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Gemmology Knowledge

FGA Curriculum Documentation - Comprehensive reference materials for coloured gemstone expertise aligned with the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) Foundation and Diploma curriculum.

Part of the Gemmology Project.

Overview

The Gemmology Knowledge repository provides:

  • 13 Knowledge Modules covering core gemmological topics
  • Quick Reference Sheets for rapid data lookup
  • Study Guides aligned with FGA Foundation and Diploma courses
  • Glossary of gemmological terminology

All content is designed to be both human-readable documentation and machine-consumable knowledge for AI-assisted gem identification and education.

Knowledge Modules

Module Description
Physical Properties Hardness, specific gravity, crystal systems, cleavage, fracture, lustre
Optical Properties Refractive index, birefringence, pleochroism, dispersion, spectroscopy
Chemical Properties Chemical composition, chromophores, trace elements, colour causes
Inclusions & Fingerprints Internal features, diagnostic inclusions, growth patterns
Gem Testing Instruments Refractometer, spectroscope, polariscope, dichroscope, UV lamp
Treatments & Enhancements Heat treatment, diffusion, filling, coating, irradiation
Synthetics & Simulants Flame fusion, hydrothermal, flux growth, CVD/HPHT
Gemstone Species Detailed profiles for 50+ gem species and varieties
Grading & Valuation Colour grading, clarity, cut quality, value factors
Gem Care & Durability Stability, cleaning methods, setting recommendations
Origin Determination Geographic origin characteristics, provenance, origin premiums
Phenomenal Gems Asterism, chatoyancy, adularescence, play of colour, colour change
Crystal Visualization CDL notation, crystal morphology, Miller indices, 3D visualization

Quick Start

For Students

  1. Start with the Study Guides for curriculum-aligned learning
  2. Use Quick Reference sheets during practical sessions
  3. Explore Knowledge Modules for in-depth topics

For Practitioners

  1. Use the search function to find specific topics
  2. Reference the Glossary for terminology
  3. Consult module reference files for detailed data

Integration

This knowledge base integrates with the gemmology-plugin Claude Code plugin to provide AI-assisted gem identification and education.

Skills Activation

Skills are automatically activated based on trigger keywords:

User: What causes the colour in ruby?
AI: [Activates chemical-properties skill]
    Ruby's red colour is caused by chromium (Cr³⁺) substituting...

Cross-Module References

Skills can reference each other for comprehensive answers:

User: How do I identify a natural ruby?
AI: [Activates: inclusions-fingerprints, treatments-enhancements, gem-testing-instruments]

Attribution

Content is based on the curriculum of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) and other authoritative gemmological sources. This is an educational resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gem-A.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.