Ice is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline, solid. It is craved and used for artwork, so I would classify it as a gemstone. I also think hotdogs and hamburgers are a sub category of sandwich; which is meat, cheese, and/or vegetables held inside some kind of bread.
Sarah agrees with you, but Rob still needs some convincing to call a hotdog a sandwich. As for whether ice is a gemstone or not, it seems to be quite a polarizing question!
When the New Horizons mission visited Pluto, we learned of mountains of water ice. My understanding is that at the extreme cold temperatures on Pluto water behaves like rock. Therefore, I submit that ice is not a gemstone on this planet. But it could be on other planets! 😊
Does this also mean that we can classify tacos and burritos as a type of sandwich? It's essentially a corn or wheat flatbread containing all the prerequisites of meat, cheese, veggies, or some combination of them, held in bread, if we can agree that a solid, basic definition of bread is cooked grain paste.
Salt is the only one that comes out of the earth, like gemstones. Sugar is from a plant and has to be refined. Ice is frozen liquid. I have wondered if salt, left in the ground, would eventually harden into a gemstone.
@@user4241 since salt dissolves in liquid, it can’t be a gemstone. My thoughts were if left alone in the ground, would it ever turn into a solid, un-dissolvable piece of stone.
I'd argue that a lot of gemstones are also a frozen liquid. They form from cooled liquid rock. Ice just happens to be liquid at room temperature. If we were hypothetically in a room hot enough to melt quartz (and were able to survive of course), would that make it no longer a gemstone?
I feel like it needs to be environmentally, or at least climatically stable to be a gemstone. so if weather conditions destroy its structure, it’s not a gemstone I would even say selenite is not a gemstone for that reason
Love how the entire debate reminds so strongly of Diogenes running into Plato's lessons holding a plucked chicken and yelling "Behold a man!", but for gemstones.
After much thought, I think ice might be a gemstone because it has a crystal structure and gets made under special environmental stresses. Yes, Robert, it does melt. however, if the world was frozen over and we as humans were adapted to the frozeness. Then we could hypothetically speaking make jewelry or adornments from the ice. There is a way that they replicate it with snow makers. Right?
I was very surprised by the definitions given for gemstones. I was aware that I don't really know anything about the topic, but I had no idea that durability or rarity would be part of the definition of the category, and with those included it's easy to rule out salt, sugar, and ice. I guess I was imagining a more rigorous checklist of geologic properties or something and it's surprising to me that salt, especially, wouldn't fit the definitions
I personally think they're gemstones, but I had a lengthy discussion with Chat GPT, and it disagrees. I'll put it below if anybody is interested in what an AI had to say. Me: Are salt, sugar, and ice gemstones? Chat GPT: No, salt, sugar, and ice are not gemstones. Salt is a mineral, while sugar is an organic compound. Ice is a form of water that has frozen into a solid state. Me: Well, why not? Quartz is a mineral and a gemstone. A pearl is an organic compound and a gemstone. Ice is a naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure, just like every other gemstone. Chat GPT: You make a valid point that some gemstones are minerals, while others are organic compounds. However, not all naturally occurring substances with a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition are considered gemstones. Gemstones are typically valued for their beauty, rarity, and durability, and are often used in jewelry and decorative objects. While salt, sugar, and ice may have a crystalline structure, they are not typically used in this way and are not considered gemstones. Me: Who exactly says they're not considered gemstones? Every gemstone had to have been used for a first time, so they also would've been considered not typically used at the time. Beauty is subjective for the mostpart, but there are things that are considered gemstones that are not rare or durable, like selenite or fluorite. Chat GPT: You make a good point that the classification of a substance as a gemstone can be somewhat subjective and can change over time. However, current gemological consensus is that salt, sugar, and ice are not considered gemstones. While it's true that gemstones don't necessarily have to be rare or durable to be classified as such, they are typically valued for their beauty and aesthetic appeal. Selenite and fluorite, for example, are both considered gemstones because they are translucent and have a pleasing appearance when cut and polished. In contrast, salt, sugar, and ice are not typically used in jewelry or decorative objects because they are not considered aesthetically pleasing or valuable in the same way as other gemstones. While they do have a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition, they are not typically cut or polished in the same way as other gemstones. Me: They could be if somebody really wanted to, so if they're used as gemstones, then doesn't that make them gemstones? If somebody put a salt crystal into a necklace, would it not then be a gemstone? Chat GPT: You're right that if someone were to use salt, sugar, or ice in jewelry or decorative objects, they could be considered gemstones in that context. The term "gemstone" is often used to describe any mineral or substance that is used in jewelry or decorative objects, regardless of its inherent value or rarity. However, in the context of gemology and mineralogy, the term "gemstone" typically refers to minerals or substances that are valued for their beauty, rarity, and durability, and are often used in high-end jewelry and other luxury items. While salt, sugar, and ice can certainly be used in jewelry, they are not typically valued or used in this way due to their lack of inherent beauty and rarity. So while it's true that they could be considered gemstones in a broad sense, they are not typically classified as such in the context of gemology and mineralogy.
As a geologist, this is interesting. Halite is a mineral, and so is ice. They both can be beautiful, fashioned into things that are also beautiful, but can be easily destroyed. Gemstones aren't even always minerals 😂 love seeing the pretty things you gemology people mount in jewelry or whatever though!
Very lovely video I really enjoyed taking in all the technical information that defines whether they are gemstones or not. I understand both sides and the many definitions are also open ended. 🤩 So it is very fair to consider them gemstones if one wanted to but just as fair to not. Also I loved the open discussion setting in this video, here I can't wait to watch more, thank you guys!🙇✨
I've created cool looking crystals by accident once. I left a coffee cup with a little orange juice in the bottom, and it formed square crystals of various sizes. I will try and find the photo I took.
Whether a chemical is considered a mineral is partially determined by the form it most often takes on a celestial body. While on earth, the majority of water is a liquid, on earth's moon or on mars, because ice meets all the other requirements, it is considered a mineral.
My answer would be that it revolves around desirability and wearability in addition to the basic gem descriptions. However, this category would incorporate beads made from wood, bone & metal & feathers, just to add to the dilemma.
If I remember correctly, Steuben and Simon Pearce, (east coast companies) are all-American giftware companies that specialize in salt turned into glass-blown crystal products. They use to have daytrip manufacturing or studio tours. I don’t understand salt into mineral products other than Himalayan lamps but it exists… Great video topic 👍👍😊💕
One of my highschool teachers was big into both minerology and astronomy (and geology on celestial bodies that aren't earth). And the technical definition of a mineral changes depending on the celestial body the substance is on. While water is a liquid in most places on earth and is not a mineral as a result, on the moon or mars, it is considered a mineral because it is a solid in those bodies' ambient temperatures.
The stability argument is very relative. For our purposes we can argue against the stability of ice, sugar, and salt throughout most of the world. What about in the artic? What about on Pluto? What about gems that we call stable here, but couldn't handle the climate of other planets? This is why defining things is an act of philosophy, which the sciences come out of.
That's true! Stability and rarity vary from place to place, and when you think about the beauty element of some definitions, it will vary from person to person. That's what makes this debate so interesting!
Yeah...its not weather or not it's considered a gem as much as it is categorized as stable gems..salt 100% is a gem..comes from the ground, forms crystal formations, is used for decorations and is stable enough for being lamps, or cutting boards..just not for the long run. Sugar nah..water nah...they don't form in the ground...sugar is made from plants..and water is a basic element that aids in the development of life and other elements. Water is wierd. And what about pearls?? They are a wierd one too.
I found a beautiful piece in the saltlake of the Sahara in Tunesië of about 4 cm in diameter of salt crystals in a cluster. It looks like a gem, and it is lying with my other pieces ❤. Unfortunately I don't know how to upload the picture here, because it is just gorgeous 😍 so to me this is the only one of what you mentioned that I consider a gem❤
They are. Even if some of these types of crystals doesn't appear naturally, they share all the properties and that's the important thing. The same thing happens with the periodic table of elements, some of them have been discovered in laboratories even lasting less than a second, but still got added to the list of elements.
i would say that for me it's an easy answer... simply yes, i mean it checks out with the definitions and that thing about durability will leave out stones that are considered gems like selenite or phosphophylite; although one understands why people can get frustrated considering that if we stick to technicalities we can come to the conclusion that water is technically lava
Salt could be a long shot maybe, but durability is the qualification that excludes all for me. If you have to take your jewelry off bc it might rain, or in the case of ice you can only wear it in a walk in freezer, Antarctica, and requires insulation to keep it on… no.
I wanna say Yes to sugar... but that may be because for halloween I make chocolate and sugar crystal geodes.. I then put small brass hammers and picks with it for folks to break it open, and apart to enjoy it.. lol
10:14 lmfao that is fair 13:25 oh no I am having a crisis cuz that is a fantastic point 14:32 yes, that is very true. ice could be a gemstone on like Jupiter as a nobody, I believe definitions are manmade and are meant to be utilitarian to _humans._ we can always declare as many obscure and niche labels, but there's no point if they aren't helpful if we declare salt, sugar, and ice as gemstones (which we totes can), we will need another label for a durable and stable subcategory suitable for jewelry anyway
This is a really interesting point about definitions! We know certain facts, such as crystal habit and refractive index, about minerals, but whether or not they are gemstones is still up for debate!
I think there's reason to include salt, but sugar and ice are a stretch. I think it's reasonable to assume that most people would consider it to be a rock/mineral, whereas ice and sugar aren't viewed the same
not sure about moonsugar lmao, but stalhrim is absolutely a gemstone! it's rare and valued, crazy durable (used as armour) and they set it in jewellery! the nordic jewellery set all uses stalhrim as a crafting component and aesthetic centerpiece (I opened the game to check lol).
In my opinion sugar is definitely not a gemstone because it doesn't occur naturally in geological form. Ice is more discussable, but ice alone I would say no because of the durability, but in combination with permafrost I would say maybe.. Because permafrost is made of a combination of soil, rocks and sand that are held together by ice. It also has a condition that it has to be frozen for a minimum of 2 years straight. Yes if you put it in other conditions, it loses it's durability pretty quick. But that's also the case with certain caves and minerals. Losing colour is also a form of losing it's durability, keep fluorite in a sunny place and the beautiful blue colour it once had, will be turned to almost white. Salt is also more discussable, with common salt I would tend to say no, but rocksalt (halite) on the other hand, definitely yes. Fun debate! I don't think there is a good answer to this, But it cracked my brain, it still does xD
They are all *crystal* in one way or anyother although extremely perishable I'd say they would be considered some type of gem as long as they hold their form. They would of course be extremely cheap and weird to have as jewelry but I think that doesnt necessarly mean if they can break or melt that they are not at least gemstone leaning more then not
I have a pendant that is cubic Halite crystals. Everyone that sees it thinks it is a rough gemstone. I store it with dehydrating silica gel. Thought provoking episode.
If, it doesn't cut glass, or has a Hardness of under Chert, then no; its not a Gem, that is worth its salts. "Ye are the Salt of the Earth, if the salt has lost it's savor then,,,,,,,, "
Mineral is a scientific definition, while gemstone is a practical definition, as people want to wear it without it disintegrating. Ice would be a gemstone to people on europa and salt would be a gemstone to non water based life. It is kind of pushing the boundaries because some gemstones are fragile, like topaz losing color in the sun and ethiopian opal absorbing water.
adding to the debate...epsom salts, aluminum sulfate , potassium ferricyanide and other chemical compounds that can be grown into crystal...gemstones or not?
Good question! We've grown crystals from chrome alum, aluminum dihydrogen phosphate, and others. I would say, with proper treatment, those crystals could be cut and polished and be used as gems.
this is basically "all gemstones are crystals, but not all crystals are gemstones" also... salt... I GUESS? Like Ruby is an Oxide, and RUST is too but it's... my brain hurts...
Then all of the chunks of salt I brought back from Israel's Dea Sea is a gemstone? I don't know why I brought some home to CA. What would I call the salt from the Dead Sea in Israel?
Salt once was more valuable than gold. Additionally it makes life on earth possible. And it comes from earth like other gemstones. So I would say salt qualifies as a "precious stone". Sugar and Ice not. Sugar reason are all in the video. And Ice is just cold water, it's like asking if steam is a gemstone.
A gemstone can be a common rock from your driveway, that someone has tried to enhance the beauty of. It may be enhanced through change in shape, form, polishing, cutting, etc., but any rock mineral or crystal can be a gemstone it requires only that it was enhanced from natural form to be more aesthetically pleasing.
I've seen cut and polished pearls, mainly as a carving in pearl. You could cut and polish a pearl, but they are perfect in their natural form to wear in jewelry or as an adornment (pearls sewn into wedding or other high dollar dresses). They are stable at room temperature, and somewhat durable (you wouldn't want it in your wedding ring), but it is beautiful!
![MAF Teeski - Whole Thing (feat. VonOff1700) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SHWEj-ndz6g/mqdefault.jpg)
With the price of sugar nowadays, it's definitely a gemstone. Salt and ice, maybe in the future.
I'm gonna share this video to my stoner friends lol
Ice is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline, solid.
It is craved and used for artwork, so I would classify it as a gemstone.
I also think hotdogs and hamburgers are a sub category of sandwich; which is meat, cheese, and/or vegetables held inside some kind of bread.
Sarah agrees with you, but Rob still needs some convincing to call a hotdog a sandwich. As for whether ice is a gemstone or not, it seems to be quite a polarizing question!
When the New Horizons mission visited Pluto, we learned of mountains of water ice. My understanding is that at the extreme cold temperatures on Pluto water behaves like rock. Therefore, I submit that ice is not a gemstone on this planet. But it could be on other planets! 😊
Does this also mean that we can classify tacos and burritos as a type of sandwich? It's essentially a corn or wheat flatbread containing all the prerequisites of meat, cheese, veggies, or some combination of them, held in bread, if we can agree that a solid, basic definition of bread is cooked grain paste.
@@cojo9656 I agree, tacos would also classify as a type of sandwich.
@@cojo9656 Tacos would in fact fall into the same category of sandwich as a hotdog
I just saw that salt geodes can be made. It would be a really cool video idea! I wanna try to make one of my own.
Salt is the only one that comes out of the earth, like gemstones. Sugar is from a plant and has to be refined. Ice is frozen liquid. I have wondered if salt, left in the ground, would eventually harden into a gemstone.
It's sodium chloride, it's already stable and hard.
WHAT IS ANTARCTICITE THEN!!???
@@user4241 since salt dissolves in liquid, it can’t be a gemstone. My thoughts were if left alone in the ground, would it ever turn into a solid, un-dissolvable piece of stone.
@@karenmcburnett5694 Certain gemstones are also water soluble
I'd argue that a lot of gemstones are also a frozen liquid. They form from cooled liquid rock. Ice just happens to be liquid at room temperature. If we were hypothetically in a room hot enough to melt quartz (and were able to survive of course), would that make it no longer a gemstone?
I feel like it needs to be environmentally, or at least climatically stable to be a gemstone. so if weather conditions destroy its structure, it’s not a gemstone I would even say selenite is not a gemstone for that reason
So ice _would_ be a gemstone on Mars? lol
@@MathewAlden could be a new field of gemology...ETgems!
@@MathewAlden For awhile. Then sublimation would cause it to evaporate. 😉
Love how the entire debate reminds so strongly of Diogenes running into Plato's lessons holding a plucked chicken and yelling "Behold a man!", but for gemstones.
After much thought, I think ice might be a gemstone because it has a crystal structure and gets made under special environmental stresses. Yes, Robert, it does melt. however, if the world was frozen over and we as humans were adapted to the frozeness. Then we could hypothetically speaking make jewelry or adornments from the ice.
There is a way that they replicate it with snow makers. Right?
I was very surprised by the definitions given for gemstones. I was aware that I don't really know anything about the topic, but I had no idea that durability or rarity would be part of the definition of the category, and with those included it's easy to rule out salt, sugar, and ice. I guess I was imagining a more rigorous checklist of geologic properties or something and it's surprising to me that salt, especially, wouldn't fit the definitions
I personally think they're gemstones, but I had a lengthy discussion with Chat GPT, and it disagrees. I'll put it below if anybody is interested in what an AI had to say.
Me: Are salt, sugar, and ice gemstones?
Chat GPT: No, salt, sugar, and ice are not gemstones. Salt is a mineral, while sugar is an organic compound. Ice is a form of water that has frozen into a solid state.
Me: Well, why not? Quartz is a mineral and a gemstone. A pearl is an organic compound and a gemstone. Ice is a naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure, just like every other gemstone.
Chat GPT: You make a valid point that some gemstones are minerals, while others are organic compounds. However, not all naturally occurring substances with a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition are considered gemstones. Gemstones are typically valued for their beauty, rarity, and durability, and are often used in jewelry and decorative objects. While salt, sugar, and ice may have a crystalline structure, they are not typically used in this way and are not considered gemstones.
Me: Who exactly says they're not considered gemstones? Every gemstone had to have been used for a first time, so they also would've been considered not typically used at the time. Beauty is subjective for the mostpart, but there are things that are considered gemstones that are not rare or durable, like selenite or fluorite.
Chat GPT: You make a good point that the classification of a substance as a gemstone can be somewhat subjective and can change over time. However, current gemological consensus is that salt, sugar, and ice are not considered gemstones.
While it's true that gemstones don't necessarily have to be rare or durable to be classified as such, they are typically valued for their beauty and aesthetic appeal. Selenite and fluorite, for example, are both considered gemstones because they are translucent and have a pleasing appearance when cut and polished.
In contrast, salt, sugar, and ice are not typically used in jewelry or decorative objects because they are not considered aesthetically pleasing or valuable in the same way as other gemstones. While they do have a crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition, they are not typically cut or polished in the same way as other gemstones.
Me: They could be if somebody really wanted to, so if they're used as gemstones, then doesn't that make them gemstones? If somebody put a salt crystal into a necklace, would it not then be a gemstone?
Chat GPT: You're right that if someone were to use salt, sugar, or ice in jewelry or decorative objects, they could be considered gemstones in that context. The term "gemstone" is often used to describe any mineral or substance that is used in jewelry or decorative objects, regardless of its inherent value or rarity.
However, in the context of gemology and mineralogy, the term "gemstone" typically refers to minerals or substances that are valued for their beauty, rarity, and durability, and are often used in high-end jewelry and other luxury items. While salt, sugar, and ice can certainly be used in jewelry, they are not typically valued or used in this way due to their lack of inherent beauty and rarity.
So while it's true that they could be considered gemstones in a broad sense, they are not typically classified as such in the context of gemology and mineralogy.
LOL, this was fun to watch! Thanks for the chuckles. Also, her boots are super cute!
i feel like stability of the crystal within the scale of earthly surface weather degrees should be added to the definition of gems.
There are some very hot spots on the Earth's surface, in active volcanoes, for example.
Another great video. Really like the open format
Glad to hear it!
@@gems Would be great to see Sarah in more things too!
As a geologist, this is interesting. Halite is a mineral, and so is ice. They both can be beautiful, fashioned into things that are also beautiful, but can be easily destroyed. Gemstones aren't even always minerals 😂 love seeing the pretty things you gemology people mount in jewelry or whatever though!
Very lovely video I really enjoyed taking in all the technical information that defines whether they are gemstones or not. I understand both sides and the many definitions are also open ended. 🤩 So it is very fair to consider them gemstones if one wanted to but just as fair to not. Also I loved the open discussion setting in this video, here I can't wait to watch more, thank you guys!🙇✨
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love these new host.. they don't pander on one's education that much.
Yess! Henson for the win! I bought 2 for my hubs n me and we are never going back! Thanks for the recommendation, Joe!
I've created cool looking crystals by accident once. I left a coffee cup with a little orange juice in the bottom, and it formed square crystals of various sizes. I will try and find the photo I took.
On another planet with low surface temperature, like Enceladus, ice could absolutely be considered a gemstone.
Whether a chemical is considered a mineral is partially determined by the form it most often takes on a celestial body. While on earth, the majority of water is a liquid, on earth's moon or on mars, because ice meets all the other requirements, it is considered a mineral.
would you do a debate on synthetic gems??
That's a great idea!
My answer would be that it revolves around desirability and wearability in addition to the basic gem descriptions. However, this category would incorporate beads made from wood, bone & metal & feathers, just to add to the dilemma.
If I remember correctly, Steuben and Simon Pearce, (east coast companies) are all-American giftware companies that specialize in salt turned into glass-blown crystal products. They use to have daytrip manufacturing or studio tours. I don’t understand salt into mineral products other than Himalayan lamps but it exists… Great video topic 👍👍😊💕
One of my highschool teachers was big into both minerology and astronomy (and geology on celestial bodies that aren't earth). And the technical definition of a mineral changes depending on the celestial body the substance is on. While water is a liquid in most places on earth and is not a mineral as a result, on the moon or mars, it is considered a mineral because it is a solid in those bodies' ambient temperatures.
Cool question. I would tend towards no for all three. Only due to the durability issue.
This was a fun conversation!
Another banger love you guys ❤
Glad you liked it!
that was a great, fun video
The stability argument is very relative. For our purposes we can argue against the stability of ice, sugar, and salt throughout most of the world. What about in the artic? What about on Pluto? What about gems that we call stable here, but couldn't handle the climate of other planets? This is why defining things is an act of philosophy, which the sciences come out of.
That's true! Stability and rarity vary from place to place, and when you think about the beauty element of some definitions, it will vary from person to person. That's what makes this debate so interesting!
Yeah...its not weather or not it's considered a gem as much as it is categorized as stable gems..salt 100% is a gem..comes from the ground, forms crystal formations, is used for decorations and is stable enough for being lamps, or cutting boards..just not for the long run. Sugar nah..water nah...they don't form in the ground...sugar is made from plants..and water is a basic element that aids in the development of life and other elements. Water is wierd. And what about pearls?? They are a wierd one too.
I found a beautiful piece in the saltlake of the Sahara in Tunesië of about 4 cm in diameter of salt crystals in a cluster. It looks like a gem, and it is lying with my other pieces ❤. Unfortunately I don't know how to upload the picture here, because it is just gorgeous 😍 so to me this is the only one of what you mentioned that I consider a gem❤
They are. Even if some of these types of crystals doesn't appear naturally, they share all the properties and that's the important thing. The same thing happens with the periodic table of elements, some of them have been discovered in laboratories even lasting less than a second, but still got added to the list of elements.
I have a big pink salt cutting board, and its become polished in some places 😂
i would say that for me it's an easy answer... simply yes, i mean it checks out with the definitions and that thing about durability will leave out stones that are considered gems like selenite or phosphophylite; although one understands why people can get frustrated considering that if we stick to technicalities we can come to the conclusion that water is technically lava
Yes they are. Though durability is questionable. First comment? Edit: methane infused ice is stable/solid at room temperature(also flammable).
The durability factor is definitely something to consider!
Salt could be a long shot maybe, but durability is the qualification that excludes all for me. If you have to take your jewelry off bc it might rain, or in the case of ice you can only wear it in a walk in freezer, Antarctica, and requires insulation to keep it on… no.
I wanna say Yes to sugar... but that may be because for halloween I make chocolate and sugar crystal geodes.. I then put small brass hammers and picks with it for folks to break it open, and apart to enjoy it.. lol
10:14 lmfao that is fair
13:25 oh no I am having a crisis cuz that is a fantastic point
14:32 yes, that is very true. ice could be a gemstone on like Jupiter
as a nobody, I believe definitions are manmade and are meant to be utilitarian to _humans._ we can always declare as many obscure and niche labels, but there's no point if they aren't helpful
if we declare salt, sugar, and ice as gemstones (which we totes can), we will need another label for a durable and stable subcategory suitable for jewelry anyway
This is a really interesting point about definitions! We know certain facts, such as crystal habit and refractive index, about minerals, but whether or not they are gemstones is still up for debate!
Our is made of sandstone!! Traditional Pueblo house.
I have sugar crystals in my collection, therefore, they are a gemstone. Have you seen rock sugar candy? They are beautiful
I think there's reason to include salt, but sugar and ice are a stretch.
I think it's reasonable to assume that most people would consider it to be a rock/mineral, whereas ice and sugar aren't viewed the same
So, today I learned, that in TES, moonsugar, and potentially stalhrim, could be considered as gems.
not sure about moonsugar lmao, but stalhrim is absolutely a gemstone! it's rare and valued, crazy durable (used as armour) and they set it in jewellery! the nordic jewellery set all uses stalhrim as a crafting component and aesthetic centerpiece (I opened the game to check lol).
In my opinion sugar is definitely not a gemstone because it doesn't occur naturally in geological form.
Ice is more discussable, but ice alone I would say no because of the durability, but in combination with permafrost I would say maybe.. Because permafrost is made of a combination of soil, rocks and sand that are held together by ice. It also has a condition that it has to be frozen for a minimum of 2 years straight. Yes if you put it in other conditions, it loses it's durability pretty quick. But that's also the case with certain caves and minerals. Losing colour is also a form of losing it's durability, keep fluorite in a sunny place and the beautiful blue colour it once had, will be turned to almost white.
Salt is also more discussable, with common salt I would tend to say no, but rocksalt (halite) on the other hand, definitely yes.
Fun debate! I don't think there is a good answer to this, But it cracked my brain, it still does xD
I'm just thinking if you can make salt, sugar and ice into polished gems every high-end bartender and cake decorator in the world is gonna be ordering a crate of material. Isomalt does make sugar "gems" but they look like a Ring Pop©. Someone with alot more time than me should come up with a polishing compound for edible gems!
Candy Necklaces 😂
They are all *crystal* in one way or anyother although extremely perishable I'd say they would be considered some type of gem as long as they hold their form. They would of course be extremely cheap and weird to have as jewelry but I think that doesnt necessarly mean if they can break or melt that they are not at least gemstone leaning more then not
Cubic Halite crystals make wonderful pendants. You just have to store them carefully in a box with silica gel to draw out any water they absorb.
Rhett and Link would be proud.
Do kidney stones next!! I’ve made my own stones before, I don’t want to brag or anything.. ❤
i have actually seen a pendent with a cut into a stone for it
It’s a mineral but I thought that a gemstone would have to be stable enough to set into jewelry. Salt dissolves in water.
Are glass vessels for driinking gemstones?
Ice doesnt feel gem-like, but igloos make it feel like a masonry material for sure
I have a pendant that is cubic Halite crystals. Everyone that sees it thinks it is a rough gemstone. I store it with dehydrating silica gel. Thought provoking episode.
Use in jewelry was a big factor for us when we were discussing this, so it's interesting to know that you have a pendant with halite!
❤❤brilliant ❤❤
Rob is right,, no no no no there not gems
Perhaps salt is Halite that has had extreme pressure for years
If, it doesn't cut glass, or has a Hardness of under Chert, then no; its not a Gem, that is worth its salts. "Ye are the Salt of the Earth, if the salt has lost it's savor then,,,,,,,, "
Wow, now there a tasty nuggetoid; sugar is monclinic
We found this really interesting as well!
BRB gonna go wire wrap some salt
Snow ❄️🌨️ is deffenetly a crystal
Mineral is a scientific definition, while gemstone is a practical definition, as people want to wear it without it disintegrating. Ice would be a gemstone to people on europa and salt would be a gemstone to non water based life. It is kind of pushing the boundaries because some gemstones are fragile, like topaz losing color in the sun and ethiopian opal absorbing water.
adding to the debate...epsom salts, aluminum sulfate , potassium ferricyanide and other chemical compounds that can be grown into crystal...gemstones or not?
Good question! We've grown crystals from chrome alum, aluminum dihydrogen phosphate, and others. I would say, with proper treatment, those crystals could be cut and polished and be used as gems.
this is basically
"all gemstones are crystals, but not all crystals are gemstones"
also... salt... I GUESS?
Like Ruby is an Oxide, and RUST is too but it's...
my brain hurts...
hematite and goethite are components of rust
Alright, smarty pants Preston... What about ice?
I’d say these “gemstones” have one thing in common, they are edible. So if you can eat it, then it’s not a gemstone
I concur
Pearls have been eaten.
@@pattheplanter no they have been swallowed, eat implies digested and turned into nutrients
@@007kingifrit Pearls contain proteins and calcium carbonate, both are digested and absorbed by the body. Both are the source of nutrients.
@@pattheplanter contain isn't the same thing as being able to ingest the whole pearl
Now here’s a question: can crystal meth be classified as an actual, synthetic, crystal?
if ice was a gemstone, concrete would need to qualify as well which I think we can all agree it isn't a gemstone.
Salt I say it would be, because there is plenty of gem stones that are soft.
I am going to say yes. Just like chickens are dinosaurs.
I came for the gemstones and stayed for the hair 😅
Long hair don't care 🎉
all are gemstones
Then all of the chunks of salt I brought back from Israel's Dea Sea is a gemstone? I don't know why I brought some home to CA. What would I call the salt from the Dead Sea in Israel?
There's crystals that become liquid at room temperature just like ice ... are these gemstones ?
What makes it not a gemstone?
*KIDNEY STONES ARE THEY A GEMSTONE?*
Salt once was more valuable than gold. Additionally it makes life on earth possible. And it comes from earth like other gemstones. So I would say salt qualifies as a "precious stone". Sugar and Ice not. Sugar reason are all in the video. And Ice is just cold water, it's like asking if steam is a gemstone.
If it's safe for human consumption in large enough quantities, then it shouldnt be considered a gemstone.
Mineral.. yes, gemstone ... No. Not wearable. Loses on durability. Just wash your hands.
Salt, sugar - gemstones? - No and never.
I'd say sugar is not a gemstone because you couldn't display it without worrying about attracting ants
Is sand a gemstone?
A gem connotes some level of rarity or scarcity. None of them are gemstones.
That's a great point! Salt, sugar, and ice are relatively commonplace for us today.
Feldespar is common, and it's also a gemstone.
Unless it's a rare crystal structure-- microscopically or macroscopic.
A gemstone can be a common rock from your driveway, that someone has tried to enhance the beauty of. It may be enhanced through change in shape, form, polishing, cutting, etc., but any rock mineral or crystal can be a gemstone it requires only that it was enhanced from natural form to be more aesthetically pleasing.
@@davidariamirroarkyoung I strongly disagree. If one were to use your definition of a gem, then literally a polished petrified turd could be a gem.
Sandstone is hard. It doesnt melt ice only. An be used in the frozen atmosphere. No no no
Dude, I'm old enough to be your mom, and MY granparents had refrigerators. Perhaps your great grandparents--
Gemmology is a _budding_ science.
what is glass??
ice is a gem only if you're in a freezer lol
I think they are not considered as gemstone, gemstone are use for making jewelry
Katherine discussed ice before.. its not a gem.
Nin ;-)
Salt isn't durable because it, and sugar, are water soluble.
Salt coulld not be used in real jewelry. It is a crystal, a mineral, but not a gemstone. To be a gemstone it lacks durability.
salt is not a gem because you can't eat gems
You don't cut and polish a pearl.
I've seen cut and polished pearls, mainly as a carving in pearl. You could cut and polish a pearl, but they are perfect in their natural form to wear in jewelry or as an adornment (pearls sewn into wedding or other high dollar dresses). They are stable at room temperature, and somewhat durable (you wouldn't want it in your wedding ring), but it is beautiful!
None of these are gemstones. You can't wear it. Candy isnt a gemstone. The Mohrs scale here people! It's a big NO