Introduction
Gemstones fascinate us all with their glittering beauty, bright colors, and eternal shine. Under their smooth surfaces, though, numerous gems with hidden mysteries, counterintuitive facts, and incredible histories are perhaps the most fascinating of all. Some of the most unbelievable facts in the world of gemology that may alter your perspectives toward the natural marvels are revealed in this article.
The Great Imposter: When a Ruby is not a Ruby
The gemstone Spinel was highly desired for its fiery red color, which often led people to mistake it for ruby. As a matter of fact, two of the most well-known of the 153 rubies in the British Crown Jewels—the 170-carat Black Prince’s Ruby and the 361-carat Timur Ruby—are actually red Spinels.
Spinel, the great imposter, had been mistaken for rubies in European crown jewels for centuries.
This rich history of mistaken identity shows just how beautiful Spinel is in itself, and it is a worthy jewel that has remained too long in the shadow of its famous twin.
The Alien Gem: Peridot of the Outer Space
The origin of the yellow-green Peridot is extraordinary. It is an outstanding jewel created in the heat and pressure of lava flows and the Earth’s mantle. This is not the only origin story of Peridot, however: it is also among the few known gemstones that are found within meteorites that landed on Earth.
Yellow-green Peridot is an extreme gem, found both in lava and in meteorites, as well as deep within the Earth’s mantle.
It is unbelievable to consider that a gemstone embedded in a jewel might have traveled through the universe for millions of years before being discovered on our planet.
Sibling Rivals: The Darkest Secret of Ruby and Sapphire
Perhaps it is surprising to hear, but the royal Ruby and the gorgeous Sapphire are not two different minerals; they are the same mineral, corundum. The only notable variation between these stones, which are siblings, is the trace elements in minute quantities that provide them with their characteristic color.
It is the presence of chromium that gives the rich red of a Ruby. In the meantime, the diverse color changes in sapphires, including blue, pink, yellow, and even green shades, are due to varying proportions of color elements, such as iron, titanium, and magnesium, which are present in trace amounts.
Ruby was referred to as ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones,” in ancient Sanskrit.
The Magic Trick of Nature: The Varying Colored Alexandrite
One of the rarest and most unusual phenomena in the gem world is Alexandrite, the color-changing mineral chrysoberyl. The source of light dramatically colors this stone. During the day, it appears bluish-green, but under incandescent light, it turns a beautiful purplish-red.
Green in sunlight. Red in lamplight. The magic trick of nature is color-changing Alexandrite.
It is this exceptional optical quality that has made Alexandrite one of the most interesting and valuable gemstones ever.
Prehistoric Time Capsule: The Secrets Within Amber
Amber is not a mineral, as is the case with most other gems. It is an organic treasure—the fossilized resin of ancient trees, often found in golden, orange, or honey-brown hues. The real magic is that it is a perfect preservation agent, preserving remnants of life that are millions of years old. You may find ancient insects and leaves trapped within, and occasionally even rare pieces containing scorpions or lizards.
Amber is the time capsule of nature. This tree resin is a fossil that has traces of life on Earth millions of years ago.
Conclusion
Gemstones are much more than pretty items to wear, as we have seen. They are carriers of unbelievable scientific facts, historical confusions, and tales that extend from the depths of the Earth to the far reaches of the galaxy.
And now that you are aware of their secret histories, what jewel shall you perceive differently?