GIA COLORED STONES EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS TESTED AND APPROVED
NEWLY MODIFIED 2025/2026 NEW MODIFIED
EXAM
GIA groups Pearl bodycolors into three types: --ANSWER--Neutrals, Near-
Neutrals, & Hues
_________ ________ —The cultured pearl shows evidence of its bead nucleus
through the nacre --ANSWER--Nucleus Visible
________ Luster - Reflections are bright but not sharp and slightly hazy around
the edges (Pearls) --ANSWER--Good
An appealing ________ can make a gem much easier to sell --ANSWER--
Name
Changes that take place in gem's ____________________ can drastically affect
its availability and price --ANSWER--Source Country
Page 1 of 263
,____________ improve the marketability and availability of many gems. --
ANSWER--Treatments
In spite of treatment that is sometimes extensive, _________ is the number one
colored stone by value imported into the US. --ANSWER--Emerald
Many consumers accept _____________________ if they're ethically disclosed
and explained in a positive way. --ANSWER--Gem Treatments
Most _____ are minerals --ANSWER--Gems
Chrysocolla-in-chalcedony sources include the __________ & _____________
--ANSWER--United States and Mexico
Fine-quality agate comes from Mexico, Brazil, and __________ --ANSWER--
Uruguay
_____ agate is a lovely phenomenal variety of agate. It's semitransparent to
translucent and shows iridescent colors when light is transmitted through thin
slices. --ANSWER--Iris
To be gem, a _____ must be beautiful, durable, and rare --ANSWER--Mineral
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,______ ____ agate, commonly called southern red agate in the trade; usually
has intense red, white, or grayish color bands. --ANSWER--Chinese red
There are two broad opal categories: _________ and _________ --ANSWER--
precious and common
The 4 most representative Opal Formation models are the Weathering theory,
the Microbe theory, the ________ theory, and the _______ theory. --ANSWER-
-Syntectonic and Redox
________ opal—Background color ranges from translucent white to medium
gray; shows play-of-color --ANSWER--White
_________ opal—Background ranges from transparent to semitransparent;
shows exceptional play-of-color --ANSWER--Crystal
Precious opal displays characteristic flashes of rainbow colors, called play-of-
color, while _______ opal—also known as potch opal—does not. _________
opal, which can occur in attractive colors that make it highly desirable to
consumers, is more widespread than precious opal. --ANSWER--common
________ opal (Jelly opal)—Background ranges from transparent to
translucent; shows faint play-of-color or no play-of-color at all --ANSWER--
Water
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, Lacking a regular crystal structure --ANSWER--Amorphous
The basic structure of all matter --ANSWER--Atom
Kinds and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material. --ANSWER--
Chemical Composition
A substance that consists of atoms of only one kind --ANSWER--Chemical
Element
Regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material. --ANSWER--
Crystal Structure
Clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they
buy --ANSWER--Disclosure
A flat, polished surface on a finished gem --ANSWER--Facet
A broad gem category based on chemical composition and crystal structure --
ANSWER--Gem Species
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CORRECT ANSWERS TESTED AND APPROVED
NEWLY MODIFIED 2025/2026 NEW MODIFIED
EXAM
GIA groups Pearl bodycolors into three types: --ANSWER--Neutrals, Near-
Neutrals, & Hues
_________ ________ —The cultured pearl shows evidence of its bead nucleus
through the nacre --ANSWER--Nucleus Visible
________ Luster - Reflections are bright but not sharp and slightly hazy around
the edges (Pearls) --ANSWER--Good
An appealing ________ can make a gem much easier to sell --ANSWER--
Name
Changes that take place in gem's ____________________ can drastically affect
its availability and price --ANSWER--Source Country
Page 1 of 263
,____________ improve the marketability and availability of many gems. --
ANSWER--Treatments
In spite of treatment that is sometimes extensive, _________ is the number one
colored stone by value imported into the US. --ANSWER--Emerald
Many consumers accept _____________________ if they're ethically disclosed
and explained in a positive way. --ANSWER--Gem Treatments
Most _____ are minerals --ANSWER--Gems
Chrysocolla-in-chalcedony sources include the __________ & _____________
--ANSWER--United States and Mexico
Fine-quality agate comes from Mexico, Brazil, and __________ --ANSWER--
Uruguay
_____ agate is a lovely phenomenal variety of agate. It's semitransparent to
translucent and shows iridescent colors when light is transmitted through thin
slices. --ANSWER--Iris
To be gem, a _____ must be beautiful, durable, and rare --ANSWER--Mineral
Page 2 of 263
,______ ____ agate, commonly called southern red agate in the trade; usually
has intense red, white, or grayish color bands. --ANSWER--Chinese red
There are two broad opal categories: _________ and _________ --ANSWER--
precious and common
The 4 most representative Opal Formation models are the Weathering theory,
the Microbe theory, the ________ theory, and the _______ theory. --ANSWER-
-Syntectonic and Redox
________ opal—Background color ranges from translucent white to medium
gray; shows play-of-color --ANSWER--White
_________ opal—Background ranges from transparent to semitransparent;
shows exceptional play-of-color --ANSWER--Crystal
Precious opal displays characteristic flashes of rainbow colors, called play-of-
color, while _______ opal—also known as potch opal—does not. _________
opal, which can occur in attractive colors that make it highly desirable to
consumers, is more widespread than precious opal. --ANSWER--common
________ opal (Jelly opal)—Background ranges from transparent to
translucent; shows faint play-of-color or no play-of-color at all --ANSWER--
Water
Page 3 of 263
, Lacking a regular crystal structure --ANSWER--Amorphous
The basic structure of all matter --ANSWER--Atom
Kinds and relative quantities of atoms that make up a material. --ANSWER--
Chemical Composition
A substance that consists of atoms of only one kind --ANSWER--Chemical
Element
Regular, repeating internal arrangement of atoms in a material. --ANSWER--
Crystal Structure
Clearly and accurately informing customers about the nature of the goods they
buy --ANSWER--Disclosure
A flat, polished surface on a finished gem --ANSWER--Facet
A broad gem category based on chemical composition and crystal structure --
ANSWER--Gem Species
Page 4 of 263
