic Rutile in Quartz
A rock crystal quartz displayed a large, well-formed rutile crystal inclusion under the table.
Drill Hole in Heated Pink Sapphire
An unexpected manmade feature is found in a pink sapphire from Myanmar.
Lepidocrocite in Boulder Opal
A boulder opal contained an unusual carpet of needle-like lepidocrocite inclusions along the interface between the opal and the ironstone matrix.
