Gem Silica

Gemstone

A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. Certain rocks and occasionally organic materials that are not minerals may also be used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some softer minerals such as brazilianite may be used in jewelry because of their color, luster, or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. However, generally speaking, soft minerals are not typically used as gemstones by virtue of their brittleness and lack of durability.

Silicon dioxide

Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2, and is commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant families of materials, existing as a compound of several minerals and as a synthetic product. Examples include fused quartz, fumed silica, opal, and aerogels. It is used in structural materials, microelectronics, and as components in the food and pharmaceutical industries. All forms are white or colorless, although impure samples can be colored or opaque.

gem

Symbol

1. ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-5 language code for Germanic languages.

Noun

1. A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine.
2. Any precious or highly valued thing or person.

silica

Noun

1. Silicon dioxide. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
2. Any of the silica group of the silicate minerals.