Fake it ‘til you break it: Oddities and fraud cases submitted to SSEF
Apart from beautiful and exceptional gemstones, the SSEF also gets from time-to-time submissions which clearly fall far from that prestigious range.
Väyrynenite of exceptional quality and size, reportedly from Nigeria
Väyrynenite is a rare phosphate mineral that was first discovered in 1935 in a granitic pegmatite near Orivesi in southern Finland.
Väyrynenite of Exceptional Quality and Size, Reportedly from Nigeria
Väyrynenite is an attractive and rare phosphate mineral that—until recently—has been known in gem quality mostly as small, often included stones from northern Pakistan (and less commonly, Afghanistan). Since early 2025, väyrynenite gemstones of exceptional quality and size have entered the market, repor
Orange sodalite from Afghanistan
Sodalite, a complex tectosilicate with the ideal formula Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 is known in the trade mostly as dark blue ornamental material, often as translucent to nearly opaque beads and cabochons, but in rare cases also as transparent faceted stones.
Afghanite from Badakhshan in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is known since ancient times as source of exceptional gems, namely lapis lazuli, tourmalines, beryls, rubies and spinel (Bowersox & Chamberlin 1995). Apart from these rather classic gemstones, Afghanistan is also source for numerous rare collector minerals, such as väyrynenite, triplite, bastnäs
Anthill garnets from Arizona
Any gem hunter will tell you that collecting minerals from the soil is a hard job, especially if done in a remote place with rather dry and hot climate conditions and hard rocky soil. So, why not have small and hard-working animals such as ants do the work for you?
‘Thirsty’ opal
Opal can be a very attractive and colourful gemstone. However, some opals, and especially certain samples from Ethiopia (but also from other sources) may show hydrophilic properties, thus absorb and release liquids (mostly water or even humidity in the air) to some extent.
Phase transformations as important markers for heat treatment detection in corundum and other gemstones
Phase transformations as important markers for heat treatment detection in corundum and other gemstones. IGC 2023 Proceedings, 111-113.
Purple to bluish grey chalcedony from Ethiopia
In the past 15 years, Ethiopia has repeatedly gained attention for a variety of new gem finds. In 2008, a large deposit of white play-of-colour opal was found (Rondeau et al., 2010), followed by black opal with play-of-colour in 2013 (Kiefert et al., 2014).
Purple love
It is always a pleasure for our team to analyse gemstones which are not so common, or sometimes even very rare, but which may compete in beauty and quality (but often not in hardness) with the most prestigious classic gemstones.