Gems 'n Jewelry

The Scoop

The Diffused Labradorite Controversy

Oregon Sunstone is the only Labradorite-Feldspar in the world that contains Natural copper producing an explosion of Red, Orange, Greens, rare Blues, and some combinations of these colors that makes Oregon Sunstone in our view the most beautiful gem in the world. This explains why many people would have a vested interested in taking Sunstones such as the clears without natural copper from Mexico and diffusing Copper into them in an attempt to produce the look of an Oregon Natural Sunstone. They use a process called diffusion where a gem is heated to intense tempertures and material such as copper is burned deep into the stone to alter it's appearance, but from a scientific aspect there are far better sources than www.gemsnjewelry.com to speak about diffusion and it's previous, current, and future impact on 100% Natural Oregon Sunstones.

The diffusion process has been documented by gem authorities and gemologists around the world. Some have done extensive research and testing and have published their results. We owe these people a debt of gratitude for their efforts. I reference an article in the May/June 2008 edition of the Colored-Stone magazine by the Editor and Chief, Mr. David Federman. Mr. Federman documents the creation of diffused Sunstones, their subsequent sale on the open market, and touches on the impact that this deception has had on the sale of Natural Sunstones from the State of Oregon. In that same article Gemologist Robert James is credited with breaking the story wide open with his extensive Laboratory testing of this diffusion process. I fully recommend that any reader of my article on Sunstones visit www.YourGemologist.com where Robert James (FGA-GG) deals with this issue, and reports on his extensive research in the treatment of other gems as well. I personally found his research to be stunning in it's revelations, and invaluable in making the case for the desperate need in for full and honest disclosure of gem treatments. With all of this study being so clearly documented one would think the case would be closed, but unfortunately that is not true

I returned to Tucson this year from Jan 28th to Feb 8th, and witnessed first hand diffusion treated gems being sold as natural. Claims of mines in Tibet, the Congo, and Mongolia were being made by some sellers. I couldn't discover any evidence to support the existence of their mine claims, so again, I turned to Robert James, who held in seminar at the Arizona Hotel in Tucson on Friday, February 6th 2010. I am deeply gratefull for his work, and through his investigations he reached some very significant conclusions via some well documented scientific research. The following is a synopsis from that meeting.

1. The Tibetan material cannot be proven even to exist.

2. The Tibetan material and material from stones claimed to be from Mongolia are the same.

3. The alleged Mongolian material shares properties, internal characteristics, and elemental make-up with Mexican clear Sunstone.

4. There is NO Mongolian Mine.

5. End of Story.

My only concern is that I am not convinced that the story has come to an end. In fact it may be just beginning, because there are attempts being made by diffusion heat treaters to diffuse any clear Sunstone they can get their hands on and burn copper into them, so that in appearance they look like the stunningly beautiful 100% Natural Oregon Sunstones. They have managed to do a pure red but these are easily spotted because they all look alike, and the Oregon Sunstone is a very internally complex gem and comes in Yellow, Orange. Red, Green, and sometimes blue. Plus the best gems from Oregon will often contain a combination of these colors andthose are tough to imitate through diffusion, but that won't keep the Thai's from trying. Can we stop them? Probably not, but we recently joined the Ethics and Integrity organization, and we make the following pledge to those buyers interested in what we now consider to be the most beautiful gem in the world. It is as follows.

1. We either dig our own Sunstones in Oregon, or buy directly from claim owners in the Plush area most notably the Outback Sunstone Mining Company.

2. We will guarantee with a legally binding document signed and notarized if necessary that our Sunstones are in fact from the State of Oregon.

3. We are going to provide a "Gem Cutters Certificate" certifying that each cut gem is an Oregon Sunstone.

4. Lastly, besides full disclosure on Sunstones and all Website items we offer a 100% money back guarantee so buyers can make purchases will full confidence.

Jim Stewart
Gemstones of Montana
dba: gemsnjewelry.com
Email: sales@gemsnjewelry.com

Feedback Responses

"Mr. Stewart: Thank you for your informative review of the Labradorite problems. Currently there are pending lawsuits regarding these issues, and I find your insights very helpful by bringing additional focus to the deception being dumped on the buying public. Keep up the good work." 1/26/09 - C.B. Portland, Oregon.

Mr Stewart: "Feel free to provide the link to the long article on your website, or wherever else you can help people find this vital information. Education is a vital first step in reversing the damage that has been accumulating over time. " 4/8/10 - Dr. Joel Arem. **Website Response** I deeply appreciate this communication from Dr. Arem, and urge every person interested in Deceptive Gem practices to take advantage of this wealth of information that Dr. Joel Arem's article provides.
http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/may09/new-gemstone-treatments.cfm