![]() ![]() To bypass optional sub menus tap and hold a category.Rainbow Calsilica History Rainbow calsilica is a man-made material created for the gemstone market from carbonate rock (aka calcite or powdered limestone) and plastic set in resin and colored by artificial coloring pigments. To bypass optional sub menus tap and hold a category. ![]() Stones for Younger Collectors Stones for Younger Collectors.Large and Extra Large Large and Extra Large.Spheres and Crystal Balls Spheres and Crystal Balls.Snake Chain Sterling Silver Snake Chain Sterling Silver.Silver Gemstone Rings Silver Gemstone Rings.Quartz Crystals (rough & polished) Quartz Crystals (rough & polished).Necklaces with Gemstones Necklaces with Gemstones.Faceted Gemstone Pendants Faceted Gemstone Pendants.Pendants with Cabochons Pendants with Cabochons.Rough and Unpolished Rough and Unpolished.Crystals Rocks Minerals Crystals Rocks Minerals.Third image courtesy of James St.John (Flickr). Reference: Kiefert (2003) Rainbow Calsilica, The Journal of the Gemmological Association of Hong Kong 24: 41-46. ![]() It's sometimes confused for fordite but the two materials are completely different. Rainbow calsilica continues to be used for decorative purposes. Presenting it as a natural stone at the Tucson rock and mineral show was certainly audacious but this geological hoax had finally been exposed. Very little is known about who was behind the production of rainbow calsilica. ![]() Many of the particles had seemingly been bonded together using a soft plastic-like substance similar to paraffin wax. Traces of hematite celestine and calcite were also identified. Other chemicals which could not be clearly identified were also present. Plastic-like stabilizers had also been used one of which included traces of a paraffin derivative. These included PB15 which is a blue pigment and PY1 which is a greenish yellow pigment also known as hansa yellow. The stone had then been coloured using artificial dyes. This is commonly found in rocks as the minerals calcite and aragonite. Having inspected several samples one group concluded it was made up primarily of crushed calcium carbonate. In the meantime the rock and mineral community became more determined to find out what it was. With the mine being on private land as they claimed, access could be easily controlled.Īs the supply of rainbow calsilica increased it began appearing at mineral fairs around the world. Such a find would lead to extensive publicity and a dramatic increase in revenue. Were rainbow calsilica to be a natural stone it would have been an extraordinary discovery. Their story about wanting to protect it from exploitation didn't ring true. This can be used to repair some gem-grade material prior to it being cut and polished.ĭespite growing speculation over the authenticity of rainbow calsilica, access to the mine continued to be denied. The process involves filling holes or damaged sections with a resin or other substance. Rocks and minerals are often stabilised to prevent erosion. He said that's what's likely to be showing up in the tests. The supplier of rainbow calsilica claimed it was stabilised with an epoxy to increase durability. Another group of geologists confirmed it was a man-made material with synthetic colours. Having carried out tests on stones that had been purchased from the show, some believed it was a cryptocrystalline calcite with clay minerals acting as bonding agents. As a result they were unable to share the location of the mine. They were told the owners of the land wanted to protect rainbow calsilica from exploitation. When geologists asked to inspect the mine their requests were repeatedly denied. Hundreds of glossy catalogues with information and photos of the stone were also being handed out.Ī huge amount of time, money and effort had been invested to convince the world that rainbow calsilica was a natural stone. There were also photographs of the stone being mined. It was decorated with high quality photographs of what was claimed to be the mine in Mexico. The people behind the production of rainbow calsilica rented a large corporate trade-stand. He inisisted it was a natural rock but experts were not convinced. The world's only supplier claimed he imported rainbow calsilica in large slabs from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. It attracted plenty of attention but many were suspiciouis about this curious looking stone. Rainbow calsilica is a man-made material audaciously introduced at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2002. Rainbow Calsilica Everything There is to Know The Curious Tale of Rainbow Calsilica ![]()
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