Lets talk some science!
Gemstones have been around for a looooong time! They have been a fabric of our history (both literally and figuratively) since man understood how to create things. While synthetics didn't seem to be developed or understood until the 20th century or so, people have been mining and wearing for life and death. Gemstones come in all different colors and have been divided for such purposes as their usefulness and appearance. 1812 Fredrick Mohs created a standard of 10 minerals to be the poster children for understanding the hardness of all minerals. Geology.com clued me into some facts!
Diamonds: Carbon atoms covalent bonded, make sturdy and durable, and versatile gemstone that has been around for many moons and hopefully be around for many more. The natural gemstone are formed underneath the earth's surface (high temps and pressure of the mantel layer) and have been found at the surface by surviving volcano eruptions!
Sapphires and Rubies: made from the mineral corundum and get their colors from its impurities. the different colored corundum impurities have been labeled mostly under the sapphire title (fancy, blue and white) while the reds are considered a ruby. Rubies get their color from chromium and Sapphires from titanium and iron. Heating the stones bring out the clarity and brightness of color.
Emerald: is in the beryl (silicate) mineral family and is of the green-colored branch of the family due to having chromium and vanadium traces in it. Its compound(s) are found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Emeralds have been seen as a high-status gem for over 5000 years being found independently in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Topaz: a rare silicate mineral and is the hardest silicate mineral that has been discovered. Topaz is the reverse of the diamond, in that it's lack of color is NOT as highly prized as it rarer colorful companions. It was also highly misunderstood as it's own gem as it was considered the name of any yellow, orange or brown minerals. Turning the "colorless" topaz to blue is radioactive, though declines to a manageable level for usage by the manufacturing stage.
Opal: tough but fragile mineraloid (due to its water variance component) is considered a gemstone for its rare prism-like "play-of-color" qualities. I find it worthy to note the AZ was/is a fancy opal generator! common opals are named for its solidness in color (ie not attracting enough commercialism) and because it is commonly found in many different places around the world.
Jade: made from 2 different minerals (jadeite and nephrite) and is a durable tough material that has been in use for tools slightly longer then it has been for gemstone beauty (5,000 years). Most people think of China when thinking of jade (as it has been the most prized gemstone there for a looong time) but in prehistoric times it was all around the world (Americas, Australia, Pacific Islands, and Asia). They are found in "metamorphic rocks associated in subduction zones."
Speaking of gems, we had a solid hour of sunny skies today, so my emerald and I went for some playtime. Kicking a ball turned into hide and seek, drawing, a science lesson, and ending with monster-knight catch-tag. The science lesson was which rocks fit in which puddles and why. She learned that the deeper puddles fit both small and big rocks but the little puddles only fit the small rocks and even used the word shallow before hopscotching away! Needless to say, I was impressed with this quick observer of mine!
