What is Tanzanite? Tanzanite is a member of the mineral group epidote and is a variety of Zoisites. Tanzanite is the best known of the zoisites and is found only in Tanzania. It is rarer than Diamond and comes in blue, lilac, and shades of purple. Tanzanite gets its blue color from the mineral vanadium
What is Sardonyx? Sardonyx is composed of layers of the mineral Chalcedony, in alternating bands of Sard and Onyx, giving it a particularly beautiful striped appearance in hues of black, brown, and red. It measures between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale for hardness. Some Sardonyx appears clear. It is opaque and can be
What is Sapphire? Sapphires are part of the mineral family of Corundum and measure a high 9 on the Mohs scale. Sapphires are close cousins to Rubies, the only difference between the two being their respective colors. Rubies are always red, but Sapphires occur in a wide variety of colors. The most commonly recognized color
What is Ruby? Ruby is a member of the mineral class corundum and measures 9 on the Mohs scale. It has the exact same structure and composition as Sapphire. And the red color that distinguishes Ruby from other corundum minerals is due to the presence of chromium. Ruby is a bright, transparent stone when polished,
What is Peridot? Peridot is sometimes referred to as chrysolite. It consists of Olivine and a silicate mineral rich in magnesium, and it measures between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale. The beautiful green color of Peridot comes from the inclusion of iron in its mineral makeup. The mineral Olivine is the main constituent
What is Opal? Opal is a mineraloid and measures between 5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It is a hydrous silicon dioxide and is without a definite crystalline structure or chemical composition. It contains a variable amount of water, making it a mineraloid, rather than a mineral. Opal is a breathtakingly beautiful stone and
What is Pearl? Pearls are unique among gemstones because they are organic rather than mineral in origin. They are formed inside mollusks and take many years to reach a size that is worth harvesting. The mollusk, of which oysters are the best-known producers of Pearls, coats a grain of sand, or other irritants, in layers
What is Moonstone? Moonstone is a variety of orthoclase, measures between 6 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale and occurs in shades of white, pale yellow, blue, and green. Its most distinctive characteristic is the way it behaves in light. Moonstone often exhibits a blue-to-white adularescence, meaning that it seems to emit a soft, billowy
What is Garnet? Most people think of a deep red to orange/brown crystal when they hear the name “Garnet”, but these stones come in many colors. Garnet is the name for a large group of rock-forming minerals that share a common structure and chemical composition. These minerals are found throughout the world in igneous, metamorphic,
What is Emerald? Emerald is the best-known stone of the group of minerals called Beryl. Emerald has a rich, distinct green color and is quite rare, making it one of the most precious stones, along with Diamond and Sapphire. Emerald measures 7.5 -8 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest gemstones. Despite
What is Zircon? Zircon should not be confused with Cubic Zirconia, which is a man-made simulant of Diamond. Zircon is the oldest mineral on the planet and is found in the Earth’s crust in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. It is a zirconium silicate and measures 7.5 on the Mohs scale for hardness. Zircon has
What is Diamond? Most people will recognize Diamond as a clear, sparkling gem. It is a rare, naturally occurring mineral composed of carbon, which is essentially an organic material that has been compressed in the ground for millions of years. Each carbon atom in a diamond is surrounded by four other carbon atoms. The atoms
What is Aquamarine? Aquamarine belongs to the mineral Beryl group of gemstones. It measures between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs scale, making it a relatively hard gemstone suitable for everyday wear. Its color reflects the colors of the sea, ranging from palest to deep blue and green. The most valuable specimens are those which
What is Citrine? Citrine is a variety of Quartz. It measures 7 on the Mohs scale for hardness and is transparent with a vitreous luster. It occurs in shades of yellow ranging from pale primrose to a deep, almost orange, hue. It has many uses and is a supreme healer stone. It occurs in geodes
What is Bloodstone? Bloodstone, also known as Heliotrope is widely occurring, easily obtainable and forms in large deposits. It is a form of Jasper, and also of Quartz, carrying the remarkable metaphysical and healing properties of both of these groups of crystals. And it measures between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale for hardness.