| The Learning Vault |
The Learning Vault – Links to Palagems.com’s educational material
Book Reviews
Gemstones (see also Localities)
Industry and Trade Articles (including Trade Shows)
- 2001 Munich Mineral Show – The Munich Mineral Show is Europe’s finest. For an insider taste of just what it’s all about, one of the world’s great mineral collectors, Bill Larson, has written up a report of the 2001 show
- American Travels of a Gem Collector – Part 1 of the reminiscences of George F. Kunz of Tiffany’s. This is one of the best introductions to gem collecting that we know of. Incredible stories from an incredible man. Complete with period photos
- Part 2 – Kunz travels through Mexico and also discusses jade. Complete with period photos
- Buying and Selling Gems: What Light is Best? – Part 1 of an excellent analysis of how lighting affects the color and appearance of gems. By William Sersen and Corrine Hopkins. Fully illustrated
- Part 2 – Artificial light options are discussed. By William Sersen. Fully illustrated
- Flashes of Colour: Legendary Wines and Gemstones – In late June 2007, Pala International supplied over $1 million worth of gemstones and mineral specimens to a remarkable exhibition of fine wines and gemstones in Dijon, France
- A Historical Study of Precious Stone Valuations & Prices – Scholarly analysis of gem prices is as rare as a fine gem itself. Here we present probably the best ever written. By Sydney H. Ball. Illustrated. Reprinted from Economic Geology, 1935
- Is Your Jewelry At Risk? A Guide to Choosing a Professional Jewelry Appraiser – By Charlese Ellias
- Judging Quality: The Four C’s – Determining the quality of a gemstone, involving color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. By Richard W. Hughes
- Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 2006 – A report by Bill Larson on one of his favorite mineral shows. Fully illustrated
Localities (see also Mining & Minerals)
- Alexandrite from Russia – By Peter Bancroft. Description of the Russian alexandrite mines. Also includes an Alexandrite Buyer’s Guide by Richard W. Hughes
- Bill Larson in Burma and Vietnam, 2005 – A pictorial
- Burma Gem Sales and Statistics – A Gem News item that collects the most recent stats and links in one place
- Burmese Jade: The Inscrutable Gem – Part 1: Burma’s Jade Mines – A groundbreaking article on the second-most valuable gem in the world – Burmese jade. By Richard Hughes, Olivier Galibert, George Bosshart, Fred Ward, Thet Oo, Mark Smith, Tay Thye Sun and George Harlow. Fully illustrated
- Part 2 – The cutting, grading, trading and faking of Burmese jadeite is detailed. Fully illustrated. Includes a Jadeite Buyer’s Guide by Richard Hughes
- California Gem Mining: Chronicle of a Comeback – One of the finest articles ever written about gem mining in San Diego County, California. By David Federman
- Ceylon’s Gem Mines – Ceylon’s storied gem mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures
- The Emerald Deposits of Muzo, Colombia – Scholarly examination of these famous emerald mines. By Joseph E. Pogue. Illustrated. Reprinted from Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1917
- Fire-Hearted Pebbles from Burma – A wonderful look at mining rubies in Mogok, ca. 1930, by C.M. Enriquez. Complete with period photos. Also includes a Ruby Buyer’s Guide by Richard W. Hughes
- From Russia with Jade – Pala’s ex-webmaster Richard Hughes, together with Nickolai Kuznetsov, make an epic journey to Russia’s jadeite mines in the Polar Urals and Khakassia. Fully illustrated
- Gemstones in Vietnam – A reprint from The Australian Gemmologist written by Vietnamese and French researchers. Covers corundum as well as aquamarine, tourmaline, peridot, and pearl. Fully illustrated
- Imperial Topaz from Brazil – Tanzania’s tanzanite mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures. Also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Topaz by Richard W. Hughes
- Kashmir Sapphires – The first eyewitness account of the fabled Kashmir sapphire mines in northern India, 1889, by T.D. LaTouche. Complete with period and modern photos
- Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s storied lapis lazuli mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures. Also includes a Lapis Lazuli Buyer’s Guide by Richard W. Hughes
- Larsons in China – Pala’s Bill Larson and son Will Larson made presentations on tourmaline and collecting at a first-ever China mineral and gem crystal conference in Beijing
- Longido Ruby – We are proud to present this article courtesy of Edward Swoboda, on the ruby mines of Longido, Tanzania
- Melo Pearls from Myanmar – Poster session delivered at the 2006 GIA Symposium. Co-authored by Pala International President Bill Larson, Han Htun (Yangon), and Jo Ellen Cole (Carlsbad, CA). Fully illustrated
- Pakistan: A Year in Review – A look at select developments in 2006: A follow-up on the 2005 earthquake, progress on a new initiative for gems and jewelry, a gemology school partnership, and a visit to the mines
- Pakistan’s Gemstones: An Overview – The past, present, and future of the challenges that face Pakistan in its development of a gemstone industry
- The Path to Paraiba Winds Through Mozambique – Pala’s Jason Stephenson recounts the history of gems in southern Africa and traces the steps of Moussa Konate, who discovered paraiba-type tourmaline in Mozambique
- The Queen Reigns Again – A great description of mining the Tourmaline Queen mine near Pala, California
- Red Sea Peridot – Zabargad’s peridot mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures. Also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Peridot by Richard W. Hughes
- Reds Turn to Green: Russia’s Stunning Demantoid Discovery – Russia’s new demantoid strike are detailed in this report from Bill Larson. Also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Demantoid by Richard W. Hughes
- Ruby & Sapphire Deposits of Moung Klung, Siam – 1894 account of mining ruby and sapphire in Thailand. By Henry Louis
- Tanzanite from Tanzania – Tanzania’s tanzanite mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures. Also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Tanzanite by Richard W. Hughes
- Treasures from the Palace Museum – Photos taken in 2006 by Bill and Will Larson, from the Forbidden City’s famous museum
- Tsavorite from Kenya – Kenya’s tsavorite garnet mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures. Also includes a Buyer’s Guide to Tsavorite by Richard W. Hughes
Personalities
Photographers
- FotogFocus – An occasional series featuring gemstone and mineral photographers
Treatment and Testing
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| Mining & Minerals |
California Gem Mining – Chronicle of a comeback
Ceylon’s Gem Mines – Ceylon’s storied gem mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures
Emerald Deposits of Muzo, Colombia – Scholarly examination of these famous emerald mines. By Joseph E. Pogue. Illustrated. Reprinted from Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1917
Featured Mineral Specimens – Featured specimens from Pala’s bi-monthly Mineral News e-bulletin—in one place
Fire-hearted Pebbles from Burma – A wonderful look at mining rubies in Mogok, ca. 1930, by C.M. Enriquez. Complete with period photos
Letter from Pakistan – True adventure from Pala International’s daring suppliers
Mineral Specimens – View Pala’s world-class minerals at the Collector web site
Mining at Pala – A history of Pala International’s various gem mining projects around the world
On Kunz and Kunzite – An excellent historical look at the discovery and naming of kunzite. By Lawrence Conklin
Pakistan’s Gemstones: An Overview – The past, present, and future of the challenges that face Pakistan in its development of a gemstone industry
Pala District Pegmatite Opens Wide – New discoveries at the 49er pocket; also see Part 2
Pegmatites of Laghman, Nuristan, Afghanistan – By Pierre Bariand and J.F. Poullen
The Queen Reigns Again – True adventure story of Pala International mining the Tourmaline Queen mine during the early 1970s
Reds Turn to Green: Russia’s Stunning Demantoid Discovery – Russia’s new demantoid strike are detailed in this report from Bill Larson
Ruby & Sapphire Deposits of Moung Klung, Siam – 1894 account of mining ruby and sapphire in Thailand, by Henry Louis
Tanzanite from Tanzania – Tanzania’s tanzanite mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures
Tsavorite from Kenya – Kenya’s tsavorite garnet mines are detailed in this segment from Dr. Peter Bancroft’s Gem & Crystal Treasures
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