corundum, Thailand.12, gems

This article discusses the rapid depletion of Thailand’s ruby sources, contrasting this with countries like Sri Lanka… It is always hard to argue to the disenfranchised about morals, ethics and environmental problems. Such is doubly true in the Third World, where the impact of any actions seems petty relative to an immediate need. For impoverished residents, consequences stretch only as far as the lip of the nearest rice bowl. To most on this planet, the world is indeed limitless, if only because they have seen so little of it. Like goldfish trapped in a bowl of someone else's making, their glass bubble is the world. Rare glimpses of the fringes beyond only reinforce their impression that they are but ants, grain by grain moving an unfathomable mass. Similar to children, they comprehend only the immediate – that which they can touch – the rest is both physically and intellectually out of reach. But just where does the Third World end and the First World begin? And who stands betwixt the two? In every Third-World nation there are those who understand only too well the true complexion of the earth, its texture, its shape, its very finiteness and fragility. Thus it is not to prostitutes that the present column is directed, but to their pimps, those who trade virtue for coin, knowing full well that the consequences of their actions have severe negative effects on others.

corundum, Burma.12, R.W. Hughes, gems

The author’s account of his first pilgrimmage to Burma's Mogok Stone Tract in 1996.

corundum, Burma.12, Mogok, gems

The author’s account of his first pilgrimmage to Burma's Mogok Stone Tract in 1996.

corundum, ruby, sapphire, Thailand.12, Cambodia.12, gems

It is always hard to argue to the disenfranchised about morals, ethics and environmental problems. Such is doubly true in the Third World, where the impact of any actions seems petty relative to an immediate need. For impoverished residents, consequences stretch only as far as the lip of the nearest rice bowl. To most on this planet, the world is indeed limitless, if only because they have seen so little of it. Like goldfish trapped in a bowl of someone else's making, their glass bubble is the world. Rare glimpses of the fringes beyond only reinforce their impression that they are but ants, grain by grain moving an unfathomable mass. Similar to children, they comprehend only the immediate – that which they can touch – the rest is both physically and intellectually out of reach. But just where does the Third World end and the First World begin? And who stands betwixt the two? In every Third-World nation there are those who understand only too well the true complexion of the earth, its texture, its shape, its very finiteness and fragility. Thus it is not to prostitutes that the present column is directed, but to their pimps, those who trade virtue for coin, knowing full well that the consequences of their actions have severe negative effects on others.

gems, corundum, China.12

China is one of the largest countries in the world, with a rich cultural and scientific tradition. Yet for non-Chinese, until recently little was known of her mineral resources. A brief survey of China's ruby and sapphire deposits is given and an eyewitness account of one of the most important of China's sapphire deposits – Penglai, Hainan Island, – is described.

corundum, China.12, gems

China is one of the largest countries in the world, with a rich cultural and scientific tradition. Yet for non-Chinese, until recently little was known of her mineral resources. A brief survey of China's ruby and sapphire deposits is given and an eyewitness account of one of the most important of China's sapphire deposits – Penglai, Hainan Island, – is described.

corundum, synthetic corundum.7, gems

Letter commenting on certain details of the Verneuil (flame fusion) process for growing synthetic corundum, specifically how Verneuil solved the problem of fracturing by starting the growth of the crystal from the tip of a sinter cone.

corundum, quality.10, gems

This article details the most famous rubies and spinels found throughout history.

nomenclature, RW Hughes, gems

Sometimes it seems that wisdom in the gem business is in short supply. Take a two-carat Thai ruby of good quality. Say it sells for $5000. In contrast, the garnet of identical appearance sells for about $10. The difference? As far as the consumer is concerned, it's the name. With gems, the name is so important. Thus you could be forgiven if you think that this industry has an airtight method for determining just what those names are. Such is not the case. Gemology has made tremendous strides over the past century; Kunz, Bauer, Anderson, Webster, Sinkankas, Eppler, Shipley, Gübelin, Koivula and others have given us much, but the area of nomenclature remains untouched.

corundum, Thailand.12, Cambodia.12, gems