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Alluvial Deposit
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Where gems that have been dislodged from their primary deposit by rains or melt water and deposited at the bottom of
a creek or river bed.
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Carat
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Weight measurement, being equal to one fifth of one gram.
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Cut / Cutting
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The process of fashioning faces onto a gem stone in order to enhance light play within the stone.
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Facets / Faces
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Flat surfaces that are cut or polished onto a gem stone.
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Gem
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A stone that can be cut and set as a jewel.
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Gem Phenomena
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Observed effect of light interacting with a gem stone.
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GIA
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Gemological Institute of America.
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Hardness
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The ability to resist being scratched.
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Industrial Grade
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A stone that is not considered of high enough quality to be used in jewelry.
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Jewelers Loupe
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A 10x magnifying glass used to examine gems.
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Pykes
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The core of extinct volcanos.
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Precious Stone
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Commonly referred to gems of high traditional value, diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.
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Refractive Index
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Measure of a materials ability to bend light.
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Specific Gravity
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Scientific term that expresses the density of a material.
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Semi Precious Stone
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All gems that are not considered part of the precious stone group.
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Toughness
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The ability to resist shattering.
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