Gems and Gemstones
Timeless Natural Beauty of the Mineral World
- Contents
- Review Quotes
- Awards

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“Published to coincide with an expanded Grainger Hall of Gems in Chicago’s Field Museum, Gems and Gemstones displays beautiful gemstones (cut and uncut) and explains the geography and science behind their creation. Photos of creations such as the Aztec "Sun-god Opal," in which a human face is cut into a spectacular 35-carat white opal, show just how long gems have retained their hold on the human imagination.”
“Eye candy abounds in this volume on gems based on the newly revamped Grainger Hall of Gems at the Field Museum in Chicago. The book covers such topics as how gems form in nature, how they are classified, and the fascinating history of humanity’s love of jewels.”
“Since 1854, my family has run a small Iowa City jewelry store specializing in quality gem stones. I inherited the love for diamonds, but with my writer’s salary, money’s better spent on the lush pictures in Gems and Gemstones. Penned by the senior veep of the Field Museum, this new tome is the definitive book on precious stones. Hey, diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but a good book is also a good friend...um, yeah.”
Association of American Publishers: PROSE Book Award
Won
Art: Art--General Studies
Biological Sciences: Natural History
Earth Sciences: General Earth Sciences | Geology
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