What qualities must a mineral possess in order to be considered a gem?

Answer 1

Some minerals have a crystal structure that is hard enough to be durable when worn on a daily basis. If this crystal structure is rare and possesses clarity it becomes valuable, and can be called a gem crystal.

Answer 2

The difference between gemstones and the rest of the minerals is that gemstones are crystalline forms of minerals.

If you look at the microscopic view of a gemstone's or any crystal's structure, you will see that it is a unique, organized structure. Not all minerals have this structure.

Answer 3

A mineral specimen becomes a gem when the specimen is polished or cut (shaped) in such a way as to improve its appearance. Normally, only a transparent or translucent specimen is usually cut into a gem.

Answer 4

All gems are minerals, but not all minerals are gems. In order for the mineral to be classified as a gem, the mineral must have very specific qualities. Minerals are judged on the following:

• beauty
• durability
• rarity
• portability

and among other things..

Submitted answer does not answer the question nor is it correct. All Gems are not minerals. A Gem is a piece of rock or mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.

Answer 5

To be considered a gemstone, a mineral should have a crystalline structure, should refract light, and should have a hardness of 6 or above. An opal does not have a crystalline structure. It has a hardness of 6. All other gemstones have a hardness of 7 or higher and have a crystalline structure.

Answer 6

This is from my sense of it: a gemstone needs to be a mineral of some kind that can be found naturally occurring (so a synthetic ruby would still fit the category because rubies or corundum can be found as a natural mineral) and has intrinsic value (usually can be set into jewelry). Glass or plastic would not be considered a gemstone. Gemstones are also divided into precious and semi-precious. The precious gemstones being the ones that are most rare, expensive, durable, and attractive (historically-speaking); these are rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and opals (notice that all of these gems except opal are very hard and durable). The semiprecious stones are generally less rare (although this depend on quality as well) and less durable; there's a bunch: porous gemstones like pearls, precious coral, jet, and amber and non-porous gemstones like amethyst, citrine, jasper, rose quartz, agate, onyx, sardonyx, aquamarine, turquoise, garnets, tourmaline, tanzanite (can be considered to be precious sometimes), topaz, apatite, smithsonite (rare).

Answer 7

In general, for a mineral to be a gem it should be hard, durable, and colorful.

Answer 8

Because these certain elements are less common than other elements like gold, platinum, and silver.

Answer 9

It's a mineral or stone that is cut and placed in jewelry.

Answer 10

beauty and rarity