THE SINKANKAS SYMPOSIUM 2010 — Gem Feldspars
Photograph by Harold and Erica Van Pelt
Named for one of the most distinguished and influential figures in gemology and mineralogy, The Sinkankas Symposium is an annual one-day event featuring presentations by noted specialists working in diverse gem-related disciplines or occupations. The theme of the eighth annual Symposium was Gem Feldspars.
The Sinkankas Symposium has been described as the most important gemological conference in North America by respected authorities on gemstones. Organized by Roger Merk, the annual event is co-sponsored by the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which has provided the Symposium venue for the past eight years. Bill Larson has been a generous supporter and lively speaker at the event since its inception.
Sinkankas Symposium 2010 — Gem Feldspars
The 2010 Sinkankas Symposium on Gem Feldspars was held on April 17, 2010, at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Carlsbad, California. Ten speakers presented eleven lectures to an audience of 150 attendees. Highlights from the program included recent gemological and analytical research on Chinese andesine presented by Shane McClure, Director of the West Coast Identification Services at the GIA laboratory in Carlsbad, CA, and Dr. George Rossman, Professor of Mineralogy in the Division of Geology and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.
Selected papers prepared for the symposium and articles on Gem Feldspars are available for purchase. For more information about the papers/To place an order »
Sinkankas Symposium Program 2010 — Gem Feldspars
Recognized specialists in fields ranging from mineralogy and crystallography to history, treatment, cutting, collecting and selling made presentations on Gem Feldspars, including moonstone, sunstone, labradorite, peristerite and amazonite. Recent gemological and analytical research on Chinese andesine was also presented.
Speakers and Topics
- Meg Berry – Tricks to Cutting Gem Feldspars
- Rock Currier – Amazonite Specimen Production in Colorado and Ethiopia
- Si Frazier – Spectacular Spectrolite
- John Koivula – The MicroWorld of Gem Feldspars
- Bill Larson – World Class Collectable Gem Feldspars
- Shane McClure – Problem of Copper-Diffused "Chinese" Andesine-Labradorite
- Dr. George Rossman – Natural and Lab-Induced Color in Feldspars
- Dr. George Rossman – Chinese Red Andesine
- Dr. Skip Simmons – Madagascar Gem "Orthoclase" and Crystallography of Gem Feldspars
- Lisbet Thoresen and Dr. James A. Harrell – Archaeogeomology of Amazonite
- Bob Weldon, Keynote Speaker – The Many Faces of Feldspar
Feldspar Phenom
Remarkable, outstanding, exceptional—Bill Larson had an extraordinary orthoclase specimen on view at the 2009 Westward Look Show in Tucson. Dave Wilber brings us on a personalized tour of some highlights in Bill Larson's collection, including a large (we mean really big) transparent yellow orthoclase crystal from Madagascar. Clip courtesy BlueCap Productions.
Sinkankas Symposium
2011 — DiamondThe theme for the 2011 Annual Sinkankas Symposium is (tentatively) diamond. Interest in the Symposium and attendance has grown every year. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Us to join the mailing list »
Gem & Mineral Events
Events,
Gem & Mineral Shows 2010- Houston Fine Mineral Show Apr. 30–May 2
Embassy Suites Hotel, Houston, TX - All That Glitters –exhibition opens May 10
San Diego Natural History Museum - AGTA GemFair/JCK Show, Las Vegas, NV
Jun. 4–7 - Euro Mineral/Euro Gem Ste. Marie, France
Jun. 24–27 - JA New York Summer Show Jul. 25–28
- Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show, Denver
Sept. 15–19 - World of Gems Conference II, Chicago
Oct. 9–10 - 47th Munich Mineral Show, Germany
Oct. 29–31 Tucson Gem & Mineral ShowTM
Future Shows
January 29 - February 13, 2011
January 28 - February 12, 2012
February 2-17, 2013-
Gem & Mineral News
Andesine – Red-Hot Topic
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Andesine Coda
Shane McClure (GIA) and Dr. George Rossman (Caltech) present recent gemological and analytical research at the Sinkankas Gem Feldspars Symposium —2010
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Gem News from Pala International: A Mystery of the Orient
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Red Feldspar
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Red Feldspar – A Puzzle to Fix
GIA Special Issue, Sept. 2009, Introduction to the Red Feldspar issue »
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Sunstone Hunting in Tibet
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Diffusion Treatment of Andesine
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Sunstone Controvery: The Furor Over Feldspar
