Mineralien

Extra Lapis no. 39: Achate
geboren aus Vulkane


Mit ihrem vielseitigen, schier unerschöpflichen Reichtum an Bildern und Mustern werden Achate von vielen Menschen als ästhetisch schön und mineralogisch interessant empfunden.

Auf wundersame, bis heute noch nicht ganz verstandene Art sind die „Achatbilder“ auf natürliche, zufällige und individuelle Weise entstanden; aber zunächst im Inneren des Steins verborgen.
Erst durch handwerkliches Zutun werden die „Innenwelten“ des Achats sichtbar.
Mit jedem neuen Schnitt an der Diamantsäge eröffnet sich die Chance, einen der schönsten Achatquerschnitte zu entdecken!

Wie entstehen Achate?
Wie wachsen Achate?
Wie bilden sich die farbenfrohen und abwechslungsreichen Muster?

In dieser Monographie finden Sie die Antworten auf diese und viele weitere Fragen zur faszinierenden Welt der Achate.

Deutsch 2010, 100 Seiten, Format A4.

Russian Alexandrites


Alexandrite, a variety of chrysoberyl, and one of the finest colour-change natural gemstones, may almost be called “the national gemstone of Russia”. This great prestige is based on two facts: its noble name in honour of the Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich (the future Tsar Alexander II) and its dazzling colours, green in daylight and red in incandescent light, the military colours of Imperial Russia.
Although quantities of facetable quality alexandrite are considerably less than those of emerald, alexandrite is counted among and compared to the “big four” of the gem business: diamond – ruby – sapphire – emerald.

In this book the authors present an historical overview of emerald mining in the Urals, the discovery of Russian alexandrites in the Uralian emerald mines, the naming and historical use of alexandrites and their appearance and display in mineralogical museums and the gem trade. Morphology and twinning of rough alexandrite is described for single crystals, single contact twins and cyclic twins (trillings). Mineralogical and gemmological properties are thoroughly explained and numerous photo-micrographs of inclusions and growth patterns in faceted samples are presented.

Chatoyancy and asterism of alexandrite and chrysoberyl from Russia and Sri Lanka are also described. A further chapter deals with characteristic growth patterns of Russian, other natural and synthetic alexandrites. Colorimetric data of Russian alexandrites and green chrysoberyls are explained using the CIELAB colour space, and the distinction between these varieties is explained. A chapter on trace element chemistry and locality determination rounds off the book.

An extensive appendix containing lists of historical names, a time table and numerous references provides valuable information on Russian alexandrites for all researchers in the mineralogical and gemmological fields as well as for gemmological laboratories, jewellers and gem dealers.

Consequently, this book, illustrated with more than 200 colour figures and photographs, addresses mineralogists, gemmologists, historians, mineral and gem collectors as well as all members of the gem trade.

English, 2010, 141 S., Abm. 27 x 21,5 cm.

Extra Lapis English no. 14: TOPAZ

Englisch, 2011, 100 S., Abm. 30 x 21 cm.