Dinogem are beautiful, rare earth-toned gemstones, fossilized from the famous dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus Rex. Hailing from Arizona, Dinogem is highly collectable, providing a unique, almost magical window on our planet’s past…
Hardness 6.5 - 7
Refractive Index 1.530 - 1.540
Relative Density 2.58 - 2.64
Enhancement None
Beauty
A preserved remnant from the mists of time, Dinogem is the fossilized bone of Tyrannosaurus Rex, the world’s most widely recognized dinosaur.
The major value determinants for Dinogem are color (intensity, brightness and number), durability, cell size/pattern (see below), treatment quality, and cutting quality, noting our Dinogem has been mineralized with hard Chalcedony Quartz and is totally natural.
Our Dinogem displays rich ‘earthy’ tones (chocolates, grays, mahoganies, and mustards) with distinctive patterns afforded by dark brown, tan and white webbing. Each gem has its own beautiful patterns, making every Dinogem unique and individual. Displaying an excellent luster, Dinogem is carefully finished with a superior polish into attractive smooth domes with desirable proportions and symmetry.
Dinogem (also known as Agatized Dinosaur Bone, Dino Bone or Gembone) can be traced back to dinosaurs that roamed the earth during the Late Jurassic, around 150 million years ago. Like Amber, Ammolite and Pearl, Dinogem is created from a living organism; mineralized dinosaur bone that has been fossilized with precious minerals, such as Chalcedony Quartz, Calcite, Opal, Pyrite or combinations thereof. The holes (cells) in the bone that were pathways for blood vessels and bone marrow are individually fossilized preserving the actual cell structure of the once living dinosaur. The most frequent and best Dinogem has been mineralized with Chalcedony Quartz, providing a durable glassy luster. This fossilization is preferred over Calcite, which is consequently lower in durability and value. As Chalcedony Quartz is the most common mineral in Dinogem, it is still referred to as ‘Agatized Dinosaur Bone’ even if other minerals are present.
Rarity
Gem-quality mineralized dinosaur bone is a true miracle of nature and remains among the rarest fossils (and gemstones) in the world. Highly collectable, Dinogem must be obtained from private land to be legal.
While non-gem grade fossilized dinosaur bones are found in many countries, highly Agatized Dinogem is almost exclusively found in the four corners region of the Colorado Plateau, USA (where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet), Southern Argentina, and Chile. Dinogem is typically formed in ancient river beds and sedimentary deposits.
Our Dinogem comes from Arizona and is Tyrannosaurus Rex (King Tyrant Lizard). First described in 1905, Tyrannosaurus Rex was a formidable dinosaur and among the largest carnivores to have ever lived, roaming Western North America during the Late Cretaceous (68 – 66 million years ago). With just over 50 specimens of Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered, the extreme rarity of this gem-quality Dinogem is undeniable.
Our Dinogem is totally natural and not enhanced or treated in anyway, which is absolutely critical for top grade examples.
Durability & Care
Dinogem is a durable gemstone (Mohs’ Hardness: 6.5 – 7) well-suited to everyday wear. Always store Dinogem carefully to avoid scuffs and scratches. Clean with gentle soap and lukewarm water, scrubbing behind the gem with a very soft toothbrush as necessary. After cleaning, pat dry with a soft towel or chamois cloth.
Map Location
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Gallery
