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Very distinctive in appearance, cavansite is a rare, not to mention strikingly beautiful, blue mineral. Its name is derived from its composition: calcium, vanadium and silicon. Only discovered in the 1960's in Oregon, cavansite is highly sought after by mineral collectors across the globe. Found in a scant few locales, cavansite sources include Brazil, India, New Zealand and Oregon USA. It is renowned for its stunning deep blue hues that are sometimes vivid enough to be described as "electric blue."

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) is a lab created gem first developed in the 1950's. Its primary application was in optics and laser technology, but it turned out to be a convincing diamond simulant. Although YAG has garnet in its name, it is not related to garnet; it is an artificial gemstone with no natural counterpart.

Ferroaxinite is the iron rich variety of axinite. Crystals are flat and resemble an axe head. It can be found in granite and other igneous rocks. It can be pyroelectric and piezoelectric.

Deriving its name from a locality in the Swiss Alps, tremolite is a member of the amphibole group, a complex series of silicate minerals. It forms in thin, parallel fibers, sometimes producing a distinct cat's eye effect when cut in cabochons. Tremolite comes in a variety of colors ranging from white, brown, colorless, gray, light green, light yellow and pink-violet. This gem sometimes occurs as fine, needle-like inclusions in emerald and quartz.

Ranging from green to brownish black in color, gadolinite is a mineral that counts Russia as one of its primary sources. Interestingly, gadolinite is prized for the two rare earth elements it contains: yttrium and cerium.

Also called the "TV rock" or "television stone," ulexite is known for its unusual optical characteristics, notably its ability to transmit images through its natural fibers. A piece of writing placed underneath the stone appears on the surface of the stone! Ulexite was named for German chemist G. L. Ulex, who first correctly analyzed the species in 1850. Most specimens are milky and very poor quality, but those stones that are cut as cabochons often display a strong cat's eye effect.

Orpiment is an arsenic sulfide that grows in small masses with lemon-yellow to brownish-yellow coloring. Its name comes from a Latin term meaning "gold pigment," as this mineral was once used to make yellow paint. This gem is photosensitive and should not be exposed to light for prolonged periods.

Oligoclase is a member of the plagioclase feldspar group. Two oligoclase varieties, sunstone and moonstone, are prized for their phenomenal optical properties.

The Venetian glass industry dates back over 1,500 years. A 1291 Venetian law relocated all glass making to the island of Murano. The stated reason for the law was to prevent fire from destroying the wooden buildings of Venice. Speculation behind the true nature of the law was to protect the design techniques and innovations of the glass artisans from being stolen and taken to other regions. In the early 1800’s the political climate forced the Venetian glass industry into decline. In the Mid 1850’s a resurgence of glassmaking in Venice commenced. The beginning of the 20th century glass makers focused on reproducing classical styles and the rediscovery of the lost techniques of early Venetian artisans. Modern glass artisans are innovating new techniques and inspiring creative designs to establish Venice as the glass blowing capital of the World.

Mother-of-pearl is the nacreous iridescent inside layer of certain mollusks. This beautiful substance is often used for jewelry, carving and ornamentation. As mother-of-pearl producing mollusks cannot regulate their body temperature, they are susceptible to changes in external conditions. Mother-of-pearl can naturally appear in a wide variety of colors, however, it is frequently dyed to a multitude of attractive shades.

A relatively new addition to the world of gems, clinohumite was first discovered in 1876 within stones erupted from Mount Vesuvius. Only recently have gem-quality pieces been found in locales including Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains. Clinohumite's coloring typically ranges from bright yellow to deep orange to red, but a few brown specimens have been found.

Azurite is a copper carbonate mineral found in the oxidation zones of copper deposits and is considered a secondary ore of copper. Color ranges from light to dark blue, with medium to dark blue being more common. The intensity of its hues is what makes azurite a popular collector's stone. Azurite is commonly found in conjunction with malachite, a green copper carbonate mineral into which it slowly morphs. A mix of the two minerals is known as azurmalachite. Azurite is soft (3.5 on the Mohs scale) and opaque. When used in jewelry, it is usually seen in the form of cabochons or beads.