Gem and Gem Minerals Old Final Exam Questions

32) Sri Lanka produces ruby that are a) typically darker in tone than those of Thailand b) more fluorescent than those of Australia c) lighter in tone than ruby from other sources d) only commercially viable after heat treatment e) also know as Mong Hsu

c. lighter in tone than ruby from other sources

30) U.V. fluorescence of ruby can be a guide to distinguishing synthetic from natural ruby because a) most synthetic rubies don't fluoresce as strongly as naturals b) most synthetic rubies fluoresce a different color than naturals c) most natural rubies don't fluoresce as strongly as most synthetics d) most natural ruby will not fluoresce, but synthetic ruby will. e) heat treated rubies will not fluoresce

c. most natural rubies don't fluoresce as strongly as most synthetics

The substance that gives pearls their unique luster is a) essence de orient b) conchoilin c) nacre d) mother of pearl e) baroque

c. nacre

Gem synthetic diamond is a) available and costs much less than natural diamond b) called cubic zirconia c) not commercially available d) easy to manufacture but currently very expensive e) has considerably different optical and physical properties than natural diamond

c. not commercially available

63) Gem synthetic diamond is a) available and costs much less than natural diamond b) called cubic zirconia. c) not widely available in sizes over 1.5 cts. d) easy to manufacture but currently very expensive. e) has considerably different optical and physical properties than natural diamond.

c. not widely available in sizes over 1.5 cts.

39) Natural volcanic glass is known as a) ametrine b) moldavite c) obsidian d) hyalite e) carnelian

c. obsidian

23) Gem aquamarine is exclusively a a) volcanic mineral b) metamorphic mineral c) pegmatite mineral d) low temperature hydrothermal mineral, in veins e) none of the above

c. pegmatite mineral

36) Padparadscha sapphire is a) a variety of yellow sapphire b) less valuable than pink sapphire c) pinkish-orange sapphire d) not sapphire at all, but a variety of spinel e) none of the above

c. pinkish-orange sapphire

44) Fancy cut diamonds are those with shapes that are not a) square cut b) princess cut. c) standard round brilliant d) oval cut e) heart cut

c. standard round brilliant

51) The cut proportions of a diamond are based on measurements of a) the number of facets b) the height of the crown and diameter of the girdle c) the girdle and table diameters, and the depth of the stone d) the culet angle and girdle diameter e) the height of the pavilion and the table diameter

c. the girdle and table diameters, and the depth of the stone

54) Assuming an appraiser has a set of master stones and is proficient at grading, he can determine the color grade of a diamond set in a ring to within a) one grade b) two grades, if a microscope is available c) three grades d) four grades e) he can't do it at all unless he takes the diamond out of the ring

c. three grades

Assuming an appraiser has a set of master stones and is proficient at grading, he can determine the color grade of a diamond set in a ring to within a) one grade b) two grades, if a microscope is available c) three grades d) four grades e) he cant do it at all unless he takes the diamond out of the ring

c. three grades

7) Citrine is a) yellow topaz b) purple quartz c) usually produced by heating amethyst d) a variety of microcrystalline quartz e) none of the above

c. usually produced by heating amethyst

47) A diamond gemstone and a cubic zirconia gemstone cut exactly the same will a) weigh the same b) weigh different amounts, the diamond will be heavier c) weigh different amounts, the diamond will be lighter d) weigh different amounts, but it's not possible to say which will be heavier. e) weigh the same within the precision of the balance they are weighed on.

c. weigh different amounts, the diamond will be lighter

56) To accurately grade diamond clarity requires a) a microscope and a set of master stones b) a microscope, professional training, and substantial experience c) good eyes and some experience d) a microscope, professional training, and a set of master stones e) a clarity grading instrument

b. a microscope, professional training, and substantial experience

66) The hydrothermal process of growing gem minerals uses a) molten material that contains a flux b) water and water vapor c) a drip-by-drip accumulation of molten Aluminum oxide d) no seed crystals e) very high temperatures, above the melting temperatures of most minerals

b. water and water vapor

55) The difference in color between an E and an F diamond is a) so subtle that only a trained expert can see a difference b) so subtle that it does not influence the value of the diamond c) great enough to be visible to anyone looking at stones of these colors d) not as important as a difference in VVS vs. VS clarity

a. so subtle that only a trained expert can see the difference

58) A "light carat" is a term used for diamonds a) that are not quite a full carat in weight b) of poor cut, but weighing a full carat c) of poor color, but weighing a full carat d) of excellent clarity, weighing a full carat e) having fewer calories than tastier, full carrot stones.

a. that are not quite a full carat in weight

52) Color in "colorless" diamonds is rated according to a) the amount of yellow present b) the amount of blue present c) visual clarity d) quality of surface reflections e) presence or absence of a gray overtone

a. the amount of yellow present

27) The worlds finest rubies have historically been associated with mines in a) Australia b) Thailand c) Sri Lanka d) Myanmar (Burma) e) E. Africa

d. Myanmar (Burma)

A simple test for distinguishing imitation from natural or cultured pearls is a) roundness b) to look at the knots on the strand c) scratch test d) to look for blotchiness of color e) to check for smooth vs. rough texture

d. to look for blotchiness of color

20) A recent, significant source of emeralds is a) Zaire b) Kenya c) Australia d) Zambia e) Tanzania

d. zambia

Flame Fusion

...

The U.S. is the world leader in the production of a) tourmaline b) sapphire c) peridot d) topaz e) amethyst

...

59) In diamond clarity grading, flaws or inclusion visible to the naked eye in stones of a carat or less are given a grade of a) I1, I2, or I3 b) VS1 or VS2 c) Z d) SI1 e) above SI1

a. I1, I2, or I3

1) Most of the worlds present production of opal is from a) australia b) sri lanka c) a and b d) none of the above

a. australia

40) Moldavite is a) a green glass formed by meteorite impact b) a form of cryptocrystalline quartz c) gem obsidian d) a diamond immitation e) none of the above

a. a green glass formed by meteorite impact

33) The most highly prized of all sapphire colors is a) blue sapphire from Kashmir, India b) pink sapphire from Sri Lanka c) padparadscha sapphire, from any source d) violet-blue sapphire from Montana e) none of the above

a. blue sapphire from Kashmir, India

22) Most of the worlds aquamarine comes from a) Brazil b) U.S. c) Sri Lanka d) Thailand e) Columbia

a. brazil

10) Agate and petrified wood are varieties of a) chalcedony b) milky quartz c) chrysoprase d) carnelian e) onyx

a. chalcedony

"Diffusion-treated" blue sapphire is sapphire that has been a) chemically treated and heated to darken the color near the surface of the gem b) irradiated in a special process to lighten the color c) treated to render the color darker in diffuse light d) dyed with a blue dye to darken the color e) heated to improve clarity

a. chemically treated and heated to darken the color near the surface of the gem

37) "Diffusion-treated" blue sapphire is sapphire that has been a) chemically treated and heated to darken the color near the surface of the gem. b) irradiated in a special process to lighten the color c) treated to render the color darker in diffuse light d) dyed with a blue dye to darken the color e) heated to improve clarity

a. chemically treated and heated to darken the color near the surface of the gem

25) Ruby and sapphire are gems names for the mineral a) corundum b) beryl c) garnet d) topaz e) none of the above

a. corundum

29) The only definitive test for distinguishing synthetic from natural ruby is a) examination of inclusions with a microscope b) u.v. fluorescence c) R.I. in combination with S.G. d) hardness e) birefringence

a. examination of inclusions with a micrscope

5) Cherry opal is a) faceted b) noted for outstanding play-of-color c) a variety of white opal d) usually synthetic e) mined in Australia

a. faceted

12) Most gem quartz varieties come from a) igneous rocks b) metamorphic rocks c) gem gravels d) Africa e) the U.S.

a. igneous rocks

Cultured black pearls are generally a) larger than cultured white pearls that have been dyed black b) smaller than cultured white pearls that have been dyed black c) the same size as cultured white pearls that have been dyed black d) impossible to distinguish from dyed black pearls e) rougher in texture than natural black pearls

a. larger than cultured white pearls that have been dyed black

9) Quartz has a refractive index that is a) low with respect to most faceted gem materials b) high with respect to most faceted gem materials c) in the middle of the range of R.I.'s for common colored stones d) due to trace amounts Fe e) about the same as garnet

a. low with respect to most faceted gem materials

70) Natural diamonds are all a) millions or billions of years old b) found in South Africa c) of gem grade d) worth at least several hundred dollars per carat e) treated to improve clarity before cutting into gemstones

a. millions or billions of years old

Melee are a) very small diamonds b) rectangular cut, or emerald cut, diamonds c) poorly cut diamonds d) diamonds over 1/2 ct. e) none of the above

a. very small diamonds

"Freshwater pearls" that are rice krispy-like in shape are usually a) natural pearls b) cultured pearls c) from salt water oysters d) man-made imitation ("faux") perals e) more expensive than round pearls

b. cultured pearls

34) The most obvious difference between commercial-grade blue sapphire and top-grade blue sapphire is a) poorer clarity b) darker color and poorer transparency c) much poorer cut d) overtones of yellow or gray, giving a paler blue e) smaller size

b. darker color and poorer transparency

18) Synthetic emeralds are a) difficult for a gemologist to distinguish from natural emerald b) easily distinguished from natural emerald by R.I. and S.G. c) not presently being manufactured d) among the least expensive of synthetic gems e) none of the above

b. easily distinguished from natural emerald by R.I. and S.G.

46) Alluvial (placer) gem deposits are those in which the gems are mined from a) hard rocks b) gravel and/or sand c) caves d) pegmatites e) ancient volcanoes

b. gravel and/or sand

21) Aquamarine is commonly a) oiled to improve clarity b) heated to improve color c) irradiated to improve color d) dyed e) all of the above

b. heated to improve color

16) Clarity in emeralds a) is usually better than in most other colored stones b) is commonly improved by oiling c) is not important d) is more important than color e) none of the above

b. is commonly improved by oiling

Most of the worlds cultured pearls come from a) australia b) japan c) china d) tahiti e) india

b. japan

49) The source rock for diamonds is called a) granite b) kimberlite c) kaesurtite d) rhyolite e) pipe rock

b. kimberlite

3) Opal doubles or triplets are a) synthetic gems, not natural opal b) made of natural opal, attached to a cover and/or a base c) sold by weight, like all other opal d) not made from natural opal e) none of the above

b. made of natural opal, attached to a cover and/or a base

60) Diamonds as an investment commodity are a) a safe bet; prices can only rise because of the monopoly enjoyed by DeBeers. b) not a safe bet; diamonds are susceptible to the same supply and demand forces as other commodities c) attractive because there has always be a strong demand; prices can only rise. d) a safe bet if one buys only the very best stones and holds onto them for several years before selling. e) probably a better investment than most other things, like precious metals, art work, stamps, coins, etc.

b. not a safe bet; diamonds are susceptible to the same supply and demand forces as other commodities

19) Imitation emeralds, made of green glass, can always be identified by a) RI and SG b) polariscope c) microscope d) b and c e) all of the above

b. polariscope

43) All the following places have, or once had, ruby mines except a) Mogok, Burma b) South Africa c) Sri Lanka d) Thailand e) Viet Nam

b. south africa

The quality of a pearls luster depends on a) whether it has been bleached or dyed b) the thickness and transparency of the nacre c) the presence of specific chromophores d) U.V. light e) the size of the pearl

b. the thickness and transparency of the nacre

57) The minimum weight for a 1 carat diamond is a) 0.95 carats b) 0.99 carats c) 0.995 carats d) 1.00 carats e) 0.999 carats

c. 0.995 carats

20 The most valuable play of color in opal is that which shows a) a pinfire pattern, with lots of blue b) a mosaic pattern, with lots of yellow c) an abundance of red and violet d) a 'flash' or 'flame' pattern

c. an abundance of red or violet

64) Color and clarity in "colorless" diamonds a) can not be altered b) can be altered but alteration can be easily detected. c) can be altered in such a way that detection of the alteration is very difficult for even highly trained people. d) are the most important aspects in grading a diamond and evaluating its worth. e) are very subjective quantities that are extremely difficult to quantify.

c. can be altered in such a way that detection of the alteration is very difficult for even highly trained people

41) Deep diffusion is a process used to a) improve clarity in emerald b) change the color of emerald c) change the color of sapphire d) convert opal to quartz e) all of the above

c. change the color of sapphire

17) The most historically important source of emerald is a) Sri Lanka b) Brazil c) Colombia d) Myanmar (Burma) e) none of the above

c. colombia

14) Emerald and Aquamarine are names given to a) green and blue varieties of tourmaline b) two different minerals, each very different chemically c) color varieties of the mineral beryl d) two different idiochromatic minerals that have Fe chromophores. e) none of the above.

c. color varieties of beryl

13) Synthetic amethyst is a) not very common b) easy to distinguish from natural amethyst c) difficult to distinguish from natural amethyst d) not as dark in color as natural amethyst e) made of glass

c. difficult to distinguish from natural amethyst

26) Most ruby and sapphire are mined from a) pegmatites b) calcite veins c) gem gravels d) kimberlite e) limestones

c. gem gravels

38) Synthetic star sapphire cabochons a) are not commercially available b) are not really sapphire c) have been commercially available for more than 30 years d) are typically more gray-blue than natural star sapphire e) are "bulkier" or thicker than most naturals.

c. have been commercially available for more than 30 years

28) "Thai Ruby" is a name that is applied to ruby that a) comes from Thailand b) is the finest red color c) is of inferior color, being dark and/or having a brownish cast d) has been heat treated e) has a "pigeon blood" red color

c. is of inferior color, being dark and/or having a brownish cast

62) The most productive diamond mine in the world today is located in a)South Africa b) Siberia c)Brazil d) Australia e) Zaire

d. Australia

53) In the G.I.A. color grade scale, truly colorless diamonds receive a grade of a) A b) Z c) E d) D e) AAA

d. D

48) Jewelers commonly use a test for distinguishing diamond from imitations that relies on a) hardness b) R.I. c) fluorescence d) thermal conductivity e) luster

d. thermal conductivity

68) Separating natural from synthetic corundum commonly relies upon a) a refractometer b) heavy liquids c) the naked eye d a microscope e) an x-ray radiograph

d. a microscope

8) Amethyst is a) yellow quartz b) purple sapphire c) usually produced by heating citrine d) a variety of coarsely crystalline quartz e) none of the above

d. a variety of coarsely crystalline quartz

45) Lasering as an enhancement process is used to improve the appearance of a) quartz b) emerald c) morganite d) diamond e) a and d

d. diamond

69) Of the following, which is not a technique used to enhance sapphire? a) heating b) irradiation c) deep diffusion d) flame fusion e) filling

d. flame fusion

15) The R.I. of emerald a) is too high to measure with a refractometer b) is high compared to other colored stones c) is a principle reason why emeralds are valuable gems d) is nearly the same as the R.I. of aquamarine e) is about the same as that of garnet

d. is nearly the same as the R.I. of aquamarine

Australian cultured pearls are distinctive and highly prized because they are a) rounder b) larger and have a pinkish color c) smaller and rounder d) larger and have a silvery white color e) larger and black

d. larger and have a silvery white color

4) Synthetic opal can be distinguished from natural opal by a) refractive index b) specific gravity c) u.v. fluorescence d) microscopic characteristics e) all of the above

d. microscopic characteristics

1. Most of the world's present production of Ruby is from a) Myanamar b) Sri Lanka c) Brazil d) Thailand e) Australia

d. thailand

Flux Growth

does not use water or water vapor

65) Flux growth is an important means of synthesizing a) emerald b) ruby c) topaz d) opal e) a and b

e. a and b

Flux growth is an important means of synthesizing a) emerald b) ruby c) topaz d) opal e) a and b

e. a and b

11) Fibrous microcrystalline quartz varieties include a) agate b) onyx c) sard d) carnelian e) all of the above

e. all of the above

31) Heat treatment of ruby a) is used to improve clarity b) is used to improve color c) can be detected with the aid of a microscope d) is a widespread practice e) all of the above

e. all of the above

35) Heat treatment of blue sapphire is a) a widespread practice b) used to improve clarity c) used to lighten color d) can be detected in most cases with the aid of a microscope e) all of the above

e. all of the above

67) Natural corundum is found in a) marbles b) volcanic rocks c) placer gem deposits d) metamorphic rocks e) all of the above

e. all of the above

Heat treatment of blue sapphire is a) a widespread practice b) used to improve clarity c) used to lighten color d) can be detected in most cases with the aid of a microscope e) all of the above

e. all of the above

Separating natural from cultured pears is most reliably done with a) a refractometer b) heavy liquids c) the naked eye d) U.V. fluorescence e) an x-ray radiograph

e. an x-ray radiograph

Most of the worlds cultured pearls come from a) Australia b) persian gulf c) india d) tahiti e) japan

e. japan

Mabe pearls and blister pearls are a) used in necklaces b) not sperical c) pink d) varieties that dont have any nacre e) names for particular kinds of mother of pearl

e. names for particular kinds of mother of pearl

24) Morganite and Heliodor are names given to a) blue and yellow beryl b) pink and black beryl c) pink and purple beryl d) varieties of tourmaline e) none of the above

e. none of the above

6) The term "white opal" refers to all opals that a) come from a particular location b) have a distinctive play-of-color c) have no play-of-color d) do not show a vivid play-of-color e) none of the above

e. none of the above

61) Flame fusion is a process used to a) enhance the color of sapphires b) grow opal in the laboratory c) manufacture cubic zirconia d) turn spinel into corundum e) none of the above

e. none of the above

50) Gem synthetic diamonds are a) available in large sizes, i.e. greater than 1 carat b) identical in every aspect to natural diamond c) have yet to made d) common in today's marketplace e) not widely available

e. not widely available

42) The chromophore in emerald and ruby a) not known b) color centers c) different; one has Fe the other Mn d) is part of each minerals chemical formula e) the same

e. the same

ToF 71) A retailer is legally obligated to disclose any and all treatment a gem has been subjected to improve its appearance.

false

ToF 72) Colored or "fancy" diamonds are always more expensive than white diamonds.

false

ToF 74) Curved growth bands are characteristic of natural sapphire

false

ToF 76) Rainbow obsidian is a variety of man-made glass.

false

ToF 77) Pegmatites are rocks that form from the dissolution of limestones

false

ToF 78) A lode deposit is usually mined by washing gravel with water.

false

ToF 79) Volcanic gems that are xenocrysts are minerals that crystallize from the magma they are found in.

false

ToF 82) Most gem synthesis techniques closely resemble natural processes of gem formation

false

ToF 73) Muzo and Chivor are famous Colombian emerald mines

true

ToF 75) Chrysoprase is a variety of gem quartz

true

ToF 80) The mixing of magmatic water and rainwater is necessary to form hydrothermal vein deposits.

true

ToF 81) The addition of heat to a gem-producing environment allows convection and higher solubility of elements needed to make gem minerals.

true

ToF Texas topaz is generally dark blue

true