How the Gemstone Density and Specific Gravity is important???

Measuring gemstone density is one way of differentiating between two similar looking gems. For example, take a garnet and ruby. The two species may look alike, and two particular stones may even have the same dimensions. However, each has a unique density or specific gravity.

What is Density?

Gemstone density or specific gravity are bulk properties independent of direction and typically uniform within a mass of material. Under ideal circumstances, two gems of the same species and variety have the same density. However, nature rarely obliges. In the real world, mineral density varies widely, even within a single crystal, due to impurities, cracks, and bubbles. Nevertheless, density is a useful parameter in gem identification. Therefore, you should understand these variable factors.

What Determines Gemstone Density?

The density of a compound is a function of several factors, including chemical composition and crystal structure. For example, consider diamond and graphite. Both are polymorphous crystalline forms of the element carbon (C). Since diamond’s structure packs its carbon atoms tightly, it has a density of 3.5. Graphite has a much looser, open structure. So, it has a density of only 2.2.

The density of minerals within a solid solution series may vary linearly with composition change. You can see chemical substitution’s effect quite dramatically in the example of the orthorhombic carbonate minerals aragonite and cerussite. 

How to Measure Gemstone Density

Gemologists usually measure specific gravity with heavy liquids. They prepare a liquid, such as a mixture of bromoform and toluene, to have a particular density value. When an unknown material is dropped into the liquid, it may sink, float, or remain suspended in place. If the material sinks, it has greater density than the liquid. If it floats, it has less density than the liquid. Should it remain suspended at one level, it has the same density as the liquid. You can take very accurate specific gravity measurements by changing the density of a column of liquid through temperature variations. In addition, you can suspend density standards in the column.

As an alternative method, you can use so-called torsion balances, such as the Hanneman balance or a Berman scale. First, weigh your sample in air. Then, weigh it suspended in a liquid, such as water or toluene. You can measure the weights in both media quite accurately, sometimes reporting specific gravities to two decimal places.

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