Before a gemstone reaches a jewellery boutique or a testing laboratory, what path does it truly tread? Join gemmologist Lu Yung-te as he takes you on a field trip to mining sites across the globe, stepping right onto the frontlines of gemstone extraction! From geological environments, rough specimen observation, field identification, and sample collection to using scientific instruments in the laboratory to uncover evidence, this free seminar utilizes authentic field photography and research case studies to walk you through a gemstone’s complete journey “from origin to lab”.
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Step1: Pre-register for Visitor Admission
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Step2: Registering for this seminar
Please register for the event through the ACCUPASS platform. Capacity per session is limited, so we encourage you to sign up today.
From Mine to Mind: A Gemstone’s Journey
Fieldwork, On-Site Identification and Scientific Verification of Gemstones
• Date/Time: 23rd November 2026, 13:30-14:30
• Venue: Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair | Stage Seminar Area
• Speaker: Lu Yung-te
• The organizer reserves the right to change/modify/suspend/cancel the event.
If you hold a gemstone in your hand, can you tell where it came from?
In jewellery shops, we admire gems that are beautifully cut, polished, and full of brilliance. Yet for gemmologists, the story begins much further away:
• In what kind of geological environment did it form?
• What does the rough specimen look like in the mine?
• How much can be determined through field observation alone?
• What secrets require laboratory analysis to be solved?
This session goes beyond simply “looking at gems”—we will follow gemmologist Lu Yung-te on a journey from the mines straight into the laboratory.
Stop 1 | Stepping into Authentic Gemstone Mines
The first step in gemmological research rarely begins at a microscope; it starts by physically visiting the source. Since dedicating himself to minerals and gemstones in 2005, Lu Yung-te’s fieldwork has taken him across the USA, Germany, the UK, Poland, Thailand, Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and beyond.
What exactly do researchers look for when they arrive at a mine?
✦ The geological environment of the mine and its surroundings
✦ How rough gem crystals occur within rock strata
✦ Local mining techniques and methods
✦ How origin data and sample records are documented
✦ How samples are selected for further research
You will see far more than stunning gemstones—you will glimpse them at their very moment of origin.
Stop 2 | How to Identify Gemstones Without a Full Laboratory
When out in the field, transporting a fully equipped lab is impossible. So how do professional gemmologists navigate limited wilderness conditions, using appearance, crystal morphology, growth features, and provenance details to gather clues?
Drawing from real field experience, this talk explores:
✦ Which clues can be identified right at the mine site?
✦ Which specimens warrant bringing back for further analysis?
✦ Which questions should not be prematurely concluded on-site?
You will discover that professional gem identification is not about “knowing the answer at a glance,” but rather an ongoing process of observation, inquiry, and gathering evidence.
Stop 3 | Returning to the Lab: Letting Scientific Evidence Speak Once samples leave the mine, another stage of discovery begins. Through microscopic observation and advanced analytical instruments, researchers re-verify their field findings in the lab. From origin data and internal inclusions to multi-method analytical data, every piece of evidence brings us closer to the truth.
A seemingly silent stone actually preserves valuable records of its formation environment and geological history.
Speaker Profile
Lu Yung-te
Gemmologist, Mineral Researcher, Science Writer & Mineral Photographer, Mind Mineralogy
Dedicated to mineralogy and gemmology since 2005, Lu Yung-te combines origin fieldwork, gem identification, collecting experience, and laboratory research. His research and testing expertise encompasses the synthesis and treatment of rubies and sapphires, jadeite, as well as mineral inclusions and paragenetic relationships.
Over the years, his field expeditions have spanned numerous countries across Asia, Europe, and the United States. He has also provided on-site gem testing services at major mineral and jewellery trade shows in Europe, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan.
Beyond research and testing, he is an active mineral photographer and science writer, aiming to make complex gemmological science accessible through imagery and real-world case studies—helping audiences transition from simply thinking gems are pretty to truly understanding why they are extraordinary.