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Fakes & Frauds

Copyright © J.ralphFake minerals
This is the place to discuss fakes and fraud in the mineral world.

Some 'fakes' are perfectly legitimate - synthetic crystals grown in a lab and described as such when sold (as in the photo above). They are pretty, inexpensive and the crystals are real crystals.

Other natural specimens may have been treated without disclosure to change appearance and improve value. If that's not disclosed when sold that's what we call fraud.

If you have a problem with a mineral you bought please try to resolve it amicably with the dealer first before coming here. Be aware that such discussions may be edited, or removed, without warning if we feel that it is detrimental to our community in any way.
Mark all as readStart new discussion in this group

Latest Discussions

6dFluorescent Amethyst from BrazilPosted by Jarod Janner. 14 replies.4wIs This A Fake OR A Real Reddish Scorpion Amber ?Posted by Askar Abdourazak. 5 replies.4wFake Mineral TV ProgrammesPosted by Kim Macdonald. 14 replies.5wSongea Sapphire With “Blue Ink” InclusionsPosted by Mark Acker. 5 replies.5wFake ArticlePosted by Wayne Corwin. 14 replies.6wFake amethist ?Posted by Pierre Rondelez. One reply.7wfake emerald?Posted by Raul garcia. 10 replies.7wTopaz real or FakePosted by Robert Pols. 9 replies.7wFake or authentic fluorite?Posted by meddok91. 10 replies.8wChinese CarlhinzeitePosted by John fender. 46 replies.10w⚠10 imagesFake TrinititePosted by Eugene & Sharon Cisneros. 57 replies.11wBought this from a Chinese seller on Ebay: No locality, just "From China" listed as Fluorite on QuartzPosted by cicAda. 12 replies.14wAuthentic or does acetone reveal the truth?Posted by John McCulley. 14 replies.15wPurple Fluorite on Quartz from Huanggang, China (Late 2025 Find)Posted by Alexander Wong. 8 replies.Dec 2025Native rhenium from Zabaykal - true or hoax?Posted by Cheolwoo Kim. 10 replies.Oct 2025Oftedalite and IMA2006-056 - a warning.Posted by Roy Kristiansen. 10 replies.Oct 2025Fake rubyPosted by Isabela Palmer. 5 replies.Oct 2025Real or fake opal?Posted by Isabela Palmer. 8 replies.Sep 2025Real deal? Red coral or fake!? Orrrr Jasper!? Posted by Samantha Stone. 25 replies.Aug 2025Probably incoming wave of high quality fake rough diamondsPosted by Alexander Ringel. 2 replies.Aug 2025New red beryl fake.Posted by Joel Williams. 4 replies.Aug 2025Strange specimen on EtsyPosted by Howard Heitner. 22 replies.Aug 2025Is it spinel or something elsePosted by Max Laugier. 16 replies.Jun 2025ChrysocollaPosted by Sam Joslyn. 10 replies.May 2025What, in actuality, is this “natural silicon” you’ll often find in rock shops?Posted by Jarod Janner. 9 replies.

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