GIA COLORED STONE EXAM SCRIPT
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE REVIEW MATERIAL
●● gemology
Answer: the study of gems
●● organic
Answer: once living, or produced by a living organism (plant or animal)
●● minerals
Answer: a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical
composition and usually characteristic structure
●● inorganic
Answer: composed of, or arising from, non-living matter
●● chemical compositions
Answer: types and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material
●● durability
Answer: a gemstone's ability to withstand wear, heat, and chemicals
,●● luster
Answer: the appearance of a material's surface in reflected light
●● transparency
Answer: degree to which a material allows light to pass through it
●● hardness
Answer: how well a gemstone resists scratches and abrasion
●● toughness
Answer: how well a gemstone resists breaking, chipping, and cracking
●● stability
Answer: how well a gemstone resists the effects of light, heat, and
chemicals
●● crystal structure
Answer: regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material
●● chemical formula
Answer: written description of a material's chemical makeup
,●● trace elements
Answer: atoms in a gem that aren't part of its essential chemical
composition
●● amorphous
Answer: lacking a regular crystal structure
●● species
Answer: a broad gem category based on chemical composition and
crystal structure
●● variety
Answer: a subcategory of species based on color, transparency, or
phenomenon
●● phenomenon
Answer: an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem
●● groups
Answer: a family of gems from several closely related mineral species
●● natural gems
, Answer: gems produced by natural processes, without human help
●● lab-grown gem
Answer: a manmade (synthetic) gem with essentially the same chemical
composition, crystal structure, and properties as its natural counterpart
●● Federal Trade Commission
Answer: a US government agency that issues guidelines for the jewelry
trade
●● by color alone
Answer: How were gems once classified by?
●● minerals
Answer: What are most gems?
●● some degree of beauty, rarity, and durability
Answer: What do all gems possess?
●● color
Answer: What is the most important factor in a colored stone's beauty?
●● somewhere in the middle of the rarity scale
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE REVIEW MATERIAL
●● gemology
Answer: the study of gems
●● organic
Answer: once living, or produced by a living organism (plant or animal)
●● minerals
Answer: a natural, inorganic substance with a characteristic chemical
composition and usually characteristic structure
●● inorganic
Answer: composed of, or arising from, non-living matter
●● chemical compositions
Answer: types and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material
●● durability
Answer: a gemstone's ability to withstand wear, heat, and chemicals
,●● luster
Answer: the appearance of a material's surface in reflected light
●● transparency
Answer: degree to which a material allows light to pass through it
●● hardness
Answer: how well a gemstone resists scratches and abrasion
●● toughness
Answer: how well a gemstone resists breaking, chipping, and cracking
●● stability
Answer: how well a gemstone resists the effects of light, heat, and
chemicals
●● crystal structure
Answer: regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material
●● chemical formula
Answer: written description of a material's chemical makeup
,●● trace elements
Answer: atoms in a gem that aren't part of its essential chemical
composition
●● amorphous
Answer: lacking a regular crystal structure
●● species
Answer: a broad gem category based on chemical composition and
crystal structure
●● variety
Answer: a subcategory of species based on color, transparency, or
phenomenon
●● phenomenon
Answer: an unusual optical effect displayed by a gem
●● groups
Answer: a family of gems from several closely related mineral species
●● natural gems
, Answer: gems produced by natural processes, without human help
●● lab-grown gem
Answer: a manmade (synthetic) gem with essentially the same chemical
composition, crystal structure, and properties as its natural counterpart
●● Federal Trade Commission
Answer: a US government agency that issues guidelines for the jewelry
trade
●● by color alone
Answer: How were gems once classified by?
●● minerals
Answer: What are most gems?
●● some degree of beauty, rarity, and durability
Answer: What do all gems possess?
●● color
Answer: What is the most important factor in a colored stone's beauty?
●● somewhere in the middle of the rarity scale
