London: The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) has launched the latest issue of its academic publication, The Journal of Gemmology (Volume 39, No. 4, 2024).
Released digitally on December 13, this issue contains news and research from the international gemmological community, including an article dedicated to emeralds from Musakashi in the Solwezi District of Zambia. These emeralds may exhibit similarities to those from Colombia, but they can be separated based on specific internal features and their chemical composition.
A second feature article presents the results of a detailed mineralogical and gemmological study of tourmalines from the Governador Valadares and Araçuaí mining regions in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including pink, red, green, blue and other colour varieties. Additional feature articles focus on a very rare graduated necklace containing non-nacreous pearls from Pinctada maxima molluscs, and nano-inclusions associated with beryllium in untreated blue sapphires from Diego Suarez, Madagascar.
Editor-in-chief Brendan Laurs FGA said, “This issue of The Journal is packed with informative articles and resources to keep readers updated on the latest gemmological developments from around the world.”
In addition to the feature articles, each issue of The Journal of Gemmology contains a Gem Notes section, providing brief reports on diverse items of gemmological interest from around the world. In this issue, among the many items covered are diamond mining in South Kalimantan, Indonesia; blue spinel from Madagascar; blue chalcedony from Namibia; bicoloured jadeite-omphacite jade from Guatemala; and bluish green to greenish blue sodalite from Afghanistan.
The What’s New column highlights recent publications and online resources of interest to gemmologists, while the Learning Opportunities section contains a detailed listing of upcoming conferences and educational events to further the professional development of its readers. Finally, the New Media section compiles information on new gem- and jewellery-related books, and the Literature of Interest section lists articles published elsewhere of gemmological interest.
A leader in its field, The Journal publishes original research articles on all aspects of gemmology, including natural stones and their treatments, synthetics, and simulated gem materials. It is published quarterly in collaboration with the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF.
Issues published in the past two years are accessible to Gem-A Members nationally and internationally. Previous issues are freely available to anyone via The Journal’s online archive. A cumulative index covering all issues from 1947 through 2023, and numerous bibliographies covering specific subjects, can also be freely downloaded from The Journal’s website.