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Gemology - Exam
Contributed by: Bedford
  • 1. Gemology is the study of precious and semi-precious gemstones, including their characteristics, properties, identification, and value. Gemologists analyze gems to determine their chemical composition, structure, and rarity. They also assess gems for quality and authenticity, often using tools such as microscopes and refractometers. Gemologists play a crucial role in the jewelry industry, helping to certify and appraise gemstones for use in jewelry and other decorative items. Their expertise is highly sought after by gem traders, jewelers, collectors, and consumers seeking to better understand and appreciate the beauty and value of gemstones.

    What is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth?
A) Sapphire
B) Amethyst
C) Diamond
D) Topaz
  • 2. What is the birthstone for January?
A) Turquoise
B) Garnet
C) Emerald
D) Amethyst
  • 3. What type of gemstone is a ruby?
A) Corundum
B) Quartz
C) Beryl
D) Feldspar
  • 4. Which gemstone is known to exhibit a phenomenon called asterism?
A) Star Sapphire
B) Topaz
C) Emerald
D) Ruby
  • 5. Which gemstone is associated with the zodiac sign Libra?
A) Peridot
B) Opal
C) Sapphire
D) Emerald
  • 6. What causes the color in most amethyst gemstones?
A) Titanium impurities
B) Manganese impurities
C) Copper impurities
D) Iron impurities
  • 7. What is the rarest and most valuable form of jade?
A) Jadeite Jade
B) Nephrite Jade
C) Black Jade
D) Imperial Jade
  • 8. What is the primary coloring agent in turquoise gemstones?
A) Zinc
B) Iron
C) Copper
D) Manganese
  • 9. What is the rarest variety of garnet?
A) Spessartite
B) Rhodolite
C) Almandine
D) Demantoid
  • 10. What is gemology?
A) The science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials.
B) A financial study related to the trading of gemstones.
C) An art form focused on creating jewelry from gems.
D) A branch of biology that studies gems.
  • 11. Which organization was established as an Education Committee in 1908?
A) GIA.
B) American Gem Society.
C) Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
D) The National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain (NAG).
  • 12. In what year was the first gemological laboratory serving the jewelry trade established in London?
A) 1931.
B) 1908.
C) 1925.
D) 1947.
  • 13. Who was the first US graduate of Gem-A's diploma course?
A) Founder of American Gem Society.
B) Robert Shipley.
C) GIA founder.
D) A member of NAG.
  • 14. What prompted the establishment of the first gemological laboratory in London?
A) The influx of newly developed 'cultured pearl' and advances in synthesis of rubies and sapphires.
B) Demand for diamond certification.
C) Need for jewelry appraisal services.
D) Development of the Mohs scale.
  • 15. What is a major factor in valuing a gemstone?
A) The weight of the gemstone.
B) The color intensity alone.
C) The size of the gemstone.
D) Understanding its atomic structure and identifying its origin.
  • 16. What does a gemologist study when valuing or appraising cut and polished gemstones?
A) The market demand for that type of gemstone.
B) Only the color of the gemstone.
C) Factors like crystal structure, specific gravity, refractive index, and other optical properties.
D) The historical significance of the gemstone.
  • 17. What can reveal whether a gem is synthetic or natural?
A) The weight of the gemstone.
B) The market value.
C) The color intensity alone.
D) Gemological microscopic study of the internal structure, showing natural fluid inclusions or partially melted exogenous crystals.
  • 18. Which instrument can help identify the presence of structural imperfections in a gemstone?
A) Penlight
B) Microscope
C) Stone cloth
D) Color filter
  • 19. Which gemological instrument is used to observe pleochroism in a gemstone?
A) Refractometer
B) Polariscope
C) Dichroscope
D) Spectroscope
  • 20. Which process is associated with the formation of curved striations in synthetic gems?
A) Refractive index measurement.
B) Spectroscopy analysis.
C) The Verneuil process.
D) Specific gravity testing.
  • 21. Which instrument is used to observe fluorescence under ultraviolet light?
A) Ultraviolet lamp
B) FTIR spectrometer
C) Polariscope
D) Refractometer
  • 22. Which instrument is used to analyze the elemental composition of a gemstone?
A) Polariscope
B) EDXRF spectrometer
C) FTIR spectrometer
D) Refractometer
  • 23. What is the name of a publication associated with Italian gemology?
A) IGR – Rivista Italiana di Gemmologia.
B) Gemology Frontier.
C) Gems & Gemology.
D) The Journal of Gemmology.
  • 24. How do natural beryl minerals typically differ from synthetic ones?
A) They show small flaws where the crystalline orientation changes abruptly.
B) They are amorphous like glass.
C) They lack any internal structures.
D) They have curved striations.
  • 25. What does a spectroscopic analysis of cut gemstones allow a gemologist to do?
A) Measure the size of the gemstone.
B) Understand the atomic structure and identify its origin.
C) Identify the weight of the gemstone.
D) Determine the age of the gemstone.
  • 26. What is the significance of a ruby from Myanmar compared to one from Thailand?
A) Thai rubies are more valuable.
B) It will have definite internal and optical activity variance.
C) Myanmar rubies are always larger.
D) They are identical in value.
  • 27. Which instrument is used to observe the optic figure of a gemstone?
A) Dichroscope
B) Contact liquid for RI
C) Penlight
D) Optic figure sphere
  • 28. What is the purpose of mobile laboratories used by professional gemologists?
A) To clean and polish gemstones.
B) To display gemstones to potential buyers.
C) To store gemstones safely during transport.
D) To perform analysis and estimation on site, independent from infrastructure.
  • 29. Which instrument is used to measure the Raman spectrum of a gemstone?
A) Spectroscope
B) Raman spectrometer
C) Polariscope
D) Refractometer
  • 30. What is the physical property of 'hardness' defined by?
A) The market demand for that type of gemstone.
B) The weight of the gemstone.
C) The color intensity of the gemstone.
D) The irregular Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
  • 31. What is a significant challenge for modern gem laboratories?
A) Finding enough raw gemstones.
B) Maintaining traditional gem cutting techniques.
C) Identifying treatments to gems, new synthetics, and other new materials.
D) Training enough gemologists.
  • 32. How are gemstones categorized?
A) Based on their crystal structure, specific gravity, refractive index, and other optical properties.
B) By the country of origin.
C) According to their color alone.
D) By their market value.
  • 33. Which instrument is used to measure the photoluminescence properties of a gemstone?
A) Ultraviolet lamp
B) Raman spectrometer
C) EDXRF spectrometer
D) Photoluminescence spectroscopy system
  • 34. Which instrument is used to observe the spectral properties of a gemstone?
A) Spectroscope
B) Refractometer
C) Dichroscope
D) Polariscope
  • 35. What does the term 'cultured pearl' refer to?
A) A newly developed type of pearl that prompted the establishment of the first gemological laboratory in London.
B) A natural pearl found in oysters.
C) A synthetic diamond.
D) An ancient method of polishing pearls.
  • 36. What is the specific gravity range for cubic zirconia?
A) 4.00
B) 5.6–5.9
C) 1.81
D) 3.15–4.20
  • 37. What is the role of chromophores in gem identification?
A) They show bands indicating which element colors the gem.
B) They identify curved striations.
C) They determine the specific gravity.
D) They measure refractive index.
  • 38. Which gemological instrument is used to measure the refractive index (RI) of a gemstone?
A) Spectroscope
B) FTIR spectrometer
C) Refractometer
D) Polariscope
  • 39. What does the critical angle in gemology refer to?
A) The angle at which a gemstone shows its cleavage planes.
B) The angle at which a gemstone absorbs the most light.
C) The angle above which light is reflected back internally within a gem.
D) The angle at which a gemstone fractures.
  • 40. What is pleochroism?
A) A method of cutting gemstones.
B) A scale for measuring gemstone hardness.
C) A type of gemstone treatment.
D) An optical property used in categorizing gemstones.
  • 41. When studying rough gemstones, what does a gemologist initially identify by?
A) The size and weight of the stone.
B) Color, refractive index, optical character, specific gravity, and examination of internal characteristics under magnification.
C) The historical significance of the gemstone.
D) Market value and demand.
  • 42. Which instrument is used to identify the optical activity of a gemstone?
A) Polariscope
B) Spectroscope
C) Dichroscope
D) Refractometer
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