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Gemstones and Their Origins

  • Book
  • © 1990

Overview

Authors:
  1. Peter C. Keller

    1. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Gemstones Deposited by Water on the Earth’s Surface

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-3
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    2. Gemstones Concentrated by Surface Waters: The Gem Gravels of Sri Lanka

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 5-17

    3. Gemstones Formed from Surface Water: The Opals of Australia

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 19-33

  4. Gemstones Formed by Very High Temperatures and Pressures

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-85
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    2. Gemstones Formed by Low-Pressure Regional Metamorphism: The Ruby Deposits of Mogok, Burma

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 87-99

    3. Gemstones Formed by High-Pressure Regional Metamorphism: The Jadeite Deposits of Tawmaw, Burma

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 101-113

  5. Gemstones Formed at Great Depths

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 115-117
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    2. Mantle Thrust Sheet Gem Deposits: The Zabargad Island, Egypt, Peridot Deposits

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 119-127

    3. Diamond Pipes: The Diamond Deposits of Argyle, Western Australia

      • Peter C. Keller
      Pages 129-139

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 141-144
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Keywords

About this book

Each gem deposit-whether of primary origin in the parent rocks; or secondary as alluvial placers in valley floors, river gravels, or the sand of oceanic shelves­ presents an eloquent chronicle of the Earth's life story. It reveals to the expert the prodigious processes which formed the present crust of our planet, of which this volume discloses a small but exciting detail. The materials of the Earth's crust are the rocks. In this book, the author expounds on how they were formed, why they altered, why they became the cradles of precious gemstones, how they are categorized, and how they are now exploited by man. What initiates the growth of gemstones? How do they crystallize? Why do gemstones of the same species, originating from different sources, vary? What causes the occurrence of varieties? Why do diamonds, unlike other precious stones, occur not near the Earth's surface in its crust, but deep down beneath it in the upper mantle? These are only a few of the entrancing subjects discussed in this enlightening volume. The reader learns that the Earth is surprisingly alive and altering constantly-sometimes through slow and equable changes and at times by violent and tremendous cataclysms, events from which gemstones issue.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA

    Peter C. Keller

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Gemstones and Their Origins

  • Authors: Peter C. Keller

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6674-4

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media New York 1990

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4684-6676-8Published: 13 April 2012

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4684-6674-4Published: 06 December 2012

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: 144

  • Number of Illustrations: 12 b/w illustrations, 96 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Mineral Resources

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