The Crystal Gazette Vol 52 # 03 March 2013 STONE OF THE MONTH Apatite Rough and Cut Apatite Important Notices General Meeting: 22nd March 2013, AGM Club rooms, 19 4th Ave, St Peters, 7pm Guest Speakers: Mark Madden, Diamond Setter, Patrick Jelk, Jeweller Management Committee Meeting: 11th April, 6pm, Room 428, 38 Gawler Place Adelaide
TERACAST Diamond Merchants T 08 8223 1123 F 08 8227 1050 Suite 403, 38 Gawler Place Adelaide SA 5000 www.teracast.com.au louise@teracast.com.au Contact Louise Important Contacts: President: Sue Arthur, FGAA,Dip DT,Cert IV T&A, M 0422 609 989 Secretary: Sandra Pimlott, FGAA, Dip DT Ph 8223 2362 Treasurer: Don Bennett B.E. FGAA Ph 8296 1666 Education: Tanya Cerny FGAA, Dip DT M 0401 213 835 Lise Jensen FGAA, Dip DT M 0428 363 698
Page 3 Gem Apatite The name Apatite derived from Greek meaning "I am misleading", because it can be easily confused with other minerals (eg. beryl). The material is soft, brittle and sensitive to heat. It has a wide variety of colour. Clear transparent stones are faceted, and chatoyant specimens are cut into cabochons (Apatite cat's eye). "Apatite" crystals are short to long hexagonal prisms, frequently in the crystals of hydrothermal origin in pegmatites and veins. Massive, coarse granular to compact. Globular or reniform at times with a sub-fibrous, scaly, or imperfectly columnar structure or as fibrous crusts; stalactitic; earthy; oolitic. May be rock-forming in beds of great extent; as nodular concretions in clays and shales; conglomeritic. Apatite is one of a few minerals produced and used by biological micro-environmental systems. Apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on the Mohs scale. Hydroxyapatite, also known as hydroxylapatite, is the major component of tooth enamel and bone mineral. A relatively rare form of apatite in which most of the OH groups are absent and containing many carbonate and acid phosphate substitutions is a large component of bone material. Fluorapatite (or fluoroapatite) is more resistant to acid attack than is hydroxyapatite; in the mid20th century, it was discovered that communities whose water supply naturally contained fluorine had lower rates of dental caries. Fluoridated water allows exchange in the teeth of fluoride ions for hydroxyl groups in apatite. Similarly, toothpaste typically contains a source of fluorideanions (e.g. sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate). Too much fluoride results in dental fluorosis and/or skeletal fluorosis. Uses The primary use of apatite is in the manufacture of fertilizer it is a source of phosphorus. It is occasionally used as a gemstone. Green and blue varieties in finely divided form, are pigments with excellent covering power. Gemmology Apatite is infrequently used as a gemstone. Transparent stones of clean color have been faceted, and chatoyant specimens have been cabochon cut. Chatoyant stones are known as cat's-eye apatite,[ transparent green stones are known asasparagus stone, and blue stones have been called moroxite. If crystals of rutile have grown in the crystal of apatite, in the right light the cut stone displays a cat's eye effect. Major sources for gem apatite are Brazil, Burma, and Mexico. Other sources include Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States. Use as an ore mineral Apatite is occasionally found to contain significant amounts of rare earth elements and can be used as an ore for those metals. This is preferable to traditional rare earth ores, as apatite is non-radioactive and does not pose an environmental hazard in mine tailings Lunar science Moon rocks collected by astronauts during the Apollo program contain traces of apatite.re-analysis of these samples in 2010 revealed water trapped in the mineral ashydroxyl, leading to estimates of water on the lunar surface at a rate of at least 64 parts per billion 100 times greater than previous estimates and as high as 5 parts per million. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/apatite http://www.mindat.org/min-29229.html 3
To access the GAA Web Page, please visit www.gem.org.au On home page on right hand side go to Member tab and enter in user name which is your own email address and password which is gaa2012. If you have trouble accessing, then we may not have your current email address. Please provide to your State Division.Once you have access, go to Update your details. If you are an FGAA then you are eligible to tick the Directory Opt In box if you wish to be part of the Find a Gemmologist service. You can also log a job opportunity through the Employment section. You also need to change your password to secure your details. IMPORTANT. Then SAVE at the bottom of the page. The GAA e-learning suite 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Go to www.gem.org.au and follow the links Introduction to Diamonds Introduction to Coloured Gemstones Introduction to Daily Jewellery Retail Business Introduction to Jewellery Introduction to Retail Jewellery Sales brought to you by the GAA Introduction to Opals and Pearls - brought to you by the GAA Prized Padder sapphires go on the block in Jammu and Kashmir Hoping to cash in demand for pure Kashmir quality sapphires, the government of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir auctioned off a large stock of sapphire corundum from the Padder mines, which are located in the Himalayas about 330 kilometers from the winter capital of Jammu. Among the lot of sapphires is a single stone that the government hopes will fetch more than $900,000. "We are waiting for the customers for that stone. We are sending the intimation to customers and hoping for a good response this time," said VC Sharma, the general manager of Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Limited, as quoted by the media. Sapphires were originally discovered in the Padder area in the 1880s, at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. But they have been mined only sporadically, in part because of the difficult terrain, but also because of absence of organized mining operations. While experts believe that the Padder sapphire mines are economical, few companies have been prepared to assume the risk of working in an area that is inhospitable topographically, which also has been beset by bouts of political unrest and violence. There have also been reports about plundering at the sapphire mines. The possibility of global tenders have been raised periodically over the past 10 years, but thus far the government auction remains the best show in town. Sapphires against the backdrop of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. http://www.gemewizard.com/newsletters/view_article.php?id=163 4
Notes & Reminders TO REGISTER for any GAA course PLEASE CONTACT: Education: Tanya Cerny FGAA,. M 0401 213 835 or Lise Jensen FGAA M 0428 363 698 or Secretary Sandra Pimlott 8223 2362, sandrapimlott676@hotmail.com 2013 Courses Commencing dates Please note there has been a price increase in some courses. 1. Intro to Gemmology 13th & 20th Apr, Aug, Nov- $295 This basic course is designed for jewellers, hobbyists or for people traveling overseas. Gems and Gemmology provides students with an opportunity to assess whether they wish to proceed with a range of more advanced short courses or the intensive two year Diploma in Gemmology. 2. Diamond Grading 27th May-31st May 9am-5pm -$1750 M, $2250 NM Learn the intricacies of diamond grading and be able to explain differences in a diamonds colour, clarity or cut and be confident in your ability to point out the advantages or disadvantages of each. Maximise your diamond knowledge for profit and pleasure. In this course the emphasis is on practical work, so most of your time is spent with handling diamonds and the various instruments used to grade them. At the end of this course you will be able to grade any diamond to certificate standard on the international scale. This is a popular course, if you would like to do it, please show interest early! 3. 4. 5. 6. Intro to Antique Jewellery- TBA-$275 Gemmology Update- $2750* Retail Diamond Consultancy- TBA- $295 Pearl & Bead threading- TBA- $245 M $265 NM *Course offered depending on numbers enrolling Note :- Prices given are members prices- Non-members please contact Secretary for prices General Meeting: Fri 22nd March, 7pm. AGM Clubhouse. This month we have special guest, Mark Madden, speaking to us about diamond setting. We also have Patrick Jelk, speaking to us about his uniquely styled Jewellery. Not to be missed. We encourage you all to come along. ROOMS ATTENDANCE AND VOLUNTEERS The GAA lab is open to the public between 10am-2pm. As members, you are welcome to come in and use the instruments in the lab for free. LIBRARY BOOKS- Would any members who have books on loan from the Library please return them as soon as possible to the rooms. Thanks, The Librarian 5
GAA Proudly Invites you to join us for a High Tea on the 14th April 2013 Time : 2.30pm - 5.00pm Place : Stamford Plaza Adelaide Hotel 150 North Terrace Adelaide Great time to catch up for a chat and some friendly laughs on Sunday afternoon. Heavenly High Tea $29 per person (served on a three tier stand) Includes 1. A complimentary glass of champagne on arrival 2. Fruit and plain scones with jam and cream 3. Mini French pastries, assorted fruit flans and strawberry waffles 4. Assorted ribbon sandwiches 5. Mini quiches 6. Stamford Signature curry puffs 7. Freshly brewed tea and coffee Students for 2013 pay only $19 so please come and let us welcome you. This is open for all members and please feel free to bring a friend. Please call Ivana on 0438824459 or Don on 82961666 for catering purposes. Pay via bank deposit to BSB 633 108 A/C 143921435 and leave name as reference or pay on the day. GAA Federal Conference 2013 Melbourne The 67th Annual Federal Conference of the Gemmological Association of Australia, brings together members, friends and office bearers of the GAA from around the country for planning, learning, socialising and administrative meetings. The conference will be held on the 27-30 May Guest speakers this year are: James Riley: Chief Executive, Gemmological Association of Great Britain; Paul Agnew: Chief Exploration Geologist -Technology, Rio Tinto; Garry Holloway: Diamond Cut Expert, Holloway Diamonds; Andrew Cody: International Opal Dealer, Cody Opal. 6
The 65th Annual General Meeting The 65th Annual General meeting for the SA Division was held on Friday the 15th February. The positions are as follows. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. President: Susan Arthur Vice President: Janet Harris Secretary: Sandra Pimlott Treasurer: Don Bennett Minute secretary: Vacant Editor: Tanya Cerny Education Officers: Lise Jensen and Tanya Cerny Publicity: Rob Manella Librarian: Ron Beveridge Social Secretary: Ivana Kneipp Federal and Constitutional Directors-Sue Arthur, Lise Jensen, Vacant (alternate) Public Officer: John Keeling Federal Delegates: Susan Arthur and Lise Jensen Gem Ed Rep: Sandra Pimlott Council Members: Vicki Cafarella, Rob Manella, Edward Vabolis, Michelle Kennedy, Sekosal Bhundhoo Cross Word Clues Across 1 2 1 Colourless Beryl 4 A gem pretending to be another 5 Another name for glass 8 Type of stripey inclusion found in Amethyst 10 Another name for 4 Across 11 Saltwater cultured bead nucleated pearl, developed in Japan 12 A type of gem, not very precious, often has unusual pattern 3 4 7 5 Down 8 1 Common Gemstone Family, has many isomporphic relationships 2 A growth feature, can be horizontal or vertical 3 A type of diapheneity, not completely clear 6 Lustre reserved only for diamonds 7 Crystal System with 2 fold and 6 fold symmetry 9 A type of Al2O3 10 A facet found on the crown of a brilliant 9 10 11 12 7 6
Half carat pink diamond and once sunken Renaissance emerald jewel wow Sotheby's sales Sotheby's auction of Important Jewels at New York in February concluded with a record total of $10,535,821. Pink colored diamonds, which were featured in the sale showed mixed results, but fancy colored diamonds performed well in general. A surprise of the sale was a fancy vivid purplish pink diamond weighing 0.51 carat, which achieved a price of $338,500, more than four times its estimated. high price. However, a platinum 18-carat fancy purplishpink diamond ring that had been estimated to sell for $1.1-1.5 million failing to find a bidder at its reserve price. Sotheby's had good luck at it Masterworks sale in New York a day earlier, when a Renaissance-era emeraldset gold jewel, which had been recovered from the shipwrecked Spanish galleon, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, sold for $410,500, well above the pre-sale estimate of $150,000-250,000. Before being recovered by treasure hunter Mel Fisher in 1985, the Colombian jewel had rested on the seabed for more than 350 years. In 1662, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha was making a return journey to Spain with the Spanish armada. Loaded with the belongings of the noble families, it hit a squall and sank along the reefs of the Florida Keys. The 0.51-carat vivid purplish pink diamond ring that sold for $338,500. (Photo: Sotheby's) "We are very pleased to have achieved another top result for our February sales in New York," commented Gary Schuler, head of Sotheby's Jewellery department in New York, after the sale. "Today's auction demonstrated the market's continued appetite for exceptional diamonds." The Renaissance-era emerald set gold jewel, from the shipwrecked Spanish galleon, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sold for $410,500. (Photo: Sotheby's) http://www.gemewizard.com/newsletters/view_article.php?id=159 8
Update from a story posted in June 2012 Court denies emeralds the coveted title of 'sunken treasure' A long running court drama over the fate of 70 kilograms of emeralds that allegedly were discovered on the seafloor off the coast of the Florida Keys drew to a close at the end of January, with a decision that settled ownership but not really the provenance of the gems. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King decided that while real estate investor and amateur treasure-hunter Jay Miscovich and his business partner Steve Elchlepp may retain possession of the emeralds, they still had failed to prove that they first discovered them as claimed - that is to say scattered on the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico. The consequence of the decision is that Miscovich and Elchlepp will have difficulty claiming that the gemstones are sunken treasure, and that may significantly dent their value. This is particularly significant because the emeralds, which originally were reported to have been high quality with a value of about $10 million, are now said to be overwhelmingly low quality gems. If they had been shown to originate from a sunken treasure, their net worth would have risen significantly. Miscovich and Elchlepp had been sued by the company of the late Mel Fisher, who achieved fame in 1985 for finding the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, with a $450 million cache that included 40 tons of gold and silver, as well as Colombian emeralds. "When all is said and done, there are two options," the judge wrote. "Jay and Steve legitimately found lost stones on the floor of the Gulf, or Jay and Steve placed stones acquired elsewhere on the ocean floor in order to 'find' them and thereby establish an ancient provenance and greatly enhance the value of the stones and the reputation of the men as treasure salvors." "There is just as much support for the theory that Jay and Steve planted the stones as there is for the assertion that they found them," he continued. "The court cannot simply accept the uncontradicted testimony of Jay and Steve that they followed a treasure map to the site, dove to the floor, and found the emeralds. Each story represents one possible interpretation of entirely circumstantial evidence, and neither persuades the court." The Fischer's company originally asserted that the emeralds came from the Atocha and Santa Margarita sites, but after the assessment that the emerald's value was much lower than first thought, they claimed that Miscovich and Elchlepp had committed fraud by misrepresenting the true identity of the stones. Speaking to the Florida Key News, Kim Fisher, Mel's son of famed salvor Mel Fisher and owner of Motivation Inc., said Friday that he felt vindicated by King's ruling. "He basically said in his ruling that this was a scam," Fisher stated. "We've spent a lot of time and money on this case in an effort to protect the integrity of the legitimate treasure-hunting industry." The saga of the sunken emeralds, which was the subject of segment on CBS's 60 Minutes news magazine, began when Miscovich claimed that three years ago he had bought a map and some coordinates in the Gulf of Mexico from a friend in a bar in Key West for $500. These, he said, had led him to an underwater cache of 65,000 emeralds. http://www.gemewizard.com/newsletters/view_article.php?id=160 9
2013 GAA Calender Month General Meeting Other Events March Fri 22nd Guest Speakers Mark Madden Diamond Setter Patrick Jelk Jeweller Gemboree: 29th March - 2nd April April Fri 26th Intro to Gems 13th & 20th May No General Meeting GAA Annual Conference in Melbourne, 25th-28th Practical Diamond Grading, 27th-31st Skillex Careers Expo June No General Meeting 1st June, Class of 2012 Graduation Dinner July Fri 26th August Fri 23rd September Fri 27th October No General Meeting EOY Exams November No General Meeting Intro to Gems December No General Meeting Intro to Gems Please note these dates may change. Watch this space for upcoming events and date changes. All students are strongly encouraged to attend the talk by Mark Madden on Diamond Setting and Patrick Jelk, who specialises and commissioned jewellery Rabbit in Flowers, featured on ring http://www.pjelk.com/trudy.html Keep the Date! 1st June, Graduation Night for Graduating Class of 2012, Diploma in Gemmology and Diamond Technology 10
Cross Word Answers Across 1 Goshenite 4 Imitant 5 Paste 8 Zebra 10 Simulant 11 Akoya 12 Ornamental Down 1Garnet 2 Striation 3 Translucent 6 Adamantine 7 Hexagonal 9 Ruby 10 Star