HUGE Sterling Silver PinkTourmaline Citrine Gemstone Moldavite Pendant Meteorite

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This is a very nice, and highly translucent,GIANT as well as High Quality, Moldavite, Pink Tourmaline and Faceted Citrine Sterling Silver Pendant.And if you don't know what moldavite is, well then, get ready to be amazed!This is what was formed from an ancient meteorite impact in the middle Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The soil was immediately fused into this beautiful green glass!It is highly collectible and more and more rare all the time. It it getting more difficult to find and I was just selling some stuff that I had in an old collection. So I am offering this beautiful piece for you.This is a pendant that I purchased in a collection about 11-12 years ago, back when moldavite was not just through-the-roof-expensive, (it was still high, but now, it is OUTRAGEOUS expensive)I never even SEE pieces like this anymore, this is a really really really large piece of moldavite. The moldavite ALONE would easily sell for well over $500 easily!The larger the pieces the harder that they are to come by, and this piece is not only large, but very very high quality with feathery edges, that is called Besednice.I am trying to raise money, so I am getting rid of some of my most prized and best gemstones and jewelry.So I am offering it here for sale, and I hope I don't regret it!!!!Everything that is in this pendant is 100% TOTALLY and COMPLETELY NATURAL!!! Nothing about the color is enhanced or anything.This amazing pendant weighs 106.07 carats, or 21.20 grams, THAT IS 75% of AN ENTIRE OUNCE OF MOLDAVITE!!!.CRAZY HUGE!!It measures 70 mm by 18 mm by 19 mm (these measurements include the bail).This pendant is solid sterling silver, the yellow gemstone at the top is a faceted citrine, (100% natural, not color enhanced),the pink stone that is set under that is a pink tourmaline cabochon, or Rubellite, also really high quality, and then of course the grand finale, the gigantic moldavite.This would be a perfect gift for someone, or to just buy for yourself! If this is planned to be given as a gift please, just let me know when paying for this,and I can remove the packing slip from the order and pack it up with a really nice velvet or organza gift pouch, they are really adorable.You can even tell me the favorite color of the person that you plan to give the gift to and I can see if I have a gift pouch of that color even!We ship items out the same day payments are received.Thanks so much for visiting my listing and have a great day!If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me.Below is some information from Wikipedia about Moldavite:Moldavite From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation , search This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (June 2010) Moldavite from Besednice, BohemiaMoldavite ( Czech : Vltavín ) is an olive-green or dull greenish vitreous substance possibly formed by a meteorite impact. It is one kind of tektite . It was named [ citation needed ] by Armand Dufrénoy for the town of Moldauthein ( Czech : Týn nad Vltavou ) in Bohemia (the Czech Republic ), where it occurs. It is sometimes cut and polished as an ornamental stone under the name of pseudo- chrysolite .Contents 1 Origin 2 Use 3 References 4 External sources OriginMoldavite's bottle-green glass colour led to its being commonly called Bouteillen-stein, and at one time it was regarded as an artificial product, but this view is opposed to the fact that no remains of glassworks are found in the neighbourhood of its occurrence; moreover, pieces of the substance are widely distributed in Middle to Upper Miocene and younger fluvial clays and gravelly sands in Bohemia and Moravia .In 1900, F. E. Suess pointed out that the gravel -size moldavites exhibited curious pittings and wrinkles on the surface, which could not be due to the action of water, but resembled the characteristic markings on many meteorites. Boldly attributing the material to a cosmic origin, he regarded moldavites as a special type of meteorite for which he proposed the name of tektite . However, for a long time, it was generally believed to be a variety of obsidian . Because of their difficult fusibility, extremely low water content, and its chemical composition, the current overwhelming consensus among earth scientists is that moldavites were formed 15 million years ago during the impact of a giant meteorite in present-day Nördlinger Ries . Splatters of material that was melted by the impact cooled while they were actually airborne and most fell in central Bohemia--traversed by Vltava river ( German : Moldau ). Currently, moldavites have been found in area that includes southern Bohemia, western Moravia, the Cheb Basin (northwest Bohemia), Lusatia (Germany), and Waldviertel (Austria). [ 1 ] Isotope analysis of samples of moldavites have shown a beryllium -10 isotope composition similar to the composition of Australasian tektites ( Australites )and Coast tektites (Ivorites). Their similarity in beryllium-10 isotope composition indicates that moldavites, Australites, and Ivorites consist of near surface and loosely consolidated terrestrial sediments melted by hypervelocity impacts. [ 2 ]UseThe total amount of Moldavite scattered around the world is estimated at 275 tons. There are now only four [ citation needed ] moldavite mines that are in full operation in the Czech Republic. It is predicted that in less than ten years from now [ when? ] commercial Moldavite mining will come to an end. After this time, there will be virtually no appreciable amount of gem-grade Moldavite left in the ground.There are typically two grades of moldavite: high quality, often referred to as museum grade, and regular grade. Museum and regular grade moldavite can be told apart by the way they look: The regular grade pieces are usually darker and more saturated in their green colour, and the surface is seen as closely spaced pitting or weathering. This type sometimes appears to have been broken apart from a larger chunk.The museum grade has a distinct fern-like pattern and is much more translucent than the regular grade. There is usually a fairly big difference in the price between the two. The museum grade "flower bursts" are much more prized by the connoisseur. High-quality moldavite stones are often used in hand-crafted jewellery and thus enter the market away from mainstream jewellery fashions, more centred around art and craft, and as such have gained an almost cult status.Tourmaline From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tourmaline Schorl Tourmaline General Category Cyclosilicate Formula(repeating unit) (Ca,K,Na,[])(Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn) 3 (Al,Cr, Fe,V) 6(BO 3 ) 3 (Si,Al,B) 6 O 18 (OH,F) 4[ 1 ] [ 2 ] Identification Color Most commonly black, but can range from colorless, brown, violet, yellow, orange, blue, red, green, pink, or bi-colored, or even tri-colored. Crystal habit Parallel and elongated. Acicular prisms, sometimes radiating. Massive. Scattered grains (in granite). Crystal system Trigonal Cleavage Indistinct Fracture Uneven, small conchoidal, brittle Mohs scale hardness 7-7.5 Luster Vitreous, sometimes resinous Streak White Specific gravity 3.06 (+.20 -.06) [ 1 ] Density 2.82-3.32 Polish luster Vitreous [ 1 ] Optical properties Double refractive, uniaxial negative [ 1 ] Refractive index nω=1.635-1.675, nε=1.610-1.650 Birefringence -0.018 to -0.040; typically about .020 but in dark stones it may reach .040 [ 1 ] Pleochroism typically moderate to strong [ 1 ]Red Tourmaline: Definite; dark red,light redGreen Tourmaline: Strong; dark green, yellow-greenBrown Tourmaline: Definite; dark brown, light brownBlue Tourmaline: Strong; dark blue, light blue Dispersion .017 [ 1 ] Ultraviolet fluorescence pink stones--inert to very weak red to violet in long and short wave [ 1 ] Absorption spectra a strong narrow band at 498 nm, and almost complete absorption of red down to 640nm in blue and green stones; red and pink stones show lines at 458 and 451nm as well as a broad band in the green spectrum [ 1 ]Tourmaline ( / ˈ t ʊər m ə l iː n / TOOR -mə-leen ) is a crystalline boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium , iron, magnesium , sodium , lithium , or potassium . Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors. The name comes from the Tamil and Sinhalese word "Turmali" (තුරමලි) or "Thoramalli" (තෝරමල්ලි), which applied to different gemstones found in Sri Lanka .Contents 1 History 2 Tourmaline species and varieties 2.1 Schorl 2.2 Dravite 2.3 Elbaite 2.4 Chemical composition of the tourmaline group 3 Physical properties 3.1 Crystal structure 3.2 Color 3.3 Magnetism 3.4 Treatments 4 Geology 5 Tourmaline localities 5.1 United States 5.2 Brazil 5.2.1 World's largest 5.3 Africa 5.4 Afghanistan 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links HistoryBrightly colored Sri Lankan gem tourmalines were brought to Europe in great quantities by the Dutch East India Company to satisfy a demand for curiosities and gems. At the time it was not realised that schorl and tourmaline were the same mineral (it was only about 1703 that it was discovered that some colored gems weren't zircons [ citation needed ] ). Tourmaline was sometimes called the "Ceylonese [Sri Lankan] Magnet" because it could attract and then repel hot ashes due to its pyroelectric properties. [ 2 ] [ 3 ]Tourmalines were used by chemists in the 19th century to polarize light by shining rays onto a cut and polished surface of the gem. [ 4 ]Tourmaline species and varietiesCommonly encountered species and varietiesRubellite, 1.63ct, Brazil Indicolite, 1.45ct, Brazil Bi-Color Tourmaline, 6.75ct, Brazil Schorl species: Brownish black to Black--Schorl Dravite species: from the Drave district of Carinthia Dark yellow to brownish black--dravite Elbaite species: named after the island of Elba , Italy Red or pinkish-red--rubellite variety (from rubellus ) Light blue to bluish green-- Brazilian indicolite variety (from indigo ) Green--verdelite or Brazilian emerald variety Colorless--achroite variety (from the Greek "άχρωμος" meaning "colorless") Schorl Schorl, 9.31ct, BrazilThe most common species of tourmaline is schorl , the sodium iron (divalent) endmember of the group. It may account for 95% or more of all tourmaline in nature. The early history of the mineral schorl shows that the name "schorl" was in use prior to 1400 because a village known today as Zschorlau (in Saxony , Germany) was then named "Schorl" (or minor variants of this name). This village had a nearby tin mine where, in addition to cassiterite , black tourmaline was found. The first description of schorl with the name "schürl" and its occurrence (various tin mines in the Saxony Ore Mountains ) was written by Johannes Mathesius (1504-1565) in 1562 under the title "Sarepta oder Bergpostill". [ 5 ] Up to about 1600, additional names used in the German language were "Schurel", "Schörle", and "Schurl". Beginning in the 18th century, the name Schörl was mainly used in the German-speaking area. In English, the names shorl and shirl were used in the 18th century. In the 19th century the names common schorl , schörl , schorl and iron tourmaline were the English words used for this mineral. [ 5 ]Dravite Black Dravite on a grey matrixDravite, also called brown tourmaline, is the sodium magnesium rich tourmaline endmember. Uvite, in comparison, is a calcium magnesium tourmaline. Dravite forms multiple series, with other tourmaline members, including schorl and elbaite.The name dravite was used for the first time by Gustav Tschermak (1836-1927), Professor of Mineralogy and Petrography at the University of Vienna , in his book Lehrbuch der Mineralogie (published in 1884) for magnesium -rich (and sodium -rich) tourmaline from Unterdrauburg in the Drava river area, Carinthia , Austro-Hungarian Empire . Today this tourmaline locality (type locality for dravite) at Dravograd (near Dobrova pri Dravogradu), is a part of the Republic of Slovenia . [ 6 ] Tschermak gave this tourmaline the name dravite, for the Drava river area, which is the district along the Drava River (in German: Drau , in Latin : Drave ) in Austria and Slovenia. The chemical composition which was given by Tschermak in 1884 for this dravite approximately corresponds to the formula NaMg 3 (Al,Mg) 6 B 3 Si 6 O 27 (OH), which is in good agreement (except for the OH content) with the endmember formula of dravite as known today. [ 6 ]Dravite varieties include the deep green chromium dravite and the vanadium dravite.ElbaiteA lithium-tourmaline elbaite was one of three pegmatitic minerals from Utö , Sweden , in which the new alkali element lithium (Li) was determined in 1818 by Johan August Arfwedson for the first time. [ 7 ] Elba Island , Italy , was one of the first localities where colored and colorless Li-tourmalines were extensively chemically analysed. In 1850 Karl Friedrich August Rammelsberg described fluorine (F) in tourmaline for the first time. In 1870 he proved that all varieties of tourmaline contain chemically bound water. In 1889 Scharitzer proposed the substitution of (OH) by F in red Li-tourmaline from Sušice , Czech Republic . In 1914 Vladimir Vernadsky proposed the name Elbait for lithium-, sodium-, and aluminum-rich tourmaline from Elba Island, Italy, with the simplified formula (Li,Na)HAl 6 B 2 Si 4 O 21 . [ 7 ] Most likely the type material for elbaite was found at Fonte del Prete, San Piero in Campo, Campo nell'Elba , Elba Island, Province of Livorno , Tuscany , Italy . [ 7 ] In 1933 Winchell published an updated formula for elbaite, H 8 Na 2 Li 3 Al 3 B 6 Al 12 Si 12 O 62 , which is commonly used to date written as Na(Li 1.5 Al 1.5 )Al 6 (BO 3 ) 3 [Si 6 O 18 ](OH) 3 (OH). [ 7 ] The first crystal structure determination of a Li-rich tourmaline was published in 1972 by Donnay and Barton, performed on a pink elbaite from San Diego County , California , United States.Chemical composition of the tourmaline groupThe tourmaline mineral group is chemically one of the most complicated groups of silicate minerals . Its composition varies widely because of isomorphous replacement (solid solution), and its general formula can be written asXY 3 Z 6 (T 6 O 18 )(BO 3 ) 3 V 3 W,where: [ 8 ]X = Ca , Na , K , □ = vacancyY = Li , Mg , Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn , Al , Cr 3+ , V 3+ , Fe 3+ , Ti 4+ , vacancyZ = Mg, Al, Fe 3+ , Cr 3+ , V 3+T = Si , Al, BB = B, vacancyV = O H , OW = OH, F , OLarge pink elbaite crystal on quartz, Cryo-Genie Mine, San Diego Co., California, US. The 31 minerals in the group (endmember formulas) recognized by the International Mineralogical Association Adachiite CaFe 2+ 3 Al 6 (Si 5 AlO 18 )(BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Bosiite NaFe 3+ 3 (Al 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Chromium-dravite NaMg 3 Cr 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Chromo-alumino-povondraite NaCr 3 (Al 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Darrellhenryite NaLiAl 2 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Dravite NaMg 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Elbaite Na(Li 1.5 ,Al 1.5 )Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Feruvite CaFe 2+ 3 (MgAl 5 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Fluor-buergerite NaFe 3+ 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 O 3 F Fluor-dravite NaMg 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Fluor-elbaite Na(Li 1.5 ,Al 1.5 )Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Fluor-liddicoatite Ca(Li 2 Al)Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Fluor-schorl NaFe 2+ 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Fluor-tsilaisite NaMn 2+ 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Fluor-uvite CaMg 3 (Al 5 Mg)Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 F Foitite □(Fe 2+ 2 Al)Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Luinaite-(OH) (Na,□)(Fe 2+ ,Mg) 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Magnesio-foitite □(Mg 2 Al)Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Maruyamaite K(MgAl 2 )(Al 5 Mg)Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Olenite NaAl 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 O 3 OH Oxy-chromium-dravite NaCr 3 (Mg 2 Cr 4 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Oxy-dravite Na(Al 2 Mg)(Al 5 Mg)Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Oxy-schorl Na(Fe 2+ 2 Al)Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Oxy-vanadium-dravite NaV 3 (V 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Povondraite NaFe 3+ 3 (Fe 3+ 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Rossmanite □(LiAl 2 )Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Schorl NaFe 2+ 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Tsilaisite NaMn 2+ 3 Al 6 Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Uvite CaMg 3 (Al 5 Mg)Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OH Vanadio-oxy-chromium-dravite NaV 3 (Cr 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 O Vanadio-oxy-dravite NaV 3 (Al 4 Mg 2 )Si 6 O 18 (BO 3 ) 3 (OH) 3 OA revised nomenclature for the tourmaline group was published in 2011. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ]Physical properties Crystal structure Tri-color elbaite crystals on quartz, Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California, USTourmaline is a six-member ring cyclosilicate having a trigonal crystal system. It occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section, often with curved striated faces. The style of termination at the ends of crystals is sometimes asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. Small slender prismatic crystals are common in a fine-grained granite called aplite , often forming radial daisy-like patterns. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. Prisms faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect. Tourmaline is rarely perfectly euhedral . An exception was the fine dravite tourmalines of Yinnietharra , in western Australia. The deposit was discovered in the 1970s, but is now exhausted. All hemimorphic crystals are piezoelectric , and are often pyroelectric as well.Color Tourmaline gemstones - MozambiqueTourmaline has a variety of colors. Usually, iron-rich tourmalines are black to bluish-black to deep brown, while magnesium-rich varieties are brown to yellow, and lithium-rich tourmalines are almost any color: blue, green, red, yellow, pink, etc. Rarely, it is colorless. Bi-colored and multicolored crystals are common, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallization. Crystals may be green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink inside; this type is called watermelon tourmaline. Some forms of tourmaline are dichroic , in that they change color when viewed from different directions.Two dark green rectangular tourmaline stones and one oval tourmaline stone.The pink color of tourmalines from many fields is the result of prolonged natural irradiation. During their growth, these tourmaline crystals incorporated Mn 2+ and were initially very pale. Due to natural gamma ray exposure from radioactive decay of 40 K in their granitic environment, gradual formation of Mn 3+ ions occurs, which is responsible for the deepening of the pink to red color. [ 12 ]MagnetismOpaque black schorl and yellow tsilaisite are idiochromatic tourmaline species that have high magnetic susceptibilities due to high concentrations of iron and manganese respectively. Most gem-quality tourmalines are of the elbaite species. Elbaite tourmalines are allochromatic, deriving most of their color and magnetic susceptibility from schorl (which imparts iron) and tsilaisite (which imparts manganese).Red and pink tourmalines have the lowest magnetic susceptibilities among the elbaites, while tourmalines with bright yellow, green and blue colors are the most magnetic elbaites. Dravite species such as green chromium dravite and brown dravite are diamagnetic. A handheld neodymium magnet can be used to identify or separate some types of tourmaline gems from others. For example, blue indicolite tourmaline is the only blue gemstone of any kind that will show a drag response when a neodymium magnet is applied. Any blue tourmaline that is diamagnetic can be identified as paraiba tourmaline colored by copper in contrast to magnetic blue tourmaline colored by iron. [ 13 ]TreatmentsSome tourmaline gems, especially pink to red colored stones, are altered by heat treatment to improve their color. Irradiation is almost impossible to detect in tourmalines, and does not, currently, impact the value. Heat treatment is also used to enhance tourmaline. Heavily-included tourmalines, such as rubellite and Brazilian paraiba, are sometimes clarity-enhanced. A clarity-enhanced tourmaline (especially paraiba) is worth much less than a non-treated gem. [ 14 ]GeologyTourmaline is found in granite and granite pegmatites and in metamorphic rocks such as schist and marble . Schorl and lithium-rich tourmalines are usually found in granite and granite pegmatite. Magnesium-rich tourmalines, dravites, are generally restricted to schists and marble. Tourmaline is a durable mineral and can be found in minor amounts as grains in sandstone and conglomerate , and is part of the ZTR index for highly weathered sediments. [ citation needed ]Tourmaline localities Bi-colored tourmaline crystal, 0.8 inches (2 cm) long.Gem and specimen tourmaline is mined chiefly in Brazil and Africa. Some placer material suitable for gem use comes from Sri Lanka. In addition to Brazil, tourmaline is mined in Tanzania , Nigeria , Kenya , Madagascar , Mozambique , Namibia , Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka , and Malawi . [ 15 ]United StatesSome fine gems and specimen material has been produced in the United States, with the first discoveries in 1822, in the state of Maine . California became a large producer of tourmaline in the early 1900s. The Maine deposits tend to produce crystals in raspberry pink-red as well as minty greens. The California deposits are known for bright pinks, as well as bicolors. During the early 1900s, Maine and California were the world's largest producers of gem tourmalines. The Empress Dowager Cixi of China loved pink tourmaline and bought large quantities for gemstones and carvings from the then new Himalaya Mine, located in San Diego County , California. [ 16 ] It is not clear when the first tourmaline was found in California. Native Americans have used pink and green tourmaline as funeral gifts for centuries. The first documented case was in 1890 when Charles Russel Orcutt found pink tourmaline at what later became the Stewart Mine at Pala , San Diego County . [ 17 ]Brazil Watermelon Tourmaline mineral on quartz matrix (crystal approximately 2 cm wide at face) Paraiba Tourmaline, blue, 0.36ct Paraiba Tourmaline, green, 0.42ctAlmost every color of tourmaline can be found in Brazil, especially in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Bahia . In 1989, miners discovered a unique and brightly colored variety of tourmaline in the state of Paraíba . [ citation needed ] The new type of tourmaline, which soon became known as paraiba tourmaline, came in blue and green. Brazilian paraiba tourmaline usually contains abundant inclusions. Much of the paraiba tourmaline from Brazil actually comes from the neighboring state of Rio Grande do Norte . Material from Rio Grande do Norte is often somewhat less intense in color, but many fine gems are found there. It was determined that the element copper was important in the coloration of the stone. [ 18 ]World's largestA large cut tourmaline from Paraiba, measuring 36.44 x 33.75 x 21.85 mm (1.43 x 1.33 x 0.86 in) and weighing 191.87 carats, was included in the Guinness World Records . [ 19 ] The large natural gem, owned by Billionaire Business Enterprises, [ 19 ] is a bluish-green in color. The flawless oval shaped cut stone was presented in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 14 October 2009. [ 20 ]Africa Tourmaline mineral (approximately 10 cm tall) Paraiba Tourmaline, Mozambique, 0.79ctIn the late 1990s, copper-containing tourmaline was found in Nigeria . The material was generally paler and less saturated than the Brazilian materials, although the material generally was much less included. A more recent African discovery from Mozambique has also produced beautiful tourmaline colored by copper, similar to the Brazilian paraiba . While its colors are somewhat less bright than top Brazilian material, Mozambique paraiba is often less included and has been found in larger sizes. The Mozambique paraiba material usually is more intensely colored than the Nigerian. There is a significant overlap in color and clarity with Mozambique paraiba and Brazilian paraiba, especially with the material from Rio Grande do Norte. While less expensive than top quality Brazilian paraiba, some Mozambique material sells for well over $5,000 per carat , which still is extremely high compared to other tourmalines.Another highly valuable variety is chrome tourmaline, a rare type of dravite tourmaline from Tanzania . Chrome tourmaline is a rich green color due to the presence of chromium atoms in the crystal; chromium also produces the green color of emeralds . Of the standard elbaite colors, blue indicolite gems are typically the most valuable, [ 21 ] followed by green verdelite and pink to red rubellite. [ citation needed ] There are also yellow tourmalines, sometimes known as canary tourmaline. Zambia is rich in both red and yellow tourmaline, which are relatively inexpensive in that country. Ironically the rarest variety, colorless achroite, is not appreciated and is the least expensive of the transparent tourmalines.AfghanistanExtra fine indicolite (blue tourmaline) and verdelite (green tourmaline) are found in the Nuristan region (Ghazi Abad district) and Pech Valley (Pech and Chapa Dara districts) of Kunar province . Gem-quality tourmalines are faceted (cut) from 0.50-10 gram sizes and have unusually high clarity and intense shades of color.Quartz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the mineral. For other uses, see Quartz (disambiguation) . Quartz Quartz crystal cluster from Tibet General Category Oxide mineral [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Formula(repeating unit) SiO 2 Strunz classification 04.DA.05 (Oxides) Dana classification 75.01.03.01 (tectosilicates) Crystal symmetry Trigonal 32 Unit cell a = 4.9133 Å , c = 5.4053 Å; Z=3 Identification Color Colorless through various colors to black Crystal habit 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid (typical), drusy, fine-grained to microcrystalline, massive Crystal system α-quartz: trigonal trapezohedral class 3 2; β-quartz: hexagonal 622 [ 3 ] Twinning Common Dauphine law, Brazil law and Japan law Cleavage {0110} Indistinct Fracture Conchoidal Tenacity Brittle Mohs scale hardness 7 - lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) Luster Vitreous - waxy to dull when massive Streak White Diaphaneity Transparent to nearly opaque Specific gravity 2.65; variable 2.59-2.63 in impure varieties Optical properties Uniaxial (+) Refractive index n ω = 1.543-1.545n ε = 1.552-1.554 Birefringence +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism None Melting point 1670 °C (β tridymite ) 1713 °C (β cristobalite ) [ 3 ] Solubility Insoluble at STP ; 1 ppm mass at 400 °C and 500 lb/in 2 to 2600 ppm mass at 500 °C and 1500 lb/in 2 [ 3 ] Other characteristics Piezoelectric , may be triboluminescent , chiral (hence optically active if not racemic) References [ 1 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth 's continental crust , after feldspar . Its crystal structure is a continuous framework of SiO 4 silicon - oxygen tetrahedra , with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO 2 .There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones . Since antiquity, varieties of quartz have been the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings , especially in Europe and the Middle East.Contents 1 Etymology 2 Crystal habit and structure 3 Varieties (according to color) 3.1 Amethyst 3.2 Citrine 3.3 Rose quartz 3.4 Smoky quartz 3.5 Milky quartz 4 Varieties (according to microstructure) 5 Synthetic and artificial treatments 6 Occurrence 7 Related silica minerals 8 History 9 Piezoelectricity 10 See also 11 References 12 External links EtymologyThe word "quartz" is derived from the German word "Quarz" and its Middle High German ancestor "twarc", which probably originated in Slavic , cf. Czech tvrdý ("hard"), Polish twardy ("hard"), Serbian and Croatian tvrd ("hard"). [ 7 ]The Ancient Greeks referred to quartz as κρύσταλλος ( krustallos ) derived from the Ancient Greek κρύος ( kruos ) meaning "icy cold", because some philosophers (including Theophrastus ) apparently believed the mineral to be a form of supercooled ice. [ 8 ] Today, the term rock crystal is sometimes used as an alternative name for the purest form of quartz.Crystal habit and structure Crystal structure of α-quartz (red balls are oxygen, grey are silicon) β-quartzQuartz belongs to the trigonal crystal system . The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. In nature quartz crystals are often twinned , distorted, or so intergrown with adjacent crystals of quartz or other minerals as to only show part of this shape, or to lack obvious crystal faces altogether and appear massive. Well-formed crystals typically form in a 'bed' that has unconstrained growth into a void; usually the crystals are attached at the other end to a matrix and only one termination pyramid is present. However doubly-terminated crystals do occur where they develop freely without attachment, for instance within gypsum . A quartz geode is such a situation where the void is approximately spherical in shape, lined with a bed of crystals pointing inward.α-quartz crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system, space group P 3 1 21 and P 3 2 21 respectively. β-quartz belongs to the hexagonal system, space group P 6 2 22 and P 6 4 22, respectively. [ 9 ] These space groups are truly chiral (they each belong to the 11 enantiomorphous pairs). Both α-quartz and β-quartz are examples of chiral crystal structures composed of achiral building blocks (SiO 4 tetrahedra in the present case). The transformation between α- and β-quartz only involves a comparatively minor rotation of the tetrahedra with respect to one another, without change in the way they are linked.Varieties (according to color) Clear rock crystals on a white basePure quartz, traditionally called rock crystal or clear quartz, is colorless and transparent or translucent, and has often been used for hardstone carvings , such as the Lothair Crystal . Common colored varieties include citrine, rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others.The most important distinction between types of quartz is that of macrocrystalline (individual crystals visible to the unaided eye) and the microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline varieties (aggregates of crystals visible only under high magnification). The cryptocrystalline varieties are either translucent or mostly opaque, while the transparent varieties tend to be macrocrystalline. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica consisting of fine intergrowths of both quartz, and its monoclinic polymorph moganite . [ 10 ] Other opaque gemstone varieties of quartz, or mixed rocks including quartz, often including contrasting bands or patterns of color, are agate , carnelian or sard, onyx , heliotrope , and jasper .Amethyst Amethyst crystals on matrixAmethyst is a popular form of quartz that ranges from a bright to dark or dull purple color. The world's largest deposits of amethysts can be found in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, France, Namibia and Morocco. Sometimes amethyst and citrine are found growing in the same crystal. It is then referred to as ametrine . An amethyst is formed when there is iron in the area where it was formed.Citrine Citrine from BrazilCitrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown due to ferric impurities. Natural citrines are rare; most commercial citrines are heat-treated amethysts or smoky quartzes . However, a heat-treated amethyst will have small lines in the crystal, as opposed to a natural citrine's cloudy or smokey appearance. It is nearly impossible to tell cut citrine from yellow topaz visually, but they differ in hardness. Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, with much of its production coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul . The name is derived from Latin citrina which means "yellow" and is also the origin of the word "citron." Sometimes citrine and amethyst can be found together in the same crystal, which is then referred to as ametrine . [ 11 ]Rose quartz Rose quartz cluster (Size: 3.4 x 3.1 x 1.9 cm)Rose quartz is a type of quartz which exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium , iron , or manganese , in the massive material. Some rose quartz contains microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the massive quartz. [ 12 ]Additionally, there is a rare type of pink quartz (also frequently called crystalline rose quartz) with color that is thought to be caused by trace amounts of phosphate or aluminium . The color in crystals is apparently photosensitive and subject to fading. The first crystals were found in a pegmatite found near Rumford , Maine , USA and in Minas Gerais , Brazil . [ 13 ]Smoky quartz from the Alps Smoky quartzSmoky quartz is a gray, translucent version of quartz. It ranges in clarity from almost complete transparency to a brownish-gray crystal that is almost opaque. Some can also be black.Milky quartz Milky quartz sampleMilk quartz or milky quartz is the most common variety of crystalline quartz. The white color is caused by minute fluid inclusions of gas, liquid, or both, trapped during crystal formation, [ citation needed ] making it of little value for optical and quality gemstone applications. [ 14 ]Varieties (according to microstructure)Although many of the varietal names historically arose from the color of the mineral, current scientific naming schemes refer primarily to the microstructure of the mineral. Color is a secondary identifier for the cryptocrystalline minerals, although it is a primary identifier for the macrocrystalline varieties.Major varieties of quartz Chalcedony Cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite mixture. The term is generally only used for white or lightly colored material. Otherwise more specific names are used. Agate Multi-colored, banded chalcedony, semi-translucent to translucent Onyx Agate where the bands are straight, parallel and consistent in size. Jasper Opaque cryptocrystalline quartz, typically red to brown Aventurine Translucent chalcedony with small inclusions (usually mica) that shimmer. Tiger's eye Fibrous gold to red-brown colored quartz, exhibiting chatoyancy . Rock crystal Clear, colorless Amethyst Purple, transparent Citrine Yellow to reddish orange to brown, greenish yellow Prasiolite Mint green, transparent Rose quartz Pink, translucent, may display diasterism Rutilated quartz Contains acicular (needle-like) inclusions of rutile Milky quartz White, translucent to opaque, may display diasterism Smoky quartz Brown to gray, opaque Carnelian Reddish orange chalcedony, translucent Dumortierite quartz Contains large amounts of dumortierite crystals Synthetic and artificial treatments A synthetic quartz crystal grown by the hydrothermal method , about 19 cm long and weighing about 127 gramsNot all varieties of quartz are naturally occurring. Some clear quartz crystals can be treated using heat or gamma-irradiation to induce color where it would not otherwise have occurred naturally. Susceptibility to such treatments depends on the location from which the quartz was mined. [ 15 ] Prasiolite , an olive colored material, is produced by heat treatment; natural prasiolite has also been observed in Lower Silesia in Poland. Although citrine occurs naturally, the majority is the result of heat-treated amethyst. Carnelian is widely heat-treated to deepen its color.Because natural quartz is often twinned , synthetic quartz is produced for use in industry. Large, flawless, single crystals are synthesized in an autoclave via the hydrothermal process ; emeralds are also synthesized in this fashion.Like other crystals, quartz may be coated with metal vapors to give it an attractive sheen.OccurrenceQuartz is a defining constituent of granite and other felsic igneous rocks . It is very common in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale and is also present in variable amounts as an accessory mineral in most carbonate rocks . It is a common constituent of schist , gneiss , quartzite and other metamorphic rocks . Quartz has the lowest potential for weathering in the Goldich dissolution series and consequently it is very common as a residual mineral in stream sediments and residual soils .While the majority of quartz crystallizes from molten magma , much quartz also chemically precipitates from hot hydrothermal veins as gangue , sometimes with ore minerals like gold, silver and copper. Large crystals of quartz are found in magmatic pegmatites . Well-formed crystals may reach several meters in length and weigh hundreds of kilograms.Naturally occurring quartz crystals of extremely high purity, necessary for the crucibles and other equipment used for growing silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry, are expensive and rare. A major mining location for high purity quartz is the Spruce Pine Gem Mine in Spruce Pine, North Carolina , United States . [ 16 ]The largest documented single crystal of quartz was found near Itapore, Goiaz, Brazil; it measured approximately 6.1×1.5×1.5 m and weighed more than 44 tonnes . [ 17 ]Related silica mineralsTridymite and cristobalite are high-temperature polymorphs of SiO 2 that occur in high-silica volcanic rocks. Coesite is a denser polymorph of SiO 2 found in some meteorite impact sites and in metamorphic rocks formed at pressures greater than those typical of the Earth's crust. Stishovite is a yet denser and higher-pressure polymorph of SiO 2 found in some meteorite impact sites. Lechatelierite is an amorphous silica glass SiO 2 which is formed by lightning strikes in quartz sand .History Fatimid ewer in carved rock crystal (clear quartz) with gold lid, c. 1000 Quartz crystal demonstrating transparencyThe word "quartz" comes from the German Quarz ( help · info ) , [ 18 ] which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křemen ). Other sources attribute the word's origin to the Saxon word Querkluftertz , meaning cross-vein ore . [ 19 ]Quartz is the most common material identified as the mystical substance maban in Australian Aboriginal mythology . It is found regularly in passage tomb cemeteries in Europe in a burial context, such as Newgrange or Carrowmore in Ireland . The Irish word for quartz is grian cloch , which means 'stone of the sun'. Quartz was also used in Prehistoric Ireland , as well as many other countries, for stone tools ; both vein quartz and rock crystal were knapped as part of the lithic technology of the prehistoric peoples. [ 20 ]While jade has been since earliest times the most prized semi-precious stone for carving in East Asia and Pre-Columbian America, in Europe and the Middle East the different varieties of quartz were the most commonly used for the various types of jewelry and hardstone carving , including engraved gems and cameo gems , rock crystal vases , and extravagant vessels. The tradition continued to produce objects that were very highly valued until the mid-19th century, when it largely fell from fashion except in jewelry. Cameo technique exploits the bands of color in onyx and other varieties.Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice , permanently frozen after great lengths of time. [ 21 ] (The word "crystal" comes from the Greek word κρύσταλλος , "ice".) He supported this idea by saying that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains, and that large quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to cool the hands. This idea persisted until at least the 17th century. He also knew of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum .In the 17th century, Nicolas Steno 's study of quartz paved the way for modern crystallography . He discovered that regardless of a quartz crystal's size or shape, its long prism faces always joined at a perfect 60° angle. [ 22 ]Quartz's piezoelectric properties were discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie in 1880. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] The quartz oscillator or resonator was first developed by Walter Guyton Cady in 1921. [ 25 ] [ 26 ] George Washington Pierce designed and patented quartz crystal oscillators in 1923. [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Warren Marrison created the first quartz oscillator clock based on the work of Cady and Pierce in 1927. [ 30 ]Efforts to synthesize quartz began in the mid nineteenth century as scientists attempted to create minerals under laboratory conditions that mimicked the conditions in which the minerals formed in nature: German geologist Karl Emil von Schafhäutl (1803-1890) [ 31 ] was the first person to synthesize quartz when in 1845 he created microscopic quartz crystals in a pressure cooker. [ 32 ] However, the quality and size of the crystals that were produced by these early efforts were poor. [ 33 ] By the 1930s, the electronics industry had become dependent on quartz crystals. The only source of suitable crystals was Brazil; however, World War II disrupted the supplies from Brazil, so nations attempted to synthesize quartz on a commercial scale. German mineralogist Richard Nacken (1884-1971) achieved some success during the 1930s and 1940s. [ 34 ] After the war, many laboratories attempted to grow large quartz crystals. In the United States, the U.S. Army Signal Corps contracted with Bell Laboratories and with the Brush Development Company of Cleveland, Ohio to synthesize crystals following Nacken's lead. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] (Prior to World War II, Brush Development produced piezoelectric crystals for record players.) By 1948, Brush Development had grown crystals that were 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter, the largest to date. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] By the 1950s, hydrothermal synthesis techniques were producing synthetic quartz crystals on an industrial scale, and today virtually all the quartz crystal used in the modern electronic industry is synthetic.PiezoelectricityQuartz crystals have piezoelectric properties; they develop an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress . An early use of this property of quartz crystals was in phonograph pickups. One of the most common piezoelectric uses of quartz today is as a crystal oscillator . The quartz clock is a familiar device using the mineral. The resonant frequency of a quartz crystal oscillator is changed by mechanically loading it, and this principle is used for very accurate measurements of very small mass changes in the quartz crystal microbalance and in thin-film thickness monitors .Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper . The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.Fine silver is 99.9% pure and is generally too soft for producing functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal . Other metals can replace the copper, usually with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity , eliminating firescale , and increasing resistance to tarnish . These replacement metals include germanium , zinc and platinum , as well as a variety of other additives, including silicon and boron . A number of alloys, such as Argentium sterling silver , have appeared in recent years, formulated to lessen firescale or to inhibit tarnish, and this has sparked heavy competition among the various manufacturers, who are rushing to make claims of having the best formulation. However, no one alloy has emerged to replace copper as the industry standard, and alloy development is a very active area.Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Hallmarks 4 Uses 5 Tarnish and corrosion 6 References 7 External links Etymology Norman silver pennies changed designs every three years. This two-star design (possible origin of the word "sterling"), issued by William the Conqueror, is from 1077-1080.One of the earliest attestations of the term is in Old French form esterlin , in a charter of the abbey of Les Préaux , dating to either 1085 or 1104. The English chronicler Orderic Vitalis (1075 - c. 1142) uses the Latin forms libræ sterilensium and libræ sterilensis monetæ . The word in origin refers to the newly introduced Norman silver penny.According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the most plausible etymology is derivation from a late Old English steorling (with (or like) a "little star"), as some early Norman pennies were imprinted with a small star. There are a number of obsolete hypotheses. One suggests a connection with starling , because four birds (in fact martlets ) were depicted on a penny of Edward I , and another a supposed connection with easterling , a term for natives of the Baltic or the Hanse towns of eastern Germany. This etymology is itself medieval, suggested by Walter de Pinchebek (ca. 1300) with the explanation that the coin was originally made by moneyers from that region. [ 1 ]On the other hand, Philip Grierson , in his essay on Sterling, points out that the stars appeared on Norman pennies only for a single 3-year issue from 1077-80 (the Normans changed coin designs every 3 years), and that the star-theory thus fails on linguistic grounds: extensive research has been done on how coins acquire names, including nicknames. Grierson's proposed alternative involves an analogy with the Byzantine solidus , originally known the solidus aureaus meaning "solid gold" or "reliable gold". Even though English silver pennies had become famous for their consistent weight and purity in the days of Offa, King of Mercia , by the time of the Conquest English coinage had seriously degenerated. One of the first acts of the Normans was to restore the coinage to what it had been in the days of Offa and to maintain it consistently. Grierson thus proposes that "sterling" derives from "ster" [ 2 ] meaning "strong" or "stout". [ 3 ]History Pair of sterling silver forksThe sterling alloy originated in continental Europe [ citation needed ] and was being used for commerce as early as the 12th century in the area that is now northern Germany .In England the composition of sterling silver was subject to official assay at some date before 1158, during the reign of Henry II , but its purity was probably regulated from centuries earlier, in Saxon times. A piece of sterling silver dating from Henry II's reign was used as a standard in the Trial of the Pyx until it was deposited at the Royal Mint in 1843. It bears the royal stamp ENRI. REX ("King Henry") but this was added later, in the reign of Henry III . The first legal definition of sterling silver appeared in 1275, when a statute of Edward I specified that 12 ounces of silver for coinage should contain 11 ounces 2¼ pennyweights of silver and 17¾ pennyweights of alloy. [ 4 ]From about 1840 to somewhere around 1940 in the United States and Europe , sterling silver cutlery [US flatware] became de rigueur when setting a proper table . In fact, there was a marked increase in the number of silver companies that emerged during that period.The height of the silver craze was during the 50-year period from 1870 to 1920. Flatware lines during this period sometimes included up to 100 different types of pieces. In conjunction with this, the dinner went from three courses to sometimes ten or more. There was a soup course , a salad course , a fruit course , a cheese course , an antipasto course , a fish course , the main course and a pastry or dessert course .Individual eating implements often included forks ( dinner fork , place fork , salad fork , pastry fork , shrimp or cocktail fork ), spoons ( teaspoon , coffee spoon , demitasse spoon , bouillon spoon , gumbo soup spoon , iced tea spoon ) and knives ( dinner knife , place knife , butter spreader , fruit knife , cheese knife ). This was especially true during the Victorian period, when etiquette dictated nothing should be touched with one's fingers.Serving pieces were often elaborately decorated and pierced and embellished with ivory, and could include any or all of the following: carving knife and fork, salad knife and fork, cold meat fork, punch ladle, soup ladle, gravy ladle, casserole serving spoon, berry spoon, lasagna server, macaroni server, asparagus server, cucumber server, tomato server, olive spoon, cheese scoop, fish knife and fork, pastry server, petit four server, cake knife, bon bon spoon, tiny salt spoon, sugar sifter or caster and crumb remover with brush.Cutlery sets were often accompanied by tea sets , hot water pots, chocolate pots, trays and salvers, goblets, demitasse cups and saucers, liqueur cups, bouillon cups, egg cups, sterling plates, napkin rings, water and wine pitchers and coasters, candelabra and even elaborate centerpieces.In fact, the craze with sterling even extended to business (sterling paper clips , mechanical pencils , letter openers, calling card boxes, cigarette cases ), to the boudoir (sterling dresser trays , mirrors, hair and suit brushes, pill bottles, manicure sets, shoehorns , perfume bottles, powder bottles, hair clips ) and even to children (cups, cutlery , rattles , christening sets ).A number of factors converged to make sterling fall out of favor around the time of World War II . The cost of labor rose (sterling pieces were all still mostly hand made, with only the basics being done by machine). Only the wealthy could afford the large number of servants required for fancy dining with ten courses. And changes in aesthetics resulted in people desiring simpler dinnerware that was easier to clean.HallmarksOver the years, some countries developed systems of hallmarking silver . The purpose of hallmark application is many fold:To indicate the purity of the silver alloy used in the manufacture or hand-crafting of the piece. To identify the silversmith or company that made the piece. To note the date and/or location of the manufacture or tradesman. UsesIn addition to the uses of sterling silver mentioned above, there are some little known uses of sterling:Evidence of silver and/or silver-alloy surgical and medical instruments has been found in civilizations as early as Ur, Hellenistic-era Egypt and Rome, and their use continued until largely replaced in Western countries in the mid to late 20th century by cheaper, disposable plastic items. Its natural malleability is an obvious physical advantage, but it also exhibits medically-specific utility, including the fact that it is naturally aseptic, and, in respect of modern medical practices, it is resistant to antiseptics, heat sterilisation and body fluids. Due to sterling silver having a special sound character, some brasswind instrument manufacturers use 92.5% sterling silver as the material for making their instruments, including the flute and saxophone. For example, some leading saxophone manufacturers such as Selmer and Yanagisawa have crafted some of their saxophones from sterling silver, which they believe will make the instruments more resonant and colorful in timbre. Tarnish and corrosion This section needs additional citations for verification . (February 2011)Chemically, silver is not very reactive--it does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures, so does not easily form a silver oxide. However, it is attacked by common components of atmospheric pollution : silver sulfide slowly appears as a black tarnish during exposure to airborne compounds of sulfur (byproducts of the burning of fossil fuels and some industrial processes), and low level ozone reacts to form silver oxide. [ 5 ] As the purity of the silver decreases, the problem of corrosion or tarnishing increases because other metals in the alloy, usually copper, may react with oxygen in the air.The black silver sulfide (Ag 2 S) is among the most insoluble salts in aqueous solution , a property that is exploited for separating silver ions from other positive ions .Sodium chloride (NaCl) or common table salt is known to corrode silver-copper alloy, typically seen in silver salt shakers where corrosion appears around the holes in the top.Several products have been developed for the purpose of polishing silver that serve to remove sulfur from the metal without damaging or warping it. Because harsh polishing and buffing can permanently damage and devalue a piece of antique silver, valuable items are typically hand-polished to preserve the unique patinas of older pieces. Techniques such as wheel polishing , which are typically performed by professional jewelers or silver repair companies, are reserved for extreme tarnish or corrosion.If you purchase from me you should know that your authenticity of this meteorite is guaranteed!I am a member of the IMCA or the International Meteorite Collector's Association. This is an organization that is a checks and balances of those who trade, deal and sell meteorites. You can only join this organization by having the utmost of integrity and being reliable, and trustworthy. You have to have two references to get in, and a good reputation.The members adhere to the highest standards of meteorite identification and proper labeling practices. Membership in this organization maintains this high standard by monitoring each other's activities for accuracy. It is every IMCA member's responsibility and pleasure to offer help and assistance to fellow members in order to ensure specimens are genuine.The logo below is my own personal logo, and guarantees authenticity of the meteorites that I sell. It is not wise to purchase meteorites on Ebay or other sources from those who do not have this logo. This is a very tight-knot community, and people look out for each other to make sure that the meteorites offered to the public are authentic and genuine.You can INTERNATIONAL METEORITE COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION Authenticity GUARANTEED * read more

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