Where do gemstones come from?

Are you a gemstone lover? Are you interested in learning about the formation of these stunning resources? If this is the case, start reading this post. Each gemstone has an attractive colour that attracts people. 

Want to know how these precious stones are made? There are a lot of methods used to extract the gemstone because each gemstone is taken from various places. But all gemstones are taken from the earth's crust. 

Due to its long history, gemstone jewellery is liked by many people and also gives many positive energies to the wearer. These precious stones are not only beautiful, but they are also rare and have fascinating histories. Below, you can see where gemstones come from:

Gemstone inclusions

The majority of minerals have obvious signs of their origins. It includes zoning, internal fractures that have partially healed during growth, or tiny crystals of other minerals. It is either formed concurrently with the larger host crystal or was caught up in its development. Gemmologists refer to these and other interior phenomena as inclusions.

Under a 10x loupe or microscope, a gemstone's inclusions can provide information about the geological conditions in which the mineral evolved.

Gemstone earrings can occasionally be identified by their inclusions, which can also demonstrate whether the stone is manufactured or natural. A gemstone's origin can also be determined by its inclusions. For instance, during spring or early summer in the Baltic Sea region, the hairs in an amber bead drifted into the sticky resin from an oak tree that blossomed 20–40 million years ago.

Where Do Gems Come From and How Do They Form?

Some crystal formations give birth to gems. Space, pressure, temperature, components, and time are the five conditions that must be met for crystal formation. Additionally, there are four ways that gemstones can form from the formation of crystals, which is similar to how rocks form. When minerals come together in crystalline forms, gems and rocks are created. Different types of crystals will form depending on the type of rock they form.

How Are Gemstones Found?

Diamond mining has developed into an industrial process. Hole mining, the most popular technique for collecting diamonds, uses trucks, heavy equipment, and hydraulic excavators to extract diamonds from kimberlite pipelines. The procedure for extracting coloured gemstones is quite distinct, though. Mining for these jewels is time-consuming and laborious because deposits of valuable coloured gemstones are rare and, when they are found, typically consist of small amounts of gems distributed throughout a substantial amount of rock. 

Modern mining methods are rarely used in these circumstances, and the resources are typically too tiny for major mining corporations to make a profit on. Thus, small, independent miners who have been mining for decades are left to handle the deposits manually. However, a number of significant mining companies have joined the gemstone industry recently, bringing with them fresh approaches to using modern mining techniques.

Gemstone Formation Process

There are four ways gemstones can form. They are

Igneous: Deep within the earth, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and peridots are formed.

Hydrothermal: When bodies of water rich in minerals cool, gemstones are created, much like in the example of the rock candy.

Metamorphic: Sapphire, Ruby, Spinel, and Garnet transform as a result of extreme heat and pressure, as the name implies. 

Sedimentary: When water deposits sediments, stones like malachite, azurite, and opal are formed.

Mining of Gemstones

Mining may be necessary to transport the stone from its natural habitat to the market, depending on its sort and location.

Open pit method: This method is used to mine gemstones that are close to the ground's surface. Much rock and dirt must be removed in order to reach the gemstone bracelet. To get to the gemstone bracelet, a lot of rock and dirt must be removed.

Underground mining: This method extracts diamonds like diamonds from deep within the Earth. This method is more complicated and dangerous because it requires tunnels and shaft excavation.

Alluvial mining: Jewellery lovers have begun liking beads due to their affordable price and eye-catching design. Today, necklaces and bracelets can be made with an array of beads and gemstones.

Art of Gem Cutting and Polishing

To bring an attractive look to a gemstone, it is mined and then to be cut and polished. There are a lot of processes involved when cutting a gemstone; below, you can see details about it:

Cutting: The rough stone needs to be cut into the appropriate form in order to maximize the colour and brightness of the gemstone. The fundamental characteristics of the stone are taken into account while selecting various cuts, such as the sapphire cut for emeralds or the round brilliant cut for diamonds.

Polishing: The gemstone is polished after cutting to boost its brightness. By polishing away any sharp edges, the gemstone ring gets a glitter appearance.

Summing It Up

Gemstones are beautiful accessories that give a wearer a wonderful look, so from the years back to still now, many people have preferred to wear them. Gemstones convey a narrative of artistic creativity and the beauty of nature, from their formation deep inside the ground to their transformation into stunning jewellery. Gaining an appreciation for the beauty of gemstones and a greater respect for the natural processes that created these priceless stones might come from knowing their origins.