The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has acquired a rare collection of crystals, gems and minerals that is the products of six decades of curation.
The assortment comprises 2,665 lots, featuring unique specimens, the GIA said Monday. The collection showcases a range of unusual inclusions, from a fan of mica in tourmaline to fluorescent petroleum fluid in quartz.
GIA analytical microscopist John Koivula, a world expert in identifying and recording gem inclusions, curated the collection. Koivula joined the institute in 1976 and has since advanced gemology through his work in photomicrography, introducing techniques such as fiber-optic illumination, now widely used in gemological laboratories.
“This one-of-a-kind assemblage could not be reproduced today, not only because many of the pieces are unique, but also because specimens of comparable quality are unlikely ever to be found again,” said Terri Ottaway, curator of the GIA Museum in Carlsbad, California. “[Koivula] possesses an extraordinary eye for rarity, often examining hundreds of specimens before selecting a single piece.”
Cataloged in a custom database, the Koivula collection will support GIA’s education programs, research and laboratory services, while serving as a reference resource for future gemologists. GIA is also preparing a large-format book featuring photomicrographs of selected specimens.
GIA will showcase selected pieces from the assortment at the AGTA Tucson GemFair and Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February 2027.
Image: A negative crystal in quartz containing a methane bubble. (GIA/Nathan Renfro)
