Assignment 5 - Synthetics & Imitations

Question 1

A laboratory creation with essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and properties as its natural counterpart.

Answer 1

Synthetic gem

Question 2

Any material that looks like a natural gem and is used in its place.

Answer 2

Imitation gem

Question 3

What are the two main categories of synthetic-gem production methods?

Answer 3

Most synthetic gem crystals are produced by either a melt or a solution process.

Question 4

What are some differences between products of melt and solution processes?

Answer 4

• Solution processes are generally slower and more expensive than melt processes.
• Solution processes can synthesize gems that closely resemble natural gems.

Question 5

Why is quartz synthesis important?

Answer 5

It plays a key role in technology. It can generate an electric current when it’s placed under pressure. And thinly sliced quartz can vibrate in precise response to alternating current.Scientists put these virtues to practical use in watches, clocks, communications equipment, filters, and oscillators.

Question 6

What are some basic differences between synthetic and natural gems?

Answer 6

Internal and external characteristics can
help trained observers separate natural
from synthetic gems.

Question 7

A synthetic-crystal growth method in which the chemical
mixture is melted, then recrystallized.

Answer 7

Melt process

Question 8

A growth method in which the synthetic crystal grows from a dissolved chemical mixture,
sometimes at high temperature and pressure.

Answer 8

Solution process

Question 9

A process in which powdered chemicals are dropped through a high-temperature flame onto a rotating pedestal to produce
a synthetic crystal.

Answer 9

Flame fusion

Question 10

A process in which the synthetic crystal grows from a seed that is dipped into a chemical melt, then pulled away as it gathers
material.

Answer 10

Pulling

Question 11

A cylindrical synthetic crystal
produced by a melt process.

Answer 11

Boule

Question 12

A tiny crystal used as a template to control the size, speed, or direction of growth and the shape of a growing synthetic crystal.

Answer 12

Seed crystal

Question 13

A melt process where a heating unit passes over a rotating solid rod of chemicals until it forms a
synthetic crystal.

Answer 13

Floating zone

Question 14

A synthetic-crystal growth method that uses cooling pipes around an interior of melted
chemical ingredients.

Answer 14

Skull melt

Question 15

A process in which nutrients dissolve in heated chemicals, then cool to form synthetic crystals.

Answer 15

Flux growth

Question 16

A process in which nutrients dissolve in a water
solution at high temperature and pressure, then cool to form synthetic crystals.

Answer 16

Hydrothermal growth

Question 17

A synthetic-crystal growth method that starts
without a seed crystal.

Answer 17

Spontaneous nucleation

Question 18

A process in which finely ground powder is heated, sometimes under pressure, to produce
a fine-grained solid material.

Answer 18

Ceramic process

Question 19

What are the benefits of synthetic and imitation gems?

Answer 19

Synthetics and imitations offer consumers on limited budgets an affordable alternative to fine colored stone jewelry.

Question 20

How do synthetic gems and natural gems compare in cost?

Answer 20

Synthetics can possess the beauty and durability
of natural gems for a fraction of the cost.

Question 21

Why is it important for a gem’s identity and origin to be disclosed?

Answer 21

It has an important impact on the value. Appropriate discloser also raises trust and sales.

Question 22

How are imitation gems different from synthetic gems?

Answer 22

The thing that makes an imitation different from a synthetic is that it can be made of almost any material, as long as it looks like the gem it’s supposed to replace.

Question 23

What different kinds of materials can serve as gem imitations?

Answer 23

• Natural Gemstones
• Synthetic Gemstones
• Non-gem material (e.g. Plastic)

Question 24

Two or more separate pieces of material joined to form a unit.

Answer 24

Assembled stone

Question 25

Two separate pieces of material fused or cemented together to form a single assembled stone.

Answer 25

Doublet

Question 26

A single assembled stone made from three separate pieces of material fused or cemented together,or from two pieces and a colored cement layer.

Answer 26

Triplet

Question 27

Synthetic opal is grown using microscopic silica spheres that are produced by

A. pulling.

B. sublimation.

C. precipitation.

D. spontaneous nucleation.

Answer 27

C. precipitation.

Question 28

Which synthetic process uses an autoclave?

A. Pulling

B. Skull melt

C. Flux growth

D. Hydrothermal growth

Answer 28

D. Hydrothermal growth

Question 29

The crucibles that work best for flux growth are made of

A. gold.

B. silver.

C. titanium.

D. platinum.

Answer 29

D. platinum.

Question 30

Synthetic turquoise is most likely produced by which process?

A. Pulling

B. Ceramic

C. Sublimation

D. Floating zone

Answer 30

B. Ceramic

Question 31

Which synthetic process developed rapidly due to laser research in the 1960s?

A. Pulling

B. Skull melt

C. Flame fusion

D. Spontaneous nucleation

Answer 31

A. Pulling

Question 32

A snakeskin structural pattern is typical of

A. synthetic opal.

B. imitation lapis lazuli.

C. flame-fusion synthetics.

D. hydrothermal synthetic quartz.

Answer 32

D. hydrothermal synthetic quartz.

Question 33

The hydrothermal growth process is the only method used to produce which synthetic gem?

A. Opal

B. Quartz

C. Alexandrite

D. Green chrysoberyl

Answer 33

B. Quartz

Question 34

The flux used in the flux process is a solid material that, when molten,

A. dissolves other materials.

B. acts as a pattern for crystal growth.

C. helps prevent the formation of inclusions.

D. produces straight growth patterns in synthetic gems.

Answer 34

A. dissolves other materials.