GO 340 Gemstones & Gemology

Susan Ward Aber, Gemologist & Lecturer
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas USA


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

Spring Semester 2009

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. If you have enrolled for the course, email me now to introduce yourself and check the announcements often throughout the semester. If not enrolled in the course and want to know more, visit www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340. I look forward to hearing from you!

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 Course Grade Semester Schedule

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.

Copyright 1999-2009 Susan Ward Aber. All rights reserved.