Fall 2025 OLLI Digital Catalog 

Gemology: A Brief Introduction (R255)

R – Physical Sciences and Math

Have you ever wondered about the origin and nature of your gemstones? This class will try to answer many of your questions. We will learn what common gemstones are to a mineralogist, and then delve into the occurrence and mining of natural gems. We will discuss the properties of gemstones and how those are used to identify them, and finish with how gems are polished and treated to enhance them,

This offering meets for a total of 5 session(s).

INSTRUCTORS: Dave Ellis, Myszka Ellis

ELLIS, DAVE — Ph.D., mineralogy, Yale University. Former research faculty member at the University of Chicago, worked with DuPont and Conoco from 1978 until 2013. Has been collecting and studying uncut gemstones for many years. (R255)

Back to Full Course Listing