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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
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1992-09-03
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427b
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13 lines
A gem is a mineral valuable by virtue of its
durability (hardness), rarity, and beauty,
cut and polished for ornamental use, or
engraved. Of 120 minerals known to have been
used as gemstones, only about 25 are in
common use in jewellery today. The diamond,
emerald, ruby, and sapphire are classified as
precious, and all the others semiprecious,
eg: the topaz, amethyst, opal, and
aquamarine.
Subject by: Andrew Row