Brendan Laurs, Editor

Brendan Laurs joined Gems & Gemology as senior editor in 1997 and was named editor in 2002. He has also been editor of the journal’s Gem News International section since 2001. A gemologist and geologist specializing in the formation of gem deposits, he brings considerable technical and earth science experience to the journal.

Growing up in Southern California, Brendan developed an early interest in geology while exploring the gem-bearing pegmatites of San Diego County. In 1991 he completed an undergraduate thesis on the Himalaya tourmaline mine and obtained a B.S. degree in geology at U.C. Santa Barbara. A keen interest in pegmatites led him to pursue graduate studies of tourmaline and emerald deposits in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan while attending Oregon State University. After obtaining an M.S. degree in geology in 1995, Brendan gained mining industry experience as an exploration geologist for colored gemstones (benitoite and red beryl) with Kennecott Exploration Co.

Brendan received his Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA in 1997, and since then has eagerly pursued gemological knowledge. In March 2000, he attended a workshop on advanced gemological laboratory techniques in Nantes, France. To obtain first-hand knowledge about the geology and production of important gem deposits for GIA, Brendan has traveled to Madagascar, Brazil, Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi.

Brendan has published articles in Gems & Gemology, Canadian Mineralogist, and several conference proceedings. He has made numerous presentations to technical conferences, gem and mineral societies, and museum groups. In 2006, he co-chaired GIA’s first-ever Gemological Research Conference in San Diego.

Brendan enjoys several hobbies such as hiking, mountain biking, photography, gardening, scuba diving, and adventure travel.

5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 603-4503
e-mail:  blaurs@gia.edu