|
All
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Origin of Gemstone Names
Tanzanite, Prehnite and Kunzite
What's in a name? When it comes to gemstones, sometimes it's a long story. While the names of some of the best known jewels, such as diamonds, are lost in antiquity, many gem quality minerals were not identified until relatively recently, with the advent of the science of gemology. When a new variety is found, the name of the new material can be derived from several sources. The names of many stones come from a Greek or Latin root which refers to a particular trait of the gem. For example, the banded green stone known as malachite got its name from the Greek word for mallow, a green herb, while kyanite is derived from the Greek word kyanos, meaning blue. The name for the pink stone rhodolite is derived from the Greek word for rose-like, as are many other pink minerals such as rhodochrosite and rhodonite. 
Round Rhodolite Garnet Gemstone
It is also common to assign gem names according to the place where they were first found. Tanzanite was discovered in the Tanzanian bushland in 1967, while tsavorite takes its name from Tsavo National Park near the Tanzanian border with Kenya, where in the late 1960s, the geologist Campbell Bridges came across some rocks containing green grossularite, a rare variety of garnet. Similarly andalusite, a beautiful pleochroic gem that appears to be a different color depending upon the direction from which it is viewed, is named after the site of original production in Andalusia, Spain. 
Tsavorite and Malachite
Another common method is to name a gem after its discoverer. Thus prehnite was named after Colonel Hendrik von Prehn and hiddenite was named after W.E. Hidden, who discovered this stone in 1879 in North Carolina (and is also credited with the discovery of rhodolite garnet). Sometimes the person who first identifies a new material has their name immortalized. Although zoisite was first known as saualpite, after its place of discovery in the Saualpe Mountains in 1805, it was renamed after the Slovenian scientist, Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein, who realized that it was an unknown mineral when it was brought to him for identification. 
Andalusite and Hiddenite
In yet other cases, a new mineral is named in honor of someone important. The naming of the rare gemstone alexandrite is such a case of historical interest; it was named after Russian Tsar, Alexander II, because the first crystals were discovered in an emerald mine the Ural mountains in April 1834, on the very day this tsar came of age. Alexandrite was later declared to be the national stone of tsarist Russia. Occasionally there is a dispute when attempts to name a new gem are in conflict. Kunzite, the pink variety of spodumene, was named in honor of Dr George Frederick Kunz, of Tiffany & Co., the leading gem expert of his time. However, this gem might have easily ended up with one of several other suggested names instead. Contenders for the honor included no fewer than four would-be discoverers as well as two eminent scientists who identified the substance.
About Us
Overall Rating -> 10 Easy to maneuver, could find what I was looking for. Prices very good. Enjoyed my shopping experience. Posted By Sadie in April, 2023 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 great products - found just some trying time to narrow in on the exact size - price combination. Also wasnt real clear wher they were shipping from until they got here..and then just breathtaking stones, well documented stats, in ,my hand...thank you! Diane Davis Posted By Ddavis2 in March, 2023 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 Website is very well organized, with a wide selection and thorough explanations on gemstone variety and treatment. Posted By AstridW in June, 2022 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 I'd like to recommend GemSelect, great items, quality, customer service & fast deliveries. Posted By Tadeo in December, 2022 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 7 I ordered tsavorite garnet. It wasn’t quite as vidid color as I was expecting. Still a nice stone Posted By Babs in October, 2022 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 9 I got my order early and was happy with the stones, Just wish they were a little bigger, very nice quality Posted By Wolf in January, 2023 Source: Bizrate Overall Rating -> 10 Excellent prices, excellent gemstones, easy to navigating, at the checkout, only a part of my cart was paid, then I get back to my chart, and the missing gemstones were there, so I pay it.At the end of the day, I did 2 consecutive purchases, paying 2 shippings. But even with that issue, I’m sure that worth it.Thanks! Posted By JPL in April, 2023 Source: Bizrate Related Articles Tanzanite Info Tanzanite Information - Africa's wonder risen from the ashes ... Gemstone Identification Gemstone Identification ... Gemstone Trade Names Gemstone Trade Names ... Rocks As Gems Rocks As Gems ... Untreated Gems for Jewelry Untreated Gemstones for Jewelry ... |
| STAY IN TOUCH |
| *You're signing up to receive GemSelect promotional email. |
Privacy Notice © 2005-2023 GemSelect.com all rights reserved.
Reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of GemSelect.com (SETT Company Ltd.) is strictly prohibited.
530
|
More Shapes
|
English speaking customer support only
|
|
Toll Free - USA & Canada only: |
Save Money
No shipping Fees for Additional Items!
$8.90 Worldwide Shipping
|
Update Translation
|
||||
|
||||
|
Size and Weight
|
|
Gems are always measured in Millimeter (mm) Dimensions are given as; Select gems by size, not by weight! Note: 1ct = 0.2g  |
