What the AGA Has on Tap for Tucson

San Diego--Gemstone industry insights, an exploration of the Viking sunstone and secrets of the Hope diamond will be among the topics at the Accredited Gemologists Association’s annual Tucson conference.

The AGA conference is scheduled for Wednesday at the University Park Marriott in Tucson, coinciding with the annual run of gem shows in the city.

The conference has a full day of relevant scientific to insightful topics, including the following.

--Elise Skawold from Cornell University will give a presentation titled “From Gemology to Mineral Physics and Back Again” following the investigation of a mineral inclusion, the path to its identification and tie in to technologies relevant to the discovery of the very formations of gems.

--“The New Blues” will look at two different paths of discovery as miners Yianni Melas and Warren Boyd share results of their new gem finds. Additionally, Boyd will provide an update on a new Montana sapphire recovery.

--Jeffrey Post, the Smithsonian’s gem and mineral curator, will delve into the history of the Hope Diamond and the recent research projects that have attempted to unlock some of the secrets of the stone in “Mysteries of the Hope Revealed.”

--Claire Mitchell of The Gemmological Association of Great Britain will lead break-out sessions on “Identifying Similar-Looking Gemstones” featuring a hands-on lesson with basic equipment. Limited to 18 students, this class will demonstrate the techniques one can use to tell similar stones apart.

--Skawold also will talk about “The Fabled Viking Sun Stone,” addressing the theory of the Vikings’ use of the stone to find their way in Arctic waters while exploring the gems and gemological principles that helped create the Viking navigational legends.

For the full schedule of the day and price information, visit AccreditedGemologists.org. Registration will be available at the door.

Conference registration includes continental breakfast, light lunch and the AGA Annual Dinner Gala. Separate tickets for just the gala also are available.

At the evening event, the GIA’s Al Gilbertson will be presented with the Antonio C. Bonnano Award for Excellence in Gemology.