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The article discusses the gemological properties of five faceted samples of sphenes from Afghanistan that were donated to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for examination. Gemological testing revealed a brownish yellow to greenish yellow color, a strong with predominantly red and green flashes of dispersion, a hydrostatic specific gravity of 3.53-3.54, and a weak pink Chelsea filter. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy of three of the samples indicated silicon, calcium and titanium.

The article reports on the discovery of chromium/vanadium (CR/V)-bearing kyanite from Madagascar. A blue kyanite was faceted by Fabrice Danet in 2004, from a mixed parcel of mostly rhodolite, zircon, and amethyst that was represented as coming from the eastern coastal area of Madagascar. After preliminary testing, the stone was found to contain Cr and V. Danet donated the stone to the Gemological Institute of America for further testing. The properties of the stone are comparable to those reported for kyanite by R. Webster in the book "Gems."

The article describes some samples of brownish orange uvite from Afghanistan loaned by Farooq Hashmi to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Aside from the uvite, Hashmi also loaned GIA a number of fragments and well-formed crystals of green tourmaline. The green tourmaline was purchased in mid-2006 during a trip to Peshawar, Pakistan. The colors of the crystals vary from medium-dark to dark green with some of the samples darker green toward the pyramidal termination. Some of the samples were almost flat and fairly smooth.

The article describes the olive green and chrome green diopside varieties from Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Farooq Hashimi of Intimate Gems purchased the gem-quality rough while on a trip to Peshawar, Pakistan. The diopside varieties came from separate deposits. The olive green diopside contained abundant inclusions, and the limited quantities of clean transparent pieces mostly weighed less than three grams each. Meanwhile, the chrome diopside was said to have been cobbed from pods of material measuring up to several centimeters in diameter that were hosted by the black mica schist.

The article discusses the gemological properties of six faceted uvite-dravite tourmalines that were loaned to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The specimens exhibited a brownish orange, brown-yellow, orangy yellow, brownish yellowish green and yellowish green colors, with one stone appearing bicolored in yellow-green and reddish brown due to its cut revealing strong pleochroism face-up. The stones showed a birefringence of 0.019-0.021, a hydrostatic specific gravity of 3.05-3.07 and a fluorescence of long-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

The article discusses the gemological properties of some rough and cut examples of lime green herderite that were loaned to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for identification. The two faceted herderites showed weak-to-moderate green and yellowish green pleochroism, a transparent diaphaneity, refractive indices of 1.587-1.616 and 1.586-1.616, birefringence of 0.029 and 0.030, hydrostatic specific gravity of 3.02 and 3.04, and a weak-to-moderate blue and moderate-to-strong blue to long wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Microscopic examination of both samples revealed moderate-to-strong doubling and numerous partially healed fractures with negative crystals.

The article describes a selection of sphene from Pakistan featured by Dudley Blauwet at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) show. The stones were initially obtained in mid-2004 which reportedly came from a mining area called Mulla Ghani Baba. The stones are a saturated golden orange color with intense dispersion with red flash. It ranges from yellow to orange-brown, with greenish brown and greenish yellow colors seen less commonly. Some samples were loaned and donated to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for examination. Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy revealed a combination of silicon, calcium and titanium in the samples, along with varying amounts of iron, niobium, yttrium, zirconium and strontium.

The article describes a transparent faceted sillimanite discovered in the Vishakhapatnam region of Andra Pradesh, India presented at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) show by Anil B. Dholakia Inc. The stones all have checkerboard cuts with various colors ranging from greenish yellow, near colorless, grayish green, green-brown, brownish orange-yellow and violetish gray. Several samples were examined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Three largest stones were selected which are of yellow-green and yellow and grayish green in color. Based on microscopic examination, the two yellow-green stones contained parallel iridescent needles while the greenish yellow stone contained fine whitish parallel needles.

The article describes pyrope-spessartine garnets from Tanzania. The stones are marketed as Imperial garnet and have been in production since late 2005 from Lindi Province in Madagascar. The stones were presented by Steve Ulatowski on New Era Gems at the 2006 Pueblo Gems & Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona. He claimed that the stone is quite rare and the largest stone with good clarity. A sample cut was examined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and revealed that the stone was pink in color in both incandescent and daylight but brownish pinkisho range in fluorescent. Iridescent needles, subhedral transparent bifringent crystals nad dust-like particles were shown by microscopic examination.

The article discusses the gemological properties of a glass imitation of alexandrite being sold a Zandrite and donated to the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) collection by Samuel Gullo of Tsavo Gem Imports for examination. The sample's refractive index was 1.538 and its hydrostatic specific gravity was 2.82. The blue-to purple sample showed weak anomalous double refraction and a very weak orangy pink Chelsea filter reaction, and was inert to both long- and short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy found silicon as a major constituent, and trace amounts of potassium, copper, zinc, zirconium, cerium, and neodymium.

The article discusses the gemological properties of a 9.75 carat opal triplet mined by Bob and Susan Thompson at their claim in eastern Idaho. The opal showed strong play-of-color, with a near-round pupil surrounded by a multicolored iris that showed a radiating columnar structure. When illuminated with a fiber-optic source at an oblique angle, the pupil showed patchy violet and orange discoloration. The colorful layer of specimen was identified as opal by its diagnostic play-of-color. It was noted that the natural or synthetic origin of the opal could not be ascertained due to its narrow thickness.

The article discusses the gemological properties of three melee-size bright orange-yellow diamonds of varying shapes examined received by the West Coast laboratory for colored diamond identification and origin reports. Gemological microscopy revealed that all three were fairly clean, which is not unusual for such small stones. It was found that the stones contained diffuse clouds and had no natural inclusions at higher magnification. All three specimens were inert to long-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation. One fluoresced a weak, zoned chalky orange and the other two displayed a very weak green reaction to short-wave UV radiation.

The article discusses the results of an examination of a 4.92 carat transparent brownish yellowish orange piece of rough diamond conducted by the West Coast laboratory. Observation with a polariscope revealed a distinct biaxial optic figure and a moderate yellow and orange pleochroism. Its specific gravity measured hydrostatically was 3.18. Fingerprints, fractures, needles, negative crystals and distinct orange-yellow and near-colorless zoning were found using a desk-model spectroscope. Both Raman and X-ray powder diffraction analysis identified the material as a member of the axinite group, a borosilicate mineral group made up of a solid-solution series with three end members.

The article concerns the demantoids submitted at the Tucson gem shows in February 2004. The dealer, Syed Iftikhar Hussain, indicated that it came from the Kaghan Valley area, the same region that hosts Pakistan's peridot deposits. Briefly described are the demantoids' characteristics such as diaphaneity, birefringence and fluorescence. Microscopic examination revealed fine wavy and curved needles in all three stones cut from the demantoid deposit. It is inferred that the properties were similar to the demantoids reported from Iran.

The article discusses the gemological properties of six samples of albitic moonstones from the Morogoro region in Tanzania, examined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The samples, consisting of five cabochons and one cushion mixed cut ranging from 5.44 to 19.88 carats yielded very light gray to very light yellow, with strong adularescence, transparent to semitransparent diapheneity and refractive index of 1.530 to 1.540 from the faceted stone. Birefringence was at 0.010 and specific gravity was at 2.64. The stones were inert to long-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a weak red reaction to short-wave, and no absorption lines were visible with the desk-model spectroscope.

The article discusses the gemological properties of a 1.11 carat faceted pezzottaite from Afghanistan that was donated to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) . The sample had a birefringence of 0.007 and a specific gravity of 2.97. Its diapheneity resulted to transparent to semitransparent, while its fluorescence exhibited a very weak violet to long-wave ultraviolet (UV), and a weak banded white to short-wave. Chemical analyses of this 1.11 ct stone by electron microprobe confirmed its identity as pezzottaite.

The article presents information on the kyanite beads displayed at the G&LW Holiday Inn/Holidome show. The majority of the strands consisted of polished semitransparent to translucent beads, in various shapes and sizes, that were color-zoned in lighter and darker blues. Also displayed were mineral specimens of kyanite from Brazil. Fine decorator pieces consisted of clusters of kyanite blades that ranged up to about 20 centimeters long. At the 2005 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) show, approximately 20,000 carats of moderate-to-dark blue transparent Nepalese kyanite in calibrated sizes were displayed.

The article discusses the gemological properties of few rough and cut samples of emerald from a new deposit in China that were presented at the 2005 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) show. Examination of the three faceted emeralds showed their bluish green, with moderate dichroism in yellow green and bluish green color. Birefringence ranges from 0.007 to 0.008 and their specific gravity ranges from 2.69 to 2.74. Chelsea filter reaction is weak read, and fluorescence was inert to long- and short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

The article discusses the gemological properties of a four oval buff-top modified brilliant cut samples of a material that was being represented as pink fire quartz. The 8.07 to 18.81 carat stones were transparent to semitransparent and near-colorless to light brown with numerous inclusions. With magnification and darkfield illumination, the covellite inclusions appeared as transparent to semitransparent grayish green hexagonal platelets in the host quartz. Energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) chemical analysis of the quartz samples revealed the presence of copper.

The article describes a moonstone found by Fabrice Danet in Madagascar. According to Danet, the moonstone was taken from a granitic pegmatite located between Sahambano and Manivola. He explained that there has been confusion among local gem dealers regarding the difference between moonstone and labradorite. He donated a portion of the rough moonstone, along with a rectangular modified brilliant and an oval cabochon, to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for examination. Gemological testing revealed that the stone's color is very light yellow-gray and light grayish yellow.

The article discusses the gemological properties of a sillimanite that was donated to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The 6.65 carat oval specimen showed an unusual blue-white sheen when strongly illuminated in certain orientations. It exhibited a light gray color, a transparent diaphaneity, a refractive index of 1.661-1.680, a birefringence of 0.019, and hydrostatic specific gravity of 3.26. No absorption features were observed with a desk-model spectroscope. Microscopic examination revealed that the stone contained two-phase inclusions and numerous fine, parallel, whitish needles.

The article discusses the results of a microscopic examination of several of the rough and cut samples of purple to orange-red garnet that were mined from Baya Gundi in the Hagare Mariam region of southern Ethiopia. The examination revealed that the stones were inert to long- and short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A desk-model spectroscope analysis showed that the samples have weak absorption lines at 430, 460 and 620 nanometers, and stronger bands at 505, 520, and 570 nanometers. Also found were clusters of small, rounded transparent, doubly refractive crystals in the stones.

The article discusses the gemological properties of the faceted orange and brown sunstones from Orissa, India submitted by Anil Dholakia of Anil B. Dholakia Inc. at the 2005 Tucson gem shows. Under a Chelsea filter reaction, the sunstones had a weak orangy pink color, while their fluorescence showed inert to long wave and weak red to short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Microscopic examination of the samples revealed numerous angular transparent-to-semitransparent thin platelets that were reddish orange in transmitted light and iridescent in reflected light.

The article presents an update on the gem-quality prehnites that were mined from Mali. In December 2005, mining for prehnite and associated minerals at several localities in the country had become prevalent. Several types of minerals have become available in the market in Bamako, Mali's capital, with prehnite and garnet being dominant. The prehnite is mined from a rather small area centered around Bendoukou village wherein the deposits are associated with localized diabase intrusions. Four polished samples of mined prehnites were donated to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for examination.

The article reports on the discovery of a gem-quality aquamarine at the Akkerella estate southeast of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka owned by Kahawatta Plantations Ltd. The said gem was accidentally found during mining of vein quartz for industrial silica. The discovery sparked a gem rush and clashes between police and gem miners. The crystals vary from pale blue to a saturated dark blue similar to the Santa Maria aquamarine from Minas Gerais, Brazil. They are embedded within quartz veins. Continuation of vein mineralization was exhibited by the nearby estate of Hunuwala.