Gemology Certification Gem Treatments & Enhancements

Question 1

What is the most common treatment applied to rubies to improve their color and clarity?

Accepted Answer

Heat treatment

Answer

Heat treatment is by far the most widely used treatment for rubies, improving color saturation and reducing silk inclusions.

Question 2

Which gemstone is most traditionally treated with cedar oil or synthetic resins to fill surface-reaching fractures?

Accepted Answer

Emerald

Answer

Emeralds are highly fractured by nature and are routinely treated with oils or resins to improve apparent clarity.

Question 3

Which gemstone is most commonly subjected to irradiation treatment to achieve its popular blue color?

Accepted Answer

Blue topaz

Answer

Virtually all blue topaz on the market is irradiated and then heat-treated to produce stable blue colors.

Question 4

What does 'untreated' mean when applied to a gemstone in a gemological context?

Accepted Answer

The stone has received no post-mining enhancement beyond cutting and polishing

Answer

In gemology, 'untreated' means no enhancement beyond standard cutting and polishing was applied after mining.

Question 5

High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) treatment is primarily used on diamonds to improve which characteristic?

Accepted Answer

Color, by reducing or eliminating brownish or yellowish tints

Answer

HPHT treatment alters the crystal structure of certain diamonds to improve their color, often converting near-colorless or faint yellow stones toward colorless.

Gemology Certification Practice Test

Gemology Certification Practice Test

Gemology Certification Gem Treatments & Enhancements