Mozambique Amazonite

[digdeep]

Also interesting that since Tianhe stone was mentioned I'm seeing it listed with the amazonite beads........not sure how/why that has shown up so much after missing initially. Also, I couldn't find anything on Tianhe to describe it's origin, makeup, etc ? Looks like a district in China, but what else?

 

[mochiko42]

Also interesting that since Tianhe stone was mentioned I'm seeing it listed with the amazonite beads........not sure how/why that has shown up so much after missing initially. Also, I couldn't find anything on Tianhe to describe it's origin, makeup, etc ? Looks like a district in China, but what else?

The meaning of tianhe is galaxy/Milky Way so it could be referring to that? It shows up in the classic story of the cowherd and weaver girl and the name Tianhe is popularly used for hotels, casino, shops, and even a supercomputer.

Tianhe district in Guangzhou is a high end office (Google and other large listed companies have offices there) and luxury shopping area as well as the big train station to Hong Kong. I doubt much heavy manufacturing, if any, goes on there these days.

There's also a Tianhe mountain in Hebei province but I don't know much about it. It's in Xingtai district which is a coal mining area.

I am not familiar with the name in relation to gemstones, though.

 

[Gloria27]

I am not familiar with the name in relation to gemstones, though.

I've searched this on google images and ebay and the only thing that comes up is Amazonite of all kinds, including ol' striped Russian material. Might be another name they use for Amazonite.

 

[Bluegemz]

What a mystery this whole thing is....both the material and the name.

 

[mochiko42]

Gloria, you're absolutely right. One of the names for Amazonite is Tianhe stone, the other Chinese names is Amazon stone. I completely missed the obvious there haha! It's too early in the morning for me, haven't had enough coffee yet lol..

Edit: I found a page that said the alternative name Tianhe stone actually came from Japan via Taiwan so Tianhe is actually just the Chinese reading of the Japanese name Tengaseki.

 

[digdeep]

More curves than a roller coaster..............LOL!

 

[7188429]

Which date will you get the GIA result?

 

[Bluegemz]

I'm just waiting. Any day now. They didn't give me an exact date. Why do you ask?

 

[7188429]

I'm just waiting. Any day now. They didn't give me an exact date. Why do you ask?

Just interested to see the results, if it'ss syntethic or indeed some new Amazonite material

 

[Gloria27]

Just interested to see the results, if it'ss syntethic or indeed some new Amazonite material

I have a feeling it's real Amazonite, worst case, it's treated but still, it's pretty material.

 

[Bluegemz]

I have a feeling it's real Amazonite, worst case, it's treated but still, it's pretty material.

I'm definitely hoping that's the case, but even if it's not, at least the question will be answered.

 

[Bluegemz]

Ok, the report from GIA came back and....they ARE Amazonite, but they are luster enhanced. I wish I knew exactly what that means...off to look that up. Here are pictures of the report.

 

[Bluegemz]

So I just read that 'luster enhancement' is like wax or related material on the surface to disguise surface pits and imperfections. They are not clarity enhanced or color enhanced. So I suppose this is rather minimal treatment, possibly because the material doesn't take a good polish naturally.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

That's quite an adventure @Bluegemz
Thanks for doing the work for us! Now we can buy knowing what we're getting!

You're awesome!!!!!!!

 

[Seaglow]

Great! I also believe the color is natural because when I soaked it in acetone, it did not bleed color, and I see color zoning in some beads.

Thanks, Bluegemz! This has been very informative and fun.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

@Seaglow I have a jade bangle that I'm suspicious of. Would soaking it in acetone give me some answers?

If it's glass nothing will happen though right?

 

[Seaglow]

@Seaglow I have a jade bangle that I'm suspicious of. Would soaking it in acetone give me some answers?

If it's glass nothing will happen though right?

Soaking in acetone is a destructive test. You have to be prepared that things could go wrong with your piece so please don't do it if you are not prepared for the bangle to get destroyed or change in case acetone reacts to a treatment. Often a close loupe inspection could detect dye marks. Are you suspicious that your bangle is dyed or polymer impregnated?

If you suspect glass, I do other tests on that such as thermal conductivity test or refractive index test or use the spectroscope. A destructive way to test glass is through a scratch test. Acetone won't do anything to glass.

 

[Bluegemz]

Thank you for the compliments. It has been an adventure! And I'm pleased that we got an answer and that my home tests were not wrong! That would have been a tad embarrassing. I'm hopeful about the material. When I wrote that perhaps there is surface wax or related material because this Amazonite might not take a good polish, I thought afterwards that this is likely not true. I know Amazonite can have a good polish, so doing this in the production of these beads might have served the purpose of saving polishing time, by not polishing to perfection, and then adding shine with a coating. This is kind of thing is always done with jadeite with a clear wax coating to improve shine, but especially on pieces that were carved quickly.
It makes me think that this is a beautiful type of feldspar with increadible color and clarity. That's not to say that there aren't synthetics or other treated Amazonite on the market.

 

[Seaglow]

Thank you for the compliments. It has been an adventure! And I'm pleased that we got an answer and that my tests were not wrong! That would have been a tad embarrassing. I'm hopeful about the material. When I wrote that perhaps there is surface wax or related material because this Amazonite might not take a good polish, I thought afterwards that this is likely not true. I know Amazonite can have a good polish, so doing this just might save polishing time, by not polishing to perfection. This is kind of thing is always done with jadeite with a clear wax coating to improve shine, but especially on pieces that were carved quickly.
It makes me think that this is a beautiful type of feldspar with increadible color and clarity. That's not to say that there aren't synthetics on the market.

The stone is beautiful, looks very much like gem silaca. The bead I soaked upon close loupe inspection have small pin pricks and looks abraded but not really noticeable without the loupe. I assumed filler...never thought surface coating because of the chalky concentration on the drill holes but things could be waxed after drilling...also because the material is not opaque I guess first logical impression is clarity enhancement. Like who waxes amazonite? Lol. But I'm glad to be wrong on the filler assumption. Nice to learn something new.

 

[Bluegemz]

The stone is beautiful, looks very much like gem silaca. The bead I soaked upon close loupe inspection have small pin pricks and looks abraded but not really noticeable without the loupe. I assumed filler...never thought surface coating because of the chalky concentration on the drill holes but things could be waxed after drilling...also because the material is not opaque I guess first logical impression is clarity enhancement. Like who waxes amazonite? Lol. But I'm glad to be wrong on the filler assumption. Nice to learn something new.

It's so strange really...because when you mentioned a filler, I thought that it would be unexpected that anyone would want to impregnate Amazonite lol. But I always was uncertain about its clarity. I believe impregnation requires more work and more steps, which then might not be worth it.

Am I right sbout this; If the material were filled, I believe the report would say clarity enhanced or impregnated? I have always believed that filling/impregnating is for clarity, not luster since surface luster is usually damaged by this process. Except of course in lead glass filled corundum.

 

[Seaglow]

It's so strange really...because when you mentioned a filler, I thought that it would be unexpected that anyone would want to impregnate Amazonite lol. But I always was uncertain about its clarity. I believe impregnation requires more work and more steps, which then might not be worth it.

Am I right sbout this; If the material were filled, I believe the report would say clarity enhanced or impregnated?

Luster is surface. If filled, usually the term used is clarity enhancement based on reports I have seen.

A filler was my 'logical' assumption because seriously, a transluscent amazonite that looks like gem silica? Lol.

 

[Bluegemz]

Luster is surface. If filled, usually the term used is clarity enhancement based on reports I have seen.

A filler was my 'logical' assumption because seriously, a transluscent amazonite that looks like gem silica? Lol.

I'm so pleased that this is solved! How fabulous because now this material could be used in beautiful jewelry pieces to go with paraiba, or in multi strand necklaces with black jade, and on and on, without it being be a waste of money on something artificial.

 

[Seaglow]

In Jade, GIA usually says 'no indications or indications of impregnation'.

 

[Bluegemz]

In Jade, GIA usually says 'no indications or indications of impregnation'.

Yes, exactly what I was thinking of! Thank you.

 

[Seaglow]

In turquoise they can indicate 'Natural turquoise - plastic composite'.

 

[Bluegemz]

In turquoise they can indicate 'Natural turquoise - plastic composite'.

Ok so if there is some percentage of natural stone Mixed in a composite of plastic, this is how it would be stated? Such as 'Natural lapis - plastic composite '.

 

[Seaglow]

Ok so if there is some percentage of natural stone Mixed in a composite of plastic, this is how it would be stated? Such as 'Natural lapis - plastic composite '.

Maybe the term if things are ground up and reconstructed with plastic?

 

[lilmosun]

Perhaps the luster enhancement would explain the surface abrasions Seaglow saw after soaking in acetone? It seems like they would be fine for jewelry that can be cleaned with a soft cloth. Such a great find to find amazonite with such amazing natural color.

 

[Bluegemz]

Perhaps the luster enhancement would explain the surface abrasions Seaglow saw after soaking in acetone? It seems like they would be fine for jewelry that can be cleaned with a soft cloth. Such a great find to find amazonite with such amazing natural color.

I agree, it's a lovely thing! I think it explains that the manufacturer did not want to spend the extra money, or because of style, to get them finely polished. So they got them pretty well polished and instead of putting in that final step with a finer grit of polishing paste, they dipped them in wax. We do know that they are natural Amazonite and that Amazonite can take a nice polish. So that's the good news. And in life, the beads are truly beautiful, but are not as polished or shiny as they could potentially be, but are still shiny.

It could also be a trend since I've seen some modern gemstone beads that are now stylishly Matt in finish, and some in between. If this is the case, then the wax might have been added to look a tad more finished.

 

[Bluegemz]

Here's another picture of them for reference....