Does anyone know how to identify dyed stones? I have and odd collection of crystals, slices, and other odd bits I have acumulated for a few years (small purchases, gifts, etc.) I would not guess that they all are naturaly colored, some are obiously died, but others are a toss up. Please help.

Hi,

Usually the stone is still quite easy to identify even if dyed. Do you have any pics? The most usually dyed stones are agates

Dyeing is done on gems that are porous, have natural fractures or induced fractures (quench crackling).

The detection of dyed porous gems: usually is by looking for the accumulations of dye on surface defect such as a fracture.
The detection of dyed naturally fractured gems:
Colored oil in emerald and ruby is by examining the gems in diffused transmitted lighting and look for color concentration around fractures.
Infilled glass or polymer in ruby is by observing the surface luster (the glass/polymer has lower lustre).
The detection of quench crackled gems is by magnification (seeing the color network).

Of course there are some that would need basic gemological instruments such as a spectroscope or a color filter.

Hi Gem, may I please ask a question? What does a tumbled crystal mean?  A good majority of my crystals are tumbled  and have often thought what did that mean.  Thankyou very much

A tumbled crystal (or stone) is a crystal (or stone) that has been polished by usually a rotary tumbling process – a process which imitated the action of a natural flowing river.  It is a mass polishing method in which enough crystals are put in a barrel together with enough water, grit and polishing compound and then rotated by a motor.