Gemstones: Symbols of Beauty and Power
Table of Contents
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Flowers of the mineral kingdom
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7
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Gemstones: their characteristics and their origin
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8
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The exquisite rarity
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8
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The causes of color variety
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16
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A commitment to eternity
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20
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Gemstones: their extraction and processing
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24
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The extraction of gemstones
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24
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The cutting of diamonds
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32
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The cutting of color gemstones
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34
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Polishing agate
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36
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Glyptography
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37
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Portraits of the gemstones
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40
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The beauty of color gems
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42
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The beauty of the phenomenon gems
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44
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Diamond: king of gemstones
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46
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Corundum: the colorful palette
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56
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Ruby: divine crystal spark
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60
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Sapphire: symbol of the firmament
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66
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Beryl: the palette of pastel colors
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72
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Emerald: glittering like leaves in May
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76
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Chrysoberyls: an exquisite trio
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82
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Feldspars: a major company
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86
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Garnets: a courtly household of noble vassals
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90
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Opal: hummingbird and firebird
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94
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Peridot: green-golden ray of sunshine
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100
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Quartz: bustling globetrotter
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104
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Spinel: the corundum's disguised twin
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108
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Spodumene: phoenix from the ashes
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112
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Tanzanite: blue patrician from black Africa
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114
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Topaz: chalice of golden crystal
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118
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Tourmaline: alpha and omega
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122
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Zircon: dizzying quick-change artist
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126
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Portraits of ornamental gems
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130
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The beauty of ornamental gems
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132
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Agate: fire and flames
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134
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Charoite: reed pipes from the Russian karst
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136
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Jade: metaphor for luck
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138
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Lapis lazuli: incarnation of the starry firmament
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142
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Malachite: master of the green shades
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144
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Rhodochrosite and rhodonite
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146
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Sugilite: budding mallow spur
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148
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Turquoise: morning fresh bloom of heaven
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150
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Gemstones: symbols of authority and power
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152
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Exquisite treasures
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174
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Noble gems for the word of god
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180
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Votive and consecration crowns
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188
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Beauty, magic, and medicine
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194
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Famous jewels and their histories
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194
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Of seals, amulets, and talismans
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202
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Stones of the month - birthstones
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208
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Gemstone medicine
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214
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The fascination of internal life
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218
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A passion for collecting
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222
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Natural or not? Synthetics, composites, imitations
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226
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Glossary
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230
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Bibliography
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233
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Picture credits
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234
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Index
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240
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