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Gemstone
Information
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Many people enjoy
wearing gemstone jewelry, but know little about the gemstones themselves. Here
we feature a variety of unique gemstones we use in our jewelry and cabochons,
with images and information. Learn how to identify these
stones, where they come from and how they are formed. Find jewelry and cabochons
made from these gems and learn their therapeutic healing properties.
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What is a semi-precious
stone?
The two terms precious and semi-precious
are not widely used these days. The designation began in part because diamond,
ruby, sapphire and emerald were taxed at a higher rate than other gemstones.
Many people think semi-precious indicates a gem of lesser value and hardness,
which is not true, and the main reason why the term semi-precious is no longer
widely used.
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What is a gemstone?
A gemstone is a stone used for
personal adornment that is beautiful, durable, and stable. Beauty is based
on color, luster, transparency, or cutting and shaping with lapidary techniques.
Durability is the resistance to damage and is dependent on hardness and tenacity.
Tenacity is the resistance to bending and breaking, while hardness measures
the resistance to scratching. Stability refers to the gem's ability to retain
color in spite of heat, light, or chemical changes.
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Aa
Ar
B
C D E
F G H
I J
K L
M N O
P
Q R
Sa So
T U V
W X Y Z
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Agate
Alabaster
Amazonite
Amethyst
Ammolite
Ammonite Fossils
Argulite
Arizona Tiger Eye
Astrophylite
Aventurine
Bertrandite
Bloodstone
Chalcedony
Charoite
Chinese Writing Stone
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
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Coquina Fossil Jasper
Eudialyte
Flint
Fluorite
Fossil
Coral
Garnet
Goldstone
Graveyard
Point Plume Agate
Imperial
Jasper
Indian
Paint Stone
Jade
Jasper
Kyanite
Labradorite
Lapis
Lazuli
Llanite
Luna Agate
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Magnesite
Malachite
Marcasite
Marra
Mamba Tiger Eye
Maw Sit
Sit
Mookaite
Obsidian
Ocean
Jasper
Onyx
Opal
Opalite
Petrified
Dinosaur Bone
Petrified
Peanut Wood
Pietersite
Quartz
Rhodochrosite
Rhodonite
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Rhyolite
Ruby
Fuschite
Saginite
Seraphinite
Schalenblende
Sodalite
Sonora
Sunrise
Stromatolite
Sunstone
Tiger Eye
Tiger Iron
Turquoise
Turritella
Fossil Agate
Unakite
Variscite
Victoria
Stone
Wyoming
Jade |
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 Agate
is a microcrystalline form of quartz or silica,
chiefly chalcedony, known for its fine grain and bright color. Although
agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are typically associated
with volcanic rocks. Most agates occur as nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient
lava. Formed by cavities in the lava which were filled with silica deposited
in layers. You can see these layers in banded agate.
Healing Properties
Cabochons |
 Alabaster
is a name given to two distinct types of minerals: gypsum and calcite. In
ancient times the term alabaster was applied to calcite. Today, the term
refers to a fine grained variety of gypsum. Gypsum is harder than
calcite and does not scratch as easily.
Healing Properties
Cabochons |
 Amazonite
is a microcline form of feldspar and although the name is taken from that
of the Amazon River, it is highly unlikely that it was ever found there.
In the past it's only source was a mountainous area in Russia. More recently,
high-quality crystals have been obtained from Colorado, where it is found
in conjunction with quartz, orthoclase, and albite in granite. Some other
localities in the United States yield amazonite, and it is also found in
Madagascar. Healing Properties
Cabochons |
 Amethyst is a variety of purple quartz often used in jewelry. It is found
throughout the world. Chevron amethyst has “V” shaped or chevron
shaped bands of white Healing
Properties
Cabochons |
 Ammolite is a rare gemstone
found primarily in Canada in which the outer skin of fossilized ammonite
remains have been opalized. The opalized surface has a bumpy texture known
as dragon skin. Ammolite can have brilliant flashes of color or fire and
can be yellow, blue, green, red, orange or any combination of those colors.
Healing Properties
Cabochons
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 Ammonite Fossils
are the remains of an extinct marine
animal found throughout the world. In pyritized ammonite, the original shell
has been replaced by pyrite. The shell of the Ammonite was similar in appearance
to the Nautilus shell.
Healing Properties
Ammonite Jewelry
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