Orangy Pink Coated "Soft Coral"
A coral specimen that was coated—not dyed—with a coloring agent only on the surface, an unusual method evidenced by microscopic features.
Green Kyanite
At the Riverpark Inn show in Tucson, gem dealer Tom Schneider (San Diego, California) exhibited a parcel of kyanite displaying an unusual saturated yellowish green color.
Imitation Larimar
Strands of Tiny Akoya Keshi Pearls
Turquoise-Rock Crystal Composite
Examination of a faceted rock crystal backed by a slice of turquoise—an obvious but unusual combination of gem materials.
Ancient Tourmaline and Beryl from Afghanistan
Examination of a large private collection of beads and carvings from antique excavations, assembled in the 1970s by a collector in Afghanistan.
Banded Mimetite
Yellow transparent mimetite—known to collectors as one of the rarest faceted stones—purchased in Tuscon and likely from Bolivia.