Flux-fusion method

This is a technique used to make certain synthetic gemstones such as emerald, ruby, spinel, quartz, Alexandrite, YAG, etc., man-made crystals growing in a high melting solvent or flux. The material or composition of desired synthetic crystal (beryllium and aluminum oxides) is mixed with flux material (lithium molybdate) that reduces the melting temperature to a point where it becomes supersaturated. At this temperature the source material is precipitated out and grows on the seed crystals.