Want to help me solve a "green stone" mystery?

[Tanzigrrl]

While I was visiting my parents over the holidays, I came across this ring that my aunt had given my mom several (many) years ago (10 or so to be exact). My mom never wore it, didn't want it, and gave it to me. My aunt had bought the stone loose in Thailand, had it set here in the US in (the somewhat ugly) 14kt YG, and said it was an emerald. I can tell you that it is *not* an emerald. What do you think it is? I'm in the GIA gemology program, but I'm too early into it to be able to say. All I have are photos, sorry. It's a dark, forest green color. It has some needles that don't show up except under a 10x loupe or, apparently, in these photos (!!) It also has some tiny white bubble-ish like 'pockmarks' throughout the stone that look exactly like those seen in heated blue topaz. Does anyone have a clue what this green stone might be? I was thinking maybe it's a tourmaline because some people have called dark green tourmalines 'emeraldite' even though that is confusing and inexact. Any ideas are welcome. If it is worth it, I might have it reset and actually wear it. Thanks for looking!

 

[VapidLapid]

Are those needles micro-tubular? I think it might be emerald

 

[Michael_E]

It looks just like one of the synthetic Russian made emeralds which were pretty popular 15 or 20 years ago. Tourmaline is dichroic with the dark greens often being black on the "C" axis, so I doubt that you have a tourmaline. A R.I. reading and a peek through your dichroscope would help to limit your options.

 

[gsellis]

Based on the damage to the surface, I would guess glass. If it was treated really gently, it could be florite. But it is soft enough to scratch and ding. That sort of rules out most stuff above Moh 7.5. But gem id by photo is usually a fruitless effort and worth about as much as it costs

Oh, Michael posted... That color is similar to the Platinum series from Tairus too. I actually have a piece of that to cut on a dop right now.

 

[VapidLapid]

synthetic emerald is still emerald - that would be my bet

 

[Indylady]

I think its a synthetic emerald.

 

[LD]

I have an old ring set in silver (probably around 80 years old) that has a very very very similar stone. It's actually glass and so I'd agree with George. The abrasions to the surface facets look remarkably similar to yours. Whatever it is, it's very pretty.