| Stones, gems or crystals are all minerals that | | | | the mineral is harder than your stone. By trying |
| over a period of time have become clear or | | | | various minerals on your stone you can identify |
| coloured classifying them into what they are. You | | | | the hardness of your stone. |
| may be curious to know what stone you have | | | | Stones tend to break along certain planes |
| with you. Here are some tips to identify the type | | | | according to their structure. You can strike your |
| of gemstone. | | | | stone and compare its line with the cleavage |
| The first step is to check and see if what you | | | | chart to identify what stone you have. If possible |
| have really is a gemstone. Coloured rocks, ores, | | | | chip a small piece of your stone and study its |
| fossilized wood also look similar and one can get | | | | crystalline structure with the help of a microscope |
| misled by its pretty appearance. If the stone | | | | or just use a magnifying glass without breaking |
| appears sandy or rough then it is definitely not a | | | | the stone. Each stone has its own unique |
| gemstone. Also gemstones are not malleable i.e. | | | | structure of crystals that vary depending on the |
| easily shaped by hand or hammer and so check | | | | atomic and molecular structure. Make a mark on a |
| your stone for this. Pearls are not classified under | | | | ceramic plate with your gemstone. A lot of |
| gems. | | | | stones leave a streak behind and this can be |
| The most important check for a gemstone is its | | | | compared to different charts and help further in |
| hardness. It is not the be all but it does help in | | | | identification. |
| classifying the stone. You can get a hardness kit | | | | There are more tests done by experts like the |
| along with the samples of other minerals. There | | | | refractive index, specific gravity of the stone, |
| are a lot of scales for measuring the hardness of | | | | dispersion of light and changes in colour. You could |
| stones but the most commonly used scale is | | | | also test the gravity of the stone by placing it in |
| 'Mohs' scale which rates the stone from one to | | | | a cup of water. Once you have done all this make |
| ten depending on its hardness. If the mineral you | | | | a summary and write your conclusion. Check with |
| use scratches the surface of your stone, then | | | | an expert if your conclusions are correct. |