Gemstones

1. Gemstones By:Chris Cannon

2. Mohs Scale • The Mohs scale of hardness is a way to measure the hardness of a mineral. • Diamond is the hardest mineral on the scale. • Talc is the softest mineral on the scale.

3. Fire Opal • Fire opals are yellow, orange, and red. • Unlike regular opal, fire opal sparkles. • Fire opal is made in volcanoes when water seeps into silica-rich lava filling seems and hollows. • Fire opal is very bright.

4. Sapphire • Sapphires can be pink, yellow, blue, peach, and violet. • Sapphire comes from the Greek word for blue. • Ancient Persians believed that the blue sky was the reflection of a giant sapphire. • A red sapphire would be a ruby. • Sapphires are second hardest on the Mohs scale.

5. Topaz • Topazes can be amber-gold, peach, warm brown, gold,orange, pale pink, sherry red, and blue. • Pale pink topaz is very rare. • A topaz is the centerpiece for the Portuguese Crown. • Topaz is third hardest on the Mohs scale.

6. Amethyst • Amethyst comes from the Greek word that means “not drunken.” • Amethysts come in all shades of purple. • Amethyst is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, African countries, and - a very small amount - in Arizona. • Artificial amethyst can be made in labs in Russia, China, and other places. • Amethyst is the fourth hardest on the Mohs scale.

7. Emerald • Emeralds are always green. • In Egypt mummies were buried with emeralds in their neck to symbolize eternal youth. • Islamic texts describe the garden of paradise as covered with emeralds. • Shah Jahan -built the Taj Mahal - loved emeralds. • Incan people had an emerald goddess. • Emeralds are almost always found with a “birthmark” (indentation.)