The Carlsbad laboratory observes a nail-head spicule in a natural Russian emerald.

Unusual laser drill holes identified in a laboratory-grown Fancy yellow cushion modified brilliant diamond.

A study of abalone bead cultured pearls from a new pearl culturing technique tested in Chile.

A report showing the preliminary results of a radiation experiment with pink sapphire from Madagascar.

The first report of an etch channel–like structure in a CVD laboratory-grown diamond submitted to GIA.

Meticulous testing of a bangle submitted to a Taiwan gemology lab proves it to be a composite of red calcareous coral and epoxy.

Intriguing bicolor sapphires and spectacularly colored thin sapphire slabs are produced by mines in Rock Creek and Inverell, respectively.

Faceted quartz contains numerous unusual white radial inclusions identified as bavenite.

Alex Vock shares his expertise on natural saltwater nacreous pearls.

The Carlsbad laboratory encounters its first example of a transparent purple faceted single crystal anhydrite.

An octahedral fluorite crystal is observed in Brazilian alexandrite.

Lovely rose-pink natrolite from Indonesia is dubbed “rhodatrolite” for its color and texture.

A particularly fine unheated purple Montana sapphire is noted for both its size and its multiple diverse inclusions.

Copper in the zinc silicate known as hemimorphite creates an electric blue color similar to that of Paraíba tourmaline.

Examination and testing of a beautiful large pink sapphire establishes its lack of treatment and its origin in Mozambique.

Agate appears as an interesting inclusion in a pair of faceted quartzes.

The Tokyo laboratory reports on a bicolor copper-bearing tourmaline with bodycolor ranging from bluish green to dark yellowish green.

Unique dendritic inclusions containing penninite may be a key indicator of origin for Dahua nephrite.

Numerous intact euhedral pyrite inclusions are noteworthy features within this yellow gem-quality dravite.