How to Identify Natural Rough Gemstones Precious stones are one of the countless gifts that nature has bestowed upon human beings. Naturally occurring gemstones are quite fascinating and beneficial, which makes them widely sought after by people from different periods of time. These glittering objects have always been considered classy and sophisticated when set in how to identify raw opal or loosely on their own.
Although human beings have also invented artificial gems, the charm of natural gems is unbeatable. These are obtained from the depths of the earth. It is nothing short of a miracle that the earth produces stones that have such a lustrous and regal appearance. It is not that one can start digging at any place to find precious stones or semi-precious stones. Precious stones can be obtained only from few places like Kashmir, Arkansas, North Carolina, Kansas, Oregon and few other such places.
Know about mining or quarrying of precious stones
• Australian opal rings formation occurs approximately 3 to 25 miles below the Earth's crust.
• Diamonds and peridot are the ones found much deeper in the earth.
• Apatite, Diamond, Garnet, Tourmaline, Spinel, Tanzanite, Quartz, Moonstone, Topaz and Zircon form in igneous rock.
• Jasper, malachite, opal and zircon form in sedimentary rocks.
• Diamonds are obtained by mining in pits.
• Colored gemstones, other than diamonds, are mined through a rigorous and time-consuming process.
• In the gemstone market, there are several mining companies that have come up with modern mining techniques for mining gemstones.
• Gems can be mined from both primary and secondary deposits.
• Excavated stones are sent to cutting centers where their aesthetics are enhanced.
How to recognize natural raw gemstones
• You need special tools to accurately identify fire opal necklaces.
• If the texture of the stone is rough or gritty, then it is not a gem.
• If the stone is highly malleable, then it is also not a gem.
• A real gemstone has a crystalline structure.
• Color and weight, along with other characteristics, help identify a gemstone.
• A gemstone can be transparent, opaque or translucent.
• The hardness of the stone plays a very important role in gem identification.
• A specific gravity test can help.
• Refractive index test and light scattering test are also great ways to verify the authenticity of a gemstone.
• The best way is to consult a gemologist to make sure whether it is a gem or not.
While you go rock hunting or are lucky enough to lay your hands on a gem or semi-precious stone, keep your eyes open, be informed and identify real gems from fakes. It is true that not every stone is a gem, some may be ores or just stones that you find on your way. Consider the above points to identify natural gemstones in their raw form.
