How does the earth make crystals?
Crystals form in nature when molecules gather to stabilize when liquid starts to cool and harden. This process is called crystallization and can happen when magma hardens or when water evaporates from a natural mixture too. This is how crystals are formed in nature.
Where did gemstones come from?
Gemstones are a product of the earth. Some, like diamond and zircon, were formed deep in the earth and brought to the surface by explosions of molten rock. Many, like topaz, tourmaline and aquamarine, crystallised slowly from hot fluids and gases as they cooled and solidified, far below the surface of the earth.
How does the earth produce large crystals?
Pegmatites are formed when rising magma cools inside Earth, and they feature some of Earth’s largest crystals. “The idea is that large crystals take time to grow.” Magma that cools rapidly, like rock in erupted lavas, contains microscopic crystals, for example.
How do geodes form?
Geodes are formed when there are pockets of air within rocks. This often happens after volcanic eruptions when lava cools around air bubbles. These pockets leave space for groundwater to seep in. But the water itself doesn’t produce geodes–it brings along minerals which stay in the rock even after the water evaporates.
How are gemstones mined?
Open cast mining is one of the methods of gemstones mining, where the overlying minerals or rocks are removed to reach the gemstones-bearing rocks. The gemstones-bearing rocks are then washed by jets of water under high pressure to obtain the gems. These are then sent to treatment plants for further processing.
Can you grow gems?
You can grow your own. Gemstones are aesthetically appealing minerals, usually crystals. Natural gemstones are mined, although it’s possible to grow many of them in a lab. Others are synthetic gems, which have the exact same composition as natural gemstones, except they are grown rather than mined.