What is a diamond classified as and what makes a gemstone a gemstone?
2007-01-29 07:02:57 · 6 answers · asked by gidget 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Yes. It is one of the PRECIOUS gemstones.
There are two types Precious and semi-precious.
The precious gems are DIAMOND, CORUNDUM & EMERALD
These stones have a hardness of 10 down to 8. These stones are best in rings because of their sturdiness.
Semi precious gems include garnet, topaz, andalusite, peridot, citrine, iolite
These stones are a bit lower on the hardness scale and should not be used in rings due to their tendenacy to scratch.
2007-01-29 07:08:10 · answer #1 · answered by WhatAmI? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes diamond is a gemstone but it is also a mineral that is used in industry on account of its supreme hardness.
As a matter of interest the word semi-precious is no longer used by the gem trade, all cut stones are referred to as precious but this information seems to be taking a long time to get to the general public.
As to what a gemstone is :- it must have the following qualities
Beauty
Durability - it must be hard enough to use and set into jewellery.
Rarity - it must not be something you find in every back yard.
Most gems are minerals (e.g. diamond, sapphires, topaz etc.) but some are rocks (e.g. lapis lazuli) and finally some are of organic origin (e.g. pearls, coral, amber etc.)
2007-01-30 08:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is a mineral rock (pure carbon) that is cut, faceted and polished.
According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemstone
"A gemstone is a mineral, rock (such in the case of lapis lazuli), or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewelry. Others are organic (such as amber, which is fossilised tree resin, and jet, a form of coal). Some gemstones which may be generally considered precious or beautiful are too soft or too fragile to be used in jewelry (for example, single-crystal rhodochrosite) but are exhibited in museums and are sought by collectors."
2007-01-29 15:08:23 · answer #3 · answered by Dan S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A gemstone is a precious or semiprecious stone that can be cut and polished for use as a gem.
2007-01-29 15:06:15 · answer #4 · answered by Yea Yea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, an overpriced gemstone.
2007-01-29 15:21:42 · answer #5 · answered by lisateric 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... and it's a valuable one for nonmembers in RuneScape :)
2007-01-29 16:53:11 · answer #6 · answered by Caroline 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋