Gem Prospecting for Dummies

gem in matrix

Lately we've had a run of nominees who got... most of it right, only to trip themselves up with a stupid statement. Some got caught because they added a step to or omitted a step from a how-to that made it obvious they were tossing the bull. That's not the case today, no sirree: even a total yutz could tell that Debra Rigas had no idea "How to Search for Gems" when she grabbed that title at eHow.com. Leaf Group's since moved it to OurPastimes.com, where it continues to stupidify the internet to this day.

Rigas opened by gushing, somewhat bizarrely, that,

"Rock hunting and gem collecting can be part of the hobbyist's life or that of serious lapidarists and jewelers..."

...before explaining that anyone can find gems in rock shops, but only if you follow her directions will you find them "in nature." According to Debra, you need to,

"[Learn] to identify crystals from their matrix, or by knowing what to look for in the outer stone..."

Our mineralogist found both of those statements rather... confusing. She says that you can't identify a crystal from its matrix, and thinks Rigas was conflating gems with geodes or perhaps chunks of agate with that "outer stone" business. Debra also seemed to think that,

"Large rock and mineral shops will often have large containers of what appear to be ordinary rocks, but upon closer inspection reveal the depths and qualities of gems awaiting cutting and polishing."

Again, you ain't gonna find diamonds and sapphires in "large containers of what appear to be ordinary rocks" at your local rock shop! Chunks of semiprecious stones – agate, onyx, etc. – yes, but those aren't "gems."

When it comes time to look for your "gems" in nature, Rigas would have you,

"Walk a beach beneath a sandstone cliff..."

Mineralogy gal found that advice quite laughable. What's interesting is that nowhere in any of Debra's "resources" could we find suggestions like hers. Even more hilarious is that Rigas repeated the same bullshit suggestions in a post about finding agates, also at OurPastimes.com. A veritable Dumbass of the Day factory, this one!

copyright © 2020-2022 scmrak

SI - MINERALS