Strata Data

Our September Meeting Beautiful Pretenders

August 3, 20180

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Beautiful Pretenders –  The Tourmaline story with Tatliana Ivaniouchina.

 All you wanted to know about the tourmaline dig in Pala California.  Also included: inside the  Gemological Institute of America,, Carlsbad – Museum of Gems.”

A beautiful Tourmaline
 I will give brief overview about Tourmaline as mineral, types of tourmalines, what they are mistaken for.  Story of Chinese princes who bought up all red tourmalines from Pala (probably thinking they were rubies… or not).  about 40 min.  As well as brief (20 min) tour of  the GIA museum,  withSpecimen highlights from the museum.  Expect to see some of her specimens acquired from the very interesting tour to California.

About Our speaker

“Tania Ivaniouchkina has had a lifelong passion for gems.  After a brief career as an engineer in her native country of Ukraine and 20 years as a high school teacher in Toronto, Tania found her true calling in Gemmology.  She became a fellow of the Canadian Gemmological Association and Master Valuer, where she remains an active member, organizing and attending monthly meetings, and volunteering at gem shows where she promotes and represents the CGA.

She is passionate about Victorian jewellery, phenomenal stones and cameos in particular, and is working on her collection.  Her favourite stone is opal and she hopes to one day visit the opal mine in Coober  Pedy, Australia.” Tania is a member of our club and is organizing gem appreciation classes for our members.  Find more at our September meeting