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Ch. 2: Properties and discrimination of gems

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6
PRECIOUS STONES.
The greater number of these terms will be found illustrated in the present and succeeding chapters : we now proceed to the discussion of the qualities which underlie them, and of other im­portant physical characters of precious stones. The order which will be followed may be gathered from this scheme :
Refraction of Light.—The familiar experiment of plunging a stick in a vessel of water and observing the broken appearance which it assumes, serves to illustrate the action called " refrac­tion," or bending back. This refraction of light occurs in the majority of cases where a ray of light falls upon one transparent medium from another—say from the air upon a diamond. Part of the incident light enters the diamond, and follows a different path—is refracted. The diamond, like liquids, glass, and other molten or vitreous—that is non-crystalline—matter, possesses the property of simple refraction ; many precious stones, indeed the
Ch. 2: Properties and discrimination of gems Page of 149 Ch. 2: Properties and discrimination of gems
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