Okay people, spring is here so I thought, “What better to do with this column than to talk about gemstones?” This is a hot topic this time of year, and some may find themselves scrambling and realizing they know nothing about diamonds or gemstones.

Well, have no fear, because the Mineral Spotlight is here. I will discuss the merits of a few different types of gemstones (that’s right, diamonds aren’t the only ones!).

If you prefer a boring, or as most people prefer to say, “traditional” gemstone, then a diamond is it. Diamonds have a hardness of 10 on the mohs scale, so at the very least you can say you have the hardest gemstone.

Diamonds are made completely of carbon and are formed at high temperatures and pressures in the upper mantle of the earth. Diamonds can be many different colors including blue, yellow, brown, black, green, purple, pink, orange or red. It also can be perfectly clear, which is what most people go for.

A popular option these days for those who want to branch out, but not too much, is a sapphire. Sapphire is not a technical name, but is in fact a name for a blue crystal of corundum. Rubies are simply red corundum.

Some sapphires contain inclusions of rutile (a TiO2 mineral) along the hexagonal crystal axes that, when cut correctly, make a star pattern. Corundum has a hardness of nine on the Mohs scale.

Sapphires can be faceted just as easily as diamonds, and white sapphires, when cut, are superficially the same as diamonds. So, if you are looking to be slightly adventurous with your gemstone choice, sapphires are the way to go.

Also, sapphires are usually quite a bit cheaper per carat than diamonds. A bigger stone for less money with equal (if not greater) beauty. How can you go wrong?

Now for those truly adventurous, I put forward a third option. You will be sure to amaze and mystify your friends when you tell them your ring is made of proustite, although you will have to show them it in the dark.

Proustite is nature’s film, as it darkens with exposure to light. Unexposed, it is a lovely magenta color. Having a ring made of proustite will add an air of mystery to any person. Most museums keep it in the dark, and if you want to see it, you have to turn on a light for a short time.

This is the perfect option for the couple who wants to shroud their engagement in mystery and intrigue.

Please feel free to come by the Dice Mineralogical Museum for further advice!