This post, based on something I wrote for Helium back in 2011, was first blogged here in 2013. However, it’s a natural tie-in to yesterday’s
Category: Ooh . . . Shiny!
Guest Videos: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a beryllium mineral like bertrandite or beryl, but its chemical formula is slightly different. Who would suspect that the addition of a little
Guest Video: Natural vs. Imitation New Mexican Turquoise
Turquoise made headlines recently when researchers discovered that Mesoamericans had more than one source for this gem that they valued highly. Not all of it
Guest Videos: Gneiss and Gold
It’s great to go for a hike with someone who knows what they’re looking at. Wait. Gold? You’re ending the video right after mentioning gold?
Guest Video: How to Carve A Gem
Here is more information on carnelian, which is very close to chalcedony. Featured image: Source, public domain. (Thank you, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Wikipedia!)
Guest Videos: Chocolate and Geodes
OK, so chocolate and sugar aren’t technically minerals…they’ve still powered a lot of geologists on field trips. In nature, you don’t know what’s in a
