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Posts by James G Newman

About James G Newman
Understanding Pink Spinel and its Properties
Posted inGemstones Spinel

Understanding Pink Spinel and its Properties

Pink spinel has spent centuries in the shadow of ruby and sapphire, even though it's a completely different…
Posted by James G Newman July 28, 2026
Black Spinel
Posted inGemstones Spinel

Black Spinel Meaning & Properties: The Complete Guide

Black spinel is one of the more overlooked members of the spinel family, often mistaken for black onyx,…
Posted by James G Newman July 28, 2026
Three-panel collage titled "DEEP RED GARNET" showcasing faceted cushion and radiant-cut garnets alongside a rough garnet crystal.
Posted inGemstones Garnet

Deep Red Garnet: 7 Fascinating Facts About This Ancient Gem

Deep red garnet is one of the oldest gemstones worn by humans, and it remains one of the…
Posted by James G Newman July 28, 2026
Three-panel collage showcasing polished black opal cabochons on hand and tray alongside rough unpolished black opal stones.
Posted inGemstones Opal

Black Opal: The Rarest Opal, and Why It Isn’t Actually Black

A truly black opal, one that's completely, uniformly dark with no color at all, would be worthless. That's…
Posted by James G Newman July 26, 2026
A three-part image displaying an uncut pinkish-purple Taaffeite crystal on the left, a faceted oval Taaffeite held in tweezers in the center, and a faceted gem held between fingers on the right.
Posted inGemstones Buying Guides Learn

9 Facts About Taaffeite: The Rare Gemstone Found Hiding in a Jewelry Box

Most gemstones are found the same way: someone digs them out of the ground. Taaffeite broke that rule…
Posted by James G Newman July 26, 2026
A triptych collage showcasing green amethyst (prasiolite) in three forms: polished crystal points standing in sunlight, faceted square step-cut loose gems, and oval green amethyst drop earrings with diamond halos held between fingers.
Posted inBuying Guides Amethyst Gemstones

Green Amethyst: What It Is, How It’s Made, and How to Buy It

Green amethyst is a light to medium green variety of quartz. Most of what you see for sale…
Posted by James G Newman July 24, 2026
Alt Text: A triptych collage displaying moss agate in three forms: a close-up translucent polished piece showing green dendritic patterns, raw unpolished dark green stones on wood, and smooth polished palm stones held in a hand.
Posted inGemstones Agate

Moss Agate: The Complete Guide to This Misleadingly Named Stone

Moss agate is one of the most visually striking stones in the gem world, prized for the green,…
Posted by James G Newman July 24, 2026
A triptych collage showing three rainbow moonstones: a heart-shaped faceted gem on blue fabric, a faceted pear cut in tweezers with fiery orange flash, and a smooth teardrop cabochon held by hand showing blue adularescence.
Posted inGemstones Moonstone

Rainbow Moonstone: The Complete Guide to This Colorful Gem

"Rainbow moonstone" is one of the most misunderstood names in the gem world. Despite carrying "moonstone" in its…
Posted by James G Newman July 24, 2026
Alt Text: A triptych collage displaying an emerald-cut white sapphire in tweezers, a pointed raw white sapphire crystal, and a radiant-cut white sapphire gemstone.
Posted inGemstones Sapphire

White Sapphire: 7 Surprising Facts You Must Know

White sapphire is a clear, colorless gemstone. It comes from the same mineral family as blue sapphire and…
Posted by James G Newman July 22, 2026
A collage displaying oval black star sapphires showing a golden six-ray star, including loose stones in a display box, a gemstone held between fingers, and set in a gold ring with diamond accents.
Posted inGemstones Sapphire

Black Star Sapphire: The Complete Guide to Its Rare Gold Star

A black star sapphire is a rare, dark gemstone with a glowing star pattern that seems to float…
Posted by James G Newman July 22, 2026

Posts pagination

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  • Red Tourmaline (Rubellite): Color, Value, and Buying Guide
  • Indicolite Tourmaline: Blue Color and Buying Guide
  • Maine Tourmaline: History, Colors, and Jewelry Guide
  • Green Tourmaline: Color, Value, and How to Buy
  • Tanzanite Guide: Color, Treatment, and Is It “1000x Rarer”?

Elena Marsh

Elena Marsh is a gemstone writer and researcher covering mineral formation, sourcing, and buying guides for Root & Carat.

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Recent Posts

  • Red Tourmaline (Rubellite): Color, Value, and Buying Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 5, 2026
  • Indicolite Tourmaline: Blue Color and Buying Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 4, 2026
  • Maine Tourmaline: History, Colors, and Jewelry Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 4, 2026
  • Green Tourmaline: Color, Value, and How to Buy
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 3, 2026

Categories

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  • Buying Guides
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  • Learn
  • Moonstone
  • Opal
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  • Rare & Collector Stones
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  • Sri Lankan Gem Heritage
  • Taaffeite
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  • Zircon
About Root & Carat

RootAndCarat.com is an independent gemstone education guide cutting through trade hype to reveal the real science, origin, and market value behind fine jewelry.

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Categories
  • Agate
  • Amethyst
  • Aquamarine
  • Buying Guides
  • Emerald
  • Garnet
  • Gemstone Meanings & Zodiac
  • Gemstones
  • Jasper
  • Labradorite
  • Learn
  • Moonstone
  • Opal
  • Quartz
  • Rare & Collector Stones
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Semi-Precious Gemstones
  • Spinel
  • Sri Lankan Gem Heritage
  • Taaffeite
  • Tourmaline
  • Zircon
  • Red Tourmaline (Rubellite): Color, Value, and Buying Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 5, 2026
  • Indicolite Tourmaline: Blue Color and Buying Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 4, 2026
  • Maine Tourmaline: History, Colors, and Jewelry Guide
    by Diyon Jagath
    November 4, 2026
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