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| Information about Semi Precious stones. |
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Agate
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A very small sample of some of the many agates which
are found all over the world. A hard stone, usually within the range of 7-9 on the
Mohs scale agates are found in all colors of the rainbow, although green and blue are quite rare.
Agate is a variety of chalcedony formed
from layers of quartz which usually show varicolored bands. It usually occurs as rounded nodules
or veins.
Some named varieties are: moss agate, eye agate; and plume agate, which looks like it's filled with
beautiful feather plumes.
Agate is found all over the world including: the Africa, Asia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy,
Mexico, Nepal, and the USA.
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Amethyst
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Amethyst is a member of the quartz family and has typical high brilliance and is frequently inclusion-free.
The color ranges from lilac to deep purple; the deep purple being the most prized.
Amethyst is very durable and makes an excellent and popular choice for jewelry.
Amethyst was considered to preserve sobriety in ancient Greece and Amethyst adorned wine goblets
to prevent drunkenness.
Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that Amethyst dissipated evil thoughts and quickened intelligence. Amethyst is
a noticeable adornment in the British Crown Jewels, and the color purple has come to be symbolic of royalty.
Amethyst was believed to promote piety and celibacy, and it was popular ornamentation for religious purposes
in the Middle Ages.
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Citrine
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Citrine is a variety of quartz ranging in colors of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown,
reddish-brown. Citrine crystals can form together with amethyst or smoky quartz to form a bi-colored
quartz called ametrine.
Most citrine comes from Brazil, but almost all of the Brazilian material is heat-treated amethyst.
Natural citrine can also be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, in Dauphine, France, and in Madagascar. |
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Garnet
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Garnet comes in virtually a rainbow of colors, from deep red to rich orange and golden hues, striking
greens, and petal-soft colors of violet and lavender. The stone derives its name from the Latin granatus,
meaning grain. Garnet grains were compared to the seeds of a pomegranate. This gem was thought
to give its wearer guidance and illumination in the night. Legend has it that Noah used a garnet
lantern to navigate the Ark through 40 days and nights of torrential rain. As a general rule, garnets
are not enhanced. |
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Jade
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Jade is the term applied to forms of jadeite and nephrite. These minerals are similar in appearance
and a distinction between the two often was not made. But, because of its more intense color and
translucency.
The most valuable form of jade is known as imperial jade and comes from Myanmar, it is an emerald
green color. Jades also appear in mottled green and white, and the rarer colors of yellow, pink,
purple, and black. The range of greens are light to dark, creamy, grayish, and also white. A leek
green variety called "Russian Jade" is found near Lake Baikal in Russia.
The color of the stone is the most important factor but translucency and texture are important criteria
determining price. Jade is a 6 1/2-7 on the Mohs
scale of hardness. |
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Lapis lazuli
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Top quality lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan, but is also found in Siberia,
Chile, the U.S., Pakistan, and Canada.
A strong blue, sometimes with a hint of violet, lapis lazuli's value decreases
with the presence of white patches (calcite), while small veins of pyrite are often prized.
The Egyptians used Lapis for seals, cosmetic purposes and often carved it into
vases and figurines.
A soft stone, 5-5.5 on the Mohs
scale of hardness, lapis lazuli is one of the most valuable semi opaque stones. |
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Prehnite
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Prehnite was named after its discoverer; Colonel Hendrik von Prehn and is an attractive collection
mineral that is occassionally used for ornamental stone purposes. Its color is usually a pleasant
green and is at times quite unique to prehnite.
In metaphysical terms Prehnite is thought to be a protective stone and strengthen the life
force and aid in regeneration whilst stimulating energy flow and information. It facilitates spiritual
communication through meditation and is considered a powerful dream stone and is used to encourage
lucid dreaming. |
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Rutilated quartz
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Rutilated quartz is found in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway,
Pakistan and the United States.
Rutile is a major ore of titanium, which is a metal used for high tech alloys.
It often forms needle-like crystal inclusions inside quartz. This form of quartz is known
as rutilated quartz and it looks like small bars of imbedded gold. Rutile is a 6 on the
Mohs scale.
Rutilated quartz is said to slow down the aging process and is said to be a strong healer.
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Turquoise
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The name turquoise is apparently related to the fact that is was brought to Europe from the Eastern
Mediterranean by Levantine traders, more commonly known as Turks. Its been used as a valuable
ornament for ages and was used by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. The color is, of course,
turquoise, but its range of color varies from green and greenish blue to sky blue shades.
The Aztecs mined turquoise in an area now known as New Mexico and a significant amount of turquoise
comes from Arizona, California and Nevada in the United States. |
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Coral
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Coral is an organic gemstone - like pearl,
jet, and amber - composed of the external
skeletal remains of the coral polyp, a tiny
tube-shaped sea creature. Millions of polyps
build their skeletons (made of calcium
carbonate with a trace of carotene) on the
abandoned remains of other polyps, creating
massive coral reefs. Coral is much softer than
other gem materials with a hardness of only 3.5
When you say the word coral, most people think of the coral reefs in the South Pacific like the
Great Barrier Reef off Australia. However most of the precious red,
pink and white coral is found in the Mediterranean Sea or in the Pacific off Japan and Taiwan. Where
the two species of coral, Corallium rubrum and Corallium japonicum,
traditionally used in jewelry are found.
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Désir international
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