GO 340 Gemstones & Gemology Susan Ward Aber, Gemologist & Lecturer Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas USA

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/syllabus.htm

Dr. Susan Aber www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/abersusa.htm

620-341-5977 saber@emporia.edu

Blog/Announcements http://go340gemstones.blogspot.com/ www.emporia.edu/earthsci/ amber/go340/wkspeak.htm

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 Requirements

	Required text: Schumann, W. (1997). Gemstones of the world. NY: Sterling Publishing Co, Inc. Obtain the newest edition where possible.
The textbook may be purchased or ordered online at the ESU campus Virtual Bookstore. You will be advised if supplementary resources are needed during the semester, which may be found in your local library or on reserve at William Allen White Library.

Course Grade

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 1000-941, A- 940-900, B+ 899-870, B 869-840, B- 839-800, C+ 799-741, C 740-700, D 699-600, F 599-0.
Tests	Three open-book tests will be given with each test worth 150 points or 450 points toward the final grade. Deductions may occur when tests are turned in after deadlines.
Homework	Twelve assignments will be given for a total of 250 points toward the final grade. Deductions may occur when assignments are turned in after deadlines.
Presentations	One final project presentation will be expected and is worth 250 points toward 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 correspond with me via e-mail on a weekly basis, which is worth 50 points toward the final grade. The subject line should read GO340 checking in.
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:

Semester Schedule

Date	Topic	Assignment	Readings and Sites of Interest
Jan. 14	Introductions, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/gem.htm and Definitions, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/define.htm	Introductory Fun Quiz this quiz is for fun - so do not turn in; Homework 1 Due 1/21/09	Schumann: Introduction pg. 8-13, Description of Gemstones pg. 68-69 Browse Tucson 2008!
Jan. 21	Gem Lore, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/gemlore.htm and Origins and Occurrence, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/origins.htm	Homework 2 Due 1/28/09	Schumann: Origins pg. 14-15, Deposits and Production pg. 52-57, Symbolism of Stones pg. 247-248 Browse Gem Briefs, A and RealGems.org, A.
Jan. 28	Chemical Properties, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/chemical.htm and Crystal Structure, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/crystal.htm	Homework 3 Due 2/4/09	Schumann: Structure of Gems pg. 14-18, Description of Gems pg. 68-9 Browse Gem Briefs, B-C and RealGems.org, B-C.
Feb. 4	Physical Properties, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/physical.htm and Visual Properties, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/visual.htm	Homework 4 Due 2/11/09	Schumann: Properties of Gems pg. 19-26, 44-51
Feb. 11	Test 1	Due 2/18/09	Lectures and readings to date

Date	Topic	Assignment	Readings and Sites of Interest
Feb. 18	Optical Properties, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/optical.htm and Gem Testing Instruments, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/gemtest.htm	Homework 5 Due 2/25/09	Schumann: Optical Properties pg. 27-43 Browse Gem Briefs, D-J and RealGems.org, D-J.
Feb. 25	Precious Metals, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/gold.htm and Working With Silver, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/silver.htm	Homework 6 Due 3/4/09 Begin thinking about final project	Schumann: Optical Properties pg. 31-37, Gold/Silver pg. 208 Browse Gem Briefs, K-N and RealGems.org, K-N.
Mar. 4	Wire Wrap, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/wrap.htm and Gem Fashioning, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/cut.htm	Homework 7 Due 3/11/09	Schumann: Gold/Silver pg. 208 Gem Briefs, O-R, and RealGems.org, O-R.
Mar. 11	Gem Creation, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/create.htm and Gem Enhancement, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/treat.htm	Homework 8 Due 3/18/09	Schumann: Inclusions pg. 49-51, Cutting/ Polishing pg. 58-67, Diamond Cut pg. 80-81, Imitations pg. 242-246 Browse Gem Briefs, S-Z, and RealGems.org, S-Z.
Mar. 18	Test 2/Spring Break!	Due on or before 4/1/09 Final Project progress	Lectures and readings after test 1 to date

Date	Topic	Assignment	Readings and Sites of Interest
Mar. 25	Diamonds, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/diamond.htm and Colored Stone Evaluation, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/evaluate.htm	Webpage topic due TODAY!	Schumann: Diamonds pg. 70-81 Go to Gemlinks, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/go340/gemlinks.htm, for external gem links!
Apr. 1	Ruby and Sapphire, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/corundum.htm, Emerald, www.emporia.edu/ earthsci/amber/beryl.htm	Homework 9: Assigned Gem Briefs Due 4/15/09	Schumann: Corundum pg. 82-89, Beryl pg. 90-97
Apr. 8	Topaz, .../topaz.htm, Amber, .../ambers.htm, Garnet, .../garnet.htm, Tourmaline, .../tourmali.htm, Peridot, .../peridot.htm,	Homework 10: Book Report Due 4/22/09 Webpage Draft due	Schumann: Topaz pg. 102-103, Amber pg. 228-9, Garnet pg. 104-6, Tourmaline pg. 110-13, Peridot pg. 158-9
Apr. 15	Amethyst, ...amethyst.htm, Alexandrite, ...alexandr.htm, Tanzanite, ...tanzanit.htm, Chalcedony and Agate, .../chalcedo.htm	Homework 11 Due 4/22/09 See Book Reports Online!	Schumann: Amethyst pg. 118-9, Alexandrite pg. 98-9, Tanzanite pg. 160-161, Quartz group pg. 126-149
Apr. 22	Jade, .../jade, Malachite, .../malachit.htm, Pearl, .../pearl.htm, Opal, .../opal.htm, Turquoise, .../turquois.htm	Homework 12 Due 4/29/09	Schumann: Jade pg. 154-7, Malachite pg. 176, Pearl pg. 230-9, Opal pg. 150-3, Turquoise pg. 170-1
Apr. 29	Test 3	Test Due 5/4/09 Webpage Final Due 5/8/09	Lectures and readings to date
May 6	Web Presentations Online 2009	Have a great summer!

This page originates from the Earth Science department for the use and benefit of students enrolled at Emporia State University. For more information contact the course instructor, S. W. Aber, e-mail: saber@emporia.edu Thanks for visiting! Webpage created: August, 1999; last update: April 13, 2009.