Colors – Main Lesson

Unit 5: Gem Colors

What’s This All About? 

Rainbow time! Jake explores why gemstones come in so many beautiful colors and how some can even magically change colors!

Key Takeaways: 

• Gemstone colors are caused by how light interacts with specific elements trapped inside the crystal structure 
• Key color-causing elements include iron, chromium, and manganese 
• Same element, different results: chromium makes emeralds green AND rubies red depending on the host mineral! 
• The way atoms are arranged and the crystal structure affects how these elements create colors 
• Color change gems: Dramatically different colors under different lighting conditions 
• Alexandrite is the most famous color-change gem (green in daylight, red under incandescent light) 
• Color shift gems: Subtle color tone changes, not as dramatic as true color-change stones 
• Example: shifting from blue to greenish-blue under different lights 
• Color is often the first thing people notice about a gemstone and greatly affects its value 
• Generally, brighter, more saturated, and rarer colors command higher prices

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