Gem Junkies

Podcast by Parle Jewelry Design's Jonathan and Brecken Farnsworth. We talk gemstones- the science, the history, and the fashion of the industry. Hear from gemologists, jewelry designers, and jewelry enthusiasts as they delve deep into a world of color.

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Gem Junkies

Gems of the US - Colorado

December 17, 2020 • Parle Jewelry Design's Jonathan and Brecken Farnsworth. • Season 3 • Episode 16

Up next on our journey exploring gemstones across the US we’ve got Colorado. Not only does Colorado have a state gemstone but it also has a state mineral we haven’t covered yet – rhodochrosite. Pull up a chair as we look into this double-gemmy episode.

00:00:00 Notes

00:29:00 Colorado

01:10:00 The Charlemagne connection

03:52:00 Ranking in most hated states

05:30:00 Aquamarine

05:47:00 1880’s

08:20:00 The discovery at Mt. Antero

09:30:00 About Mt. Antero

09:55:00 High altitude gemstones

12:07:00 Mining story

14:34:00 Commercial mining

16:07:00 Largest aquamarine crystal to be found in CO

18:43:00 Renewed interest with mining

19:46:00 Get a claim

20:41:00 Rhodochrosite

22:13:00 Single-crystal versus an aggregate specimen

23:23:00 Sweet Home Mine

25:52:00 The 1960’s

26:11:50 The Alma Queen

27:03:00 1991

27:26:00 Alma King discovery

27:44:00 The Crystal Wall

29:07:00 Smithsonian

30:13:00 Off-limits

31:31:00 Other gemstones found in Colorado