Gems Flashcards

1
Q

PRECIOUS STONES–200–Mother of this! It’s a type of handle a revolver can have

A

pearl

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2
Q

PRECIOUS STONES–400–A David Caruso film, or a valuable stone found in Chinese carvings from 1400 B.C.

A

jade

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3
Q

PRECIOUS STONES–600–You might need one to pay your hospital bills if you take a fall on a double this ski trail

A

diamond

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4
Q

PRECIOUS STONES–800–The ancient Greeks raised a toast to this purple gem, believed to protect them from drunkenness

A

amethyst

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5
Q

PRECIOUS STONES–1000–Sounding like a noted political writer for the N.Y. Times, it’s a blue gem variety of corundum

A

sapphire

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6
Q

GEMS–200–Varieties of it have included the fire, the white, the black, but not the Buick

A

opal

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7
Q

GEMS–400–Color of a peridot

A

green

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8
Q

GEMS–600–The name of this gemstone is from the Persian “zargun” meaning gold-colored

A

zircon

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9
Q

GEMS–800–The largest blue diamond and the largest pearl have been given this name

A

Hope

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10
Q

GEMS–1000–The two gem names that end in the letters -nyx

A

onyx and sardonyx

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11
Q

GEMS–200–When they’ve grown attached to an oyster or mussel shell, these gems are called blisters

A

pearls

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12
Q

GEMS–400–After emerald, this blue-green gem is the most highly prized of the beryls

A

aquamarine

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13
Q

GEMS–600–The harlequin type of this gem is characterized by angular patches of fire

A

opal

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14
Q

GEMS–800–A Matura diamond is actually a variety of this mineral that’s used as a diamond substitute

A

zircon

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15
Q

GEMS–1000–Resembling topaz, this quartz gem derives it’s name from its lemon-yellow color

A

citrine

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16
Q

ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, MINERALS–400–Canis lupus is the scientific name for the gray one of these

A

a wolf

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17
Q

ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, MINERALS–800–This white legume has long been a staple of a branch of the armed forces, hence its name

A

the navy bean

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18
Q

ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, MINERALS–1200–The reptile family Helodermatidae consists of only 2 members, the Mexican beaded lizard & this poisonous guy

A

the Gila monster

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19
Q

ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, MINERALS–3000–Used in watches, it’s the most common piezoelectric crystal

A

quartz

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20
Q

ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, MINERALS–2000–Verona & Treviso are varieties of this bitter, red-leafed salad green

A

radicchio

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21
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–200–Kaolin, a pure type of this potter’s material, is formed when feldspar decomposes

A

clay

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22
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–400–Of basalt, schist & obsidian, the one not an igneous rock

A

schist

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23
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–600–Also called white mica, its name sounds like an inhabitant of the Russian capital

A

muscovite

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24
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–5000–When scratched against a surface, hematite leaves this color streak

A

red

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25
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–1000–You may be “board” to know that this natural abrasive is second only to diamonds in hardness

A

emery

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26
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–100–The 1st of these crystalline carbon gems discovered in South Africa was found in 1867

A

Diamonds

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27
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–200–These green beryls have been obtained from Cleopatra’s mines rediscovered around 1816

A

Emeralds

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28
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–300–This type of sapphire contains needles of the mineral rutile, that reflect light in 6 rays

A

Star Sapphires

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29
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–400–This sanguine March birthstone is dark green chalcedony spotted with red jasper

A

Bloodstone

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30
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–500–Nephrite is the less prized of the 2 minerals that form this gemstone valued in Asia

A

Jade

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31
Q

GEMS–800–Organic & opaque, they represent purity & virginity

A

pearls

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32
Q

GEMS–1000–Stone of Laz, the Arabian goddess of love

A

lapis lazuli

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33
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–100–In the 1930s Carroll F. Chatham invented a process to create these green gems artificially

A

Emeralds

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34
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–200–This highly prized form of corundum gets its red color from minute amounts of chromium

A

Rubies

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35
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–300–The waters north of Australia yield large silver-white ones of these

A

Pearls

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36
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–400–Alexandrite & this “feline” gemstone are varieties of the same mineral

A

Cat’s Eye

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37
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–500–These October birthstones may lose their color & crack if allowed to dry out

A

Opals

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38
Q

GEMS–200–Sapphires come in many colors, but the finest ones are this color

A

Blue

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39
Q

GEMS–400–This country’s diamond rush began after some Boer children found a 21-carat stone in 1866

A

South Africa

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40
Q

GEMS–600–Auguste Verneuil developed the flame-fusion process of creating these red gems artificially

A

Rubies

41
Q

GEMS–800–This “sea-colored” gem, a birthstone for March, should be cleaned often to retain its sparkle

A

Aquamarine

42
Q

GEMS–1000–Chatoyancy is the special luminous quality that makes these gems resemble feline features

A

Cat’s Eye

43
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–200–Chinese carvings of this stone from the Ching period are especially treasured by collectors

A

Jade

44
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–400–The most valued of these gems are a deep purplish red color known as “pigeon blood”

A

Rubies

45
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–600–A small amount of copper in this state gemstone of New Mexico gives it its bluish color

A

Turquoise

46
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–2200–An intaglio is essentially the reverse of this type of gem carving

A

Cameo

47
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–1000–The name of this purple quartz comes from the Greek meaning “not intoxicated”

A

Amethyst

48
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–100–The zircon is second only to this gem in ability to disperse light

A

Diamond

49
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–200–Henri Becquerel discovered this property when some uranium darkened his photographic plate

A

Radioactivity

50
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–300–A mixture containing antimony is sprayed on canvas to render it this

A

Fireproof

51
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–500–The Carrera type of this is from Italy, Pentelic from Greece & Yule from Colorado

A

marble

52
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–100–Term for a lump of gold; the farther it’s traveled from its source, the more rounded it is

A

Nugget

53
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–200–The most prized turquoise is this bird-related shade

A

Robin’s Egg Blue

54
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–300–Like graphite, molybdenite is used as a solid one of these for moving parts

A

Lubricant

55
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–400–Calcite is recognizable from the bubbles that form when this is applied during a test

A

Acid

56
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–500–Deposits near the mouth of the Orange River have been a rich source of these precious gemstones

A

Diamonds

57
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–100–In 1847 Louis Cartier founded an elegant jewelry firm in this capital city

A

Paris

58
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–200–One of the most important mines for these green gems is found at Muzo, Colombia

A

Emeralds

59
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–300–The Jonker, a 726-carat gem of this kind, was discovered in South Africa in 1934

A

Diamond

60
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–400–It’s the color of the Star of India, a famous 563-carat sapphire

A

Blue

61
Q

GEMS & JEWELRY–500–The “sherry” type of this golden gemstone is sometimes heated to turn it pink

A

Topaz

62
Q

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT–200–The Bureau’s Hotshot Crews are part of its responsibility for these events on 388 million acres

A

forest fires

63
Q

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT–400–In 2004 the BLM announced a fee increase to $30 to stake a new one of these

A

mining claims

64
Q

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT–600–There’s no free land from the BLM; this practice enshrined in an 1862 law was abolished in 1976

A

homesteading

65
Q

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT–1000–Of the lower 48, this state has the most land under exclusive BLM jurisdiction, more than 75,000 square miles

A

Nevada

66
Q

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT–1000–The BLM administers Escalante National Monument, including “No Man’s” this formation

A

Mesa

67
Q

PRECIOUS METALS–0–The largest single accumulation of gold known, about $90 billion from several countries, is found in this U.S. state

A

New York

68
Q

WHAT A GEM!–200–Chrysoberyl is also known by this name because it resembles the pupil of a feline

A

cat’s eye

69
Q

WHAT A GEM!–400–Emeralds owe their beautiful green color to tiny amounts of this element, Cr, in their crystals

A

chromium

70
Q

WHAT A GEM!–600–The name of this ornamental stone is a combination of Latin & Persian for “azure stone”

A

lapis lazuli

71
Q

WHAT A GEM!–800–This purple gem is associated with St. Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot as one of Jesus’ apostles

A

amethyst

72
Q

WHAT A GEM!–1000–This organic gem is a soft, dark brown to black piece of fossilized wood

A

jet

73
Q

GEMS–100–Examples of this July birthstone found in Sri Lanka are typically a pale shade of red

A

Ruby

74
Q

GEMS–200–The best tiger’s-eye comes from Griqualand West in this country also known for its diamonds

A

South Africa

75
Q

GEMS–300–This violet quartz gem was one of the most precious until large deposits were found in South America

A

Amethyst

76
Q

GEMS–400–When this kind of opal is red, it’s also known as cherry opal

A

Fire Opal

77
Q

GEMS–500–Because of its resemblance to another golden gem, citrine is nicknamed “false” this

A

Topaz

78
Q

GEMS–100–The name of this gemstone came from the Greek “Smaragdos”, which probably meant any green stone

A

the emerald

79
Q

GEMS–200–The 787-carat Great Mogul Diamond was the largest found in this country

A

India

80
Q

GEMS–300–Many of the red stones are classified as the “fire” variety of this fiery gem come from Mexico

A

opals

81
Q

GEMS–400–Rubies are a form of this stone, the hardest in the world after diamond

A

corundum

82
Q

GEMS–500–According to Britannica, this August birthstone is also called precious olivine

A

peridot

83
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–100–The largest of these red gemstones ever discovered was a 400-carat one found in Burma

A

a ruby

84
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–200–Like South Africa’s, Namibia’s economy is based in part on exports of gem-quality ones of these

A

diamonds

85
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–300–Iron & titanium give this corundum gem its rich translucent blue color

A

Sapphire

86
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–400–Malachite & peridot are gems of this color

A

Green

87
Q

GEMS & JEWELS–500–Chinese scholar Hsu Shen attributed human virtues to this gem

A

Jade

88
Q

GEM LORE–0–In Greek myth this gem was “created” by tears of wine from Dionysus that stained the quartz statue of a maiden

A

the amethyst

89
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–200–Marbles made of this mineral are popularly called aggies

A

agate

90
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–400–Produced when seawater evaporates, halite is a rock composed of this substance

A

salt

91
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–600–Some of the oldest-known mines for this decorative blue-green stone are in the Sinai Desert

A

turquoise

92
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–800–The name of this soft black mineral is from the Greek for “to write”

A

graphite

93
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–1000–True alabaster is a variety of this mineral used for making plaster of Paris

A

gypsum (calcium sulfate)

94
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–200–This class of rocks is formed from deposits on lake beds & sea floors

A

sedimentary

95
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–400–Any old salt can tell you epsomite is this color

A

white

96
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–600–To identify a meteorite, Peterson’s guide says to look for iron & this metal

A

nickel

97
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–800–The fossils in this type of rock may remain even after it’s changed into marble

A

limestone

98
Q

ROCKS & MINERALS–1000–Shale changes into this rock metamorphically & also by changing 2 letters

A

slate