Agate brings stability to your life.
Agate comes in most colors. Agates range from transparent to opaque in a variety of beautiful colors. It presents various tints in the same specimen. The stones can be artificially stained to produce combinations of color more vivid than those found in the natural state.

SiO 2 Agate is a semipellucid crystallized quartz, consisting of banded or with branching inclusions chalcedony . Physical properties of agate are in general those of quartz.

Agate has irregular, sometimes circular bands of color and often replaces fossil wood. Many fossils are agatized material where the original organic substance has been replaced by agate while retaining the original structure. Agates are identical in chemical structure to jasper , flint, chert, bloodstone , and tiger-eye , and are often found in association with opal .

The colorful, banded rocks are used as a semiprecious gemstone and for making mortars and pestles. One will often see these in beads, agate pendants and necklaces.

According to one theory the word Agate comes from the Greek name of a stone found in the Achates River in Sicily, now known as the Drillo River, which still remains a major source of this stone.
Agate is the birthstone of Taurus (Bull): April 20 - May 20. It is the anniversary gemstone for the 12th year of marriage. There are several types of agate. Varieties include Blue, Blue Lace, Crazy Lace, Green, Indian, Moss, Tree and Wood.

Blue Lace Agate is a cryptocrystalline quartz. It is a beautiful stone with both light blue and white which occur in bands. Some call in banded chalcedony. The chemical composition is that of Quartz, SiO2 or Silica. This material is very abundant and found all over the world.

This beautiful, translucent deep green stone goes back to the Egyptians. At least 3000 years ago, they were using agate for seals, rings, and decorating vessels. The art of dyeing it into vibrant colors began with the Romans. Today, not only does it continue to be popular for art objects and jewelry, industry also "loves" agate because of its hardness and resistance to chemicals. Like a truly beautiful woman, green agate beads and cabochons have a history that adds to and intensifies their beauty. Combine these delicate-looking opulently green beads with small copper beads and brass and/or silver-plated heishi for jewelry people will want to pass on for generations.

Moss agate is neither moss nor agate, but it looks like both. This beautiful clear stone with its mottled, moss-like inclusions is not regarded scientifically as agate. Though it has the same chemical composition and the intriguing patterns of agate, moss agate is found in fissures or as pebbles rather than in a layered form.

Moss Agate is the anniversary gemstone for the 14th year of marriage.

Anything dappled is lovely: dappled horses, dappled fawns, dappled agate, perhaps, most of all. These lovely white tree agate beads and cabochons with their inclusions like dappled, green leaves are agate matrix, the very womb of agate, if you will. The name agate itself harkens back to antiquity and the Achates River in Sicily where agates are thought to have been found. At least 3000 years ago, the Egyptians were making seals, rings, and vessels from agate. I include tree agate beads wherever I want to create a sense of the ancient enduring beauty of natural things-dappled things, especially.

Amazonite belongs to the family of minerals called Feldspar. It is actually a Microcline Feldspar. The appearance is semi-translucent to opaque with a light green to greenish blue color; many times displaying grid-like white streaks and a faint sheen. This stone is usually cut into cabochons, beads and carvings and is found in Brazil, Madagascar, Norway, USSR and in the USA.

Amber is the fossilized hardened resin of the Pine Tree, Pinus Succinifera, formed in the Eocene period about 50 million years ago. Amber is usually light yellow to brown in color, but can also be in shades of red, blue, black and green. It is organic in nature and does not have a crystal system; it is considered to be amorphous (without form). Amber is usually found shaped as nodules, often with a weathered crust. It is sometimes found with inclusions of insects and other organic matter such as parts of plants. The largest deposit in the world is found in Eastern Poland; but Amber also occurs in Burma, The Dominican Republic, The USA and on the sea beds of the Baltic Sea.

Amethyst is a variety of Quartz, which is a group of mineral species from the hexagonal (trigonal) crystal system. The chemical composition is SIO2, refractive index is 1.544-1.553 with a specific gravity of 2.66. The Chandelier Quartz we are speaking of originates in Brazil, South America.

Ametrine is from the Silica Group of minerals. Its chemical composition is SiO2. Ametrine is both Amethyst and Citrine, making for a desirable gemstone. Most of the Ametrine on the market is from Mexico.

Apatite is from the Greek 'apate' or deceit, because it is often mistaken for other gemstone species. The chemical composition is Ca3(F,CI,) (PO4)3. The refractive index is 1.636 and offers a hardness of 5 on the Moh's Scale. Apatite is a very abundant stone, found all over the world. However the main gemstone suppliers are Mexico, Brazil, and Burma.

Aquamarine belongs to the 'Beryl' family of minerals. Its chemical composition is Be3Al2(SiO3)6; a beryllium, aluminum, silicate that crystallizes as six sided prisms in the hexagonal crystal system. Aquamarine is usually transparent, but can also be translucent or opaque. Aquamarine means 'sea water' in Latin. The hardness of Aqua is 7 ½ on the Moh's scale and the density lies between the range of 2.68-2.71. Its luster is vitreous and the typical color range is a clear sky blue to a beautiful bluish-green. Aquamarine occurs all over the world; from South America, Russia, Madagascar, and the USA, just to name a few.

Calcium Carbonate. Transparent to translucent. Commonly white to very pale yellow, grayish, pale blue, brownish. Orthorhombic crystal system. Hardness is a 4, fairly soft stone.

Malachite is its own mineral species. The chemical composition is Cu2CO3(OH)2, and belongs to the monoclinic crystal system. The appearance is generally opaque, vivid green to bluish green and is usually seen with bands in two or more tones of green. Typically, malachite is seen cut into cabochons, beads, tablets, inlays and tumbles. The refractive index is 1.655 and the specific gravity is 3.95 (very dense). It is a fairly soft stone, being only a 4 on the Moe's scale of hardness. The main sources are Zaire, Australia, England, France, South Africa and the US.

Because these stones vary, their physical properties vary also. Many are from jasper, a variety of microcrystalline silicon dioxide--a form of chalcedony with a Moh's hardness of 7.

Bloodstone is dark-green variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout its mass. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, and from the resemblance of these to drops of blood it derives its name.

Aventurine is a soft green semi-translucent to mostly opaque stone with mica flecks. Aventurine also comes in silvery, yellow, reddish brown, greenish-brown, bluish green and orange. It contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion.

Aventurine is composed of two gem minerals, one is a plagioclase feldspar and the other is quartz . Both have a sparkling reflection from oriented minute inclusions of mica or hematite, which cause a slight metallic iridescence.

Aventurine derives its name from Italian - per avventura - by chance.

Carnelian is a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz. It is often referred to as agate. This stone is semitransparent to translucent and is usually seen as light yellow to a dark reddish orange in color. The chemical composition is SiO2 and is from the trigonal crystal system. The refractive index is 1.54 and the specific gravity is 2.60. It is found all over the world.

Chalcedony can be virtually any color of the rainbow. It is commonly pale blue, yellow, brown or gray with nearly waxlike luster. A white, buff, or light tan species of chalcedony are also occured.

SiO2 Chalcedony is a finely crystallized or fibrous quartz that forms rounded crusts, rinds, or stalactites in volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Chalcedony is a precious stone that occurs in many forms, colors, and shapes. Chalcedony, agates, jaspers, bloodstone, cornelian, onyx, and chrysoprase all make up the chalcedony gemstones. Chalcedonic pseudomorphs after other minerals often give rise to very interesting specimens. Other physical properties are those of quartz.

Chrysocolla is a variety of Chalcedony that actually is a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz. Chrysocolla is semitransparent to translucent and is usually seen as light to medium yellowish green. The chemical composition is SiO2 and is from the trigonal crystal system. The refractive index is 1.54 and the specific gravity is 2.60. Chrysocolla is fairly hard being a 7 on the Moes' hardness scale and is usually seen cut into cabochons, cameos, carvings, beads, and tablets. The main sources are from Australia, India and the US.

Chrysocolla is a variety of Chalcedony that actually is a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz. Chrysocolla is semitransparent to translucent and is usually seen as light to medium yellowish green. The chemical composition is SiO2 and is from the trigonal crystal system. The refractive index is 1.54 and the specific gravity is 2.60. Chrysocolla is fairly hard being a 7 on the Moes' hardness scale and is usually seen cut into cabochons, cameos, carvings, beads, and tablets. The main sources are from Australia, India and the US.

Citrine is a variety of the mineral Quartz. It is in the hexagonal crystal system and has a chemical composition of SiO2. It is a transparent gemstone with a color range of yellow to orange to brownish orange. The refractive index is 1.54 and the specific gravity is 2.66. The hardness is a 7 on the Moh's Hardness Scale. Citrine can be enhanced through heat to create a vivid golden-yellow color. The main locations for this material are Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.

Coral comes in a variety of colors: in red, rose, orange, blue, white and black.

Coral is the skeletal material of calcium carbonate, built up by small animals that live in colonies in the sea. Red, pink, and white coral is mostly calcium carbonate. Black and golden coral is conchiolin.

Coral is usually branchlike and occurs in a variety of colors, of which the most sought after are rose red to red. In addition to coral, a number of other organic materials, including amber, pearl, ivory, and jet, are considered gems.

Coral is the anniversary gemstone for the 35th year of marriage.

Dark Green Aventurine

Dumortierite

Emeralds occur in a variety of green colors. The magnificent green color that gives extraordinary value to this gem is due to small amounts of chromium and vanadium. Some emeralds have yellowish to bluish overtones. The stone loses color when strongly heated.

Al2Be3[Si6O18] Emerald is grass-green variety of beryl that is highly valued as a gemstone. The physical properties of emerald are essentially the same as those of beryl. Emeralds and are cut in a variety of different shapes, ranging from the traditional rectangular step-cut, known as the "emerald cut," to rounds, ovals, squares and cabochons. Because of emerald's high value, attempts were long made to manufacture it synthetically. These efforts finally met with success in the mid of thirties in Germany. Nowadays synthetic emeralds are manufactured in the United States.

Aquamarine crystals are placed in a water solution and used as a seed to produce emeralds. The crystals thus grown appear very similar to natural crystals and rival them in color and beauty.

Fluorite

The versatile garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colors, including pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, colorless, occasionally black, brown and many shades of red and green. The most common color of garnets is reddish brown. Bohemian Garnet is deep red gemstone, Russian Demantoid and African Tsavorite are vibrant green.

Pyrope: Mg3Al2[SiO4]3. Garnets are a group of common silicate minerals that have similar crystal structures and chemical compositions. It can be translucent to transparent, sometimes opaque with a vitreous or resinous lustre. The best known type of garnet is red semi-precious stone pyrope, one of several red gems, which the ancients used to call Carbuncles.

Garnets are actually one of the largest families of gemstones. Most natural garnets are mixtures of two or more of the following pure species: pyrope, almandine, spessartine, uvarovite, grossular, andradite. Garnets occur in a very wide variety of formations, colors, and clarities.

Aventurine is a soft green semi-translucent to mostly opaque stone with mica flecks. Aventurine also comes in silvery, yellow, reddish brown, greenish-brown, bluish green and orange. It contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion.

Aventurine is composed of two gem minerals, one is a plagioclase feldspar and the other is quartz . Both have a sparkling reflection from oriented minute inclusions of mica or hematite, which cause a slight metallic iridescence.

Aventurine derives its name from Italian - per avventura - by chance.

Hematites occur in opaque red or red-brown.

Fe2O3 Iron oxide. Hematite is a silvery, shiny opaque stone that almost looks like metal. Hematite is heavy and relatively hard oxide mineral, that constitutes the most important iron ore because of its high iron content (70 percent) and its abundance.

Hematite derives its name from the Greek word haem (blood ) in allusion to its red color.
Many of the various forms of hematite have separate names. The steel-gray crystals and coarse-grained varieties have a brilliant metallic luster and are known as specular iron ore or looking glass ore. They are used as intaglios in men's signet rings.
Thin scaly types are called micaceous hematite. Much hematite occurs in a soft, fine-grained, earthy form called red ochre or ruddle.
Intermediate between these types are compact varieties, often with a reniform surface (kidney ore) or a fibrous structure (pencil ore). Red ochre is used as a pigment in paints and crayons, a purified form, rouge, is used to polish plate glass.

Howlite

Iolite is a transparent, violet-blue, light blue, blue, rich blue-violet stone.

Mg2Al3O Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Iolite is a blue silicate mineral that occurs as crystals or grains in igneous rocks, only as a result of contamination of the magma by aluminous sediment.

Iolite has a pleasing color of blue, but a rather extraordinary optical property. The gemstone changes colors depending upon the angle from which it is viewed.

The stones from the gem gravels of Sri Lanka have been called water sapphires due to the blue-violet color.
Iolite is sometimes called dichroite because of its marked pleochroism: different colored light is transmitted in different directions.

Lush shades of avocado green swirl through these beads, which are the color of nephrite jade with more opacity. Think earth tones and the combinations are endless.

Add life to jewelry designs with this rich, dark golden stone. Mix with wood to create a popular safari-style look, or simply add gold beads for a warm rich look.

Because of its incredible strength, jadeite is highly prized in the Far East for carving spiritual figures and symbols. It has been used for tools and weapons since antiquity. Genuine rare jadeite comes in a variety of colors, including white, green, yellow and black.

These vibrantly colored beads are commonly mistaken for fine quality jade. They are actually translucent quartz, well-polished and permanently dyed in eight popular colors. Color saturation varies among sizes with the smaller millimeter sizes being lighter in color than the larger sizes. Colors may vary per dye lot.

Mountain 'jade', a high-grade dolomite marble from Asia, is widely used by makers of fine costume jewelry. Mountain 'jade' is useful for accents and longer necklaces where combining economy and top class really matter. Color shown is "Natural", but Mountain Jade is available in many dyed colors.

Jade Nephrite, also known as "Black Jade", is a gem stone believed to be the first that people started to value for decorative and practical qualities. It is the world's toughest mineral and is found in very harsh natural conditions. Jade continues to embody precious magical

New 'Jade' is available in a variety of green shades including olive, sea green, green, and peridot and will range in color saturation and may display inclusions ranging from light and creamy to black.

Olive "jade" is a serpentine with colors that vary from a soft light avocado color to an olive green. Use this new gemstone with pearls, cloisonné, sterling silver or gold beads. All of these beads are hand-crafted. Sizes, color and shape may vary. From the Afghanistan/China border area.

Find serenity with Peace 'Jade'. Beautiful mix of natural pinks, purples and greens. Peace 'Jade' is from China and the most unique stone of its kind. Natural colors will vary by stone. Although it is called 'jade', it is actually a mixture of serpentine, stichtite and white quartz.

Moonstones come in a variety of colors, ranging from colorless to white, gray, brown, yellow, orange, green, or pink. Clarity ranges from transparent to translucent.

Description: (K, Na) AlSi3O8, Moonstone (also called rainbow moonstone) is soft milky white stone, the most valuable variety of feldspar with an rainbow sheen. Moonstone shows a silvery or bluish iridescence, that is caused by the inter growth of two different types of feldspar with different refractive indexes. The term moonstone also has been applied to the plagioclase feldspars peristerite and labradorite, which also exhibit iridescence.

The moonstone named for its semblance in color to the moon.
Moonstone along with alexandrite and pearls are birthstones of Gemini (Twins): May 21 - June 21.
Moonstone is the 13th anniversary stone.

Moukaite

Obsidian is usually black. Other colors include: brown, gray, red, blue and green, clear, orange, yellow.

Obsidian is a natural glass of volcanic origin that is formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava. Obsidian is extremely rich in silica (about 35 to 80 percent) and is low in water. Obsidian is made of the same minerals as granite but cooled so quickly that they do not have time to crystallize.

Obsidian has a glassy luster and is slightly harder than window glass. Though obsidian is typically jet-black in color, the presence of hematite produces red and brown varieties, and the inclusion of tiny gas bubbles may create a golden sheen. Obsidian in attractive and variegated colors is used as a semiprecious stone.

Like flakes of snow floating against a deep black sky. The snowflake appearance in this volcanic glass is produced by internal crystallites formed as lava quickly cooled. Stunning with black onyx, crystals and vermeil. From Arizona and New Mexico.

Opal is fundamentally colorless, but such material is rarely found. Disseminated impurities generally impart to opal various dull body colors that range from the yellows and reds derived from iron oxides to black from manganese oxides and organic carbon.

The milkiness of many white and gray opals is attributable to an abundance of tiny gas-filled cavities in them. Precious opal reflects light with a play of brilliant colors across the visible spectrum, red being the most valued.

Amorthous silica, SiO2 + nH2O, A solidified jelly so it has no crystal structure and contains up to 13% water. Precious opals are translucent to transparent and are distinguished by a combination of milky to pearly opalescence and an attractive play of many colors. These colors flash and change as a stone is viewed from different directions are caused by interference of light along minute cracks and other internal inhomogeneities. Opal is extensively used as a gemstone. Various forms of common opal are widely mined for use as abrasives, insulation media, fillers, and ceramic ingredients.

Oregon Sunstone

Aventurine is a soft green semi-translucent to mostly opaque stone with mica flecks. Aventurine also comes in silvery, yellow, reddish brown, greenish-brown, bluish green and orange. It contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion.

Aventurine is composed of two gem minerals, one is a plagioclase feldspar and the other is quartz . Both have a sparkling reflection from oriented minute inclusions of mica or hematite, which cause a slight metallic iridescence.

Aventurine derives its name from Italian - per avventura - by chance.

Peridot, Chrysolite (golden yellow peridot).

Peridot is a stone with a sparkling pale green color. It occurs in lime, yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green hues.

Description: [Mg,Fe] 2SiO4 Magnesium iron silicate.

Peridot, also called precious olivine, is a gem-quality transparent green olivine. The crystals of peridot have a vitreous lustre and conchoidal fracture. Gem-quality olivine is a mineral that composes a lot of the earth's mantel, the layer below the crust. It is also common in basalts on the moon.

The name's origin: Chrysolite means "golden stone" in Greek.
Peridot along with sardonyx are birthstones of Leo (Lion): July. 23 - Aug. 22.
Peridot is the anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage.

Aventurine is a soft green semi-translucent to mostly opaque stone with mica flecks. Aventurine also comes in silvery, yellow, reddish brown, greenish-brown, bluish green and orange. It contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion.

Aventurine is composed of two gem minerals, one is a plagioclase feldspar and the other is quartz . Both have a sparkling reflection from oriented minute inclusions of mica or hematite, which cause a slight metallic iridescence.

Aventurine derives its name from Italian - per avventura - by chance.

Rhodochrosite

When creativity seems to have curled up and died inside you or other things keep pulling you away from the work you love, wearing zoisite can work like a mantra, gently calling you back to what you really want to be doing. Mineral Information: Calcium aluminum silicate, may include iron or manganese Chemical Composition: Ca2Al3(O/OH/SiO4/Si2O7) Color: Dark green with black inclusions; occasional ruby crystal Hardness: 6-6.5 Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.4