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2005 Minerals YearbookGeMstones
U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
October 2006
Gemstones—2005 30.1
Gemstones
ByDonaldW.olson
Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Nicholas A. Muniz, statistical assistant, and the world production table was prepared by Glenn J. Wallace, international data coordinator.
inendingtheproblemofconflictdiamonds(ProfessionalJeweler,2003§1).
Production
U.s.gemstoneproductiondatawerebasedonasurveyofmorethan230domesticgemstoneproducersconductedbytheUsGs.thesurveyprovidedafoundationforprojectingthescopeandlevelofdomesticgemstoneproductionduringtheyear.However,theUsGssurveydidnotrepresentallgemstoneactivityintheUnitedstates,whichincludesthousandsofprofessionalandamateurcollectors.Consequently,theUsGssupplementeditssurveywithestimatesofdomesticgemstoneproductionfromrelatedpublisheddata,contactswithgemstonedealersandcollectors,andinformationgarneredatgemandmineralshows.
CommercialminingofgemstoneshasneverbeenextensiveintheUnitedstates.morethan60varietiesofgemstoneshavebeenproducedcommerciallyfromdomesticmines,butmostofthedepositshavebeenrelativelysmallcomparedwithotherminingoperations.IntheUnitedstates,muchofthecurrentgemstoneminingisconductedbyindividualcollectors,gemclubs,andhobbyistsratherthanbybusinesses.
thecommercialgemstoneindustryintheUnitedstatesconsistsofindividualsandcompaniesthatminegemstonesorharvestshellandpearl,firmsthatmanufacturelaboratory-createdgemstones,andindividualsandcompaniesthatcutandpolishnaturalandlaboratory-createdgemstones.thedomesticgemstoneindustryisfocusedontheproductionofcoloredgemstonesandonthecuttingandpolishingoflargediamondstones.Industryemploymentisestimatedtorangefrom1,000to1,500workers(U.s.InternationaltradeCommission,1997,p.1).
mostnaturalgemstoneproducersintheUnitedstatesaresmallbusinessesthatarewidelydispersedandoperateindependently.thesmallproducersprobablyhaveanaverageoflessthanthreeemployees,includingthosewhoonlyworkparttime.thenumberofgemstoneminesoperatingfromyeartoyearfluctuatesbecausetheuncertaintyassociatedwiththediscoveryandmarketingofgem-qualitymineralsmakesitdifficulttoobtainfinancingfordevelopingandsustainingeconomicallyviableoperations(U.s.InternationaltradeCommission,1997,p.23).
thetotalvalueofnaturalgemstonesproducedintheUnitedstatesduring2005wasestimatedtobemorethan$13.4million(table3).theproductionvaluedecreasedby7%fromthatoftheprecedingyear.
1Referencesthatincludeasectionmark(§)arefoundintheInternetReferencesCitedsection.
In2005,theestimatedvalueofnaturalgemstonesproducedintheUnitedstateswasmorethan$13.4million,andtheestimatedvalueofU.s.laboratory-createdgemstoneproductionwasmorethan$51.1million.thetotalestimatedvalueofU.s.gemstoneproductionwasalmost$64.6million.thevalueofU.s.gemstoneimportswas$17.2billion,andthevalueofcombinedU.s.gemstoneexportsandreexportswasestimatedtobe$8.85billion.
Inthisreport,theterms“gem”and“gemstone”meananymineralororganicmaterial(suchasamber,pearl,petrifiedwood,andshell)usedforpersonaladornment,display,orobjectofartbecauseitpossessesbeauty,durability,andrarity.ofmorethan4,000mineralspecies,onlyabout100possessalltheseattributesandareconsideredtobegemstones.silicatesotherthanquartzarethelargestgroupofgemstonesintermsofchemicalcomposition;oxidesandquartzarethesecondlargest(table1).Gemstonesaresubdividedintodiamondandcoloredgemstones,whichinthisreportdesignatesallnaturalnondiamondgems.Inaddition,laboratory-createdgemstones,culturedpearls,andgemstonesimulantsarediscussedbutaretreatedseparatelyfromnaturalgemstones(table2).tradedatainthisreportarefromtheU.s.CensusBureau.Allpercentagesinthereportwerecomputedusingunroundeddata.Currentinformationonindustrial-gradediamondandindustrial-gradegarnetcanbefoundintheU.s.Geologicalsurvey(UsGs)mineralsYearbook,volumeI,metalsandmineralschaptersonindustrialdiamondandindustrialgarnet,respectively.
Gemstoneshavefascinatedhumanssinceprehistorictimes.theyhavebeenvaluedastreasuredobjectsthroughouthistorybyallsocietiesinallpartsoftheworld.Amber,amethyst,coral,diamond,emerald,garnet,jade,jasper,lapislazuli,pearl,rockcrystal,ruby,serpentine,andturquoisearesomeofthefirststonesknowntohavebeenusedformakingjewelry.thesestonesservedassymbolsofwealthandpower.today,gemsarewornmoreforpleasureorinappreciationoftheirbeautythantodemonstratewealth.Inadditiontojewelry,gemstonesareusedforcollections,decorativeartobjects,andexhibits.
Legislation and Governments Programs
theCleanDiamondtradeActwassignedintolawonApril25,2003,bythePresident.thislawprovidedtheeffectivemeasurestostoptradeinconflictdiamondsintheUnitedstates,anditsenactmentmadetheUnitedstatesafullparticipantintheKimberleyProcessCertificationscheme(KPCs)(U.s.HouseofRepresentatives,2003§).U.s.participationintheKPCsiscriticaltoitssuccessinexcludingconflictdiamondsfromthelegitimatesupplychainbecausetheUnitedstatesistheworld’sleadinggem-qualitydiamondmarket.theindustryandtradeassociationshaveplayedanactiveroleinachievingthisprogress
30.2 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
naturalgemstonematerialsindigenoustotheUnitedstatesarecollected,produced,and/ormarketedineverystate.During2005,all50statesproducedatleast$1,000worthofgemstonematerials.sevenstatesaccountedfor78%ofthetotalvalue,asreportedbysurveyrespondents.thesestates,inorderofdecliningvalueofproduction,weretennessee,Arizona,oregon,California,Arkansas,montana,andnevada.somestateswereknownfortheproductionofasinglegemstonematerial—tennesseeforfreshwaterpearls,forexample.otherstatesproducedavarietyofgemstones,forexampleArizona’sgemstonedepositsincludedagate,amethyst,azurite,chrysocolla,garnet,jade,jasper,malachite,obsidian,onyx,opal,peridot,petrifiedwood,smithsonite,andturquoise.thereisalsoawidevarietyofgemstonesfoundandproducedinCalifornia,Idaho,montana,andnorthCarolina.
During2005,theUnitedstateshadonlyoneoperationinknowndiamond-bearingareasfromwhichdiamondswereproduced.thatdiamondoperationisinCraterofDiamondsstateParknearmurfreesboroinPikeCounty,AR,whereadig-for-feeoperationfortouristsandrockhoundsismaintainedbythestateofArkansas.CraterofDiamondsistheonlydiamondmineintheworldthatisopentothepublic.thediamondsoccurinalamproitebrecciatuffassociatedwithavolcanicpipeandinthesoildevelopedfromthelamproitebrecciatuff.In2005,536diamondstoneswithanaverageweightof0.193caratswererecoveredattheCraterofDiamondsstatePark.sincethediamond-bearingpipeandtheadjoiningareabecameastateparkin1972,25,369diamondstoneswithatotalcaratweightof4,954.41havebeenrecovered(tomstolarz,parksuperintendent,CraterofDiamondsstatePark,writtencommun.,January31,2006).explorationhasdemonstratedthatthereisabout78.5millionmetrictons(mt)ofdiamond-bearingrockinthisdiamonddeposit(Howard,1999,p.62).AnArkansaslawenactedearlyin1999prohibitscommercialdiamondmininginthepark(DiamondRegistryBulletin,1999).
therehavebeennocommerciallyoperateddiamondminesintheUnitedstatessince2002.DiamondwasproducedattheKelseylakediamondmine,locatedclosetotheColorado-WyomingstatelinenearFortCollins,Co,forseveralyearsuntilApril2002.theKelseylakepropertyincludesnineknownkimberlitepipes,threeofwhichhavebeentestedandhaveshownthatdiamondsarepresent.theremainingsixpipeshaveyettobefullyexploredandtestedfortheirdiamondpotential.ofthediamondsrecovered,35%to50%wasindustrialgrade.theidentifiedresourcesareatleast17mtgradinganaverageof4caratsper100metrictons(taylorHardmoneyAdvisers,2000§).
studiesbytheWyomingGeologicalsurveyhaveshownthatWyominghasthepotentialfora$1billiondiamondminingbusiness.twentydiamondiferouskimberlitepipesandonediamondiferousmaficbrecciapipehavebeenidentifiedinsouthernWyoming.twoofthelargestkimberlitefields,statelineandIronmountain,andthelargestlamproitefieldintheUnitedstates,leuciteHills,areinWyoming.severaldiamondminingfirmshavebeeninterestedinthesouthernWyomingandnorthernColoradoarea,buttheonlydiamondminedevelopedintheareathusfaristheKelseylakemine(AssociatedPress,2002§).
thesuccessofCanadiandiamondmineshasstimulatedinterestinexploringforcommerciallyfeasiblediamonddepositsintheUnitedstatesoutsideofWyomingandColorado.AustralianandCanadiancompaniesarenowconductingdiamondexplorationinAlaskaandminnesota.AlaskahassomesimilargeologicterraintothenorthwestterritoriesofCanada;inaddition,certainvarietiesofgarnetandotherdiamondindicatormineralsaswellas17microscopicdiamondshavebeenfoundnearAnchorage,AK.twoCanadiancompanieshaveinvested$1millioninanexploratorydrillingprogram.GeologistsfromtheUniversityofminnesotateamedwithanAustralianminingcompanyandwereconductingasoilsamplingprograminminnesotaformineralexploration,includingdiamond.thesampleswerebeinganalyzedbyAustralia’sWmCResourcesltd.thescientiststhoughtthatthereisagoodchanceofsuccessowingtosimilaritiesbetweenthegeologyinminnesotaandCanada(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005a).
Inanotherexplorationventure,DeltaminingandexplorationCorp.foundadiamond-bearingkimberliteinan32.4-hectare(80-acre)siteknownastheHomesteadpropertynearlewistown,mt.Preliminarytestshaveshownthepresenceofmicroscopicdiamonds.thecompanywasplanninga$700,000soilsamplingprogramasfurtherexploration.Diamondshavebeenfoundinthestreambedsandglacialvalleysofmontanaforyears(AssociatedPress,2004§).
Inadditiontonaturalgemstones,laboratory-createdgemstonesandgemstonesimulantsareproducedintheUnitedstates.laboratory-createdorsyntheticgemstoneshavethesamechemical,optical,andphysicalpropertiesasthenaturalmaterials.simulantshaveanappearancesimilartothatofanaturalgemstonematerial,buttheyhavedifferentchemical,optical,andphysicalproperties.laboratory-createdgemstonesproducedintheUnitedstatesincludealexandrite,diamond,emerald,moissanite,ruby,sapphire,andturquoise.simulantsofcoral,lapislazuli,malachite,andturquoisealsoaremanufacturedintheUnitedstates.Inaddition,certaincolorsoflaboratory-createdsapphireandspinel,usedtorepresentothergemstones,areclassifiedassimulants.
laboratory-createdgemstoneproductionintheUnitedstateswasvaluedatmorethan$51.1millionduring2005;simulantgemstoneoutputwasevengreaterandwasestimatedtobevaluedatmorethan$100million.Fivecompaniesinfivestates,representingvirtuallytheentireU.s.laboratory-createdgemstoneindustry,reportedproductiontotheUsGs.thestateswithreportedlaboratory-createdgemstoneproduction,indescendingorderofproductionvalue,werenorthCarolina,Florida,massachusetts,michigan,andArizona.
GemesisCorp.,acompanyinsarasota,Fl,consistentlyproducedgem-qualitylaboratory-createddiamondandreportedasixthyearofproductionin2005.thelaboratory-createddiamondsareproducedusingequipment,expertise,andtechnologydevelopedbyateamofscientistsfromRussiaandtheUniversityofFlorida.theweightofthelaboratory-createddiamondstonesrangefrom1.5to2carats,andmostofthestonesareyellow,brownishyellow,colorless,andgreen(Weldon,1999§).Gemesisusesdiamond-growingmachines,
Gemstones—2005 30.3
eachmachinecapableofgrowing3-caratroughdiamondsbygeneratinghigh-pressure,high-temperature(HPHt)conditionsthatrecreatetheconditionsintheearth’smantlewherenaturaldiamondsform.Gemesiseventuallyplanstohave250diamond-growingmachinesinstalledatthefacilitynearsarasota,Fl(Davis,2003);atthatpoint,Gemesiscouldbeproducingasmuchas30,000to40,000stoneseachyear,andannualrevenuesmayreach$70millionto$80million(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2001).GemesisdiamondsbecameavailableforretailpurchaseinjewelrystoresandontheInternetinfall2003.thepricesoftheGemesislaboratory-createddiamondsarebelowthoseofnaturaldiamondbutabovethepricesofsimulateddiamond(Weldon,2003§).
ApolloDiamond,Inc.,nearBoston,mA,hasdevelopedandpatentedamethodforgrowingextremelypure,gem-qualitydiamondwithflawlesscrystalstructurebychemicalvapordeposition(CvD).theCvDtechniquetransformscarbonintoplasma,whichisthenprecipitatedontoasubstrateasdiamond.CvDhasbeenusedformorethanadecadetocoverlargesurfaceswithmicroscopicdiamondcrystals,butuntilthisprocess,noonehaddiscoveredthecombinationoftemperature,gascomposition,andpressurethatresultedinthegrowthofasinglediamondcrystal.CvDdiamondprecipitatesasnearly100%pure,almostflawlessdiamond,andthereforemaynotbedistinguishablefromnaturaldiamondbysometests(Davis,2003).In2005,ApolloDiamondproducedstonesthatrangefrom1to2caratsandexpectedtoexpandtolargerstonesinthefuture(maney,2005§).thecompanyplannedtostartsellingdiamondsinthejewelrymarketatcosts10%to30%belowthoseofcomparablenaturaldiamonds(Hastings,2005).ApolloplannedtoopentheApolloDiamondWebstoretothegeneralpublicin2006(ApolloDiamond,Inc.,2005§).Besidesitsuseasagemstone,CvDdiamond’shighestvalueisasamaterialforhigh-techuses,suchasincomputertechnology(maney,2005§).
Inearly2004,scientistsattheCarnegieInstitutionofWashington’sGeophysicallaboratorypublishedtheresultsofastudyinwhichresearchersgrewdiamondcrystalsbyaspecialCvDprocessatveryhighgrowthrates.theywereabletogrowgem-sizedcrystalsinaday—agrowthrate100timesfasterthanothermethodsusedbefore.thisisanewwayofproducingdiamondcrystalsforsuchnewapplicationsasdiamond-baseelectronicdevicesandnextgenerationcuttingtools(Willis,2004).Byearly2005,theGeophysicallaboratoryandtheUniversityofAlabamahadjointlydevelopedandpatentedtheCvDprocessandapparatustoproduce½-inch-thick10-caratsinglediamondcrystalsatveryrapidgrowthrates(100micrometersperhour).thisfasterCvDmethodusesmicrowaveplasmatechnologyandallowsmultiplecrystalstobegrownsimultaneously.thissizeisaboutfivetimesthatofcommerciallyavailablelaboratory-createddiamondsproducedbyHPHtmethodsandotherCvDtechniques.Dr.RussellHemley,aresearcherattheCarnegieInstitution,stated,“High-qualitycrystalsover3caratsareverydifficulttoproduceusingtheconventionalapproach.severalgroupshavebeguntogrowdiamondsinglecrystalsbyCvD,butlarge,colorless,andflawlessonesremainachallenge.ourfabricationof10-carat,half-inchCvDdiamondsisamajorbreakthrough”(Willis,
2004;CarnegieInstitutionofWashington,2005;scienceBlog,2005§).
BothApolloDiamondandtheCarnegieInstitutionhavenotedthattheirdiamondsproducedbytheCvDmethodareharderthannaturaldiamondsanddiamondsproducedbyHPHtmethods.
In2005,thenorthCarolinacompanyCharles&Colvard,ltd.entereditseighthyearofproducingandmarketingmoissanite,agem-qualitylaboratory-createdsiliconcarbide.moissaniteisalsoanexcellentdiamondsimulant,butitisbeingmarketedforitsowngemqualities.moissaniteexhibitsahigherrefractiveindex(brilliance)andhigherlusterthandiamond.Itshardnessisbetweenthoseofcorundum(rubyandsapphire)anddiamond,whichgivesitdurability(Charles&Colvard,ltd.,2005§).
AlthoughU.s.shellproductiondecreasedby11%in2005comparedwiththatof2004,shellisnotexpectedtoeverbethelargesegmentofU.s.gemstoneproductionitwasforseveralyearsinthepast.U.s.shellmaterialfrommusselsisusedasseedmaterialforculturingpearls.thelowershellproductionisowingtooverharvestinginpastyears,thekillingoffofU.s.nativemusselspeciesbyinvasiveexoticspecies,andadeclineinmarketdemand.Duringthepast10years,theUnitedstateshaslostaboutthree-quartersofthenativemusselpopulation,andone-halfoftheapproximately300totalU.s.nativemusselspeciesarenowlistedasendangeredspecies.thezebramusselistheinvasiveexoticspeciesthathasdonemostofthedamage,andithasbeenintroducedintoU.s.riversandwaterwaysindischargedballastwaterfromtransoceanicships(IowaDepartmentofnaturalResources,2001§;scottGritterf,fisheriesbiologist,IowaDepartmentofnaturalResources,oralcommun.,november14,2002).themarketstillhasnotcompletelyrecoveredfromthedie-offofJapaneseoysters.seedmaterialhadbeenstockpiledinJapan,andnowproducersinJapanareusingmanmadeseedmaterialsorseedmaterialsfromChinaandothersourcesinadditiontothestockpiledmaterial.therealsohasbeenanincreaseinthepopularityofdarkerandcoloredpearlsthatdonotuseU.s.seedmaterial(tedKroll,assistantdirectoroffisheries,KentuckyDepartmentofFishandWildlife,oralcommun.,november15,2002).InsomeregionsoftheUnitedstates,shellfrommusselsisbeginningtobeusedasagemstonebasedonitsownmeritratherthanasseedmaterialforpearls.thisshellmaterialisbeingusedinbeads,jewelry,andwatchfaces.
Consumption
AlthoughtheUnitedstatesaccountedforlittleofthetotalglobalgemstoneproduction,itwastheworld’sleadinggemstonemarket.U.s.gemstonemarketsaccountedformorethananestimated35%ofworldgemstonedemandin2005.theU.s.marketforunsetgem-qualitydiamondduringtheyearwasestimatedtohaveexceeded$16.2billion.Domesticmarketsfornatural,unsetnondiamondgemstonestotaledmorethan$996million.
IntheUnitedstates,abouttwo-thirdsofdomesticconsumersdesignatediamondastheirfavoritegemstonewhensurveyed.In2005,thetop10sellingcoloredgemstones,indescendingorder,
30.4 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
werebluesapphire;ruby;bluetopaz;fancysapphire;amethyst;peridot;tanzanite;emerald;aquamarine,citrine,andopal(tiedforninthplace);andrhodolitegarnet.Pinktourmalineandpearldroppedoutofthetop10fromthepreviousyear.During2005,50%ofthejewelryretailerssaidtheirsaleswereupcomparedwith45%ofretailersin2004(Prost,2005;Wade,2006).U.s.retailjewelrysalesreachedapproximately$60billionin2005,withabout56%ofthatvalueinvolvingdiamondjewelry(seekingAlpha,2006§).U.s.onlinejewelrysalesincreasedbymorethan25%in2005tonearly$2.1billion;thisrepresentsabout3.5%ofalljewelrysoldintheUnitedstates(IDeXmagazine,2006§).theU.s.marketaccountedformorethan50%oftheglobaldiamondjewelryretailmarketin2005.
theU.s.coloredgemstonemarketpostedanoverallincreaseinsalesduring2005comparedwiththepreviousyear’ssales.thepopularityofcoloredgemstones,coloredlaboratory-createdgemstones,and“fancy”coloreddiamondscontinuedtoincreasein2005.thiswasindicatedbyincreasedvaluesofU.s.importsforconsumptioninmostcoloredstonecategories(emerald,coral,rubies,sapphires,otherpreciousandsemipreciousstones,andlaboratory-createdgems)in2005comparedwiththevaluesfromthepreviousyear(table10).Coloredstonepopularityalsowasevidencedbytheirgeneralsalesincreasein2005(Wade,2006).
theGemologicalInstituteofAmerica(GIA)terminatedtheemploymentoffourofitsgradersforimproprietiesinitsnewYork,nY,laboratory,andthelabchiefresigned.theimproprietieswereviolationsoftheGIAcodeofethicsbyclientsofthelab,inparticular,improperattemptstoinfluencetheoutcomeofgradingreports.GIAistheworld’sforemostauthorityingemology,diamondandgemgradingandidentification,jewelryeducation,andgemologyresearch.themajorityofGIAemployeesremainabovereproach,andtheGIAremainstheleadinglabintheindustry.theincidenthadthepotentialtodamageconfidenceingemgrading,butbecauseofathoroughandimmediateinvestigationintothesituation,thatdidnothappen(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005c,f).
Prices
Gemstonepricesaregovernedbymanyfactorsandqualitativecharacteristics,includingbeauty,clarity,defects,demand,durability,andrarity.Diamondpricing,inparticular,iscomplex;valuescanvarysignificantlydependingontime,place,andthesubjectivevaluationsofbuyersandsellers.therearemorethan14,000categoriesusedtoassessroughdiamondandmorethan100,000differentcombinationsofcarat,clarity,color,andcutvaluesusedtoassesspolisheddiamond(Pearson,1998).
Coloredgemstonepricesaregenerallyinfluencedbymarketsupplyanddemandconsiderations,anddiamondpricesaresupportedbyproducercontrolsonthequantityandqualityofsupply.valuesandpricesofgemstonesproducedand/orsoldintheUnitedstatesarelistedintables3through5.Inaddition,customsvaluesfordiamondsandothergemstonesimported,exported,orreexportedarelistedintables6through10.
DeBeersGroupcompaniesareasignificantforceaffectingthepriceofgem-qualitydiamondworldwidebecausetheyminemorethan40%ofthegem-qualitydiamondproducedeachyear
(DeBeersGroup,2005§).DeBeerscompaniesalsosortandvaluateabouttwo-thirds(byvalue)oftheworld’sannualsupplyofroughdiamondthroughDeBeers’subsidiaryDiamondtradingCo.(DtC),whichhasmarketingagreementswithotherproducers(DeBeersGroup,2003§).
theyearlyaveragediamondpriceindexoftheDiamondHighCouncilofAntwerpincreasedin2005by7.8%to330.4for1-caratdiamondsandby1.3%to262.2for½-caratdiamonds.thediamondpriceindexmeasurespricechangesrelativetothebaselineof100setbythe1985price(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006c).
Foreign Trade
During2005,totalU.s.gemstonetradewithallcountriesandterritorieswasvaluedatmorethan$26.0billion,whichwasanincreaseof17.7%fromthatofthepreviousyear.Diamondaccountedforabout95%ofthe2005gemstonetradetotal.In2005,U.s.exportsandreexportsofdiamondwereshippedto89countriesandterritories,andimportsofallgemstoneswerereceivedfrom103countriesandterritories(tables6-10).During2005,U.s.tradeincutdiamondandunworkeddiamondincreasedby14.6%and21.9%respectively,comparedwiththepreviousyear.theUnitedstatesremainedtheworld’sleadingdiamondimporter.theUnitedstatesisasignificantinternationaldiamondtransitcenteraswellastheworld’sleadinggem-qualitydiamondmarket.thelargevolumeofreexportsshippedtoothercentersrevealsthesignificancethattheUnitedstateshasintheworld’sdiamondsupplynetwork(table6).
tradeinlaboratory-createdgemstoneincreasedby0.3%fortheUnitedstatesin2005comparedwiththepreviousyear.laboratory-createdgemstoneimportsfromAustria,China,France,Germany,HongKong,srilanka,switzerland,andthailandmadeupalmost93%(byvalue)ofthetotaldomesticimportsoflaboratory-createdgemstonesduringtheyear.Pricesofcertainimportedlaboratory-createdgemstones,suchasamethyst,wereverycompetitive.themarketingofimportedlaboratory-createdgemstonesandenhancedgemstonesasnaturalgemstonesandthemixingoflaboratory-createdmaterialswithnaturalstonesinimportedparcelscontinuedtobeproblemsforsomedomesticproducersin2005.therealsowereproblemswithsomesimulantsbeingmarketedaslaboratory-createdgemstonesduringtheyear.
World Industry Structure
thegemstoneindustryworldwidehastwodistinctsectors—diamondminingandmarketingandcoloredgemstoneproductionandsales.mostdiamondsuppliesarecontrolledbyafewmajorminingcompanies;pricesaresupportedbymanagingthequalityandquantityofthegemstonesrelativetodemand,afunctionperformedbyDeBeersthroughDtC.Unlikediamond,coloredgemstonesareprimarilyproducedatrelativelysmall,low-costoperationswithfewdominantproducers;pricesareinfluencedbyconsumerdemandandsupplyavailability.
In2005,worldnaturaldiamondproductiontotaledabout183millioncarats—102millioncaratsgemqualityand81.0
Gemstones—2005 30.5
millioncaratsindustrialgrade(table11).mostproductionwasconcentratedinafewregions—Africa[Angola,Botswana,Congo(Kinshasa),namibia,andsouthAfrica],Asia(northeasternsiberiaandYakutiainRussia),Australia,northAmerica(northwestterritoriesinCanada),andsouthAmerica(Brazilandvenezuela).In2005,Australialedtheworldintotaldiamondoutputquantity(combinedgemstoneandindustrial).Botswanawastheworld’sleadinggemstonediamondproducer,followedbyRussia,Australia,Canada,Congo(Kinshasa),southAfrica,andAngolaindescendingquantityorder.thesesevencountriesproduced95.1%oftheworld’sgemstonediamondoutputin2005.
DeBeersreportedthatitssalesofroughdiamondfor2005were$6.54billion,whichwasupby15%from$5.7billionin2004(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2004a,2005b,2006b).
In2002,theinternationalrough-diamondcertificationsystemKPCswasimplementedtosolvetheproblemofconflictdiamonds—roughdiamondsusedbyrebelforcesandtheiralliesinseveralcountriestohelpfinancewarfareaimedatsubvertinggovernmentsrecognizedaslegitimatebytheUnitednations(Un).theKPCswasagreeduponbyUnmembernations,thediamondindustry,andinvolvednongovernmentalorganizations.theKPCsincludesthefollowingkeyelements:theuseofforgery-resistantcertificatesandtamper-proofcontainersforshipmentsofroughdiamonds;internalcontrolsandproceduresthatprovidecredibleassurancethatconflictdiamondsdonotenterthelegitimatediamondmarket;acertificationprocessforallexportsofroughdiamonds;thegathering,organizing,andsharingofimportandexportdataonroughdiamondswithotherparticipantsofrelevantproduction;crediblemonitoringandoversightoftheinternationalcertificationschemeforroughdiamonds;effectiveenforcementoftheprovisionsofthecertificationschemethroughdissuasiveandproportionalpenaltiesforviolations;selfregulationbythediamondindustrythatfulfillsminimumrequirements;andsharinginformationwithallotherparticipantsonrelevantrules,procedures,andlegislationaswellasexamplesofnationalcertificatesusedtoaccompanyshipmentsofroughdiamonds(Weldon,2001§).CanadaactedasthechairandsecretariatoftheKPCsforthefirst2years,andinoctober2004,Russiaassumedtheseduties.FortheKPCstobefullyimplemented,allparticipatingcountriesmustpassthenecessarylawstocarryitout.In2005,IndonesiaandlebanonjoinedthelistofcountriesparticipatingintheKPCs,amountingtoatotalof45nationsthathavesignedtheagreement;participatingnationsintheKPCsaccountforapproximately98%oftheglobalproductionandtradeofroughdiamonds(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005h;KimberleyProcess,2005§).Discussionsaboutthepossibleparticipationofseveralothercountriesareongoing.
Worldwide,thevalueofproductionofnaturalgemstonesotherthandiamondwasestimatedtohaveexceeded$2billionin2005.mostnondiamondgemstoneminesaresmall,low-cost,andwidelydispersedoperationsinremoteregionsofdevelopingnations.ForeigncountrieswithmajorgemstonedepositsotherthandiamondareAfghanistan(aquamarine,beryl,emerald,kunzite,lapislazuli,ruby,andtourmaline),Australia(beryl,opal,andsapphire),Brazil(agate,amethyst,beryl,ruby,sapphire,topaz,andtourmaline),Burma(beryl,jade,ruby,
sapphire,andtopaz),Colombia(beryl,emerald,andsapphire),Kenya(beryl,garnet,andsapphire),madagascar(beryl,rosequartz,sapphire,andtourmaline),mexico(agate,opal,andtopaz),srilanka(beryl,ruby,sapphire,andtopaz),tanzania(garnet,ruby,sapphire,tanzanite,andtourmaline),andZambia(amethystandberyl).Inaddition,pearlsareculturedthroughoutthesouthPacificandinotherequatorialwaters;Australia,China,FrenchPolynesia,andJapanarekeyproducers.
World Review
Canada.—theekatiDiamondmine,Canada’sfirstoperatingcommercialdiamondmine,completeditsseventhfullyearofproduction.In2005,ekatiproduced3.23millioncaratsofdiamondfrom4.44mtofore(BHPBillitonltd.,2006b).BHPBillitonltd.hasan80%controllingownershipinekati,whichisinthenorthwestterritories.ekatihasestimatedreservesof60.3mtoforeinkimberlitepipesthatcontain54.3millioncaratsofdiamond,andBHPBillitonprojectedtheminelifetobe25years.theekatimineisnowproducingfromtheKoala,Panda,andmiserykimberlitepipes.BHPBillitonisusingundergroundminingtechniquestorecoverdiamondsfromdeeperportionsofthePandakimberlitepipe(BHPBillitonltd.,2004).UndergroundminingofthedeeperportionsoftheKoalakimberlitepipehasbeenapprovedandisexpectedtobegininDecember2007(BHPBillitonltd.,2006a).theKoalaandPandakimberlitepipeswerefirstopenpitmined(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2002).Approximatelyone-thirdoftheekatidiamondproductionisindustrial-gradematerial(DarrenDyck,seniorprojectgeologist,BHPDiamonds,Inc.,oralcommun.,may27,2001).
theDiavikDiamondmine,alsointhenorthwestterritories,completeditsthirdfullyearofproduction.In2005,Diavikproduced8.3millioncaratsofdiamondfromitsA154northorebodyandtheadjacentA154southpipe.Bothpipesarelocatedwithinthesamepit(DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2006).Diavikhasestimatedthemine’sremainingprovenandprobablereservestobe29.8mtoforeinkimberlitepipes,containing95.6millioncaratsofdiamond,andprojectedtheminelifetobe16to22years(DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2005).themineisanunincorporatedjointventurebetweenDiavikDiamondminesInc.(60%)andAberDiamondminesltd.(40%).themineisexpectedtoproduceatotalofabout107millioncaratsofdiamondatarateof8millioncaratsperyearworthabout$63percaratduringtheentireminelife,whichbeganproductioninDecember2002(DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2000,p.10-12).
DiamondexplorationiscontinuinginCanada,withseveralothercommercialdiamondprojectsandadditionaldiscoverieslocatedinAlberta,BritishColumbia,thenorthwestterritories,thenunavutterritory,ontario,andQuebec.Canadaproducedabout7%oftheworld’scombinednaturalgemstoneandindustrialdiamondproductionin2005.Canadiandiamonddiscoveriescontinuetobemadeandproductioncontinuestoincrease,andCanadaisnowfourthrankedinproductionofgemstonediamondafterBotswana,Russia,andAustralia.
Guyana.—AreportbyPartnershipAfricaCanada(PAC)statedthatnearly20%ofdiamondsminedinGuyanaevadetheKPsCbybeingsmuggledtoBrazilandcitedweakcontrolsin
30.6 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
Brazilandvenezuelaastheproblem.thesituationexposestheentireindustrytolaundereddiamondsfromothercountries,suchasCôted’IvoireandCongo(Kinshasa).thereportcalledfortheexpulsionofBrazilandvenezuelafromtheKPsCifthesituationisnotcorrected(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006a).
Israel.—Polisheddiamondnetexportsforthe12-monthperiodthroughoctober2005increasedby4.2%to$6.33billioncomparedwiththesameperiodin2004,andexportsofroughdiamondincreasedby22.2%to$3billionforthesameperiod.Polisheddiamondnetimportsforthefirst10monthsof2005decreasedby18.4%to$264millioncomparedwiththoseofthefirst10monthsof2004,whilenetimportsofroughdiamondincreasedby2.2%to$4.5billionforthesame10-monthperiod(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005d).theUnitedstatesremainedtheleadingdiamondtradingpartnerforIsrael(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005e).
Russia.—DiamondproductionfigureswerereleasedforthefirsttimeinDecember2004.Productioninformationhadbeenkeptasastatesecretsincethefirstdiamonddiscoveryinsiberiain1955(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005g).
Sierra Leone.—Duringthecivilwarinsierraleone,officialdiamondexportshadplungedto$1.5millionayear.However,sincetheimplementationoftheKPsCandtheendofthecivilwardiamondexportsfor2005werereportedat$142million(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006d).
Outlook
thereareindicationsthattheremaybecontinuedgrowthintheU.s.diamondandjewelrymarketsin2006.Historically,diamondshaveproventoholdtheirvaluedespitewarsoreconomicdepressions(schumann,1998,p.8).
Independentproducers,suchasArgyleDiamondminesinAustraliaandekatiandDiavikinCanada,willcontinuetobringagreatermeasureofcompetitiontoglobalmarkets.morecompetitionpresumablywillbringmoresuppliesandlowerprices.FurtherconsolidationofdiamondproducersandlargeramountsofroughdiamondbeingsoldoutsideDtCwillcontinueasthediamondindustryadjuststoDeBeers’reducedinfluenceontheindustry.
morelaboratory-createdgemstones,simulants,andtreatedgemstoneswillenterthemarketplaceandnecessitatemoretransparenttradeindustrystandardstomaintaincustomerconfidence.
During2005,onlinesalesroseby25%,representing3.5%ofallretailjewelrysalesfortheyear,andInternetsalesofdiamonds,gemstones,andjewelrywillcontinuetogrowandincreaseinpopularity,aswillotherformsofe-commercethatemergetoservethediamondandgemstoneindustry.thiswilltakeplaceasthegemstoneindustryanditscustomersbecomemorecomfortablewithandlearntheapplicationsofnewe-commercetools(DiamondRegistryBulletin,2004b,c;IDeXmagazine,2006§).
References Cited
BHPBillitonltd.,2004,BHPBillitonapprovesPandaundergroundproject:melbourne,Australia,BHPBillitonltd.newsrelease,may4,1p.
BHPBillitonltd.,2006a,BHPBillitonapprovesKoalaundergroundproject:melbourne,Australia,BHPBillitonltd.newsrelease,June28,1p.
BHPBillitonltd.,2006b,BHPBillitonproductionreportforthequarterended31December2005:melbourne,Australia,BHPBillitonltd.newsrelease,January24,12p.
CarnegieInstitutionofWashington,2005,verylargediamondsproducedveryfast:Washington,DC,CarnegieInstitutionnewsrelease,may16,1p.
Davis,Joshua,2003,thenewdiamondage:Wired,v.11,no.09,september,p.96-105,145-146.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,1999,verdictin—CraterofDiamondsremainspublicpark:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.31,no.2,February28,p.6.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2001,syntheticdiamondproductionexpands—Isitathreat?:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.33,no.11,December31,p.2.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2002,BHPattemptsundergroundmining:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.34,no.3,march31,p.3.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2004a,DeBeerssalesrise7percentin2003:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.36,no.2,February29,p.2.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2004b,onlineretailingcontinuesgrowthinsalesandpopularity:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.36,no.1,January31,p.4.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2004c,WashingtonPosttalksaboutdiamondsontheinternet:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.36,no.1,January31,p.6.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005a,DiamondsinAlaskaandminnesota?:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.5,may31,p.3.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005b,DtCsalesup3%in2004:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.2,February28,p.2.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005c,GIAreviewslabpractices;fourgradersfired,labchiefresigns:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.9,october31,p.1.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005d,Israelshowsraredecreaseinimportandexportforoctober:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.10,november30,p.3.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005e,Israel’spolisheddiamondexportsup14.4%in2004,only18%ofroughfromDtC:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,
no.1,January31,p.5.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005f,Itwastheyearinwhich…:Diamond
RegistryBulletin,v.37,no.11,December30,p.1.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005g,Russianproductionfiguresrevealed:
DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.1,January31,p.5.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2005h,U.n.reaffirmssupportforKimberley
Process:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.37,no.11,December30,p.4.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006a,20percentofGuyana’sdiamondsevade
Kimberley—Report:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.38,no.4,April30,p.5.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006b,DeBeerssaleshitnewrecord:Diamond
RegistryBulletin,v.38,no.2,February28,p.5.DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006c,DiamondHighCouncil(HRD)ofAntwerp’s
diamondpriceindex2005-2006:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.38,no.6,June/July,p.3.
DiamondRegistryBulletin,2006d,Report—Diamondexportsupinsierraleone,butpeoplearen’tbenefiting:DiamondRegistryBulletin,v.38,no.4,April30,p.5.
DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2000,Diavikannualsocialandenvironmentalreport—2000:Yellowknife,northwestterritories,Canada,DiavikDiamondminesInc.,74p.
DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2005,Diavik2005firstquarterupdate:Yellowknife,northwestterritories,Canada,DiavikDiamondminesInc.newsrelease,may4,1p.
DiavikDiamondminesInc.,2006,Diavik2005fourthquarterupdate:Yellowknife,northwestterritories,Canada,DiavikDiamondminesInc.newsrelease,February9,1p.
Hastings,michael,2005,Romancingthestone:newsweek[Asiaedition], v.CXlv,no.7,February14,p.40-46.Howard,J.m.,1999,summaryofthe1990’sexplorationandtestingofthe
PrairieCreekdiamond-bearinglamproitecomplex,PikeCounty,AR,withafieldguide,inHoward,J.m.,ed.,ContributionstothegeologyofArkansas—volumeIv:littleRock,AR,ArkansasGeologicalCommissionmiscellaneousPublication18D,p.57-73.
Pearson,Carl,1998,Diamonds—thedemandequation:miningJournal,v.331,no.8505,november6,p.7.
Prost,m.A.,2005,Retailsalesarebackontrack,butwithatwist:Coloredstone,v.18,no.1,January/February,p.31-33.
schumann,Walter,1998,Gemstonesoftheworld:newYork,nY,sterlingPublishingCo.,Inc.,272p.
Gemstones—2005 30.7
U.s.InternationaltradeCommission,1997,Industry&tradesummary—Gemstones:U.s.InternationaltradeCommissionPublication3018,march,72p.
Wade,suzanne,2006,ourannualretailsurveyrevealsthatsomegemsaremoreequalthanothers:Coloredstone,v.19,no.1,January/February,p.24-27.
Willis,F.m.,2004,Ultraharddiamonds:today’sChemistatWork,v.13,no.5,may,p.12.
Internet References Cited
ApolloDiamond,Inc.,2005,Interestedinbuying?,accessedJune26,2006,viaURlhttp://www.apollodiamond.com.
AssociatedPress,2002(march13),GeologistseesnointerestinWyomingdiamondmining,accessedJuly15,2002,atURlhttp://www.montanaforum.com/rednews/2002/03/14/build/mining/wyodiamond.php?nnn=2.
AssociatedPress,2004(october19),microscopicdiamondfoundinmontana,accessedoctober19,2004,atURlhttp://www.cnn.com/2004/teCH/science/10/19/diamond.discovery.ap/index.html.
Charles&Colvard,ltd.,2005,Createdmoissaniteuniqueproperties,accessedJuly7,2005,atURlhttp://www.moissanite.com/unique_properties.cfm.
DeBeersGroup,2003,DiamondtradingCompany,accessedAugust10,2004,atURlhttp://www.debeersgroup.com/dtc/dtcProfile.asp.
DeBeersGroup,2005,WelcometotheDeBeersGroup,accessedmay30,2006,atURlhttp://www.debeersgroup.com/DeBeersWeb.
IDeXmagazine,2006(June4),U.s.onlinejewelrysalessoaring,accessedJuly7,2006,atURlhttp://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullmazalUbracha.asp?id=25686.
IowaDepartmentofnaturalResources,2001,Zebramussels,accessedJune10,2003,atURlhttp://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/fwb/fish/news/exotics/exotics.htm.
KimberleyProcess,2005(January1),theKimberleyProcess,accessedJuly1,2005,atURlhttp://www.kimberleyprocess.com:8080/site.
maney,Kevin,2005(october6),man-madediamondssparklewithpotential,UsAtoday,accessedJune26,2006,atURlhttp://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-10-06-man-made-diamonds_x.htm.
ProfessionalJeweler,2003(April28),BushsignsCleanDiamondAct,accessedmay5,2003,atURlhttp://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2003/042803story.html.
scienceBlog,2005,scientistspatentprocesstocreatelargediamondgemstones,accessedJuly7,2005,atURlhttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/7526.
seekingAlpha,2006(June5),thebullandbearcasesforBluenile,accessedJuly7,2006,atURlhttp://internet.seekingalpha.com/article/11593.
taylorHardmoneyAdvisers,2000(April11),mcKenzieBayInternationalltd.,accessedJuly16,2001,atURlhttp://www.mckenziebay.com/reports/jt000411.htm.
U.s.HouseofRepresentatives,2003(April25),H.R.1584,accessedJuly16,2003,viaURlhttp://thomas.loc.gov.
Weldon,Robert,1999(August23),man-madediamondsinFlorida,accessedFebruary1,2000,atURlhttp://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/1999/082399story.html.
Weldon,Robert,2001(october1),Kimberleyprocessinchesforward,accessedmarch21,2002,atURlhttp://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2001/100101story.html.
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GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
U.S. Geological Survey Publications
Diamond,Industrial.Ch.inmineralsYearbook,annual.Garnet,Industrial.Ch.inmineralsYearbook,annual.Gemstones.Ch.inUnitedstatesmineralResources,
ProfessionalPaper820,1973.Gemstones.Ch.inmineralCommoditysummaries,annual.
Other
AnoverviewofProductionofspecificU.s.Gemstones.U.s.BureauofminesspecialPublication14-95,1995.
AntwerpConfidential.Coloredstonemagazine.DeBeersConsolidatedminesltd.annualreports,1998-2001.DirectoryofPrincipalU.s.GemstoneProducersin1995.U.s.
BureauofminesmineralIndustrysurveys,1995.Gems&Gemology.GemstoneForecaster.lapidaryJournal.
30.8 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TA
BL
E 1
GU
IDE
TO
SE
LE
CT
ED
GE
MST
ON
ES
AN
D G
EM
MA
TE
RIA
LS
USE
D I
N J
EW
EL
RY
Prac
tical
Spec
ific
Ref
ract
ive
May
be
Rec
ogni
tion
Nam
eC
ompo
sitio
nC
olor
size
1C
ost2
Moh
sgr
avity
Ref
ract
ion
inde
xco
nfus
ed w
ithch
arac
teri
stic
s
Am
ber
Hyd
roca
rbon
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low
, red
, gre
en, b
lue
Any
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to2.
0-2.
51.
0-1.
1Si
ngle
1.54
Synt
hetic
or
pres
sed
Foss
il re
sin,
col
or, l
ow
med
ium
plas
tics,
kau
rigu
mde
nsity
, sof
t and
trap
ped
inse
cts.
Apa
tite
Chl
oroc
alci
umC
olor
less
, pin
k, y
ello
w,
Smal
lL
ow5.
03.
16-3
.23
Dou
ble
1.63
-1.6
5A
mbl
ygon
ite, a
ndal
usite
,C
ryst
al h
abit,
col
or,
phos
phat
egr
een,
blu
e, v
iole
tbr
azili
anite
, pre
ciou
sha
rdne
ss, a
ppea
ranc
e.
bery
l, tit
anite
, top
az,
tour
mal
ine
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rite
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per
carb
onat
eA
zure
, dar
k bl
ue, p
ale
Smal
l to
do.
3.5-
4.0
3.7-
3.9
do.
1.72
-1.8
5D
umor
tieri
te, h
auyn
ite,
Col
or, s
oftn
ess,
cry
stal
hydr
oxid
ebl
uem
ediu
mla
pis
lazu
li, la
zulit
e,ha
bits
and
ass
ocia
ted
soda
lite
min
eral
s.
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itoite
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ium
tita
nium
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e, p
urpl
e, p
ink,
do
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igh
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6.5
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-3.6
8do
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Sapp
hire
, tan
zani
te,
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ng b
lue
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ltrav
iole
t
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rles
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ue d
iam
ond,
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elig
ht.
tour
mal
ine,
cor
dier
ite
Ber
yl:
Aqu
amar
ine
Ber
ylliu
m a
lum
inum
Blu
e-gr
een
to li
ght b
lue
Any
Med
ium
to7.
5-8.
02.
63-2
.80
do.
1.58
Synt
hetic
spi
nel,
blue
Dou
ble
refr
actio
n,
silic
ate
high
topa
zre
frac
tive
inde
x.
Bix
bite
do.
Red
Smal
lV
ery
high
7.5-
8.0
2.63
-2.8
0do
.1.
58Pr
esse
d pl
astic
s,R
efra
ctiv
e in
dex.
tour
mal
ine
Em
eral
d, n
atur
aldo
.G
reen
Med
ium
do.
7.5
2.63
-2.8
0do
.1.
58Fu
sed
emer
ald,
gla
ss,
Em
eral
d fi
lter,
dic
hroi
sm,
tour
mal
ine,
per
idot
,re
frac
tive
inde
x.
gree
n ga
rnet
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blet
s
Em
eral
d, s
ynth
etic
do.
do.
Smal
lH
igh
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8.0
2.63
-2.8
0do
.1.
58G
enui
ne e
mer
ald
Lac
k of
fla
ws,
bri
llian
t
fluo
resc
ence
in
ultr
avio
let l
ight
.
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den
(hel
iodo
r)do
.Y
ello
w to
gol
den
Any
Low
to7.
5-8.
02.
63-2
.80
do.
1.58
Citr
ine,
topa
z, g
lass
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eak-
colo
red.
med
ium
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lets
Gos
heni
tedo
.C
olor
less
do.
Low
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8.0
2.63
-2.8
0do
.1.
58Q
uart
z, g
lass
, whi
teR
efra
ctiv
e in
dex.
sapp
hire
, whi
te to
paz
Mor
gani
tedo
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nk to
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edo
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.7.
5-8.
02.
63-2
.80
do.
1.58
Kun
zite
, tou
rmal
ine,
Do.
pink
sap
phir
e
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cite
:
Mar
ble
Cal
cium
car
bona
teW
hite
, pin
k, r
ed, b
lue,
do
.do
.3.
02.
72D
oubl
e1.
49-1
.66
Silic
ates
, ban
ded
agat
e,T
rans
luce
nt.
gree
n, o
r br
own
(str
ong)
alab
aste
r gy
psum
Mex
ican
ony
xdo
.do
.do
.do
.3.
02.
72do
.1.
60do
.B
ande
d, tr
ansl
ucen
t.
Cha
roite
Hyd
rate
d so
dium
L
ilac,
vio
let,
or w
hite
Smal
l to
do.
5.0-
6.0
2.54
-2.7
8X
X1.
55-1
.56
Purp
le m
arbl
eC
olor
, loc
ality
.
calc
ium
hyd
roxi
-m
ediu
m
fluo
ro-s
ilica
te
Chr
ysob
eryl
:
Ale
xand
rite
Ber
ylliu
m a
lum
inat
eG
reen
by
day
light
, red
Smal
l(C
IS3 );
Hig
h8.
53.
50-3
.84
Dou
ble
1.75
Synt
hetic
Stro
ng d
ichr
oism
, col
or
by a
rtif
icia
l lig
htm
ediu
mva
ries
fro
m r
ed to
(Sri
Lan
ka)
gree
n, h
ardn
ess.
See
foot
note
s at
end
of
tabl
e.
Gemstones—2005 30.9
TA
BL
E 1
—C
ontin
ued
GU
IDE
TO
SE
LE
CT
ED
GE
MST
ON
ES
AN
D G
EM
MA
TE
RIA
LS
USE
D I
N J
EW
EL
RY
Prac
tical
Spec
ific
Ref
ract
ive
May
be
Rec
ogni
tion
Nam
eC
ompo
sitio
nC
olor
size
1C
ost2
Moh
sgr
avity
Ref
ract
ion
inde
xco
nfus
ed w
ithch
arac
teri
stic
s
Chr
ysob
eryl
—
Con
tinue
d:
Cat
s-ey
eB
eryl
lium
alu
min
ate
Gre
enis
h to
bro
wni
shSm
all t
oH
igh
8.5
3.50
-3.8
4D
oubl
e1.
75Sy
nthe
tic, s
hell
Den
sity
, tra
nslu
cenc
e,
larg
ech
atoy
ance
.
Chr
ysol
itedo
.Y
ello
w, g
reen
, and
/or
Med
ium
Med
ium
8.5
3.50
-3.8
4do
.1.
75T
ourm
alin
e, p
erid
otR
efra
ctiv
e in
dex,
silk
y.
brow
n
Chr
ysoc
olla
Hyd
rate
d co
pper
G
reen
, blu
eA
nyL
ow2.
0-4.
02.
0-2.
4X
X1.
46-1
.57
Azu
rite
, dye
dL
ack
of c
ryst
als,
col
or,
silic
ate
chal
cedo
ny, m
alac
hite
,fr
actu
re, l
ow d
ensi
ty
turq
uois
e, v
aris
cite
and
soft
ness
.
Cor
alC
alci
um c
arbo
nate
Ora
nge,
red
, whi
te, b
lack
,B
ranc
hing
,do
.3.
5-4.
02.
6-2.
7D
oubl
e1.
49-1
.66
Fals
e co
ral
Dul
l tra
nslu
cent
.
purp
le, o
r gr
een
med
ium
Cor
undu
m:
Rub
yA
lum
inum
oxi
deR
ose
to d
eep
purp
lish
red
Smal
lV
ery
high
9.0
3.95
-4.1
0do
.1.
78Sy
nthe
tics,
incl
udin
gIn
clus
ions
, flu
ores
cenc
e.
spin
el, g
arne
t
Sapp
hire
, blu
edo
.B
lue
Med
ium
Hig
h9.
03.
95-4
.10
do.
1.78
do.
Incl
usio
ns, d
oubl
e
refr
actio
n, d
ichr
oism
.
Sapp
hire
, fan
cydo
.Y
ello
w, p
ink,
col
orle
ss,
Med
ium
toM
ediu
m9.
03.
95-4
.10
do.
1.78
Synt
hetic
s, g
lass
and
Incl
usio
ns, d
oubl
e
oran
ge, g
reen
, or
viol
etla
rge
doub
lets
, mor
gani
tere
frea
ctio
n, r
efra
ctiv
e
inde
x.
Sapp
hire
or
ruby
,do
.R
ed, p
ink,
vio
let,
blue
, or
do.
Hig
h to
low
9.0
3.95
-4.1
0do
.1.
78St
ar q
uart
z, s
ynth
etic
Show
s as
teri
sm, c
olor
star
sgr
ayst
ars
side
vie
w.
Sapp
hire
or
ruby
,do
.Y
ello
w, p
ink,
or
blue
Up
to 2
0L
ow9.
03.
95-4
.10
do.
1.78
Synt
hetic
spi
nel,
glas
sC
urve
d st
riae
, bub
ble
synt
hetic
cara
tsin
clus
ions
.
Cub
ic z
irco
nia
Zir
coni
um a
nd
Col
orle
ss, p
ink,
blu
e,Sm
all
do.
8.25
-8.5
5.8
Sing
le2.
17D
iam
ond,
zir
con,
tita
nia,
Har
dnes
s, d
ensi
ty, l
ack
yttr
ium
oxi
des
lave
nder
, yel
low
moi
ssan
iteof
fla
ws
and
incl
usio
ns,
refr
activ
e in
dex.
Dia
mon
dC
arbo
nW
hite
, blu
e-w
hite
,A
nyV
ery
high
10.0
3.51
6-3.
525
do.
2.42
Zir
con,
tita
nia,
cub
icH
igh
inde
x, d
ispe
rsio
n,
yello
w, b
row
n, g
reen
,zi
rcon
ia, m
oiss
anite
hard
ness
, lus
ter.
red,
pin
k, b
lue
Feld
spar
:
Am
azon
iteA
lkal
i alu
min
umG
reen
-blu
eL
arge
Low
6.0-
6.5
2.56
XX
1.52
Jade
, tur
quoi
seC
leav
age,
she
en, v
itreo
us
silic
ate
to p
earl
y, o
paqu
e, g
rid.
Lab
rado
rite
do.
Gra
y w
ith b
lue
and
do.
do.
6.0-
6.5
2.56
XX
1.56
do.
Do.
bron
ze s
heen
col
or p
lay
(sch
iller
)
Moo
nsto
nedo
.C
olor
less
, whi
te, g
ray,
do.
do.
6.0-
6.5
2.77
XX
1.52
-1.5
4G
lass
, cha
lced
ony,
opa
lPa
le s
heen
, opa
lesc
ent.
or y
ello
w w
ith w
hite
,
blue
, or
bron
ze s
chill
er
Suns
tone
do.
Ora
nge,
red
bro
wn,
Smal
l to
do.
6.0-
6.5
2.77
XX
1.53
-1.5
5A
vent
urin
e, g
lass
Red
glit
tery
sch
iller
.
colo
rles
s w
ith g
old
orm
ediu
m
red
glitt
ery
schi
ller
See
foot
note
s at
end
of
tabl
e.
30.10 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TA
BL
E 1
—C
ontin
ued
GU
IDE
TO
SE
LE
CT
ED
GE
MST
ON
ES
AN
D G
EM
MA
TE
RIA
LS
USE
D I
N J
EW
EL
RY
Prac
tical
Spec
ific
Ref
ract
ive
May
be
Rec
ogni
tion
Nam
eC
ompo
sitio
nC
olor
size
1C
ost2
Moh
sgr
avity
Ref
ract
ion
inde
xco
nfus
ed w
ithch
arac
teri
stic
s
Gar
net
Com
plex
sili
cate
Bro
wn,
bla
ck, y
ello
w,
Smal
l to
Low
to h
igh
6.5-
7.5
3.15
-4.3
0Si
ngle
1.79
-1.9
8Sy
nthe
tics,
spi
nel,
Sing
le r
efra
ctio
n,
gree
n, r
ed, o
r or
ange
med
ium
stra
ined
glas
san
omal
ous
stra
in.
Hem
atite
Iron
oxi
deB
lack
, bla
ck-g
ray,
Med
ium
toL
ow5.
5-6.
55.
12-5
.28
XX
2.94
-3.2
2D
avid
ite, c
assi
teri
te,
Cry
stal
hab
it, s
trea
k,
brow
n-re
dla
rge
mag
netit
e, n
eptu
nite
,ha
rdne
ss.
pyro
lusi
te, w
olfr
amite
Jade
:
Jade
iteC
ompl
ex s
ilica
teG
reen
, yel
low
, bla
ck,
Lar
geL
ow to
ver
y6.
5-7.
03.
3-3.
5C
rypt
o-1.
65-1
.68
Nep
hrite
, cha
lced
ony,
Lus
ter,
spe
ctru
m,
whi
te, o
r m
auve
high
crys
talli
neon
yx, b
owen
ite,
tran
sluc
ent t
o op
aque
.
vesu
vian
ite,
gros
sula
rite
Nep
hrite
Com
plex
hyd
rous
do.
do.
do.
6.0-
6.5
2.96
-3.1
0do
.1.
61-1
.63
Jade
ite, c
halc
edon
y,D
o.
silic
ate
onyx
, bow
enite
,
vesu
vian
ite,
gros
sula
rite
Jet (
gaga
te)
Lig
nite
Dee
p bl
ack,
dar
k br
own
do.
Low
2.5-
4.0
1.19
-1.3
5X
X1.
64-1
.68
Ant
hrac
ite, a
spha
lt,L
uste
r, c
olor
.
cann
el c
oal,
onyx
,
scho
rl, g
lass
, rub
ber
Lap
is la
zuli
Sodi
um c
alci
umD
ark
azur
e-bl
ue to
do.
do.
5.0-
6.0
2.50
-3.0
XX
1.50
Azu
rite
, dum
ortie
rite
,C
olor
, cry
stal
hab
it,
alum
inum
sili
cate
brig
ht in
digo
blu
e or
dyed
how
lite,
lazu
lite,
asso
ciat
ed m
iner
als,
even
a p
ale
sky
blue
.so
dalit
e, g
lass
lust
er, a
nd lo
calit
ies.
Mal
achi
teH
ydra
ted
copp
erL
ight
to b
lack
-gre
endo
.do
.3.
5-4.
03.
25-4
.10
XX
1.66
-1.9
1B
roch
antit
e, c
hrys
opra
se,
Col
or b
andi
ng, s
oftn
ess,
carb
onat
eba
nded
opaq
ue g
reen
asso
ciat
ed m
iner
als.
gem
ston
es
Moi
ssan
iteSi
licon
car
bide
Col
orle
ss a
nd p
ale
shad
es
Smal
lL
ow to
9.
253.
21D
oubl
e2.
65-2
.69
Dia
mon
d, z
irco
n, ti
tani
a,H
ardn
ess,
dis
pers
ion,
lack
of g
reen
, blu
e, y
ello
wm
ediu
mcu
bic
zirc
onia
of f
law
s an
d in
clus
ions
,
refr
activ
e in
dex.
Obs
idia
nA
mor
phou
s,B
lack
, gra
y, b
row
n,L
arge
Low
5.0-
5.5
2.35
-2.6
0X
X1.
45-1
.55
Aeg
irin
e-au
gite
,C
olor
, con
choi
dal
vari
able
(us
ually
dark
gre
en, w
hite
,ga
dolin
ite, g
agat
e,fr
actu
re, f
low
bub
bles
,
fels
ic)
tran
spar
ent
hem
atite
, pyr
olus
ite,
soft
ness
, and
lack
of
wol
fram
itecr
ysta
l fac
es.
Opa
lH
ydra
ted
silic
aR
eddi
sh o
rang
e, c
olor
sdo
.L
ow to
hig
h5.
5-6.
51.
9-2.
3Si
ngle
1.45
Gla
ss, s
ynth
etic
s,
Col
or p
lay
(opa
lesc
ence
).
flas
h in
whi
te g
ray,
trip
lets
, cha
lced
ony
blac
k, r
ed, o
r ye
llow
Peri
dot
Iron
mag
nesi
umY
ello
w a
nd/o
r gr
een
Any
Med
ium
6.5-
7.0
3.27
-3.3
7D
oubl
e1.
65-1
.69
Tou
rmal
ine,
chr
ysob
eryl
Stro
ng d
oubl
e re
frac
tion,
silic
ate
(str
ong)
low
dic
hroi
sm.
Qua
rtz:
Aga
teSi
licon
dio
xide
Any
Lar
geL
ow7.
02.
58-2
.64
XX
XX
Gla
ss, p
last
ic, M
exic
anC
rypt
ocry
stal
line,
onyx
irre
gula
rly
band
ed,
dend
ritic
incl
usio
ns.
See
foot
note
s at
end
of
tabl
e.
Gemstones—2005 30.11
TA
BL
E 1
—C
ontin
ued
GU
IDE
TO
SE
LE
CT
ED
GE
MST
ON
ES
AN
D G
EM
MA
TE
RIA
LS
USE
D I
N J
EW
EL
RY
Prac
tical
Spec
ific
Ref
ract
ive
May
be
Rec
ogni
tion
Nam
eC
ompo
sitio
nC
olor
size
1C
ost2
Moh
sgr
avity
Ref
ract
ion
inde
xco
nfus
ed w
ithch
arac
teri
stic
s
Qua
rtz—
Con
tinue
d:
Am
ethy
stSi
licon
dio
xide
Purp
leL
arge
Med
ium
7.0
2.65
-2.6
6D
oubl
e1.
55G
lass
, pla
stic
, flu
orite
Mac
rocr
ysta
lline
, col
or,
refr
activ
e in
dex,
tran
spar
ent,
hard
ness
.
Ave
ntur
ine
do.
Gre
en, r
ed-b
row
n,do
.L
ow7.
02.
64-2
.69
do.
1.54
-1.5
5Ir
ides
cent
ana
lcim
e,M
acro
crys
talli
ne, c
olor
,
gold
-bro
wn,
with
met
allic
av
entu
rine
fel
dspa
r,m
etal
lic ir
ides
cent
fla
ke
irid
esce
nt r
efle
ctio
nem
eral
d, a
vent
urin
ere
flec
tions
, har
dnes
s.
glas
s
Cai
rngo
rmdo
.Sm
oky
oran
ge o
r ye
llow
do.
do.
7.0
2.65
-2.6
6do
.1.
55do
.M
acro
crys
talli
ne, c
olor
,
refr
activ
e in
dex,
tran
spar
ent,
hard
ness
.
Car
nelia
ndo
.Fl
esh
red
to b
row
n re
ddo
.do
.6.
5-7.
02.
58-2
.64
do.
1.53
-1.5
4Ja
sper
Cry
ptoc
ryst
allin
e, c
olor
,
hard
ness
.
Cha
lced
ony
do.
Blu
ish,
whi
te, g
ray
do.
do.
6.5-
7.0
2.58
-2.6
4do
.1.
53-1
.54
Tan
zani
teD
o.
Chr
ysop
rase
do.
Gre
en, a
pple
-gre
endo
.do
.6.
5-7.
02.
58-2
.64
do.
1.53
-1.5
4C
hrom
e ch
alce
dony
,D
o.
jade
, pra
se o
pal,
preh
nite
, sm
ithso
nite
,
vari
scite
, art
ific
ally
colo
red
gree
n
chal
cedo
ny
Citr
ine
Silic
aY
ello
wdo
.do
.7.
02.
65-2
.66
do.
1.55
do.
Mac
rocr
ysta
lline
, col
or,
refr
activ
e in
dex,
tran
spar
ent,
hard
ness
.
Cry
stal
:
Roc
kdo
.C
olor
less
do.
do.
7.0
2.65
-2.6
6do
.1.
55T
opaz
, col
orle
ssD
o.
sapp
hire
Jasp
erdo
.A
ny, s
trip
ed, s
potte
d, o
rdo
.do
.7.
02.
58-2
.66
XX
XX
do.
Cry
ptoc
ryst
allin
e,
som
etim
es u
nifo
rmop
aque
, vitr
eous
lust
er,
hard
ness
.
Ony
xdo
.M
any
colo
rsdo
.do
.7.
02.
58-2
.64
XX
XX
do.
Cry
ptoc
ryst
allin
e,
unif
orm
ly b
ande
d,
hard
ness
.
Petr
ifie
d w
ood
do.
Bro
wn,
gra
y, r
ed, y
ello
wdo
.do
.6.
5-7.
02.
58-2
.91
Dou
ble
1.54
Aga
te, j
aspe
rC
olor
, har
dnes
s, w
ood
grai
n.
Ros
edo
.Pi
nk, r
ose
red
do.
do.
7.0
2.65
-2.6
6do
.1.
55do
.M
acro
crys
talli
ne, c
olor
,
refr
activ
e in
dex,
tran
spar
ent,
hard
ness
.
Tig
er's
eye
do.
Gol
den
yello
w, b
row
n,do
.do
.6.
5-7.
02.
58-2
.64
XX
1.53
-1.5
4X
XM
acro
crys
talli
ne, c
olor
,
red,
blu
e-bl
ack
hard
ness
, hat
oyan
cy.
See
foot
note
s at
end
of
tabl
e.
30.12 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TA
BL
E 1
—C
ontin
ued
GU
IDE
TO
SE
LE
CT
ED
GE
MST
ON
ES
AN
D G
EM
MA
TE
RIA
LS
USE
D I
N J
EW
EL
RY
Prac
tical
Spec
ific
Ref
ract
ive
May
be
Rec
ogni
tion
Nam
eC
ompo
sitio
nC
olor
size
1C
ost2
Moh
sgr
avity
Ref
ract
ion
inde
xco
nfus
ed w
ithch
arac
teri
stic
s
Rho
doch
rosi
teM
anga
nese
car
bona
teR
ose-
red
to y
ello
wis
h,L
arge
Low
4.0
3.45
-3.7
Dou
ble
1.6-
1.82
Fire
opa
l, rh
odon
ite,
Col
or, c
ryst
al h
abit,
stri
pped
tugt
upite
, tou
rmal
ine
reac
tion
to a
cid,
per
fect
rhom
bohe
dral
cle
avag
e.
Rho
doni
teM
anga
nese
iron
Dar
k re
d, f
lesh
red
, with
do.
do.
5.5-
6.5
3.40
-3.7
4do
.1.
72-1
.75
Rho
doch
rosi
te, t
hulit
e,C
olor
, bla
ck in
clus
ions
,
calc
ium
sili
cate
dend
ritic
incl
usio
ns o
fhe
sson
ite, s
pine
l,la
ck o
f re
actio
n to
aci
d,
blac
k m
anga
nese
oxi
depy
roxm
angi
te,
hard
ness
.
spes
sart
ine,
tour
mal
ine
Shel
l:
Mot
her-
of-p
earl
Cal
cium
car
bona
teW
hite
, cre
am, g
reen
,Sm
all
do.
3.5
2.6-
2.85
XX
XX
Gla
ss a
nd p
last
icL
uste
r, ir
ides
cent
pla
y
blue
-gre
en, w
ithim
itatio
nof
col
or.
irid
esce
nt p
lay
of c
olor
Pear
ldo
.W
hite
, cre
am to
bla
ck,
do.
Low
to h
igh
2.5-
4.5
2.6-
2.85
XX
XX
Cul
ture
d an
d gl
ass
or
Lus
ter,
irid
esce
nce,
som
etim
es w
ith h
int o
fpl
astic
imita
tion
x-st
ruct
ure,
ray
.
pink
, gre
en, p
urpl
e
Spin
elM
agne
sium
Any
Smal
l to
Med
ium
8.0
3.5-
3.7
Sing
le1.
72Sy
nthe
tic, g
arne
tR
efra
ctiv
e in
dex,
sin
gle
alum
inum
oxi
dem
ediu
mre
frac
tion,
incl
usio
ns.
Spin
el, s
ynth
etic
do.
do.
Up
to 4
0L
ow8.
03.
5-3.
7D
oubl
e1.
73Sp
inel
, cor
undu
m, b
eryl
,W
eak
doub
le r
efra
ctio
n,
cara
tsto
paz,
ale
xand
rite
curv
ed s
tria
e, b
ubbl
es.
Spod
umen
e:
Hid
deni
teL
ithiu
m a
lum
inum
Yel
low
to g
reen
Med
ium
Med
ium
6.5-
7.0
3.13
-3.2
0do
.1.
66Sy
nthe
tic s
pine
lR
efra
ctiv
e in
dex,
col
or,
silic
ate
pleo
chro
ism
.
Kun
zite
do.
Pink
to li
lac
do.
do.
6.5-
7.0
3.13
-3.2
0do
.1.
66A
met
hyst
, mor
gani
teD
o.
Tan
zani
teC
ompl
ex s
ilica
teB
lue
to la
vend
erSm
all
Hig
h6.
0-7.
03.
30do
.1.
69Sa
pphi
re, s
ynth
etic
sSt
rong
tric
hroi
sm, c
olor
.
Top
azdo
.W
hite
, blu
e, g
reen
, pin
k,M
ediu
mL
ow to
8.0
3.4-
3.6
do.
1.62
Ber
yl, q
uart
zC
olor
, den
sity
, har
dnes
s,
yello
w, g
old
med
ium
refr
activ
e in
dex,
per
fect
in b
asal
cle
avag
e.
Tou
rmal
ine
do.
Any
, inc
ludi
ng m
ixed
do.
do.
7.0-
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Gemstones—2005 30.13
TABLE 2
LABORATORY-CREATED GEMSTONE PRODUCTION METHODS
Gemstone Production method Company/producer Date of first production
Alexandrite Flux Creative Crystals 1970s.
Do. Melt pulling J.O. Crystal 1990s.
Do. do. Kyocera 1980s.
Do. Zone melt Seiko 1980s.
Cubic zirconia Skull melt Various producers 1970s.
Emerald Flux Chatham 1930s.
Do. do. Gilson 1960s.
Do. do. Kyocera 1970s.
Do. do. Seiko 1980s.
Do. do. Lennix 1980s.
Do. do. Russia 1980s.
Do. Hydrothermal Lechleitner 1960s.
Do. do. Regency 1980s.
Do. do. Biron 1980s.
Do. do. Russia 1980s.
Ruby Flux Chatham 1950s.
Do. do. Kashan 1960s.
Do. do. J.O. Crystal 1980s.
Do. do. Douras 1990s.
Do. Zone melt Seiko 1980s.
Do. Melt pulling Kyocera 1970s.
Do. Verneuil Various producers 1900s.
Sapphire Flux Chatham 1970s.
Do. Zone melt Seiko 1980s.
Do. Melt pulling Kyocera 1980s.
Do. Verneuil Various producers 1900s.
Star ruby do. Linde 1940s.
Do. Melt pulling Kyocera 1980s.
Do. do. Nakazumi 1980s.
Star sapphire Verneuil Linde 1940s.
e
TABLE 3
VALUE OF U.S. GEMSTONE PRODUCTION, BY TYPE1
(Thousand dollars)
Gem materials 2004 2005
Beryl 18 48
Coral, all types 261 216
Diamond (2) (2)
Garnet 207 46
Gem feldspar 659 626
Geode/nodules 212 214
Opal 137 140
Quartz:
Macrocrystalline3 206 196
Cryptocrystalline4 383 427
Sapphire/ruby 473 450
Shell 4,000 3,560
Topaz (2) (2)
Tourmaline 45 39
Turquoise 699 511
Other 7,170 r 6,960
Total 14,500 13,400See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 3—Continued
VALUE OF U.S. GEMSTONE PRODUCTION, BY TYPE1
rRevised.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; maynot add to totals shown.2Included with "Other." 3Macrocrystalline quartz (crystals recognizable with the nakedeye) includes amethyst, amethyst quartz, aventurine, blue quartz,
citrine, hawk's eye, pasiolite, prase, quartz cat's eye, rock crystal,
rose quartz, smoky quartz, and tiger's eye.4Cryptocrystalline (microscopically small crystals) includes agatcarnelian, chalcedony, chrysoprase, fossilized wood, heliotrope,
jasper, moss agate, onyx, and sard.
30.14 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
e
TABLE 3
VALUE OF U.S. GEMSTONE PRODUCTION, BY TYPE1
(Thousand dollars)
Gem materials 2004 2005
Beryl 18 48
Coral, all types 261 216
Diamond (2) (2)
Garnet 207 46
Gem feldspar 659 626
Geode/nodules 212 214
Opal 137 140
Quartz:
Macrocrystalline3 206 196
Cryptocrystalline4 383 427
Sapphire/ruby 473 450
Shell 4,000 3,560
Topaz (2) (2)
Tourmaline 45 39
Turquoise 699 511
Other 7,170 r 6,960
Total 14,500 13,400See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 3—Continued
VALUE OF U.S. GEMSTONE PRODUCTION, BY TYPE1
rRevised.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; maynot add to totals shown.2Included with "Other." 3Macrocrystalline quartz (crystals recognizable with the nakedeye) includes amethyst, amethyst quartz, aventurine, blue quartz,
citrine, hawk's eye, pasiolite, prase, quartz cat's eye, rock crystal,
rose quartz, smoky quartz, and tiger's eye.4Cryptocrystalline (microscopically small crystals) includes agatcarnelian, chalcedony, chrysoprase, fossilized wood, heliotrope,
jasper, moss agate, onyx, and sard.
TABLE 4
PRICES OF U.S. CUT DIAMONDS, BY SIZE AND QUALITY IN 20051
Carat Description, Clarity3 Representative prices
weight color2 (GIA terms) January4 June5 December6
0.25 G VS1 $1,200 $1,200 $1,200
do. G VS2 1,150 1,150 1,150
do. G SI1 975 975 975
do. H VS1 1,100 1,100 1,100
do. H VS2 1,000 1,000 1,000
do. H SI1 925 925 925
0.50 G VS1 3,200 3,200 3,200
do. G VS2 2,800 2,800 2,800
do. G SI1 2,400 2,400 2,400
do. H VS1 2,800 2,800 2,800
do. H VS2 2,400 2,400 2,400
do. H SI1 2,200 2,200 2,200
0.75 G VS1 3,600 3,600 3,600
do. G VS2 3,500 3,500 3,500
do. G SI1 3,200 3,200 3,200
do. H VS1 3,300 3,300 3,300
do. H VS2 3,200 3,200 3,200
do. H SI1 2,900 2,900 2,900
1.00 G VS1 5,800 5,800 5,800
do. G VS2 5,500 5,500 5,500
do. G SI1 4,800 4,800 4,800
do. H VS1 5,200 5,200 5,200
do. H VS2 4,900 4,900 4,900
do. H SI1 4,700 4,700 4,7001Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits.2Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color grades: D—colorless; E—rare white; G, H, I—traces of color.3Clarity: IF—no blemishes; VVS1—very, very slightly included; VS1—very slightly included; VS2—veryslightly included, but not visible; SI1—slightly included.4Source: Jewelers' Circular Keystone, v. 174, no. 2, February 2003, p. 44.5Source: Jewelers' Circular Keystone, v. 174, no. 7, July 2003, p. 52.6Source: Jewelers' Circular Keystone, v. 175, no. 1, January 2004, p. 28.
Gemstones—2005 30.15
TABLE 5PRICES PER CARAT OF U.S. CUT COLORED GEMSTONES IN 2005
Price range per carat
Gemstone January1 December2
Amethyst $7-15 $7-15
Blue sapphire 625-1,250 625-1,250
Blue topaz 3-5 3-5
Emerald 1,900-3,200 1,900-3,200
Green tourmaline 45-60 45-60
Pearl:3
Cultured saltwater 5 5
Natural 210 210
Pink tourmaline 60-125 60-125
Rhodolite garnet 18-30 18-30
Ruby 900-1,125 900-1,125
Tanzanite 250-375 250-4001Source: The Guide, spring/summer 2005, p. 14, 30, 45, 61, 72, 86, 96,98, 104, 123, and 135. These figures are approximate current wholesale
purchase prices paid by retail jewelers on a per stone basis for fine-
quality stones.2Source: The Guide, fall/winter 2005-2006, p. 14, 30, 45, 61, 72, 86, 96,98, 104, 123, and 135. These figures are approximate current wholesale
purchase prices paid by retail jewelers on a per stone basis for fine-
quality stones.3Prices are per 4.6-millimeter pearl.
30.16 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TABLE 6
U.S. EXPORTS AND REEXPORTS OF DIAMOND (EXCLUSIVE OF INDUSTRIAL
DIAMOND), BY COUNTRY1
2004 2005
Quantity Value2 Quantity Value2
Country (carats) (millions) (carats) (millions)
Exports:
Australia 7,570 $7 33,700 $7
Belgium 189,000 100 r 1,300,000 538
Canada 68,500 47 84,200 56
Costa Rica 31,800 3 37,200 3
France 16,300 11 90,000 51
Hong Kong 529,000 219 1,030,000 294
India 151,000 31 206,000 57
Israel 352,000 r 208 r 1,890,000 1,090
Japan 22,600 26 52,400 53
Mexico 397,000 124 1,080,000 144
Netherlands 421 3 27,600 8
Netherlands Antilles 47,200 23 35,500 33
Singapore 12,300 5 54,000 19
South Africa 498 (3) 21,100 4
Switzerland 19,000 r 47 108,000 82
Taiwan 11,000 6 16,700 4
Thailand 68,500 15 98,000 28
United Arab Emirates 15,700 4 101,000 43
United Kingdom 26,300 28 78,800 22
Other 52,200 r 29 r 87,200 46
Total 2,020,000 r 936 r 6,430,000 2,580
Reexports:
Armenia 69,500 r 3 44,300 3
Australia 19,100 7 40,300 8
Belgium 4,780,000 r 1,370 r 3,920,000 1,100
Canada 223,000 r 107 r 247,000 136
Dominican Republic 104,000 23 153,000 33
France 155,000 32 r 88,200 16
Guatemala 91,100 8 107,000 12
Hong Kong 2,690,000 r 490 r 2,500,000 618
India 2,200,000 r 345 r 1,840,000 387
Israel 7,650,000 r 2,690 r 7,670,000 2,640
Japan 207,000 r 47 r 150,000 33
Malaysia 41,100 9 34,900 5
Mexico 37,000 5 57,700 11
Singapore 264,000 r 46 218,000 35
South Africa 78,000 r 48 r 47,600 36
Switzerland 563,000 r 289 r 638,000 303
Thailand 285,000 r 70 290,000 83
United Arab Emirates 477,000 r 108 r 612,000 142
United Kingdom 490,000 r 171 540,000 211
Other 147,000 r 59 r 122,000 87
Total 20,600,000 r 5,930 r 19,300,000 5,890
Grand total 22,600,000 r 6,870 r 25,700,000 8,470rRevised.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.2Customs value.3Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Gemstones—2005 30.17
TABLE 7
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF DIAMOND, BY KIND, WEIGHT, AND COUNTRY1
2004 2005
Quantity Value2 Quantity Value2
Kind, range, and country of origin (carat) (millions) (carat) (millions)
Rough or uncut, natural:3
Angola 6,590 $19 19,400 $57
Australia 12,200 8 62,400 8
Botswana 144,000 48 274,000 132
Brazil 9,530 8 24,600 2
Canada 36,500 38 57,600 62
Congo (Kinshasa) 20,900 17 44,300 116
Ghana 1,910 (4) 58,000 3
Guyana 157,000 16 68,400 8
India 34,500 3 29,200 (4)
Namibia 28,700 1 10,700 1
Russia 250,000 20 45,500 13
South Africa 430,000 508 347,000 413
Other 74,400 r 68 r 16,800 49
Total 1,210,000 753 1,060,000 864
Cut but unset, not more than 0.5 carat:
Belgium 786,000 275 530,000 197
Canada 4,800 4 7,890 9
China 67,100 10 78,900 13
Dominican Republic 37,200 4 57,100 5
Hong Kong 200,000 43 228,000 58
India 9,720,000 1,770 8,780,000 1,820
Israel 969,000 477 843,000 425
Mauritius 1,890 4 10,400 15
Mexico 14,400 (4) 247,000 35
Singapore 9,460 2 6,180 2
South Africa 8,410 3 5,330 2
Switzerland 7,390 2 33,600 18
Thailand 189,000 36 71,500 18
United Arab Emirates 122,000 24 91,600 23
Other 67,700 r 15 r 28,600 13
Total 12,200,000 2,670 11,000,000 2,650
Cut but unset, more than 0.5 carat:
Belgium 1,230,000 2,450 1,160,000 2,620
Canada 23,600 67 15,200 50
Hong Kong 71,300 111 83,400 162
India 1,530,000 1,080 1,340,000 1,260
Israel 3,080,000 6,660 3,070,000 7,670
Mexico 16 (4) 49,900 37
Russia 62,200 121 57,600 126
South Africa 40,500 242 46,300 336
Switzerland 20,100 155 16,600 138
Thailand 21,300 23 21,200 20
United Arab Emirates 23,800 21 50,300 64
Other 88,200 r 272 r 67,000 235
Total 6,190,000 11,200 5,980,000 12,700rRevised.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.2Customs value.3Includes some natural advanced diamond.4Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
30.18 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TABLE 8
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF GEMSTONES, OTHER THAN
DIAMOND, BY KIND AND COUNTRY1
2004 2005
Quantity Value2 Quantity Value2
Kind and country (carats) (millions) (carats) (millions)
Emerald:
Argentina -- -- 12,500 (3)
Belgium 25,200 $2 4,230 $1
Brazil 355,000 4 83,600 5
Canada 412 (3) 6,430 (3)
China 227,000 1 17,900 (3)
Colombia 677,000 47 456,000 54
France 745 1 2,360 7
Germany 7,440 1 93,600 1
Hong Kong 57,100 4 86,100 8
India 1,880,000 18 1,340,000 17
Israel 259,000 21 139,000 22
Italy 865 (3) 3,120 2
Namibia -- -- 4,590 (3)
Switzerland 9,450 7 18,500 8
Thailand 424,000 8 348,000 7
United Kingdom 851 2 2,520 2
Other 74,600 6 4,770 2
Total 4,000,000 122 2,620,000 137
Ruby:
Belgium 6,450 2 11,600 1
China 21,700 (3) 29,700 (3)
Dominican Republic 4,920 (3) 23,600 (3)
France 786 1 2,300 5
Germany 19,400 1 77,600 1
Hong Kong 52,100 4 119,000 7
India 1,300,000 4 935,000 5
Israel 41,300 1 8,840 1
Italy 6,570 (3) 4,340 1
Kenya 526 (3) 33,500 (3)
Sri Lanka 5,260 1 4,080 1
Switzerland 2,230 11 89,300 29
Thailand 2,090,000 43 3,030,000 48
United Arab Emirates 7,700 1 3,340 1
Other 186,000 2 8,630 2
Total 3,750,000 72 4,380,000 102
Sapphire:
Australia 5,300 (3) 57,900 1
Austria 947 (3) 29,600 1
Belgium 4,480 1 7,120 1
China 120,000 (3) 84,100 (3)
Dominican Republic 3,750 (3) 24,500 (3)
Germany 41,000 2 72,700 5
Hong Kong 138,000 7 272,000 15
India 1,040,000 9 987,000 6
Israel 56,600 3 31,600 3
Italy 4,130 (3) 5,880 (3)
Singapore 379 (3) 5,350 (3)
Sri Lanka 455,000 42 448,000 45
Switzerland 29,900 11 49,000 9
Thailand 5,470,000 78 5,620,000 81See footnotes at end of table.
Gemstones—2005 30.19
TABLE 8—Continued
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF GEMSTONES, OTHER THAN
DIAMOND, BY KIND AND COUNTRY1
2004 2005
Quantity Value2 Quantity Value2
Kind and country (carats) (millions) (carats) (millions)
Sapphire—Continued:
United Arab Emirates 7,360 (3) 2,490 (3)
United Kingdom 7,820 $3 2,550 (3)
Other 113,000 4 14,700 $5
Total 7,500,000 163 7,710,000 174
Other:
Rough, uncut:
Australia NA 3 NA 2
Brazil NA 8 NA 10
Canada NA 3 NA 4
China NA 3 NA 4
Colombia NA 1 NA 1
Czech Republic NA (3) NA 2
Germany NA 2 NA 3
India NA 1 NA 1
Japan NA (3) NA 1
Mexico NA 1 NA 1
Netherlands NA 1 NA 1
Pakistan NA 1 NA 1
South Africa NA 7 NA 1
Tanzania NA 1 NA 3
United Kingdom NA (3) NA 1
Other NA 5 r NA 5
Total NA 39 NA 40
Cut, set and unset:
Australia NA 9 NA 9
Austria NA 3 NA 4
Brazil NA 13 NA 18
Canada NA 1 NA 1
China NA 45 NA 57
France NA 1 NA 3
Germany NA 38 NA 33
Hong Kong NA 35 NA 49
India NA 82 NA 93
Israel NA 4 NA 5
Italy NA 1 NA 1
South Africa NA 5 NA 3
Sri Lanka NA 7 NA 7
Switzerland NA 10 NA 19
Taiwan NA 2 NA 2
Tanzania NA 7 NA 7
Thailand NA 46 NA 40
United Arab Emirates NA 2 NA 1
United Kingdom NA 1 NA 1
Other NA 7 r NA 7
Total NA 320 NA 360rRevised. NA Not available. -- Zero.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.2Customs value.3Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
30.20 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TABLE 9
VALUE OF U.S. IMPORTS OF LABORATORY-CREATED
AND IMITATION GEMSTONES, BY COUNTRY1,2
(Thousand dollars)
Country 2004 2005
Laboratory-created, cut but unset:
Austria 2,410 3,700
Brazil 225 151
Canada 98 133
China 14,100 15,200
Cyprus 246 86
Czech Republic 114 91
France 989 945
Germany 13,800 12,200
Hong Kong 1,500 1,580
India 261 526
Ireland 7 69
Italy 75 131
Japan 112 110
Korea, Republic of 649 468
Netherlands 232 296
South Africa -- 87
Sri Lanka 1,290 1,300
Switzerland 3,340 2,050
Taiwan 197 238
Thailand 1,090 1,420
United Arab Emirates -- 70
Other 158 r 253
Total 40,900 41,100
Imitation:3
Austria 60,800 73,600
Brazil 8 16
China 4,660 3,500
Czech Republic 7,000 11,000
France 16 13
Germany 974 1,160
Hong Kong 700 271
India 207 361
Italy 100 222
Japan 1,110 474
Korea, Republic of 774 619
Philippines 16 15
Russia 53 17
Spain 165 256
Taiwan 220 179
Thailand 31 52
United Kingdom -- 24
Other 227 r 109
Total 77,000 91,900rRevised. -- Zero.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may notadd to totals shown.2Customs value.3Includes pearls.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Gemstones—2005 30.21
TABLE 10
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF GEMSTONES1
(Thousand carats and thousand dollars)
2004 2005
Stones Quantity Value2 Quantity Value2
Diamonds:
Rough or uncut 1,210 753,000 1,060 864,000
Cut but unset 18,400 13,900,000 17,000 15,400,000
Emeralds, cut but unset 4,000 122,000 2,630 137,000
Coral and similar materials, unworked 6,120 11,500 5,520 12,200
Rubies and sapphires, cut but unset 11,200 234,000 12,100 275,000
Pearls:
Natural NA 15,500 r NA 21,800
Cultured NA 29,500 NA 27,100
Imitation NA 3,780 NA 4,170
Other precious and semiprecious stones:
Rough, uncut 1,130,000 25,200 1,630,000 22,900
Cut, set and unset NA 279,000 NA 319,000
Other NA 5,680 NA 7,200
Laboratory-created:
Cut but unset 249,000 40,900 196,000 41,100
Other NA 8,110 NA 10,300
Imitation gemstone3 NA 73,300 NA 87,700
Total XX 15,500,000 r XX 17,200,000rRevised. NA Not available. XX Not applicable.1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.2Customs value.3Does not include pearls.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
30.22 U.s.GeoloGICAlsURveYmIneRAlsYeARBooK—2005
TABLE 11
NATURAL DIAMOND: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND TYPE1, 2, 3
(Thousand carats)
Country and type4 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Gemstones:
Angolae 4,643 r 4,520 5,130 r 5,490 r 5,580
Australia 14,397 r 15,136 r 13,981 r 20,602 r 20,000 e
Botswanae 19,812 r, 5 21,297 r, 5 22,800 23,300 23,900
Brazile 700 500 5 400 r 300 r, 5 300
Canada 3,716 4,937 10,756 r 12,618 12,300
Central African Republice 340 312 250 263 r 265
Chinae 100 r 100 r 100 r 100 r 100
Congo (Kinshasa) 3,638 4,223 r 5,381 r 6,180 r 6,300 e
Côte d'Ivoire 207 e 205 r 154 r 201 r, e 201 e
Ghana 936 e 770 e 675 r 690 r 760 e
Guineae 273 368 484 6 354 r, 6 411 6
Guyana 179 248 413 455 r 357
Liberiae 100 48 36 18 18
Namibia 1,487 1,562 1,481 2,004 r 1,900 e
Russiae 17,500 17,400 20,000 21,400 23,000
Sierra Leone 102 r 162 r 233 r, e 318 r, e 318 e
South Africa 4,465 r 4,351 r 5,144 r 5,780 e 5,780 e
Tanzaniae 216 5 204 201 258 r 175
Venezuela 14 46 11 40 e 46 e
Other7 54 r 42 r 44 r 74 r 110
Total 72,900 r 76,400 r 87,700 r 100,000 r 102,000
Industrial:
Angolae 516 502 570 r 610 r 620
Australia 11,779 r 18,500 17,087 r 22,709 r 20,000 e
Botswanae 6,604 r, 5 7,100 7,600 7,800 8,000
Brazile 600 600 600 600 600
Central African Republice 113 104 83 88 r 88
Chinae 950 955 955 960 960
Congo (Kinshasa) 14,560 17,456 21,600 24,700 r 25,200 e
Côte d'Ivoire 102 101 r 76 r 99 r, e 99 e
Ghanae 234 193 225 r 230 r 253
Guineae 91 123 161 6 118 r, 6 137 6
Liberiae 70 32 24 12 12
Russiae 11,700 11,600 13,000 14,200 15,000
Sierra Leone 120 r 190 r 274 r, e 374 r, e 374 e
South Africa 6,698 r 6,526 r 7,540 r 8,500 r, e 9,380 e
Tanzania 38 36 36 46 r 30
Venezuela 28 61 24 60 e 69 e
Other8 91 r 81 r 82 r 121 r 190
Total 54,300 r 64,200 r 69,900 r 81,200 r 81,000
Grand total 127,000 141,000 r 158,000 r 182,000 r 183,000eEstimated. rRevised.1World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.2Table includes data available through June 5, 2006.3In addition to the countries listed, Nigeria produces natural diamond, but information is inadequate to formulatereliable estimates of output levels.4Includes near-gem and cheap-gem qualities.5Reported figure.6Exports.7Includes Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon (unspecified), India, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe.8Includes Congo (Brazzaville), India, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe.