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Imitations have been used for a very long time, and are usually made with a lower-value material of the same colour as the gem it is supposed to simulate (Karampelas et al. 2020). In some cases they are made by combining natural and synthetic materials, as described for a specimen composed of fragments of natural and synthetic (Verneuil) ruby held together by glue and coated with mica (Scarratt 1984). More often, however, such imitations are made to resemble emerald—especially the mica-coated material commonly originating from East Africa (Scarratt 1984).
During a visit to Zambia in March 2022, author AA encountered local dealers selling what appeared to be rough emeralds of various...