GIA COLORED STONE COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED STUDY RESOURCE
●● 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: Kinds 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.
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED STUDY RESOURCE
●● 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: Kinds 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.
