Q 01/05

The Mohs hardness scale used for gemstones was introduced in 1812 by a mineralogist of which nationality?

A) Swedish

B) British

C) French

D) German

Answer · why

D) German

German: Friedrich Mohs simply ranked ten minerals by which could scratch which, so the steps are uneven, and diamond at 10 is far harder than corundum...

Q 02/05

Which mineral sits at 1, the softest point, on the Mohs scale?

A) Gypsum

B) Calcite

C) Talc

D) Fluorite

Answer · why

C) Talc

Talc: soapstone is made mostly of talc, which makes the rock soft enough to carve, so people have shaped it into bowls, pipes and figures for thousand...

Q 03/05

Rubies get their red colour from traces of which element?

A) Iron

B) Titanium

C) Chromium

D) Vanadium

Answer · why

C) Chromium

Chromium: a ruby is just red corundum, and the same mineral in blue or any other colour is sold under a different gem name.

Q 04/05

Which gemstone is the modern birthstone for September?

A) Peridot

B) Sapphire

C) Opal

D) Topaz

Answer · why

B) Sapphire

Sapphire: in 1912 America's National Association of Jewelers adopted a modern list to standardise birthstones, which had varied from one tradition to ...

Q 05/05

Which upheaval saw Louis XIV's blue diamond stolen?

A) French Revolution

B) Napoleonic Wars

C) Franco-Prussian War

D) Paris Commune

Answer · why

A) French Revolution

French Revolution: thieves stole most of the French crown jewels, and the Hope Diamond is probably a piece of the lost blue stone.