Result

ACTINOLITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; monoclinic crystal system; chemical composition Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2

Appearance:

• Usually translucent light to dark green, yellowish green, black.

Hardness : 5 to 6

Variety and Trade Names:

• Cat’s-eye Actinolite – translucent to opaque green to yellowish green, with chatoyancy (Cat’s eye)

AMBLYGONITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; triclinic crystal system; chemical composition (LI,Na)Al(PO4)(F,OH); belongs to a solid solution series with montebrasite; most gem specimens lie closer to the montebrasite end

Appearance:

• Transparent
• Usually colorless to light yellow or golden yellow, greenish yellow; may be light pink, green, blue, brown, or purple
• Phenomena: none

Hardness : 5 to 6

Hardness : 51/2 to 6
Toughness: poor

Variety and Trade Names: None

ANDALUSITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; orthorhombic crystal system; chemical composition Al2SiO5

Appearance:

• Transparent to opaque
• Usually brownish or yellowish green to orangy brown (both green and orange pleochroic colors otften visible through crown); may be pure green, brown, pink, and violet.
• Phenomena: none

Hardness: 7 to 71/2
Toughness: fair to good

Variety and Trade Names:

• Chiastolite – translucent to opaque with a dark cross-like pattern on a white, gray reddish, or light brown background.

APATITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral group; hexagonal crystal system; chemical composition Ca5(PO4)3(F,OH,Cl);

Appearance:

• Transparent to translucent
• Yellow, green, violet, purple, blue, pink, brown, colorless

Hardness: 5
Toughness: fair

Variety and Trade Names:

• Cat’s-eye – semitransparent to translucent, usually green or yellow bodycolor, with chatoyancy (Cat’s eye).

ARAGONITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; orthorhombic crystal system; chemical composition CaCo3(carbonate)

Appearance:

• Transparent
• Colorless, white, gray, red, yellow, brown, green, blue, violet; colored varieties usually light in tone

Hardness : 3 1/2 to 4
Toughness: fair to poor

Variety and Trade Names: None

ASSEMBLED STONES

Description:
Nature of Material: Manmade imitations constructed from any combination of natural and/or manmade materials;

Appearance:

• All colors
• Phenomena: varies, all are possible

Cleaning Methods:

• ultrasonic: never
• steamer: never
• warm soapy water: usually safe

AXINITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral group;triclinic crystal system;Chemical composition (Ca,Fe,Mn,Mg)3Al2BSi4O15(OH); Mineralogists sometimes specify various group members as Magnesioaxinite, ferroaxinite, or manganaxinite, depending on chemical composition

Appearance:

• Transparent to translucent brown, purplish brown, brownish yellow, violet, blue.

Toughness: poor to fair

Variety and Trade Names: None

AZURITE

Description:
Nature of Material :Mineral species; monoclinic crystal system; chemical composition Cu4(CO3)2(OH)2

Appearance:

• Usually semitranslucent to opaque, rarely transparent dark blue to violetish blue

Hardness: 3 1/2-4
Toughness: poor

Variety and Trade Names: None

AZURMALACHIT

Description:
Nature of Material :Rock composed of azurite and malachite

Appearance:

• Opaque; Patterned in blue and green

Hardness: 3 1/2-4
Toughness: poor

Cleaning Methods:

• ultrasonic: never
• steamer: never
• warm soapy water: safe

BARITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; orthorhombic crystal system; chemical compostion BaSO4;

Appearance:

• Transparent to opaque
• Colorless,pink,red,yellow,green,blue,brown
• Phenomena: none

Hardness : 3 to 31/2
Toughness: poor

Variety and Trade Names:

• Desert roses- aggregate rosette forms

BENITOITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species;hexagonal crystal system; chemical composition BaTiSi3O9

Appearance:

• Transparent
• Blue, violetish blue, colorless or white; pink(rare)
• Phenomena: none

Hardness : 6 to 61/2
Toughness: fair

Variety and Trade Names: None

BERYL

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; hexagonal crystal system; chemical compostion Be3AL2Si6O18

Appearance:

• Transparent to opaque
• Colorless, green,yellow,light orange,pink,red(rare),blue(fading Maxixe type), Brown,black
• Phenomena: chatoyancy (cat’s eye), asterism (star)

Hardness : 71/2 to 8
Toughness: good

Cleaning Methods:

• ultrasonic: risky
• steamer: risky
• warm soapy water: safe, but avoid strong detergents and vigorous scrubbing of plastic coated stones

Variety and Trade Names:-

• Bixbite - Raspberry red
• Green beryl - green variety whose color is too light, desaturated, or yellowish to be called emerald.( very strongly bluish green through yellow- green )
• Heliodor - greenish yellow to orange or yellowish brown
• Morganite - pink
• Goshenite - colorless
• Cat’s-eye beryl - various bodycolors, with chatoyancy (Cat’s eye)
• Star beryl - typically dark yellowish brown to black, with asterism (usually 6 rays and weak)
• Aquamarine - greenish blue to blue-green, generally light in tone. Phenomena: chatoyancy (Cat’s eye)
• Emerald - very strongly bluish green through green. Phenomena: chatoyancy , asterism.

NOTE: Synthetic beryl- various bodycolors

NOTE: Plastic coated beryl- various bodycolors

EMERALD beryl

Description:
Nature of Material: A variety of the mineral species beryl (BARE-ul); hexagonal crystal system; chemical composition Be3Al2Si6O18

Appearance:

• Light to very dark green to very strongly bluish green

Variety and Trade Names: (See Beryl)

Enhancements:

Method: oiling is commonly used in enhanced emeralds in the trade (oil may contain green dye)
Effect: hides flaws, improves transparency, may deepen color

NOTE: The Comment will be:Evidence of oil like substances, are commonly used in enhanced emerald.

NOTE: Synthetic Emerald are available in the trade (See Beryl)

NOTE: Plastic coated Emerald (beryl)- are available in the trade (See Beryl)

SYNTHETIC EMERALD (synthetic beryl)

Description:
Nature of Material: synthetic emerald is a man-made material with essentially the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural emerald; see Emerald.

Appearance:

• Transparent
• Medium to medium dark green to bluish green
• Phenomena: none

Cleaning Methods:

• ultrasonic: risky
• steamer: never
• warm soapy water: safe

Toughness: slightly tougher than most natural emerald

NOTE: Synthetic Emerald are available in the trade (See Beryl)

BRAZILIANITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; monoclinic crystal system; chemical composition NaAl3(PO4)2(OH04

Appearance:

• Transparent to translucent
• Yellowish green to greenish yellow, rearely colorless
• Phenomena: none

Hardness : 51/2
Toughness: poor to fair

Variety and Trade Names: None

CALCAREOUS CONCRETIONS

Description:
Nature of Material :Chemical composition is mostly CaCO3,plus some organic matter and water; calcareous concretions include:

Appearance:

• Translucent to opaque (Various colors)
• Distinctive flame-like sheen on conch and tridacna pearls

Hardness: 21/2 to 4
Toughness: fair to poor

CALCITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; hexagonal (trigonal) crystal system; chemical composition CaCO3

Appearance:

• Transparent to opaque
• Almost all colors

Hardness : 3

Variety and Trade Names:

• Iceland spar – transparent colorless
• Marble – granular aggregate occurring in many colors
• Onyx marble – banded marble

NOTE: Dyed to improve color
NOTE: Plastic impregnation to improve appearance of polish

CASSITERITE

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; tetragonal crystal system; chemical composition SnO2

Appearance:

• Transparent to opaque dark brown to black, yellowish brown, yellow or colorless banded with brown

Hardness : 6 to 7
Toughness: fair to good

aom

Description:
CHALCEDONY

Appearance:

Nature of Material: Microcrystalline or crytocrystalline quartz; hexagonal (trigonal) crystal system; chemical composition SiO2
• Virtually all colors

Hardness: 61/2 to 7
Toughness: good

Variety and Trade Names:

• Milky - white to gray
• Chrysoprase - light to medium yellowish green (natural color) material does not apply to dyed green.
• Carnelian - orange, brownish-orange, brownish-red to orangy red to red.
• Prase - grayish green
• Bloodstone or Heliotrope - dark green with brownish red spots of color.
• Moss Agate - colorless, white, or gray, with moss like inclusion (commonly green).
• Onyx - parallel layers or band of color;
• Sard - darker and less saturated than carnelian
• Agate - curved or irregular banding; any color or combination of color.
• Sardonyx - onyx with bands of sard or carnelian colors alternating with white and /or black layers.
• Jasper - any color or combination of colors, except black or bloodstone color.
• Chrysocolla in chalcedony - blue to green-blue;colored by inclusion of the copper mineral chrysocolla;
• Petrified wood - wood that has been entirely replaced by chalcedony;it resembles a patterned jasper
• Iris agate - spectral color along a typical botryoidal agate structure when light is transmitted through a thin section.
• Fire agate - dark orange-brown to brown with a botryoidal structure; exhibits iridescent along that structure.
• Dendritic agate - colorless, white, or gray, with dendrites or tree-like inclusion.

NOTE: The trade also refers to opaque, solid black chalcedony as onyx or black onyx.

• Dyed to alter color
• Heating to produce orange or orangy red from yellow to brown material

Enhancements:

Method: dyeing:

NOTE: The Comment will be: Evidence of a applying artificial external surface color or dyeing.

Enhancements:

Method: heating:

NOTE: The Comment will be: None

CHRYSOBERYL

Description:
Nature of Material: Mineral species; Orthorhombic crystal system; chemical composition BeAl2O4

Appearance:

• Light to medium yellow to yellowish green, grayish green, brown to yellowish brown, light blue (rare)
• Phenomena: see following entries on Alexandrite and Cat’s-Eye

Hardness : 81/2

Variety and Trade Names:

• Cat’s eye chrysoberyl:
• Alexandrite:(See Alexandrite)

Appearance:

• Yellow to yellowish green, grayish green, brown to brownish yellow
• Phenomena: chatoyancy (cat’s eye) cases of 4-ray asterism(star) instead of Chatoyancy (cat’s eye)

Appearance: (Alexandrite)

• Daylight: yellowish, brownish, grayish or bluish green; incandescent light: orangy or brownish red to purple-red
• Phenomena: color change, may also show chatoyancy(cat’s eye)

NOTE: Synthetic Alexandrite are available in the trade (See Alexandrite chrysoberyl)

ALEXANDRITE chrysoberyl

Description:
Nature of Material: alexandrite is the color change variety of the mineral species chrysoberyl (see chrysoberyl)

Appearance:

• Daylight: yellowish, brownish, grayish or bluish green; incandescent light: orangy or brownish red to purple-red
• Phenomena: color change, may also show chatoyancy (cat's eye)

Variety and Trade Names:

• Cat’s-eye Alexandrite - very rare variety with both chatoyancy and color change

NOTE: Synthetic Alexandrite are available in the trade (See chrysoberyl)

Hardness : 8 1/2
Toughness: excellen

Synthetic Alexandrite (Chrysoberyl)
Material with essentially the same chemical compostion and crystal structure as natural alexandrite; see Alexandrite

Appearance:

• Bluish green in daylight, brownish red to purple-red in incandescent light

COPAL

Description:
Nature of Material: Material consisting of fossilized resin (more recent in origin than amber)

Appearance:

Hardness: 2
Toughness: fair

Variety and Trade Names: None

Object (TRANSPARENCY) Loose stone or in Jewelry

Note: Not all the Gems or chemical composition is transparent:

Weight

Gemstones are weighed in metric carats. One metric carat (ct) equals 0.200 grams (1/5 of a gram or 200 milligrams). A carat is further divided into 100 units called points. Reputable jewelers and Gem Trade Laboratory apply the same minimum standard of accuracy to colored stones as the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules require for diamonds: All stated weights must be accurate to 1/200 .ct (one-half point).

Weight is usually written as a decimal fraction (e.g., 1.35 ct, or 0.73 ct), and should always be expressed to the second decimal place. Follow the international trade practice of rounding diamond weights up to the next higher point only when it is within 0.001 carat (rounding up only from 0.009 carat). They apply the same standard to colored stones, for consistency. Thus, a 0.478-carat stone is rounded down to 0.47 carat. Only a 0.479-carat stone may be rounded up to 0.48.

Generally speaking, the more a gemstone weighs (the larger it is), the more rare it is and, therefore, the more expensive it is likely to be per carat. Thus, one two-carat ruby is worth more than two one-carat rubies of the same quality. But stones that exceed sizes that are attractive and relatively easy to mount in jewelry are usually lower in per-carat price than the largest jewelry-size stones. The size limit actually depends more on measurements than on weight (usually 20 mm in the smallest face-up dimension). Some gems, like blue topaz and citrine, are likely to occur in large sizes. Others, like ruby, are rare in sizes over three carats.

Measurement

FANCY STONE GRADING

Then you measure the stone’s dimensions-width, length, and depth-in millimeters, interpolating to the nearest 0.01 mm. Note them on your worksheet. (Where you must average, note all measurements and the resulting average.) Width in round stones means diameter: it is the average of the minimum and maximum girdle diameters. In square stones width is the average of the two side-to-side measurements.

On rectangular shapes, length is the distance from end to end measured along the longest side (not diagonally). Width is the distance between (and at right angles to) the longest sides.

With most other fancy cuts, length is the longest dimension, and width is the widest dimension perpendicular to the length. On hearts, however, width is the measurement between the widest parts of the lobes, while length is the perpendicular distance from the point to an imaginary line across the top of the lobes. And on triangles, width is the distance from corner to corner on the shortest or longest side (if all are equal, any side), while length is the perpendicular distance from the center of the width side to the opposite point.

These diagrams show where you measure the length and width of different fancy shapes.

Cut The Shape or style of fashioning.

Symbol of faceted cut use in GHI Identification Report

CU/Facet – Cushion cut
CY/ Facet - Ceylon cut
OM/ Facet – Oval mixed cut
RD/ Facet - Round mix facet cut
RD/ brilliant - Round brilliant cut
PS/ Facet - Pear shape facet cut
MQ/ Facet - Marquise facet cut
OV/ Facet - Oval facet cut
TG/ Facet - Triangular facet cut
HS/ Facet - Heart shape facet cut
OV/Cabbochon - Oval shape Cabochon
RD/Cabbochon - Round shape Cabochon
SQ/ Facet - Squar facet cut
EM/ Facet - Emerald facet cut
EMM/ Facet –Emerald mix facet cut
OV / Chk– Checkerboard Oval.
BG/ Facet - Baugette or Baugette Mix fact cut
SC / Facet-Scissor

Color The combination of a Gem seen in reflected light.

To observe color, you need two types of Light: daylight-equivalent and incandescent-penlight

Clarity Grade

Clarity plotting is to judged in terms of both inclusion and blemishes.

Clarity : Penetrating or enclosed within the Gem.
Blemish : Strictly to/on the surface of the Gem.

Five(5) Factor system of explaining Gems pricing.

• Size of inclusion.
• Location (position)
• Quantity (Number) of inclusion
• Type (of inclusion) :
• Contrast (relief & color) :

Inclusion :

Some descriptive words that are occasionally used:

Included Crystal :	a solid crystal or a liquid like, often angular inclusion.
Chip :	Small damaged area (usually at the girdle)
Indented natural :	A dark included crystal or a hole opening inside a Gem.
Cloud :	Any hazy or milky area inside the gem.
Feather or fingerprint :	A partially healed fracture or fissure, or a group of small particles trapped during the natural growth process or synthesis.
Pinpoint :	Very small, light or dark included crystal (occurring as a dot or dots)
Needle:	Thin rod-like crystal inclusion or a fine parallel silk inclusion.
Nick :	a Small opening or damaged on a polished surface ( at the girdle of Gem).
Bruise :	Surface crumbling, often accompanied by tiny, root-like feathers
Cavity :	A large or deep opening.
Horse-tail or pony-tail:	Fibrous inclusions radiating from a nucleus in demantoid garnet.
Snowflake:	Whitish crystallites on a dark background in obsidian.

Fluoresense

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Ultraviolet light (UV) is used extensively for revealing luminescent effects. Two ranges of ultraviolet light are used in gem testing:
long wave UV (LWUV) has a principal wavelength of 365 nm; short wave UV (SWUV) has a principal wavelength of 254 nm.
The behaviour of gemstones in both LWUV and SWUV is observed and the effects can be useful as a pointer towards further suitable tests or as a back-up.
Warnings:
The invisible radiations emitted can be harmful to the skin. Do not place your hands under the lamp when switched on.
Do not look directly at any ultraviolet (UV) light source as this can cause damage to the eyes. Most UV cabinets have a control filter to absorb UV energy and protect your eyes when fluorescence is being observed. If not goggles should be worn.

TESTING for UV FLUORESCENCE to use UV light:

1. Thoroughly clean the material under test to remove dust and organic materials

2. Place on a black, non-reflecting pad, switch on either the LWUV or SWUV lamp work in subdued ambient light or use a light shield, to enable you to observe slight fluorescence or phosphorescence

3. The fluorescent effects of both natural and synthetic materials can vary depending on their trace element content. Therefore any luminescent effect should only be taken as a guide and not as proof of identity.

Fluorescence in Diamond

Listed below are the abbreviations for describing strength of fluorescence that shoud be noted when a diamond a diamond report:

Non – No fluorescence
Faint – Slight fluorescence
Medium – Medium or Moderate fluorescence
Strong – Strong or Extreme fluorescence

Proportion

Balance.

Table off center T/OC.
Wary Girdle WG
Very thin or very thick girdle G.
Uneven Bulge UB
Culet off center C/OC
Out of round/sharp girdle outline G/O.
Shallow or too high Crown angle C/A.
Shallow or deep pavilion depth D/P.
Naturals on crown and pavilion N.

Length – to - Width Ratio:

1. Measure length and width to mm.
2. Divide length by width. The ratio is (the resulting number).
3. Check acceptable range:

Rectangular shapes	1.33 to 2.00:1
Marquise	1.66 to 2.50:1
Oval	1.30 to 1.75:1
Pear	1.30 to 2.00:1
Heart	1.00 to 1.25:1

4.Describe ratio as acceptable, or too long/short and describe how noticeable Variation is (minute, minor, noticeable, obvious).

Describe Symmetry use in GHI Identification Report as:

Poor	Fair	Good	Very Good

Finish grade

Scratch : A fine white line, curved or straight, on the surface of polish Gem.

Pit : A very small dot or dots (tiny opening) on the surface of a Gem.

Rough Girdle : No Smoothness girdle.

Abrasions : Minute scratch along facet junctions.

Polish Lines : Parallel lines on a polish surface facet.

Polish: Consider minor surface characteristics.

Look for: Rough Girdle (RG) / Scratches (S) / Pits / Polish Lines (PL)/ Nick (Nk)/ Abrasion (Abr).

Describe Polish use in GHI Identification Report as:

Poor	Fair	Good	Very Good	Excellent

Look discreetly at gems being worn as rings.What is the appearance of gems that have become worn or dirty?
Note the color of a gemstone; the precise shade of that color may be an important clue to its identity.

Refractive Index

THE REFRACTOMETER

The refractometer is considered by some to be the most important of all gem-testing instruments. Determine refractive index (RI), identify optic character (SR / DR), and measure birefringence (Bire).

Most refractometers have six main parts:
• Hemicylinder to set the stone on.
• scale, with RIs marked on it.
• viewing lens to see the scale
• the removable magnifier for scale
• polarizing filter for measuring birefrin?gence of DR stones.
• light portal in the back

Use both white and monochromatic light.For white light, a polariscope will do. The utility lamp simulates monochromatic sodium light with a yellow filter.

Contact liquid ensures an optical connection between a gem and the hemicylinder. The liquid's RI must be lower than the hemicylinder's but higher than the gem's. RI liquid near 1.78 is best.

There are two basic methods for taking RI readings; one for faceted stones, and one for cabochons and carvings.

Always take a flat facet reading if you can; they are generally more accurate.

Specific Gravity

Some gem materials are 'heavier', i.e. more dense than others, so that comparing or measuring the specific gravity (SG) may help to identify upset material. It is very important that you have used your 10x lens to ensure that the object under test is made up from a single material (i.e. not composites or ornaments with fillings).

SG testing is done in two ways:

• Measurement - The SG of a material can be measured to obtain an SG value, using a water immersion or hydrostatic weighing technique with a balance.
• Comparison - Specific gravities may be compared using `heavy' or high density liquids, also known as SG liquids. No SG values are obtained: this technique is used to separate different gem materials without measuring their SG.

HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING

Using a single-pan digital balance for SG determination set up the equipment as shown on the right.

Use the simple formula, comparing the weight of a specimen in air with its weight in water. The calculation of SG is therefore

• SG SEPARATIONS USING HIGH DENSITY LIQUIDS

High density liquids can be used to separate mixed parcels of stones, or to pick out odd stones from many small specimens. This method can also be used quickly and conveniently to differentiate between two similar or very small specimens. It may be particularly useful for rough material, beads or cabochon-cut gems.

Typical high density liquids used in gem testing:
di-iodomethane diluted with 1-bromonaphthalene to 2.65
di-iodomethane diluted with 1-bromonaphthalene to 3.05
di-iodomethane 3.33

Although Clerici solution is referred to in some textbooks, it is extremely toxic and its use is definitely not recommended.

• A single gemstone to be tested should be cleaned, and may then be placed carefully, with stone tongs, into the series of liquids, starting with the liquid of highest SG (note that it is much easier to remove a floating stone than one which has sunk, so, in general, use the denser liquids first).

• It is essential to clean the stone and the tongs between each immersion in order to prevent contamination. As with hydrostatic weighing, the gemstone must be free of any setting.

• The bottle of high density liquid should always be observed carefully, and the gemstone released gently by the stone tongs, only when it is in the centre of the liquid and with as little influence from the movement of the tongs as possible. The reason for this is that where the SGs of the gem and the liquid are nearly the same,

movement up or down could easily be caused by inadvertent

movement of the tongs, thus giving a false impression of its SG

• If the stone either sinks very slowly or floats upwards very slowly, then its SG is close to that of the liquid. If it happens to remain exactly suspended then its SG is identical to that of the liquid.

• A packet of many stones or pieces of rough may be tested at one time, by placing all of them together in one liquid. Certain materials may be separated by this method.

• Porous and permeable materials such as ivory, bone, opal, coral, pearl, malachite and turquoise should not be immersed as these may be damaged or stained by the liquids. Amber may be damaged and plastics may dissolve in organic liquids, and doublets and other composite stones may fall apart. Materials such as chalcedony, lapis lazuli and jadeite may be artificially stained: the dyes used might be dissolved out by organic liquids, as may liquid fracture-fillings, e.g. in `oiled' emerald. Avoid all contact between these materials and organic liquids.

Safety

Care should be taken when using any high density liquids in gemmology, to avoid skin contact or inhalation of vapour. On no account should any of the liquids used by gemmologists for gem testing be swallowed. In case of contact with the skin, liquid should be washed off; if in the eyes, they should be well flushed out with running water.

• SG SEPARATIONS USING SALT SOLUTION

A suitable saturated salt solution is made by dissolving as much common salt as possible into tap water. Continue stirring in the salt until some salt remains in the container. This solution can then be used to test amber and its simulants. Amber has an SG of approximately 1.08. This is less than that of the salt solution, which has an SG of approximately 1.12. The amber floats in this solution

Many amber simulants are made of plastic. These mostly have a slightly higher SG. For example bakelite has an SG of 1.26, and will sink in saturated salt solution.

Type of inclusion found

Included Crystal : a solid crystal or a liquid like, often angular inclusion.

Chip ( Ch )	: Small damaged area (usually at the girdle)
Indented natural ( IndN )	: A dark included crystal or a hole opening inside a Gem.
Cloud ( Cld )	: Any hazy or milky area inside the gem.
Feather ( Ftr )	: Feathery appearance, often a white plane of minute included crystal.
Pinpoint ( Pp )	: Very small, light or dark included crystal (occurring as a dot or dots)
Needle ( Ndl )	: long and thin included crystal or a fine parallel silk inclusion.
Nick ( Nk )	: a Small opening or damaged on a polished surface (normally at the girdle of Gem).
Bruise ( Br)	: Surface crumbling, often accompanied by tiny, root-like feathers
Cavity ( Cv)	: A large or deep opening.

Some descriptive words that are occasionally used:

Words	Description and examples
Atoll, halo or fried egg	Included mineral and its encircling tension cracks or the fluid remnants around a cavity or crystal, for example in corundum.
Bamboo	Actinolite crystal, for example in emerald.
Centipede	Intersecting cleavage cracks in moonstone.
Feather or fingerprint (Fpt)	A partially healed fracture or fissure, or a group of small particles trapped during the natural growth process or synthesis.
Horse-tail or pony-tail	Fibrous inclusions radiating from a nucleus in demantoid garnet.
Lily pads or water lily pads	Partially healed tension cracks around a crystal or cavity, in peridot.
Needle	Thin rod-like crystal inclusion.
Rain	Thin straight tubes orientated parallel to each other in beryl.
Silk	Fine rutile inclusions that may cause a hazy appearance in the stone, seen in corundum.
Snowflake	Whitish crystallites on a dark background in obsidian.
Snow-stars	Liquid droplets radially disposed around a crystal inclusion, for example in beryl.
Sun spangles or spangles	Tension cracks resulting in a radial pattern, for example in amber.
Tiger stripes or zebra stripes	Ribbon-like rows of partial healing along twinning planes in quartz.
Trichites (Hair like)	Fine fluid inclusions often joined together in a web, seen in tourmaline, these may be two phase.

Standard Gemological Identification Report Wording;

Updated: July 2011

Comment(s) for Natural Sapphire 'Padparadscha.'

Sapphire is a variety of corundum the color is a subtle mixture of pinkish orange to orangey pink with pastel tones and low to medium saturations.

The Natural Sapphire (padparadscha) or 'padparadscha sapphire' can be applied to both unheated and heated; But shall not be applied in the following cases:

(1) If the stone has any color modifier other than pink or orange.
(2) If the stone has uneven color, distribution when viewed with unaided eye, table up +/- 30?.
(3) If the stone treated with foreign light element or/an external source.
(4) If the stone has been treated by irradiation, dyed, coated, or painted

Comment(s) for Natural Ruby and Sapphire 'Unheated'

Any corundum (Natural Ruby and Sapphire) that shows no indications of having undergone heat treatment shall be described as,

NOTE: The comment shall be described as; No indication of heating.

NOTE: In some certain heating conditions may not modify some internal characteristics, other features, if spectral data indicate heating has taken place, The comment shall be described as; Indication of heating.

Comment(s) for Natural Ruby and Sapphire 'Heated'

Any corundum (Natural Ruby or Natural Sapphire) that shows indications of having undergone heat treatment or e.g., Method;

Method: heating followed by controlled cooling (heated above 1600 C and then slowly cooled) and also heating and slow cooling {to improves or createsasterism (star)}

Method: heating is common use for removes purple or brownish color component; Also hides cracks and improves color

NOTE: In some certain heating conditions may not modify some internal characteristics, other features, if data indicate heating place, the comment shall be described as; Indication of heating.

Comment(s) for Corundum with residues from the heating process present in healed fissures and/or cavities.

NOTE: A fracture that has been healed by the synthesis of corundum or other materials during the heat treatment or crystal growth processes. This clause may include the presence of small filled cavities. the comment shall be described as; Indication of heating , minor/moderate/significant/ foreign substances are filled in fissures and cavities.

Comment(s) for Natural Ruby and Sapphire ' clarity enhancement '

Any corundum (Natural Ruby or Sapphire) that shows indications of having undergone heating with residue from the heating process present in healed fissures and/or cavities; shall be describe as a degree to which fissure "healing" has occurred, and the residue that remains within the healed fissures and cavities, this also shows indications of heat treatment and a degree of healing along which also contain residue from the heating process, (to modify the color or transparency of the stone and also adds weight); Flux (synthetic) assisted healing of a fracture during the heating process, or other materials during the heat treatment or crystal growth processes, indications of having undergone heat treatment and the presence of a vitreous residue in a cavity(ies), It is possible that during the clarity enhancement process in addition to fractures, cavities may become filled with the clarity enhancing substance being used, i.e., glass. The comment shall be described as; Indication of clarity enhancement lead glass found in fissures and cavities.

NOTE: The presence of materials within fractures that have occurred naturally are not within the context of this clause and need not to be declared.

Comment(s) for Natural Ruby and Sapphire ' beryllium treatment '

Any corundum (Natural Ruby or Natural Sapphire) that shows indications of having undergone heating (is commonly use in the trade) in natural beryllium in corundum treatment; beryllium is found mostly in the mineral beryl{ALBE 2 (Si 8 O18)}; chrysoberyl [Al 2 BeO4], phenakite [Be2SiO4], bromellite [BeO], and others.

NOTE: The comment shall be described as; Indication of heating with light elements. Treatment is permanent

Comment for Natural Ruby and Sapphire ' diffusion '

Any corundum (Natural Ruby or Sapphire) that shows indications of having undergone heating accompanied by the introduction/diffusion of a chemical element(s) (Heating in the presence of titanium oxide or other coloring agents) To improves or creates asterism, or diffuses color onto the surface of the stone, from an external source Or "surface diffusion". (avoid recutting)

NOTE: The comment shall be described as; Indication of heating with diffusion. (including the star)