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Gem and Ornamental

Gem and Ornamental

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40 GEMS AND ORNAMHNTAL MATERMIS OF ORGANIC ORIGINFigure 2.1 Various jets, d d s e frwn bottom: Whitby half polished on topof Whitby rough, M&an hulf polished, %can rough, Ukrunian rough,Chinese polished.+Whenlack of air prevented further decay. Later, geologid changes causedthe seabed to lift above sea level so that we now find jet on l<strong>and</strong>.Jet occurs in small seams of around 2C25 un thick <strong>and</strong> less thana metre long.Whitby jet occurs in both 'hard' <strong>and</strong> 'soft' qualities. The latter isunsuitable for working as it is slightly brittle <strong>and</strong> may at some timed. Although the reason f%r the differences is uncertain, there aretheories that sofk jet may have been formed in ksh water, or thatit may be younger. It is also possible that soft jet contains moresulphur, which prevents the material from hard* in the sameway. A jet work can see immediately which material he is dealingwith, though people with less eence may h d it mdt.Whitby jet also o c m ag 'plank' or 'core' jet. Tlis refera to the wayit has been Wed: either completely httened or with a silici5edcore.There is little smcture to be seen in jet, though in rare e e n sof rough material it is possible to see the mual growth rings of theorighd tree, which have been compressed to flat lines.found on a beach jet h a a dull, water-worn appearance (Fii.

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