Results for “null”

Hydroxyapophyllite crystals are tabular and are frequently striated. It is typically colorless or white, but can be pink, light green, pale yellow, blue, brown, or violet. The mineral can be found in Jefferson, NC and Kimberley, South Africa.

While it was once just a collector's gem, spessartine, an orange variety of garnet, made its move into the mainstream during the 1990s when new deposits were discovered in Africa. Like most garnets, spessartine is typically untreated, so the beautiful color and clarity that you see in them is just as nature created it. Spessartine garnet is named after its first discovery in Spessart, Bavaria, in the mid 1800's.

In 1996 a German company started marketing Japanese Freshwater Pearls as Kasumiga Pearls. The average size of these are between 10mm to 15mm but can grow up to 20mm. Kasumiga Pearls are known for their excellent color and luster. The most valuable pearls are round to near round but they also come in interesting baroque shapes.

Aragonite's name is derived from the location of Molina de Aragon, Spain, the province where it was first discovered. Aragonite occurs in Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, in the famous sulfur mines, as well as on Mount Vesuvius, Italy. Aragonite specimens are highly prized by mineral collectors for their wide variety of forms, which include twins and pseudomorphs (uncharacteristic crystal forms). As an added bonus, many specimens are fluorescent as well as phosphorescent, a rare occurrence among minerals.

Scheelite, named for Swedish chemist C.W. Scheele is a calcium tungstate, a major source of tungsten. Most scheelite is fluorescent and ranges from blue to white in color. Spectacular, transparent crystals come from Austria, Italy, Brazil, Rwanda, and Colorado. Scheelite crystals often have high luster and fire that is almost adamantine.

Synthetic moissanite is an incredibly durable gem. In fact, the ceramic version of synthetic moissanite, called synthetic silicon carbide, is so hard and tough that it is used for body armor and mirrors in orbiting space telescopes! Fortunately, it also makes a gorgeous gem. Synthetic moissanite has a higher dispersion value (fire) than diamond, making it an impressive jewel. Each lab created gem is faceted by a skilled cutter to maximize its brilliance and enhance its exceptional fire. Second in hardness only to diamond, it is extremely resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping.

Willemite was discovered in 1830 and named after William I, King of the Netherlands. This stone has remarkable luminescent properties. Some specimens glow under an ultraviolet source and continue to glow after the UV light has been removed, a phenomenon called phosphorescence. Specimens that are faceted make beautiful gemstones in blue, yellow, green and brown colors.

The name beryl is derived from the ancient Greek term for the same gem, beryllos; also the etymology for the element beryllium that is part of its chemistry. Some scholars believe the word beryl is related to the ancient trading city of Belur or perhaps has ancient Indian origins (being derived from the old Hindi word velurya or the Sanskrit word vaidurya). Varieties include emerald, bixbite (red beryl), morganite, aquamarine, heliodor (golden beryl) and goshenite.

Faceted petalite gems and specimens are prized by gemstone and mineral collectors. Petalite's name is derived from the Greek petalos (leaf), referring to its perfect cleavage. Colorless material is common, and large crystals have been mined. Other petalite colors include white to yellow or gray, yellowish green to light green and pink. Crystals range from transparent to translucent and are prized for their good clarity. Faceted gems aren't often seen due to petalite's cleavage planes.

Although euclase can resemble beryl in its appearance, that is where the comparison ends. Unlike beryl, euclase contains water, has a monoclinic crystal system, and a higher specific gravity. Only occasionally do its well-formed crystals have sufficient clarity to be cut as gemstones. Crystals are commonly prismatic, can be long or short, and are striated. Because of their rarity, gems with good clarity command premium prices. Most material is colorless to pale blue or pale green, but colors can range from blue to blue-green, green, yellow, white, colorless, and, rarely, purple.

Limonite gets its name from the Greek words for “marshy lake” because it is found in marshes. Limonite is a mineraloid that contains varied amounts of goethite and hematite, forming from weathering of hematite, magnetite, and pyrite. It is often found as a pseudomorph as it replaces other minerals.

Discover the mystical allure of rich, royal blue and sparkling golden specks found in lapis lazuli. Very few gems have such a long and storied history as lapis lazuli. Along with carnelian, it is the oldest known gemstones to be appreciated and worn as adornment. When lapis lazuli was first introduced to Europe, it was called ultramarine, meaning "beyond the sea." The gem was ground to a powder for use as early eye shadow, and as pigment for early oil paints. Today, this rich blue gem still retains the allure that first captivated humans thousands of years ago.