Discover peridot through professional gemmology. Explore how this magnesium-rich olivine forms deep in Earth's mantle, reaches the surface in basalt or tectonic ultramafic rocks, and reveals its identity through strong birefringence, iron-related spectroscopy, lily-pad inclusions and trace-element chemistry.
Discover the gemmology of elbaite with the Nadia Gemstone academy video series. Elbaite, a lithium-rich tourmaline species renowned for its remarkable colours and complex crystal chemistry. Explore its pegmatitic formation, optical properties, internal zoning, diagnostic spectroscopy, treatments and laboratory identification, including the science behind copper-bearing Paraíba-type material.
Explore chrysoberyl through professional gemmology. Learn how its beryllium aluminium oxide structure, geological formation and trace-element chemistry produce yellow-green gems, colour-changing alexandrite and cat's-eye chrysoberyl. Examine diagnostic optical properties, microscopy, spectroscopy, synthetic materials and durability.
Discover the mineralogy and gemmology of topaz. Explore its orthorhombic crystal structure, fluorine–hydroxyl chemistry, optical properties, geological formation, chromium-related colours, irradiation treatments and microscopic identification. Learn why its perfect basal cleavage is one of its most important diagnostic and durability characteristics.
Discover zircon through professional gemmology. Explore its geological formation, exceptional birefringence and dispersion, uranium-related crystal damage, colour mechanisms, heat treatments, inclusions and laboratory identification. Learn why natural zircon is fundamentally different from cubic zirconia.
Discover emerald from a gemmologist’s perspective: how this green variety of beryl forms, how chromium and vanadium create its colour, and how optical properties, inclusions, spectroscopy and trace-element chemistry reveal its identity, treatment and geological history.
Discover emerald from a gemmologist’s perspective: how this green variety of beryl forms, how chromium and vanadium create its colour, and how optical properties, inclusions, spectroscopy and trace-element chemistry reveal its identity, treatment and geological history.
Discover blue sapphire from a gemmologist’s perspective: its geological formation, iron-titanium colour mechanism, refractive index, spectroscopy, inclusions, treatments, synthetics and diagnostic identification features.
Discover ruby from a gemmologist’s perspective: how this red variety of corundum forms, why chromium creates its colour and fluorescence, and how refractive index, inclusions, spectroscopy and other diagnostic properties help identify it.
