How are precious gems formed?

Gems are crystals which grow from molten rock as it cools, deep in the earth. It takes a long, long time and a special combination of heat, cooling, pressure, space and chemicals to make each kind of gem. That’s why they are so rare!

Volcanoes and earth movements sometimes bring gemstones close enough to the surface for people to dig them up. Then each gemstone is cut and polished so it refracts the light and sparkles. There are many beautiful gems but the ones we prize most and call ‘precious’ are diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires.

Diamonds are crystals of carbon. They are the hardest natural substance found on earth. The soot in your fireplace and the graphite in your pencil is carbon too, but it isn’t in crystal form.

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