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Inclusion
A particle of foreign matter
present within a mineral, it can be solid, liquid, or
gaseous. Inclusions can decrease or increase the value of a
stone.
Indicolite
A variety of tourmaline that is green to blue – green
in color.
Inlay
A piece of material that is partially embedded in another material such that the two materials make a level surface.
Intaglio
It is a method of decoration in which a design is cut into the
surface.
Intergrown
A crystal type that formed when two different mineral
crystals grow together and become one.
Investment compound
A refractory
material that can withstand extreme heat and is slightly porous
and can be formed
into a mold. Plaster of paris is an fine example of an investment
compound.
Iolite
Also called an water sapphire, it is a
transparent, violet-blue, light blue, or yellow-gray mineral.
It is pleochroic means that a single stone will show many colors.
Iridium
A metal related to platinum and frequently alloyed with the same
to increases the workability of the metal. Iridium is
also used for the points-nibbed pens.
Irradiated diamonds
Irradiated diamonds are diamonds that have
been exposed to radiation. Radiation is a technique that changes the
color of the diamond.
The change comes with radiation is permanent. Earlier in radiation
treatments the diamond was exposing to radium; but now the stone
is bombard with atomic particles in a cyclotron
(which accelerates protons, neutrons, or alpha-partices to high
speeds). The irradiated stones take on a greenish or an
aquamarine hue.
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