GEM KNOWLEDGE / THE SBG STANDARD
Testing & Authenticity.
We ask what a stone is, follow the evidence, and share what we know.
For more than six years, Soul Body Gems has submitted over 300 mineral specimens to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum for identification and verification. We also use reputable gemological laboratories for selected faceted stones. The type of testing and the information available vary by piece.
THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE NAME
Why the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum matters.
MMGM is more than a collection of beautiful specimens. Its William “Skip” Simmons Research Laboratory studies mineralogy, petrology, pegmatites, and cosmochemistry and offers mineral identification grounded in scientific analysis.
The museum’s research group brings together scientists with extensive field and laboratory experience. Its instruments can examine crystal structure, chemistry, and optical properties, giving researchers several ways to investigate a difficult identification. Explore MMGM’s laboratory.
Alexander U. Falster, an experimental researcher at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum’s laboratory, specializes in granitic pegmatites and their minerals. He has conducted field research across Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Nicaragua, and Europe and has collaborated on mineral research internationally. His research profile lists more than 500 publications, reflecting decades of scientific work. Soul Body Gems commissions and pays for individual tests through the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, where he carries out the laboratory work.
HOW WE APPLY THE EVIDENCE
Different stones, different questions.
Minerals & specimens
Mineralogical testing helps us identify materials and correct misleading trade names. A finding about a tested specimen can inform how we describe comparable material, while we remain clear about what was actually examined.
Faceted gemstones
Selected individual gems receive stone-specific reports from reputable laboratories, including GIA, AIG, IGI, GFCO, and others as appropriate. A report applies to the particular stone identified in it; we share available results and known treatment information for that piece.
What tools can the museum’s laboratory use?
MMGM lists X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, polarized light microscopy, laser ablation with ICP-MS, and Raman spectroscopy among its research instruments. The method depends on the question and specimen. This describes the laboratory’s capabilities; it does not mean every Soul Body Gems item received every test. See the museum’s instrumentation.
Have a question about a particular stone or report? Contact us and we’ll share the information available for that piece.