Topaz, sapphire, chrysoberyl, garnet, zircon, and spinel can be given as examples of these types of gems. Rubies and sapphires, for example, can be collected from the rocks in which they originate or from placer deposits.
What is a Crystal Structure?
A solid structure that is modeled in three dimensions as a crystal structure has defined constituent atoms that repeat in a set pattern forever. This geometric three-dimensional structure has flat outer faces that are arranged in the same way.
What are the Native Elements?
Native elements are chemical substances that exist alone in nature and do not interact with any other substances. Diamond is a good example of one of these structures because it is made entirely of carbon. Except for platinum and gold, the majority of metals are extracted from the minerals that contain them.
What are the Organic Gems?
Organic gems, which are produced through organic processes, are not frequently crystalline. A type of coal made from plant matter is called jet. The hidden skeletons of marine animals are found in coral and shells. Shelled mollusks, fossilized and partially fossilized amber, and copalare tree resins combine to form pearls. Generally speaking, organic gems are softer than mineral gems and are simpler to work with.
What are the Synthetic Gems?
The physical, chemical, and optical properties of synthetic gems are the same as those of natural minerals, but they are created in a lab. From melt or solution are the two primary ways to make them. When something is made from melt, a powdered substance that is chemically similar to a natural mineral is melted at high heat and then worked to crystallize into a solid state. Production from solution entails dissolving one set of materials in a solution of different materials, once more using high heat, and then manipulating the solution so it precipitates into crystalline form. The temperature is lowered in both processes, and as it does so, crystals grow from a seed crystal.
