Fraud & Misrepresentation of synthetic stones Gemstones, Crystals etc

[Exloration_La]

I am disillusioned with much of the many pretty looking stones and gems etc you may find in the shops caring crystals, gemstones semi-precious stones and of course demands etc and otherwise.. I myself being into health and fitness I know there is all kinds of code on the label and things you have to look at and read between the lines, and it seen to be that way with precious stones and stuff like that marketed to rock collectors and pagans etc

Some of the stones are being purposefully misrepresented as natural stones, and other sellers just work under there bosses and just are passing on what their bosses educated them on what they are selling or they are going off simply what their suppliers told them without themselves knowing much beyond the labels.

Many of the stones being marketed as real are synthetically manufactured or they are processes and tampered so far beyond what they would look like in their natural state they might as well be synthetic with treatments of heat, filling cracks with glues and epoxies, heat and radiation treatments and the list goes on.

People are purchasing even things as simple as quartz crystal and thinking they are natural by the earth and in fact are mass produced in the laboratory and man made and even have fake color enhancements or they are just colored glass mixed with metal and just a while back my GF was sold some stuff I latter found was totally fake and she was told it was a natural occurring stone.

I don’t know it sellers will find this post and feel threatened or if some people feel defensive about having bought fake crystals, but I am putting this out there so people can make better informed decisions…

Below this post I will post links I found.. PLEASE if you know of more links please post them, and if you know about which stones and stuff are most commonly genuine and which are most commonly fake and how you tell then please share that.. Unfortunately I was under the assumption that diamonds would be the only thing considering their value prone to fraud, but as it turns out even stuff in the semi precious category can be fake many times if you don’t REALLY pay attention.

Also if you know any books on this subject especially of semiprecious stones like crystals and how to tell if they are real etc that would be great.

I am seriously thinking of just taking a 2 week jewelry classes and opting to make more earthy jewelry from cool stones found on the beach since in this world so full of marketing fakery it seems maybe making it myself might be the only ay to know for sure I am getting something genuine.. I am sure craft shops could have some good info on where classes would be and what is immediately available..

[Exloration_La]

Tidbits of info I found:

http://www.sinfin.net/rocks/rockslist6.html

This category includes the so-called "created" or synthetic stones, and stones that have had their properties enhanced by artificial means.

How do you tell a man-made stone? Well, unless you have expert knowledge, in most cases you will have to trust your supplier. Most reputable jewelers and crystals suppliers will indicate their man-made stones by labels such as "created" or "synthetic" or sometimes "artificial". Sapphires, Rubies and Emeralds are often found in "created" varieties in the jewelers, as (less often) are other stones, for example even Alexandrite. Despite being of the purest color and free of flaws, they are of less intrinsic value than their natural relatives. In fact, they also appear to be of relatively little value in metaphysical terms when compared with their natural counterparts. This may be in part at least due to the strong earth energies that the natural stones have accumulated, having in the ground for thousands, or in some cases millions, of years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemstone


Chapter 1 Page 12

Synthetic Quartz Man Made Quartz Crystals

http://www.rockhoundingar.com/quartz/synthetic.html

http://www.faceters.com/askjeff/answer30.shtml

As much as 80% or more of the cut stones being sold commercially may be man-made, depending on the type of stone. Below are pictures of cut stones I took at some Indian dealers tables, they were selling the cut stones (Amethyst, Citrine, Ametrines) for $2-5/carat, they would not admit that it was man-made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz

Not all varieties of quartz are naturally occurring. Prasiolite, an olive coloured material, is produced by heat treatment; natural prasiolite has also been observed in Lower Silesia in Poland. Although citrine occurs naturally, the majority is the result of heat-treated amethyst. Carnelian is widely heat-treated to deepen its color.

Because natural quartz is so often twinned, much quartz used in industry is synthesized. Large, flawless and untwined crystals are produced in an autoclave via the hydrothermal process: emeralds are also synthesized in this fashion.


http://www.laneysjewelry.com/jewelry_scams.htm

Jewelry Scams and Rip-Offs:

How to Protect Yourself

A Consumer Awareness Guide Published By:



Goldstone
Goldstone is colorless glass or plastic with flecks of precipitated copper or copper colored crystals, which result in the glittery aventurescence phenomenon. Deep blue and green goldstone can also be found.

Goldstone is a manmade product made out of copper crystals in glass. Goldstone is sometimes falsely sold as a semi-precious gemstone.


http://www.ephemerala.citymax.com/stone_fun_facts.html


** Aventurine got its name from the creation of a synthetic stone that was created to imitate it. This stone, which we call Goldstone today, was created accidentally when some copper dust fell into a vat of liquid glass. The stone was created "A venturi," which is Italian for "By chance." Later, the name Aventurine was given to the NATURAL stone the featured these sparkles, and the manufactured stone was given the name Goldstone.
** Aventurine can be used as a birthstone for August.
** Aventurine can fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time


GOLDSTONE
** Guess what? Goldstone is NOT a real gemstone! It is basically glass with copper flecks in it.

** Goldstone was originally made by a group of monks in Italy, and to this day most of it is still made at this particular monastery (though it is made elsewhere too). The "recipe" was for a long time a very closely guarded secret. Due to its origins in the monastery,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amethyst#Composition

Synthetic amethyst is made to imitate the best quality amethyst. Its chemical and physical properties are so similar to that of natural amethyst that it cannot be differentiated with absolute certainty without advanced gemological testing (which is often cost prohibitive). There is one test (which is not 100 percent certain) based on "Brazil law twinning" (a form of quartz twinning where right and left hand quartz structures are combined in a single crystal[3] which can be used to identify synthetic amethyst rather easily. In theory however it is possible to create this material synthetically as well, but this type is not available in large quantities in the market.[4]

[PDF]
Distinguishing natural from synthetic amethyst: the presence and ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
from synthetic amethyst. The intensity and shape of these bands have ... If present in synthetic amethyst, its full width at half maximum (FWHM) is about ...
www.springerlink.com/index/K15J853863513070.pdf







http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldstone_(gemstone)

Goldstone is a type of synthetic glass made with copper or copper salts in the presence of a reducing flame. Under normal oxidative conditions, copper ions meld into the silica to produce transparent bluish-green glass; when the reduced goldstone melt cools, the copper remains in atomic isolation and precipitates into small crystalline clusters. The finished product can take a smooth polish and be carved into beads, figurines, or other artifacts suitable for semiprecious stone, and in fact goldstone is often mistaken or misrepresented as a natural material.
The most common form of goldstone gives the illusion of being reddish-brown, although in fact that color comes from the copper crystals and the glass itself is colorless. Some goldstone variants have an intensely-colored glass matrix-- usually blue or violet, more rarely green-- and a more silvery appearance to the suspended crystals, whose color may be partially masked by the glass or which may be based on different metals than copper (perhaps cobalt, manganese, or chromium).
The manufacturing process for goldstone was discovered in seventeenth-century Venice by the Miotti family, which was granted an exclusive license by the Doge. Persistent folklore attributes the discovery and secret of goldstone to an unnamed Italian monastic order, giving rise to the alternate name "monk's gold" or "monkstone". Another name, "stellaria", is based on the starry internal reflections.
Curiously, goldstone is one of the few cases where a synthetic simulant provided the eponym for the similar natural stone. The original Italian name for goldstone is "avventurina" or some similar word or phrase indicating its accidental discovery, hence the mineral name "aventurine" for forms of feldspar or quartz with mica inclusions that give a similar glittering appearance. Yet another name for goldstone is "aventurine glass", but this should be discouraged to avoid confusion with the minerals.

[edit] External links


http://www.mygoodhumour.com/jewelry/know_your_gemstones_and_jewelry_terms.html


This is an issue that was discussed on the Jewelry Making forum. The following "stones" are not necessarily even stones.
The Fruit Quartz' - Cherry quartz, blue quartz, strawberry quartz, pineapple quartz are all synthetic beads that are made to look like quartz. They are still a beautiful bead and add beauty to many pieces of jewelry. As long as they are identified as being synthetic, there is not a problem with these "quartz'". There is such a thing as real cherry quartz, but is very rare and extremely expensive.
Amazonite is sometimes just dyed onyx that is being sold as amazonite.
Moonstone is sometimes no more than pressed glass.
Goldstone is a manmade product made out of copper crystals in glass. Goldstone is sometimes sold as a semi-precious gemstone.
Rhodocrosite/Rhodonite are sometimes confused for each other.
Rhodocrosite has white striations and rhodonite is black.
Chalcedony is actually agate. It comes in a variety of colors. Chrysophrase and carnelian are both types of chalcedony.

http://www.handcrafted-jewelry.net/stone.asp

African turquoise - Actually a form of jasper, African "turquoise" is completely unrelated to the stone it is often misrepresented as. A recent Google search turned up 9,630 sites selling African turquoise jasper jewelry, and of those, easily 90% or more misrepresented the stone as real turquoise. Conversely, a search for "African turquoise jasper" turned up a mere 2 pages, and of those, at least 2 sites were given for the proximity of the words "African turquoise" to the word jasper, not because the stone was fairly identified. This beautiful jasper is an acceptable substitute for actual turquoise if all you are concerned with is appearance, but the difference should certainly be reflected in the price; African "turquoise" is a much more plentiful stone and far less expensive than the real thing. A member of the quartz group, jasper ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it a somewhat sturdier rock than turquoise. Jasper can contain up to 20% foreign materials, and it is those that give it its mottled appearance and colors.

In addition to the five official grades of turquoise listed above, there are other treated forms of the stone on the market today. These include Enhanced turquoise: turquoise which has been impregnated with quartz via man-made process, will take a high polish, and is hard to distinguish from natural turquoise, which may also contain quartz. Wax-treated or sealed turquoise. Much of the turquoise coming from China has been wax-sealed to deepen and stabilize the color. The treatment affects only the surface of the stone and is not permanent. Sealed turquoise has been surface sealed with an epoxy or resin to protect the stone from color change due to dust, chemicals, and skin oils from seeping into the surface of the stone. It is long-lasting, but not permanent, and some color change is inevitable.


http://www.elemental5.com/chakrahealinggemstones.htm

Goldstone is a type of glass made with copper or copper salts in the presence of a reducing flame. Under normal oxidative conditions, copper ions meld into the silica to produce transparent bluish-green glass; when the reduced goldstone melt cools, the copper remains in atomic isolation and precipitates into small crystalline clusters. The finished product can take a smooth polish and be carved into beads, figurines, or other artifacts suitable for semiprecious stone, and in fact goldstone is often mistaken or misrepresented as a natural material. The most common form of goldstone gives the illusion of being reddish-brown, although in fact that color comes from the copper crystals and the glass itself is colorless. Some goldstone variants have an intensely-colored glass matrix-- usually blue or violet, more rarely green-- and a more silvery appearance to the suspended crystals, whose color may be partially masked by the glass or which may be based on different metals than copper (perhaps cobalt, manganese, or chromium). The manufacturing process for goldstone was discovered in seventeenth-century Venice by the Miotti family, which was granted an exclusive license by the Doge. Persistent folklore attributes the discovery and secret of goldstone to an unnamed Italian monastic order, giving rise to the alternate name "monk's gold" or "monkstone". Another name, "stellaria", is based on the starry internal reflections. Curiously, goldstone is one of the few cases where a synthetic simulant provided the eponymy for the similar natural stone. The original Italian name for goldstone is "avventurina" or some similar word or phrase indicating its accidental discovery, hence the mineral name "aventurine" for forms of feldspar or quartz with mica inclusions that give a similar glittering appearance. Yet another name for goldstone is "aventurine glass", but this should be discouraged to avoid confusion with the minerals. The method for making goldstone is a trade secret, handed down through generations. Because of its scarcity and beauty, it is always in high demand. Metaphysical: Goldstone is believed to store the energy of those who touch it, making it an excellent gift for loved ones who are far away. It is a transmitter stone which causes light to pass through you in order to convey or receive as a medium. It also aims to be a revitalizing, energizing stone, encouraging a positive attitude and individualism and is intellectually calming and refreshing.

Hight and Randall Personal Jewelers - Buying Gems Guide
... ABC "Prime Time Live" report on mislabeled and misrepresented jewelry. ...

www.personaljeweler.com/col1.htm

Fracture Filling
As opposed to oiling (which has become an "industry-standard" practice), fracture-filling of emeralds and glass-filling of rubies is a controversial, yet also common, practice.

2. Disclosure: Your Right to Know
You may have heard of a recent lawsuit that arose over a treated emerald. The NBC program "Dateline" reported on it. The case centered on whether treatment was disclosed to the buyer of a $14,500.00 emerald and diamond ring. Apparently Opticon was used to fill a large fracture in the stone. There's still debate whether that filler was in the stone when the buyer initially took possession of the ring, or was added later on (by another jeweler).

At Hight & Randall, Personal Jeweler, we always tell you about any treatment or enhancement that your stone may have had. And you're fully protected by our complete money back guarantee.

B. Synthetic Gemstones
Synthetic (or "created") gemstones are grown in a laboratory instead of being formed in the ground by nature. They are physically, chemically, and optically identical to natural-grown gems, but cost much less to produce and to buy.

Just like natural gems, synthetics vary tremendously in quality. Using low-quality processes, synthetic emeralds and rubies can be created for less than a dollar a carat, whereas high-quality (or "luxury") synthetics can cost a hundred times more to create and sell for hundreds of dollars a carat.

Should you consider buying a synthetic gemstone? This is a difficult question to answer. To some people, nothing can replace the magic of owning a beautiful and unique product of nature. To others, what they see is most important. Synthetics offer the opportunity to own an attractive stone at an affordable price.

Many people believe a created gem is as "real" as one taken from the earth. Still, quality is a major problem, particularly for lower-priced merchandise.

Here's a little background on synthetics, so you'll know the right questions to ask.

You don't have to become an expert in synthetic gemstones, but it's important to understand what you're buying. If the salesperson in the jewelry store can't answer your questions (or find out from somebody else there -- quickly), then you're in the wrong place to buy gemstones.

There are many different production methods used to create synthetic gems, but they all fall under two major types: melt growth and solution growth.


http://www.finejewelrydesigns.com/gem-stones-scams.html

Just like diamond buyers, gem stones buyers can also fall victims of misrepresentation, false claims, and fraudulent practices.

Always buy certified or have your gem stone checked by a qualified gemologist or appraiser before buying it.

Nowadays, any fine gemstone or jewelry purchase should be accompanied by a laboratory report.

Here are some gemstone scams you will find on the market today:

1. Simulants: refer to any material - natural or man-made - that is used to substitute a natural gem. Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is a prime example of a diamond simulant. Other man-made diamond simulants include strontium titanate, synthetic rutile, and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). Although the CZ has more fire, it is softer and has less brilliance than a natural diamond. Also, it does not take as fine of a polish and its brilliance will fade over time.

2. Synthetics: are laboratory-grown stones with the same crystal structure and chemical composition as their natural counterparts. Synthetic emeralds, rubies and sapphires are common in the jewelry industry, often sold as "lab-created" stones or promoted under a trade name such as "Chatham Emerald."

3. Gem stones treated with epoxy resins in order to hide fractures or inclusions in the gemstone. This treatment is also not permanent and could hide the fact of a stone being structurally defective.

4. Gem stones treated with colored oils to enhance the color, such as for emeralds. This treatment is not permanent. Note that treating gemstones with colorless oils is a traditional, generally accepted practice.

5. Assembled Stones: are commonly known as doublets or triplets. Doublets are a composite stone comprised a real gemstone top bonded to a colored glass bottom. An example is a stone with a sapphire crown glued to a glass pavilion. Triplets, where a colored bonding agent is placed between the top and bottom of colorless pieces. Or an opal set between a clear quartz crown and cheaper opal base, for example.

6. Colored foil: In order to intensify the color of a pale or poor-quality gemstone, some jewelers use colored foil on the back of a closed-back jewelry piece to intensify the color of a pale or poor-quality gemstone. Near-colorless stones are also used in this practice.

Bob Charlanza, Reading Eagle/Times:

In Bangkok several years ago, a Soviet gem firm got out of the business and sold its remaining stock of laboratory-grown synthetic emeralds to a firm which previously dealt only in natural stones. No one's quite sure whether it was intentional or not, but it took the international gem industry two years to unravel the mess. About the same time, a man approached an appraiser in Seattle for an evaluation of a good-looking emerald ring. If it were a natural, it would be worth about $20,000. He was hopeful. The gemologist said he couldn't tell 100 percent, but the gem looked like a very good synthetic. The hopeful customer went all the way. He ordered a lab test to be done. Several days later, he paid an appraiser's bill of about $120, inflated by the $60 lab fee, to find out that his good looking synthetic emerald ring was worth $300.

Process for treating synthetic silica powder and synthetic silica ...
A process for producing a synthetic quartz glass powder which is ... sand or synthetic silica powder refers to any man-made (and not natural) sand that can ...
www.freepatentsonline.com/20060137400.html -

http://www.naturesodyssey.com/space-crystal-growing-crystals-p-3901.html

Space Age Crystal Growing Kit – 4 Crystals

Grow your own collection of 4 sparkling mineral specimens – up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter! Grow a “Citrine” cluster, a “Ruby” cluster, an “Amber” cluster, and a single “Ruby” crystal. Discover the laws of nature which create crystals deep inside the Earth and perform experiments like astronauts who grow ultra-pure crystals in the weightlessness of space. Just dissolve pre-mixed chemicals in water, and within hours sparkling crystals will start to grow right before your eyes. A fascinating experience for children and adults!

How to spot a counterfeit gem

http://mo.essortment.com/counterfeitgem_rfrj.htm

[Wolfsong]

great information!!!!

I've talked about this several times as well and it is a growing concern... especially with people willing to spend more and more money on stones and minerals for metaphysical purposes. This just drives up demand with in turn attracts more people wanting to create fakes or sell something as something it is not. Unfortunately you find this a lot with stores selling to the pagan community. This is why, for the most part, I avoid these types of stores and stick with reputable mineral dealers who can supply mining locations for the specimens as well as any other pertanent info. This allows the buyer to reserch the location of the find and understand more about the materials coming from there as well as mining and processing processes which take place in the area and also... allows one to look at that country's mining regulations as well as any laws that may be in place regarding fakes and specimens which have been manipulated.

Knowing what country it comes from and knowing past practices of that area helps a lot in finding out just how "natural" the specimen is.

Also, understanding the backround of the mineral and what has been done to it in the past in regards to fakes and treatments helps a lot.

This is a huge topic and it is great to see it being addressed again as matters seem to be getting worse and worse as stones demand higher and higher prices. It sounds like a lot of work but anyone inerested in purchasing good specimens should take the time to do the reserch... it really doesn't take that long. But again... I think the most important step is to buy from a reputable seller who can supply you with all the backround info for that particular specimen... most mineral specimens usually come with a label which gives you the scientific name of the specimen and location it was mined.

Lastly... there is a process being introduced now within the mineral collecters' community which will require all miners and sellers to include a spec label with specimens... it will include all sorts of info including and treatments it has undergone. Keep in mind that this can never be law and there really can't be any reprocussions for anyone not willing to follow the guidelines seeing different countries have different laws but what people are hoping for is that a "blacklist" will be developed within the mineral community which supplies names of dealers who have given false info regarding a specimen... many feel this may be a small deterant anyways...unfortunately, with the odd exception, there is no such thing as international law in regards to minerals so for now this is about the best system to try... you may well see it already in some places.. I have even seen it for some specimens on some ebay mineral sites

[Exloration_La]

This is why, for the most part, I
avoid these types of stores and stick with reputable mineral dealers
who can supply mining locations for the specimens as well as any other
pertanent info.


Thank you soo much for your added food for thought.

wouldn’t they keep their mining locations secret so people just wouldn’t go up there and get the rocks themselves? but maybe not though because they aren’t all polished etc...

I really don’t' like all the processing even the real ones go through are only HALF real with all the stuff they add to it sometimes etc..

I have heard of some people simply using a non-synthetic method (non-chemical without adding stuff to it) of using a tumbler .. I guess and I like that idea as it sounds it's just using a light abrasive like sand to help bring out its' beauty without doing anything synthetic to the rock, and if I did find all my own rocks I could know for sure they are natural..... I would rather have some gray rock then a stone with colorings and other synthetic fake stuff done to it or even worse just piece of glass or something TOTALLY FAKE or man made etc.

But I was considering do you know of any good dealers you trust because if so I would like to look them up and consider if they have minimally processed (just the way I like my food) really natural stuff especially.

Also if anyone else out their cares to share with us a reputable supplier to buy from especially online dealer that maybe also have a physical location that sells real natural stuff.. To me these soo called flaws is just character and makes it much cooler and more interesting then some boring piece that looks like a dead piece of colored glass etc.


I thought this looked cool:

Rock Tumblers and Rock Tumbling Supplies--How Rock Tumblers Work
Nature uses dirt, rock and sand as the abrasive to wear down the rock. Tumblers use silicon carbide grit, which is much harder than sand, and therefore much ...

www.rocks4u.com/gemstones.htm

[Wolfsong]

It really depends on what you are looking for...

1) Tumbled stones all undergo the same process for the most part with slight variations in the componds of the abrasives.

2) If you are referring to natural specimens with absolutely nothing done to them that encompasses a different group of sellers. (this is what I try and buy for the most part as I believe the natural characteristics of minerals add personality and need not always be cut away or polished out of existence).

3) More and more, in some cases, you can actually buy direct from miners... the best example of this would be the quartz coming from the Mount Ida agrea in Arkansas... many mine owners there sell directly to customers.

4) If you are referring to polished and/or tumbled stones that again involves diffrent sellers for the most part and these sellers usually include people selling within the pagan/metaphysical community. These are the sellers that sell "pretty" rocks.

5) lapidary grade stuff.. this is the stuff cut by sellers for people who cut and polish stones for jewelry settings. This can be interesting stuff at times as it lets you see the material in a minimaally prepared way (usually only one cut and unpolished). By wetting it you can see what the polished specimen would look like. This material is usually sold as slabs or endcuts and is again sold by a different group of sellers. This material includes jaspers, agates and many other minerals.


I've told this story elsewhere on this site but I will share it again here... I always find it amazing how some people look for the perfect specimen or a unique specimen and will do almost anything to get it. Quartz from all over the world, especially the stuff coming out of clay deposits like Mt. Ida, is rutinely washed in a chemical bath to rid it of encrusting materials which is fine in my books and I own many specimens which have been cleaned like this but in a careful way using minimal chemicals. What is funny in my books is that some of the Mt Ida quartz is coated with iron and other metal deposits which give it a really cool look. Until recently this stuff was all chemically washed only to be retreated with many of the same mineral particals to create what is sold as "Aura Quartz". So, at times, they basically take a natual coated specimen, clean it, recoat it with the same mineral and sell it to consumers for much more than the natural specimen would cost. Aura quartz simply means that the crystal is coated with a specific mineral. This happens in nature naturally for most typs of Aura Quartz yet people will seek out the manmade stuff. Now... If it is bought strictly for "pretty looks" then in most cases the manmade stuff beats the natural stuff hands down but if you are looking for a specimen for its energy uses then, in my opinion at least, you are so much farther ahead with the natural specimen.

Another thing to think about.... Lightning strike quartz is huge in the metaphysical community right now... just think how many lightning strike quartz crystals have been polished over the years to get rid of unwanted flaws, scrapes, or any other so-called deformaties. The same goes for the beautiful patterns on what are referred to as lightbraries or starbraries.... for years these were polished to give the illusion of perfection within the crystal....

when will we learn that the most beautiful gifts from nature are those which have not been manipulated by humans and what some refer to as flaws are character traits which have grown onto or into the mineral throughout its life. Looking at it this way doing any manipulation to stones is almost like lobotolizing it.

These are just my thoughts.. some will agree some won't. What's important is that whatever you use it works for you.. if that is the case nothing I or anyone else says really matters :)

[Wolfsong]

Lastly... there is a process being introduced now within the mineral collecters' community which will require all miners and sellers to include a spec label with specimens... it will include all sorts of info including and treatments it has undergone. Keep in mind that this can never be law and there really can't be any reprocussions for anyone not willing to follow the guidelines seeing different countries have different laws but what people are hoping for is that a "blacklist" will be developed within the mineral community which supplies names of dealers who have given false info regarding a specimen... many feel this may be a small deterant anyways...unfortunately, with the odd exception, there is no such thing as international law in regards to minerals so for now this is about the best system to try... you may well see it already in some places.. I have even seen it for some specimens on some ebay mineral sites


Here is an example of the above mentioned spec label which are starting to become more and more common... they will all include this info and some may well contain more.... this one references Gel Sugilite


GEM TYPE SUGILITE
QUANITY 1 STONE
CT WEIGHT APPROX. 24 ct
SIZE APPROX 21 x 18 x 11 mm
COLOR Purple like Grape Jelly
CLARITY About 95% Translucent Gel
SHAPE Cab Rough
ORIGIN Wessel's mine, Africa
TREATMENT None All Natural Untreated