Helens Serras-Herman

Helen published an article about the 2011 GIA Symposium in the Rock & Gem Magazine,  which is featured in the September issue. Additionally, she has an article about the Pala Tourmaline Mines due out, in an upcoming Rock & Gem Magazine issue. Visit:   Rock and Gem Magazine

Additional 2011 GIA Symposium details can still be found on the web site GIA Symposium

Other great articles from Helen Serras-Herman in Rock & Gem Magazine can be found in:
the July Issue: Central Arizona Gold Mine tours, museums and the Superstition Mountains
the August Issue:   Pricing Your Gem Artwork, 20 costs to consider
Visit:   Rock and Gem Magazine

Over the years, Rock&Gem magazine has published a mother lode of information and articles covering virtually every facet of the rockhounding hobby. Looking for information? This is a resource you need to subscribe to. Also visit:  Bob’s Rock Shop

Helen says the San Diego Natural History Museum’s “All that Glitters” was a fabulous exhibit, which  runs through April 8, 2012, featuring mineral specimens, jewelry and objects d’art, all marvelously displayed. The museum is located in Balboa Park, in San Diego. For hours, tickets and more information visit their website at San Diego Natural History Museum

Tourmalines from the Pala pegmatite district

Tourmalines from the Pala pegmatite district 2

The Pala Tourmaline Mines in Southern California are part of America’s history and are still very active today, having produced some incredible mineral specimens that take center stage at Natural History Museums across the country. Helen shared the fee-dig
day Andy & Helen spent at one of the mines, and a group field trip organized by the 2011 GIA Symposium visiting 3 underground mines.

Digging in the muck pile at the Oceanview Mine

Findings from the Fee-Dig

Kunzite from the Oceanview Mine

The above Kunzite is an example of the gem quality stones provided by the Pala District mines.

Helen provided an overview of the 2011 GIA Symposium, titled Advancing the Science and Business of Gems, which was carried out in 3 forums. The two main overlapping lecture tracks: the Research track and the Business track, and the Poster Session.

The Research session covered topics on Diamond Identification, exploration and development of new gem deposits, testing of lead-glass treated rubies and beryllium-treated Sapphires, identification of natural and treated Nephrite from China, natural color Tanzanite detection, Pearl Identification, and new technologies and instrumentation.

The Business session covered topics of “Where is Luxury in this Brave new World?” Presentations were about the luxury markets and how these companies have succeeded, where jeweler Amit Dhamani, CEO of Dhamani Jewels stated that “luxury is a symbol of indulgence”.  Additional topics were the “Future of Gems and Gems of the Future” and “Everything Old is New Again”.

The Poster Session, was held on two floors, 63 researches were printed out and posted on large panel displays (44.5 “h X 91” w). The Poster session was open for viewing at all times during the Symposium, and the authors were present at specific times and during breaks between the lecture presentations. Helen had a Poster Presentation titled “Lectures- An Inspirational Way for Artists to Communicate”.

Helen's Poster Session

Additional 2011 GIA Symposium details can still be found on the web site GIA Symposium

We Thank Helen for sharing her adventures with us.

Meeting Summary: Charlie Marts

Pictures provided by: Helen Serras-Herman