Gem conference reveals slate of Tucson speakers

New York--Tanzanites, spinels and opals will be the topics at hand at the Gemstone Industry & Laboratory Conference’s (GILC) annual meeting, scheduled for Jan. 30 amid the Tucson shows.

The confirmed speakers and their topics for the meeting are: Thomas Hainschwang, managing director and researcher at GGTL Laboratories, who will discuss identification of heating in tanzanite; Shane McClure, director of West Coast identification services at the Gemological Institute of America lab in Carlsbad, Calif., who will speak on identifying heat-treated spinels and Francesco Mazzero of Opalinda, whose topic will be the differences between Shewa and Wolo opals.

The GILC is comprised of gemstone traders, lab experts, jewelry manufacturers and major retailers who are active in the international gemstone community and are dedicated to discussing relevant industry issues and creating common disclosure language.

The meeting was organized by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) with help from the American Gem Trade Association. It is an invitation-only event.

For more information, e-mail GILC Chairman Sushil Goyal, sgoyal@libertygems.com, Co-Chairs Bear Williams, bear@stonegrouplabs.com, or Edward Boehm, edward@rareresource.com, or ICA Executive Director Barbara Wheat, ica@gemstone.org.