Gems and gemstones : timeless natural beauty of the mineral world /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Grande, Lance.
Imprint:Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2009.
Description:369 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.
Language:English
Subject:
Format: Print Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/7892841
Hidden Bibliographic Details
Other authors / contributors:Augustyn, Allison.
Weinstein, John (John S.), 1955-
ISBN:9780226305110 (cloth : alk. paper)
0226305112
Notes:Includes bibliographical references (p. 357-359) and index.
cat 20090415 asg/mpl
Summary:"Gems and Gemstones features nearly 300 color images of the cut gems, precious and semiprecious stones, gem-quality mineral specimens, and fine jewelry that are all part of the new Grainger Hall of Gems at The Field Museum. The book and exhibition explore the relationship between finished gems and their natural origin: while beautiful as faceted and polished pieces of jewelry, gems are often just as lovely - or even more so - as gemstones in their natural state. For example, an aquamarine or emerald as originally found in a mine with its natural crystal faces can be as stunning as any cut-and-polished gem prepared for a ring, bracelet, or necklace. Thoughtful of both ancient and modern times, Gems and Gemstones also includes fun-filled facts and anecdotes that broaden the historical portrait of each specimen. And for anyone who has ever marveled at the innovations of top jewelry designers, Gems and Gemstones features an array of polished stones, gold objects, and creations from around the world."--Book jacket.
Table of Contents:
  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Introduction to Gems
  • The Formation of Gems
  • The Classification of Inorganic Gems
  • Diamond (colorless, colored, black)
  • Corundum (ruby, sapphire)
  • Chrysoberyl (alexandrite, cymophane, cat's-eye)
  • Spinel (red, blue, other)
  • Quartz (amethyst, citrine, and other)
  • Opal (black, white, fire)
  • Topaz (blue, imperial, other)
  • Beryl (emerald, bixbite, aquamarine, heliodor, morganite, pale green, and goshenite)
  • Cordierite
  • Phenakite
  • Tourmaline Group
  • Elbaite Tourmaline (verdelite, rubellite, indicolite, canary, achroite, bicolor, watermelon, cuprian)
  • Dravite Tourmaline
  • Schorl Tourmaline
  • Liddicoatite Tourmaline
  • Garnet Group
  • Almandine Garnet
  • Pyrope Garnet (including rhodolite)
  • Spessartine Garnet (including mandarin, malaia, umbalite)
  • Grossular Garnet (hessonite, tsavorite, rosolite, leuco)
  • Andradite Garnet (demantoid, topazolite, mali, melanite)
  • Uvarovite Garnet
  • Zircon (hyacinth, jargon, starlight, matara)
  • Pyroxene Group
  • Spodumene (kunzite, hiddenite, triphane)
  • Jadeite
  • Actinolite (nephrite and cat's-eye)
  • Zoisite (tanzanite, thulite, anyolite)
  • Forsterite (peridot, chrysolite)
  • Feldspar Group
  • Orthoclase Feldspar (moonstone)
  • Albite Feldspar (moonstone)
  • Albite-Anorthite Feldspar (labradorite)
  • Benitoite
  • Turquoise
  • Inorganic Gems Not Described Here
  • Organically Derived Gems
  • Pearls
  • Noble Coral
  • Amber
  • Ivory
  • Precious Metals (Gold)
  • Synthetic Gems, Simulant Gems, and Augmentation
  • Mining
  • Ethics
  • Folklore, Mysticism, and Magic
  • Birthstones
  • History of The Field Museum's Gem Halls
  • Exhibition Team for the Grainger Hall of Gems
  • Final Words and Acknowledgments
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Index of Gem, Gemstone, and Other Mineral Names
  • Subject Index