GO 340 Gemstones & Gemology
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 Gemstones of the World and our gem course happy face!! Pearls: Saltwater Akoya (top strand - hybrid of Pinctada chemnitzii and Pinctada fucata martensii), South Sea Golden (Pinctada maxima), Black Tahitian (Pinctada margaritifera); Freshwater Chinese (Hyriopsis cumingii - lower, right strand-natural colors). Photo by J.S. Aber, 6/2011. |
| Course Description | Contact Information | Course Requirements |
| Course Grading | Semester Schedule | Course Facebook |
Gemstones and Gemology is an introduction to minerals and rocks sufficiently beautiful to be labeled as gemstones and to methods practiced by gemologists and jewelers to identify these works of nature and humankind. This course will cover the study of specific gem materials, identification and testing methods, cutting and polishing, synthetically manufactured gems, precious metals and alloys, sources and origins of gems from around the world. If you have enrolled for the 2011 fall semester course, email me now to introduce yourself; provide me with your preferred email address, current hometown/state/country, and 3 major reasons for taking this course. I look forward to hearing from you! During the semester, you will want to check our Facebook webpage http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=287561057597 for announcements... become a friend now!
 Dr. Susan Aber |
620-341-5977esu.abersusie@gmail.com
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 Gem TidbitsCourse Facebook |
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Huge 2011 News Item Regarding August 26-28Our son is getting married! The rehearsal dinner is August 26th and the wedding, Saturday the 27th. We will stay and watch them open wedding gifts on the 28th. My communication with you will be delayed beginning Friday and will resume on Monday August 29th. |
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Labor Day holiday, 9/5/2011
This page originates from the Earth Science department for the use and benefit of students enrolled at Emporia State UniversityCourse Requirements
Required text: Schumann, W. (1997). Gemstones of the world. NY: Sterling Publishing Co, Inc.
Obtain the newest edition if possible.
The textbook may be purchased on the ESU campus bookstore, ordered online, http://emporia.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?storeId=51056&catalogId=10001, or from your favorite book source. You will be advised if supplementary resources are needed during the semester, which may be found at a library near you or online.
Academic dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is not tolerated in this class and penalties will result. See ESU policy at www.emporia.edu/esuclass/dishones.htm.
Also...
Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for
persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the
Director of Disability Services, http://www.emporia.edu/disability/,
and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.
Course Grade
Back to the table of contents.
Letter grades from A-F with +/- subdivisions are used to evaluate your performance in this course. An incomplete grade will be considered in extremely rare cases and must be completed within the next semester or it will be converted automatically to an F. The grading scale is A 100-94%, A- 93-90%, B+ 89-87%, B 86-84%, B- 83-80%, C+ 79-74%, C 74-70%, D 69-60%, F 59-0%.
Tests
Three open-book tests will be given with each test worth 15% or a total 45% of the final grade. Deductions will occur when tests are turned in after deadlines.
Homework
Approximately twelve assignments will be given for a total of 25% of the final grade. Deductions will occur when assignments are turned in after deadlines.
Presentations
One final project presentation will be expected and is worth 25% of the final grade. The presentation topic, design, and format will be your choice and specific guidelines, examples, and topic ideas are forthcoming. Deductions may occur when the final project is turned in after the deadline.
E-mail
All students must have an e-mail account and contribute via e-mail on a weekly basis, which is worth 5% of the final grade.
Honesty
Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in this class and penalities will result. The final project for this class should be exclusive to this class and not a
project completed for another course that is recycled for this course. All assignments and tests must contain citations and references where appropriate. If you have any questions regarding effective writing, quoting, paraphrasing, obtain a copy of the following book:
Harris, R.A. (2005). Using sources effectively: Strengthening your writing and avoiding plagiarism (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing. ISBN 1-884585-57-4. 115 pp., paper.
Semester Schedule!
Date
Topic
Assignment
Readings and Sites of Interest
Aug. 17-24
Introductions, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/gem.htm
Definitions, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/define.htm Introductory Fun Quiz
this quiz is for fun-no grade
Due 8/24/11Schumann: Introduction pg. 8-13,
Description of Gemstones pg. 68-69
Schuman page numbers are based on
my edition and may vary in yours!
Tucson-
Gem and Mineral Shows!
Aug. 24-31
Gem Lore, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/gemlore.htm
Origins and Occurrence, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/origins.htm
Due 8/31/11Schumann: Origins pg. 14-15, Deposits
and Production pg. 52-57, agate
pg. 126-149, Symbolism pg. 247-248
Agate and Chalcedony, Gem Briefs, A,
RealGems.org, A.
Aug. 31-Sept. 7
Chemical Properties, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/chemical.htm
Crystal Structure, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/crystal.htm
Due 9/7/11Schumann: Structure of Gems
pg. 14-18, Description of Gems
pg. 68-9, 128, 154-7
Chrysoprase, Jade,
Gem Briefs, B-C
RealGems.org, B-C.
Sept. 7-14
Physical Properties, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/physical.htm
Visual Properties, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/visual.htm
Due 9/14/11Schumann: Properties of Gems
pg. 19-26, 44-51, 98-9, 158-9
Peridot and Alexandrite
Sept. 14-21
Test 1
Due 9/21/11
Lectures and readings to date
Date
Topic
Assignment
Readings and Sites of Interest
Sept. 21-28
Optical Properties, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/optical.htm
Gem Testing Instruments, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/gemtest.htm
Due 9/28/11Schumann: Optical Properties
pg. 27-43, 104-6
Garnet,
Gem Briefs, D-J
and RealGems.org, D-J.
Sept. 28-Oct. 5
Precious Metals,
academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/gold.htm
Working With Silver, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/silver.htm Homework 6
Due 10/5/11,
Begin thinking
about final project Schumann: Optical Properties
pg. 31-37, Gold/Silver pg. 208,
Malachite pg. 176
Malachite
Gem Briefs, K-N;
and RealGems.org, K-N.
Oct. 5-12
Wire Wrap, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/wrap.htm
Gem Fashioning, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/cut.htm
Due 10/12/11
Midterm Grades
due 3/9 Schumann: Gold/Silver pg. 208,
Opal pg. 150-3
Opal and
Gem Briefs, O-R;
and RealGems.org, O-R.
Oct. 12-19
Gem Creation, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/create.htm
Gem Enhancement, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/treat.htm Homework 8
Book Review, Due 10/19/11
See library resources
former reports. Schumann: Inclusions pg. 49-51,
Cutting/Polishing pg. 58-67, Diamond
Cut pg. 80-81, Imitations pg. 242-246,
Turquoise, pg. 170-1 - Turquoise
Gem Briefs, S-Z,
RealGems.org, S-Z.
Oct. 19-26
Test 2
Due on or before 10/26/11
Final Project progress
Fall Break 10/20-21 Lectures and readings after test 1 to date
Date
Topic
Assignment
Readings and Sites of Interest
Oct. 26-Nov. 2
Gemstone Evaluation, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/evaluate.htm
Diamonds, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/diamond.htm Send in Test 2
Homework 9
Due 11/2/11
Final Project topic
due TODAY!Schumann: Diamonds pg. 70-81
Go to Gemlinks, www.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/gemlinks.htm
for external gem links!
Nov. 2-9
abersusa/go340/beryl.htm
Pearl, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/pearl.htm
Homework 10
Due 11/9/11 Schumann: Emerald-Beryl
pg. 90-97, Pearl pg. 222-32
Nov. 9-16
Ruby and Sapphire, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/corundum.htm
Tanzanite, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/tanzanit.htm
Homework 11
Due 11/16/11
Final Project Draft
Veterans' Day holiday, 11/11/11 Schumann: Corundum pg. 82-89,
Tanzanite pg. 160-1
Nov. 16-23
Amber, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/ambers.htm
Amethyst, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/amethyst.htm
Due 11/23/11
See Book Reports Online!
Thanksgiving holiday, 11/23-25 Schumann: Amber pg. 228-9,
Amethyst pg. 118-9,
Quartz group pg. 126-149
Nov. 23-30
Topaz, academic.emporia.edu/
earthsci/amber/go340/topaz.htm
Tourmaline, academic.emporia.edu/
abersusa/go340/tourmali.htm
Happy Thanksgiving! Schumann: Topaz pg. 102-103,
Tourmaline pg. 110-13
Nov. 30-Dec. 7
Test Due 12/7/11
Final Project
Due 12/9/11
Last day of class, 12/9/11 Lectures and readings to date
Dec. 9
