Growing Crystals with a Gemstone Expert

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  • Опубліковано 7 гру 2020
  • Today, our geologist and gemologist, Elizabeth tries her hand at an easy project for growing a crystal snowflake that you can do at home. Learn about how gems form in nature and about their unique structure. What happens when an expert goes DIY? The answer is a lot of fun.
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    JTV is one of the leading experts on gemstones and is the best source on UA-cam for all things gem related. Featuring gem history, the science behind the stones, gemstones in pop culture, and much more, you too can become a gem expert by immersing yourself in JTV’s channel. Elizabeth, our expert, has a degree in Geology and Environmental Studies, as well as an FGA from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 50

  • @icatz
    @icatz 3 роки тому +14

    Be aware, borax crystals will turn white within a relatively short time. This is the crystals turning into tincalconite due to the presence of air. They'll get crumbly, too. Alum or MAP make crystals that keep their colors for a pretty long time.

    • @rowannorth1382
      @rowannorth1382 3 роки тому +1

      That's what I've been wondering and haven't gotten a straight answer on- How well they last, do they dissolve in air or water, what's their toxicity. Will it be safe to say, have these crystals out on display? Stuff like that.

    • @icatz
      @icatz 3 роки тому

      @@rowannorth1382 Sure you can put them out. I don't think Borax is toxic. Neither is alum or MAP. Even after they turn white they're still pretty. I used some as Xmas ornaments, but the pipe cleaner cat I made disintegrated. Just search for "why do borax crystals turn white".

    • @gems
      @gems  3 роки тому +2

      One way to preserve them is to use a clear coat spray paint or other type of coating that prevents air from reaching the crystals.

    • @icatz
      @icatz 3 роки тому

      @@gems That could work as long as the crystals aren't too fine or fragile. Thanks!

  • @carollowe3704
    @carollowe3704 5 місяців тому +2

    while they are fragile when they are fresh, they can be made firmer by spraying them with a clear shellac. it helps keep them from crumbling.

  • @somethinginthewalls388
    @somethinginthewalls388 3 роки тому +7

    i love how, in the first, larger snowflake, you can clearly see the crystals forming lovely rectangular prisms. absolutely gorgeous!

    • @KCoda1248
      @KCoda1248 3 роки тому

      I saw another video where the made a new solution and put the snowflake (in this case) back in to boost the crystal growth and coverage without it coming out like the pipe cleaner. Also, the pipe cleaner is made up of so many “hairs,” it might have come out less encrusted if it was a snowflake crocheted from string or embroidery thread.

  • @purplealice
    @purplealice 3 роки тому +2

    Borax is useful as a disinfecting cleaning additive. After a lot of my stuff was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, we were instructed to put borax into the washing machine when we were cleaning fabric items (tablecloths, towels, bedsheets, etc) that had gotten moldy after being soaked in the dirty sea water (borax kills mold)

  • @GrimsGhostG59
    @GrimsGhostG59 3 роки тому +3

    I would like to see how different gems grow. Even it’s a cartoon style because its cool seeing how different gems grow

  • @777DVB
    @777DVB 3 роки тому +3

    That's actually pretty impressive that's a coolness project

  • @deborahduthie4519
    @deborahduthie4519 3 роки тому +1

    Run some course sandpaper over the wire to form extra crystals. Goo fun experiment.💎

  • @imari2305
    @imari2305 3 роки тому +2

    This was so cool! The first snowflake was my favorite!!

  • @purplealice
    @purplealice 3 роки тому +2

    Why did the ornaments-in-progress spin around in the borax solution?

  • @commanderdingdong422
    @commanderdingdong422 3 роки тому +4

    That’s so cool, I’m definitely gonna have to try this in the future!

  • @laurasaikia5832
    @laurasaikia5832 3 роки тому +2

    Thank you. That was cool. I’ve grown sugar crystals b4 but I really enjoyed the comparison to what happens in the earth for crystallization.

  • @milesnn
    @milesnn 3 роки тому +2

    Awesome nice hand work on your snow flakes they looked great the crystals growth sweet awesome awesome video thank you

  • @seachers6124
    @seachers6124 2 роки тому +1

    Ornaments for your tree !! Way cool !!

  • @cindywitherow988
    @cindywitherow988 3 роки тому +2

    Totally Awesome❄️

  • @LouisVuittonPrince
    @LouisVuittonPrince 3 роки тому +3

    This was such a cool video. Great way to teach kids and adults about gem growing

  • @tinbotturnbot4024
    @tinbotturnbot4024 3 роки тому +2

    You did good- great Job

  • @Kyzyl_Tuva
    @Kyzyl_Tuva Рік тому +1

    Great video. You could’ve hung the thread from the spoon 😂

  • @nuitarik
    @nuitarik 3 роки тому +3

    can these be used as ornaments or will they start to fall apart?

    • @gems
      @gems  3 роки тому +2

      They don’t really fall apart, but they will deteriorate over time unless you use a clear coat spray or another type of coating to prevent air from reaching the crystals.

  • @karengarcia8587
    @karengarcia8587 3 роки тому +1

    These home made snowflakes are very pretty and unique looking.😀💙❄ It's amazing how to make crystals from this video.😯💎 Don't be hard on yourself, they look nice.👌 Nice video and Happy holidays.😊💎❄🎄💚❤

  • @miguelmiguelrodriguez3537
    @miguelmiguelrodriguez3537 10 місяців тому +1

    Wow what else do you do on your spare time❤😊😊

  • @mariasciulli8786
    @mariasciulli8786 3 роки тому +1

    Can you add food color imaging to try to make some snow flakes. 👍❄

  • @alexanderzangal4125
    @alexanderzangal4125 3 роки тому +2

    You guys are the best. This always happens. You guys always post stuff abt the perfect time xD
    Literally yesterday a friend asked me about crystal growth and I tried my best to explain it but this video might explain it better lol

    • @somethinginthewalls388
      @somethinginthewalls388 3 роки тому

      funky minerals in hot bath solidify and make funkier shapes

    • @alexanderzangal4125
      @alexanderzangal4125 3 роки тому

      @@somethinginthewalls388 that username tho-

    • @somethinginthewalls388
      @somethinginthewalls388 3 роки тому

      @@alexanderzangal4125 the catastrophic result of my 2 braincells being the farthest distance away from eachother

  • @malikzubic9200
    @malikzubic9200 3 роки тому +2

    Wow, I grew borax crystals before but never that size, I'm gonna try it again.

  • @sleepweaver3980
    @sleepweaver3980 Рік тому +1

    you should use a black pad so we can see them better

  • @mbaratucci13
    @mbaratucci13 3 роки тому +2

    So cool! Can some kind of coloring be added to make it pink, purple or yellow?

    • @gems
      @gems  3 роки тому +1

      We actually tried that a few times. It didn't work out so well. Even with a very dark red solution (courtesy of food coloring), we only got light pinkish crystals. We got better results by using a colored pipe cleaner as the backing and letting the crystals stay somewhat transparent...But that's just with the borax. Stay tuned. We've got a video coming up where we use another material and make some really impressively colored crystals.

  • @droyal18able
    @droyal18able Рік тому +1

    I recently grew some awsome crystals in my disposal bucket from my rock tumbler. I had know idea what they were. Now im thinking the are from the borax I used.

  • @giovannachavez3802
    @giovannachavez3802 3 роки тому +1

    I would recommend wearing gloves just to protect your hands because some people can have a reaction have fun❤️

  • @zoes.4210
    @zoes.4210 3 роки тому +2

    That's so cool! What other crystals can you grow at home?

    • @gems
      @gems  3 роки тому +2

      Thanks! Stay tuned...We’ve got some really special projects coming up.

    • @somethinginthewalls388
      @somethinginthewalls388 3 роки тому +2

      oh boy, well, there are many options, but some are either toxic or unstable. chrome alum is pretty but disintegrates since it readily dehydrates. you can prevent that from happening by either:
      - coating it in a thick layer of nail polish
      - covering it in aluminum alum, though it's pretty risky.
      if you can buy neodymium, I REALLY recommend neodymium sulfate. it's a wonderful pink color and its color actually changes in different lighting.
      if you wanna go for something easier, i recommend copper sulfate

    • @zoes.4210
      @zoes.4210 3 роки тому

      @@gems Can't wait👍

    • @zoes.4210
      @zoes.4210 3 роки тому

      @@somethinginthewalls388 Thanks, I'll check them out!

  • @Skunkhunt_42
    @Skunkhunt_42 3 роки тому +1

    7:55 nope, shouldn't be surprising. Lotsa nucleation points on that pipe cleaner

  • @KCoda1248
    @KCoda1248 3 роки тому

    Could you put food coloring in the water to colorize the crystals?

    • @gems
      @gems  3 роки тому

      We tried it. The color wasn't great. But we have a video coming up where we make some really deeply colored crystals using a special formula. Stay tuned!

  • @kaldunekid
    @kaldunekid 3 роки тому +1

    Can you reuse the solution?...maybe heat it up a bit, add more borax or water ?

  • @ironcityrailfan8467
    @ironcityrailfan8467 3 роки тому +1

    Yoooo

  • @camaarillo
    @camaarillo 3 роки тому

    shoot you did better than me 😅

  • @jakdexter2075
    @jakdexter2075 Рік тому

    If crystal could reproduce doesn’t that mean they’re alive? It’s really fascinating!!

  • @davidbintliff2852
    @davidbintliff2852 6 місяців тому

    I just came to see my future wife 😂 jk