The Enthusiast
Rough Diamonds You see a rough diamond octahedron embedded in kimberlite, a type of volcanic rock that carries diamonds to the Earth's surface. Octahedron is the most common diamond crystal shape. But, most mines produce only 1 part diamond to...
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Traces of iron, and possibly titanium, induce green and blue colors in the gem tourmaline. Manganese produces reds and pinks, and possibly yellows. Some pink and yellow tourmalines might owe their hues to color centers caused by radiation, which can...
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My 5 decades as an organic gardener keeps me close to a healthy environment that continually gifts us with all manner of beauty. So, years ago it seemed natural for me to create White Orchid Studio’s parent company: Orchid Ladies. ...
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Fall is officially here, though the temps have me thinking it's still the middle of summer. And nothing gets me excited about fall like the warm hues in one of my favorite stones. Carnelian is well known and generally inexpensive....
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Almandine is the most common form of Garnet. The term garnet describes a group of several closely related minerals that form important gemstones. Almandine is a unique member of the Garnet group. Almandine can be opaque; making it unfit for...
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