Hematite is the primary, globally abundant ore of iron (\(Fe_{2}O_{3}\)), typically appearing as matte gray, black, or metallic, though it always leaves a reddish-brown streak. It is used for steel production, pigments, and jewelry. Formed over 2.5 billion years ago by oxygenation in oceans, it thrives in sedimentary environments, has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, and usually has a metallic luster.

Hematite
from the UK

#hematite #specularhematite #gemstone #mineral #gemology #mineralogy #geology #silver #metallic #mineralspecimen #uk #cumbria #england #nature #beauty #luster #hardness

A fantastic opal from Australia...

#opal #gemstone #gemology #australia #multicolor #mineral #quartz #mineralogy #geology #nature #beauty #unique #vivid #colorful #opalescence

Tourmaline
from Brazil

#mineral #gemstone #tourmaline #mineralogy #gemology #geology #mineralspecimen #rare #threecolor #red #white #blue #crystal #Brazil #beauty #nature

Azurite & Malachite
Milpillas Mine
Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico

#azurite #malachite #gemstones #gemology #mineral #mineralogy #geology #green #blue #nature #beauty #milpillasmine #mexico

Rhodochrosite and Quartz

#rhodochrosite #quartz #crystals #nature #beauty #red #clear #colorless #mineral #mineralspecimen #gemstones #gemology #mineralogy #geology #rock #gems

Emerald on Quartz
Kagem Emerald mine, Zambia

#emerald #quartz #gemstone #gemology #mineral #mineralogy #geology #mineralspecimen #green #nature #beauty #crystal #kagememeraldmine #zambia

'Pom Pom' Quartz
Bassanite included Quartz
Minas Gerais, Brazil

Super rare, only found in one location!

#mineral #gemstone #mineralogy #gemology #quartz #pompomquartz #bassanite #geology #minasgerais #Brazil #rare #nature #beauty

Labradorite (Spectrolite)

#labradorite #feldspar #mineral #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #geology #nature #beauty #labradorescence #spectrolite #labrador #canada #finland

Tourmaline
from the Malkhan Mine
Ural, Russia

#tourmaline #gemstone #mineral #gemology #geology #mineralogy #mineralspecimen #beauty #nature #pink #orange #violet #color

Garnet with Schist
Rodolita Mine, Brazil

#garnet #rhodolite #schist #mineral #gemstone #gemology #geology #mineralogy #mineralspecimen #rodolitemine #brazil #pink #magenta #color #nature #beauty #collecting #rock #stone

Dioptase
Republic of the Congo

#dioptase #gemstone #mineral #mineralogy #gemology #geology #mineralspecimen #crystals #nature #beauty #green #congo #africa

Fluorite
Yaogangxian Mine
Hunan Province, China

#fluorite #mineral #gemstone #mineralogy #gemology #mineralspecimen #yaogangxianmine #hunanprovince #china #nature #beauty #purple #color #rock #stone #mineralcollecting #collecting

Tourmaline
Burma (Myanmar)

#mineral #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #crystals #tourmaline #burma #myanmar #mineralspecimen #rock #rockcollector #nature #beauty

Azurmalachite
two minerals azurite and malachite interwoven in this specimen
Mexico

#mineral #azurite #malachite #azurmalachite #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #geology #rock #stone #nature #beauty #green #blue #mexico #mineralspecimen #rockcollector #mineralcollector #gemcollector

, Feng visited artisans,iateliers and gem-cutters. In one workshop she was shown samples of tiny double rose-cut gemstones, cut sliver-slim, with facets on both sides, so that they looked semi-transparent, their colours muted and soft, like watercolour paints. Inexpensive, rather unloved, under-appreciated, nevertheless the little gems ignited Feng's imagination, their soft, shy, secretive glimmer reminding her of impressionistic brush strokes, of hazy sunlight on water, flowers and fields, emotive nuances of hues and tones. Feng saw in them a contemporary freshness with subtle, romantic echoes of the past. These were gemstones, reserved, quiet, unshowy, like Feng herself, their qualities, again like her own, waiting to be revealed.

"IF NOT A JEWELLER, A PAINTER"- Feng J
In artist jeweler Feng J's quest for the key to unlock her individuality and nurture her embryonic creative ideas...(see ALT)

#art #jewelry #jewelrydesign #handmade #gemstones #gemology #mineral #emerald #finejewelry #artjewelry #wearableart #crystal

Watermelon Tourmaline on Calcite
Minas Gerais, Brazil

#tourmaline #watermelontourmaline #minasgerais #Brazil #unique #oneofakind #mineral #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #geology #mineralspecimen #crystal #nature #beauty #green #pink #multicolor #rare

Emerald on Calcite
Colombia

#emerald #calcite #gemstone #mineral #gemology #mineralogy #geology #nature #beauty #green #crystal #mineralcollecting #mineralcollector #colombia

green beryl
Medina mine
Minas Gerais, Brazil

#beryl #emerald #green #crystal #mineral #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #nature #beauty #mineralspecimen #medinamine #minasgerais #brazil

Tourmaline & Lepidolite
Keke Pocket, Pederneira Mine
Brazil

#tourmaline #lepidolite #mineral #mineralspecimen #gemstone #gemology #mineralogy #geology #nature #beauty #pink #green #crystal #crystals #rock #collector

Once rarer than diamonds, pearls have shaped history and style. ✨

A beautifully illustrated guide to their origins, value, rare types, and jewelry.

#JewelryBooks #Gemology #GiftIdeas #LuxuryHistory #Bookstagram #FineJewelry

A jewel-blue cluster of apatite crystals crowns a grass-green tourmaline crystal - mined in Brazil - from the Will Johnson collection.

#fluorapatite #apatite #tourmaline #Brazil #crystals #mineral #mineralspecimen #gemstone #gemology #geology #mineralogy #nature #beauty #green #blue

I love #Gemology and #Geology

That color!
Tourmaline...

#tourmaline #gemstone #gemology #mineral #mineralspecimen #crystal #mineralogy #geology #nature #rockcollector #mineralcollector #gemcollector #beauty #red #pink #brazil

Rhodonite from
Mina do Morro mine
Minas Gerais, Brazil

#rhodonite #minadomorro #minasgerais #Brazil #gemstone #mineral #mineralspecimen #mineralogy #gemology #gemspecimen #nature #beauty #red #crystal

Peridot from
Suppat Valley, Pakistan

#peridot #green #gemstone #gemology #crystal #mineral #mineralogy #geology #suppatvalley #pakistan #nature #beauty #mineralspecimen

Again, still appreciate the availability of the information - just needed to get those thoughts out into the universe. Thanks for coming to my ted talk. #gemology #IGS

Also, more nitpicky, the organization of these mini courses is atrocious. Why is the Usambra effect lesson number one of the tourmaline course? Why is the very first thing in lesson number two before even talking about composition is a video on Liddicotite which has no substance? #IGS #gemology

Many of the lessons feature personal commentary that diminishes the professional, unbiased experience that I, at least, hoped for when taking these courses. And while this is something that happens in formal education as well, you are at least subjected to a mix of opinions. #gemology #IGS

Am I allowed to critique IGS? #gemology
Because while I appreciate the availability of lessons to those of us that can't afford GIA to be a hobbyist, I have some thoughts.