Opal from Lightening Ridge Australia in the collection of Mike ScottPBS
Their beauty has captivated us for millennia. Their cost can be extraordinary – some are even considered priceless. Precious gems like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, opal, and jade are the ultimate treasures of the earth, and each one is made from a specific – and often torturous – recipe of chemistry, pressure, and heat. The secrets to their sparkle, color, and even strength lie deep inside the gems themselves… but could they also hold clues to one of the most enduring mysteries in the field of geology? From Tiffany’s workshop in New York to the sapphire mines of Sri Lanka, from North Carolina’s emerald fields to the jade-laden Forbidden City of China, join NOVA in the first episode of a 3-part series, the Treasures of Earth, as we explore the fascinating science of gems.
NOVA: Treasures of the Earth: Gems, Wednesday at 9 p.m. on PBS 6.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.