152k views
16 votes
What makes minerals/gems so
colorful?

User Ahll
by
4.1k points

1 Answer

9 votes

Answer:

As mentioned, gems appear coloured due to some of the white light being absorbed within the minerals structure. Most gems are coloured by a limited number of metals present either as impurities, as in Allochromatic gems or as essential constituents of the atomic structure, as in Idiochromatic gems.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Greg Petr
by
4.7k points