DIAMONDS

• Argyle production update
• Central African Republic has strong reliance on diamonds
• CSO names first Chinese sightholder
• Indian polished exports increase
• Russian production high but declining
• United States sells diamonds from stockpile
• Zaire faces severe mining problems

SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

• Chatham proposes commercial production and distribution of Russian synthetic diamonds...
• ...and GIA says Russian gem-quality synthetic diamonds examined to date can be identified by standard tests
• Sumitomo Electric synthesizes high-purity diamonds

COLORED STONES

• Significant amethyst find in Maine
• Chalcedony colored by large mineral inclusions
• Massive green grossular garnet from South Africa
• "Rainbow" hematite from Brazil
• "Denim" lapis lazuli from Afghanistan
• Reddish purple mica from New Mexico
• Nepal update
• Peridot from Vietnam
• Brazilian paragonite mistaken for ruby
• Unusual double star sapphire
• Black spinel from Mexico
• Spinel from Vietnam

ENHANCEMENTS

• World Diamond Congress addresses treatments
• Update on ruby enhancement

SYNTHETICS AND SIMULANTS

Appears on pages 206-216