Coral

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Secreted as a hard skeleton by marine polyps of the order Gorgonacea, precious coral is an organic gem built of calcium carbonate and carved into beads, cameos, and figurines since ancient times. The most prized ox-blood or Moro coral from the Mediterranean and Japanese seas shows a deep, saturated red long treasured in Chinese, Tibetan, Italian, and Native American traditions. Soft by mineral standards at 3.0 to 4.0 on the Mohs scale, it nonetheless takes a fine polish. A budget-tier organic gem, precious coral has grown increasingly rare and regulated as overharvesting and habitat loss brought many species under protection.

Physical & Optical Properties

Category Organic Gems
Mohs Hardness 3.0 – 4.0
Specific Gravity 2.6 – 2.7
Refractive Index 1.486 – 1.658
Crystal System Trigonal
Cleavage None
Color various
Birefringence 0.16
Pleochroism Absent

Mohs Hardness

1 Talc 2 Gypsum 3 Calcite 4 Fluorite 5 Apatite 6 Orthoclase 7 Quartz 8 Topaz 9 Corundum 10 Diamond Coral
Mohs hardness of Coral shown against the ten reference minerals, from talc (1) to diamond (10).
Mohs Reference mineral Coral
1 Talc
2 Gypsum
3 Calcite
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite
6 Orthoclase
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 Corundum
10 Diamond

Crystal System

a a a Trigonal (Rhombohedral) a = b = c, α = β = γ ≠ 90°

Value & Market

Price Tier Budget (< $50/ct)

Where to Buy Coral

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Treatments

Dyed: mostly with polymer treatment, color and resin concentration in fractures, cavities and branches junctions. Hot point test (acetone test in some cases) may reveal the treatment. Dyed pink to red from white variety: color dignostic if from "bamboo" type (natural color is white to brownish). Dyed blue from grayish: commonly with resin treatment: light blue color concentration in pits and cracks - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 9 Artificial pressed product (ceramics) consisting of calcite - Red; opaque; RI 1.486 - 1.658; Birefringence 0.172; Uniaxial/-; SG 2.60 - 2.70; Hardness 3.5 - 4; Trigonal. - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 3 3 to 4Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references 2.60 to 2.70Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) BrittleWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Irregular,SplinteryWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) 1.486 to 1.658Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) White and redMore from other references Uniaxial/-Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) 0.160 to 0.172Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) White and redMore from other references AbsentWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Red, pink, white, orange, blue, brownUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Translucent,OpaqueWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references Dull purplish-redHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) TrigonalUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Distinctive wavy parallel fibrous structureHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Coral information at mindat.org

About Coral

珊瑚是由珊瑚虫的石灰质骨骼构成的有机宝石,数千年来深受人类珍视。宝石级珊瑚以深红色(牛血色)的贵珊瑚最为珍贵,产自地中海和日本、台湾海域。黑珊瑚、金珊瑚和白珊瑚也各有其宝石价值。由于过度开采和气候变化,多种珊瑚已受到国际贸易公约的保护,购买时需注意合法来源。

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Coral?
珊瑚是由珊瑚虫的石灰质骨骼构成的有机宝石,数千年来深受人类珍视。宝石级珊瑚以深红色(牛血色)的贵珊瑚最为珍贵,产自地中海和日本、台湾海域。黑珊瑚、金珊瑚和白珊瑚也各有其宝石价值。由于过度开采和气候变化,多种珊瑚已受到国际贸易公约的保护,购买时需注意合法来源。
What is the hardness of Coral?
Coral has a Mohs hardness of 3.0 to 4.0, making it relatively soft for use in jewelry.
What color is Coral?
Coral is primarily Various.
How much does Coral cost?
Coral falls into the Budget (< $50/ct) price range. Prices vary based on color, clarity, cut, and origin.
What is the crystal system of Coral?
Coral belongs to the Trigonal crystal system.

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