The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), an educational authority in gems and jewelry, has announced that the upcoming Gem-A Conference 2024 will take place on November 2-3, 2024, at etc.venues County Hall in London.
Over the two days of the conference, topics will include Chitral emeralds, giant quartz crystals, Mozambican rubies, and gemstone dating. On Monday, November 4, the event will conclude with a day dedicated to workshops.
The opening day on Saturday, November 2, will kick off with a presentation by Dr. Carina Hanser (M.Sc., FGA, DGA) titled “Characterization of the Chitral Emeralds and What Remains to be Learned About Beryl”, offering an in-depth look at the physical and chemical properties of emeralds from the Chitral deposit in Pakistan. This will be followed by Dr. Jim Clanin, who will share his 50 years of experience in gemstone mining with his talk “The Thrill of Discovery: A Miner’s Experience with Finding Gems in Situ”. The day will conclude with a presentation by Dr. Michael Bycroft, Associate Professor of the History of Science and Technology at the University of Warwick, who will explore the global gemstone trade in the early modern period with his talk “The End of Gems and the Origins of Gemmology”.
On Sunday, November 3, the second and final day of the conference will open with a talk by mineralogist Michael F. Hügi, who will discuss the formation and historical significance of giant quartz crystals. This will be followed by Dr. Boris Chauviré, a specialist in Geology and Mineralogy, who will guide attendees into the world of opals with his presentation “Fantastic Opals: Their Nature and Where to Find Them”, exploring the geological conditions required for their formation.
The program also includes the Gem-A Conference Networking Drinks on the evening of Saturday, November 2, along with a series of workshops and tours organized by the Gem-A team to offer participants a more immersive experience in gemmology and the exploration of London.
