Gem Silica. You may have heard of it. Think tropical blue green. Multi-faceted stones with waves of color springing from their depth. Infinite appeal for artistic expression.
Gem silica's special qualities make it a unique and valuable gemstone that is appreciated for its beauty, rarity, and potential benefits. Its distinctive color and structure make it a favorite among artisans and designers. With a Mohs score consistently in the 7 range, this gemstone is durable, delightful and designable.
Q was unfamiliar with gem silica until about 2015. Discovering gem silica was like finding a new and infinitely interesting friend. The first time she saw a piece of this beautiful stone, Q thought it was a synthetic stone, a beautiful fake. The brilliant blues and greens absolutely captivated her. She knew there would be a season when she would find the time to circle back to gem silica and make it part of her collections for ships at sea.
Discovering a Passion
Q shares, “My first piece of gem silica was purchased as a ring in an antique store in London. I did not know if it was reconstituted turquoise or plastic but I loved the color. A gemologist friend identified it as having come from Arizona in the USA. That set me down the path of collecting these stones whenever I ran across one.” As her collection of stones grew, so did her desire to create fine jewelry using gem silica.
From Inspiration to Design
Q made her first design with this gorgeous stone shortly after that lucky find in London. However, she didn’t have time to delve deeply into the gem silica pool as the studio was just beginning to sell her collections on luxury cruise ships, which required the focus of all hands on deck (pun intended).
Q remembers, “As soon as I made my first design, I knew gem silica was worth an entire collection. I also knew the only way to do it justice was to fabricate with gold, diamond and colored gemstones. I soon discovered the Arizona mines were not commercially producing, and I was not sure how I could even begin sourcing the stone.” Thus began the search for old specimens of rough, precut stones from other eras, and a word of mouth search. The journey has taken Q to some unusual locations and introduced her to an even more diverse collection of mutual appreciators of gem silica.
What Gem Silica Is….and What It Isn’t
Gem Silica is a Natural Gemstone. It is not a synthetic gemstone. Gem silica is a rare variety of chalcedony, making it highly sought after by collectors and jewelers. So, you’re asking….what is chalcedony? Chalcedony is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, a type of silica mineral, known for its waxy luster and wide range of colors, including gray, blue, white, and pink.
Why is Gem Silica Rare?
Gem silica is rare because it forms under specific conditions where chrysocolla deposits are infused with silica-rich solutions. Gem silica forms as a secondary mineral filling fractures and cavities in rock above or adjacent to copper deposits. It is a result of silica and chrysocolla fully fusing into one crystal, a process that gives it a unique color and structure.
How Does Gem Silica Derive Its Color?
Gem silica is known for its vivid blue-green color, which is often associated with the ocean and tropical waters. This color is a result of the presence of copper salts, which gives the stone its distinctive hue. Its attractive color comes from minute inclusions of chrysocolla, and the best specimens are highly translucent with a uniform, deep blue hue. It forms as a secondary mineral filling fractures and cavities in rock above or adjacent to copper deposits.
Is Gem Silica Valuable?
Gem silica is the most valuable variety of chalcedony. Its rarity contributes to its value and desirability. The price can vary from 65.00 to 500.00 a carat for pure top-quality pieces. Q’s favorites are in the mid-range with a mix of clear chalcedony or chrysocolla in the matrix of the stone. This gives the stone a tremendous amount of visual texture and depth which her designs reflect, particularly when paired with the richness of gold and diamonds.
Is Gem Silica Rare
High-quality specimens form only under specific conditions where silica-laden solutions interact with chrysocolla deposits, making it exceedingly rare.
How Durable is Gem Silica?
With a hardness rating of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, gem silica is durable and can withstand various conditions, making it suitable for fine jewelry. It is durable enough for daily wear in jewelry, unlike many other colorful but softer stones.
Where Is Gem Silica Sourced?
The supply is so limited and unpredictable that gem silica is not typically sold in mass-market jewelry stores and is more often found in high-end jewelry stores or sold to collectors.
While the U.S. is a primary source, gem silica is also found in other parts of the world, including Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines. Due to its pleasing saturated blue color, gem silica commands a premium price.
American gem silica is predominantly mined in Arizona because of its significant copper-bearing rocks that yield the material. The most notable locations include the Ray Mine and the Inspiration Mine.
The Inspiration Mine is a historic copper and molybdenum mine in the Globe-Miami district of Arizona, which at one time accounted for a significant percentage of the nation’s copper. Opened in 1911, the mine is now inactive and is owned by Freeport-McMoran and known as the Miami Mine. Ultimately, the Inspiration Mine became famous for its high quality gem silica, which remains highly sought after by collectors and lapidary enthusiasts for its rarity and stunning color.
Byproduct Becomes Feature Product
Gem silica was often an overlooked byproduct of the mine's copper extraction, and large amounts were destroyed by the chemical leaching process used to recover copper. Mining for the gem silica was often done secretly by workers to avoid it being destroyed by the mine's copper leaching processes, and they would hide pieces to save them.
Sourcing is Serious Business
It’s important to carefully check your sources when buying raw gem silica. For example, the primary problem with Indonesian gem silica, specifically material from the Gulau and Ngolola mines, is the prevalence of glass and other materials being mistaken for genuine gem silica, also known as chrysocolla chalcedony. Many specimens are not true gem silica but rather a glassy substance. This issue is further complicated by unethical sellers who may misrepresent these materials. For example, gem silica from Bacan, Indonesia is heavily color treated and it fades to almost clear with time. Like your parents always warned you, if the price seems too good to be true...it definitely is so.
Does Gem Silica Have Healing Properties
Gem silica is believed to have healing properties, particularly in activating the Heart, Throat, and Third Eye Chakras. This makes it a popular choice for those interested in metaphysical practices.
The Learning Curve
Crafting gem silica fine jewelry has been a steep learning curve, and the tricky part is custom cutting the rough stone. It takes experience and insight to be able to look at a rough specimen and discern where the best area for cutting will be. There is always some loss in the process so it takes a good degree of thought before you begin.
Q does not feel that many designers are doing fine jewelry work with these “textured” gemstones. She explains, “While many people prefer the 100% solid gem silica, I am finding more and more collectors, and my fine jewelry customers, prefer the mixed stones because of the beautiful visual texture.”
Q smiles as she continues, “You should see people’s faces when they discover and learn about the stones. It can be like looking at a deep blue hole in the ocean or a view of the seas from a satellite.”
A Final Thought
As a designer, Visual texture speaks to Q’s heart. One of the things she focuses on is her preference for stones that contain a melding of chrysocolla, malachite, clear chalcedony and gem silica. The colors, the shapes, the quality of the stones. It all added up to an exciting design inspiration that ultimately morphed into an entire collection featuring these beautiful stones.
Q concludes, “I believe this stone will be the love of my life. I have a few favorites that have not faded over time. I have never tired of tourmalines and I even have a passion for the intrigue of black diamonds. But my attraction to gem silica is nothing I have ever experienced. I know these stones have a profound effect on anyone who touches and sees them.”
These brilliant gems have stolen Q’s heart. We’re sure they will steal yours too.
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