Agate

Agate is one of the most widespread semi-precious stones. It occurs in a variety of colors and textures. Real agate has gentle natural colors such as white, milky-brown, pale yellow, pale orange, reddish-brown and sometimes light blue.  Among a few other soft colors.  It is also a dense stone which makes it have a substantial weight to it.  It is also translucent with layers the let light go through it.  It is composed o tiny quartz crystals.  Mohs Hardness of 7.  It is not easily scratched.  

There are so many types of Agate out there I have made a short list of some. Blue Lace Agate, Dendritic Agate, Blue Agate, Botswana Agate, Flower Agate, Holly Blue Agate, Moss Agate,  being the most commonly known varieties.

I could fill a couple pages full of pictures of the various Agates available on the market today.  These are just a few examples.

Amazonite  

This name is the modern name for Microcline or Green Feldspar.  This is a very old gemstone that is know for it's beauty.  It has been called many names and has been in use since at least the time of the Pharaohs. Interestingly a piece of jewelry was found in the tomb of King Tutankhaum approx 1300 BC.  There were two ancient mines discovered in 2006 Egypt dating back to 1800 BC. 
Many things are created from this stone including statues and jewelry.   Amazonite comes in several colors, pale green, opaque green, blue green, turquoise blue, and yellow-green.

Mohs Hardness 6 - 6/12

Amethyst

Amethyst is the world's most popular purple gem. It is the purple color variety of quartz that has been used in personal adornment for over 2000 years.

Mohs hardness of 7
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What is Green Amethyst
Green amethyst refers to a light green and transparent gemstone belonging to the mineral family of Quartz. It is also known as Vermarine, lime citrine, and more commonly Prasiolite, which is a more apt name for the green form of amethyst.

Ametrine

Many people have not heard of this gemstone, Ametrine.  Ametrine is rare and is only produced from one source.  This stone is a combination of purple and Citrine quartz. Gem-quality ametrine is sourced from only a single site in Bolivia. The mine was rediscovered after three centuries.  The stones began to appear on the market again in the 1970's.  Today the mine named Anahi produces natural amethyst and citrine.  The two gemstones Amethyst and Citrine are combined and created the name Ametrine.  Sometimes this stone is known by others names, "amethyst-citrine," "trystine," "bicolor amethyst" and "bicolor quartz".  

Mohs Hardness of 7

Angelite

It is said this stone also known as Blue Anhydrite was first discovered in 1989.  Only found in Peru.  The name Angelite comes from a Greek word, anhydrous that means "without water". This stone has unique physical property as a dehydrated gypsum. The stone mainly crystallizes in the form of masses and is rarely seen in crystal form.  

Mohs Hardness of 6 to 7

Apatite

This gemstone has an interesting meaning to it's name.  Apatite is derived from a Greek word meaning to deceive or cheat.  It was named this simply because the stone resembles other stones.  

This is a calcium phosphate mineral found in variety of colors such as yellow, blue, green, gray, and brown. The most important colors for metaphysical use are blue, green, and gold. This stone was first discovered in 1786.  The largest Apatite deposit is in Russia but smaller deposits can be found in Brazil, Burm's, Madagascar and Mexico.  
 

Mohs Hardness of 5

Aquamarine 

This stone is a soft pale blue and is of the Beryl family of gemstones; this includes Yellow Beryl, Emerald,  Morganite and Goshenite. It is known as the gem of the ocean. This stone has been used in jewelry since at least 500 BC. The beautiful colors remind us of a clear blue ocean or lake. 

Mohs Hardness of 7.5 - 8

Aragonite 

Also known as tufa and Tchazar crystal. It was first discovered in 1788 at the Aragon River in Spain.  It is found in stalactites or around natural hot spring.  It is an interesting stone with the branch like crystal formations it contains.  It is also found in the lining of Mollusk shells.  The thin layers of this stone give the abalone shell the pearl-like luster.  Over time, the aragonite will re-crystallize into a more stable form of calcite to forever preserve the hard materials . Because it is a soft stone it needs to be carefully cared for.  

Mohs Hardness of 3.5 -4

Aventurine

This stone is a silicate gemstone made up of quartz and feldspar.  The stone has many colors.  Colors: usually green. Also orange, yellow, red, pink, purple, white, brown, blue, gray.  The stones have tiny inclusions that create a glittering effect.  The specific type of quartz in aventurine is chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of silica. The feldspar side is from the presence of plagioclase, a rock-forming silicate mineral.

Mohs Harness of 6.5 -7

 Beryl

Beryl has a large assortment of colors.  Look at the picture and see how many I have placed here and there are more colors.  Beryl is most know for Aquamarine and Emeralds.  There are some stones they refer to as Precious Beryl because of their quality. 

• Emerald, the green variety, is one of the more expensive and popular Beryl Stones
   

• Aquamarine, the blue to blue-green and is very popular.

• Morganite, Pink to light-purple.

• Aquamarine, the blue to blue-green and is very popular.

• Goshenite is the white to colorless variety of Beryl.

• Red Beryl, also known as Bixbite, is a rare, deep red variety found only two localities in Utah.

• Heliodor is yellow to greenish-yellow variety as well as some with orange and brown. 

Mohs Hardness of 7.5 to 8  

Bronzite

Not a lot is known about this stone.  Just the same it is a beautiful rich brown stone.  It is found all over the world.  It can be found in igneous rocks. It belongs to the mineral group, pyroxene. Some of the rocks with enstatite in them has a golden metallic luster.  

Mohs Hardness of 5.5

Bloodstone

Bloodstone also referred to as Heliotrope.  It is a member of the Chalcedony family.  I tis a variety of quartz.  It is bright green and has red inclusions and streaks of white.  This particular stone is not found in crystal form.  The stone is formed usually near the surface and under low pressures.  It is found in India and Germany.  The stone is generally inexpensive.  

Mohs Hardness of 6.5 to 7
 

Calcite

Calcite comes in many colors.  It is semi translucent.  It is a soft stone.  It is said the stone was named nearly 2,000 years ago and the name Greek name Chalix means lime.   The stone is a calcium carbonate and is found all over the world.  Often found in limestone.

Mohs Hardness of 3
 

Carnelian

Carnelian is a lovely vibrant quartz belonging to the Chalcedony family.  It comes in an assortment of colors,  brown, pin, red-orange, yellow-orange and orange-brown. It is comes in a variety of highly translucent to semi-opaque translucent.   The stones are found is in a number of various countries, USA, UK, Germany, Botswana, Scotland, South Africa,   Brazil, Egypt and Uruguay are also good sources. The name Carnelian comes from Latin word, carneus, which means Made of Flesh.  

There are some that feel Sard, Carnelian and Sardonyx are the same.  Please view the information at Carnelian - Wikipedia this has some good information about the difference.  

Mohs Hardness of 6.5 to 7

Chalcedony

Chalcedony is a form of Quartz.  It actually comes to us in many colors and patterns.  The stone has been used for a very long time.

 The colors can be White, Gray, Grayish-Blue, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown which can be pale brown to almost black, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Banded and Multicolored. Sometimes this stone is dyed to create a vibrant colorful piece.  Sometimes white Chalcedony is dyed light blue to resemble natural blue Chalcedony.  This stone is abundant in the world.  The name comes from the Latin name Chalcedonius.  

Interestingly the stone is mentioned in the Bible with other stones at Revelation 21:19-22
" The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chal·ceʹdo·ny, the fourth emerald,  the fifth sar·donʹyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysʹo·lite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysʹo·prase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. Also, the 12 gates were 12 pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl. And the main street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass."

I found a list of different forms of Chalcedony, I do not know if it is complete or not.  

Agate, Aventurine, Bloodstone

Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Jasper

Onyx, Sard and Sardonyx,

Tiger's Eye 

Hardness    6.5 - 7

Charoite

This is my favorite semi precious stone.  It is stunning.  The colors are spectacular with deep violet to lilac and some light brown.  The fibrous crystals of this mineral, create unique designs, often with chatoyant meaning silky or pearly luster.  Some have almost black swirls through them.   The stone was discovered in 1947 and comes from only one area in the entire world,  the River Char, Murun Mountains in Yakutia, Russia. That is where it acquired it's name Charoite.  They believe it is only formed here because of the combination of unique limestone reacting with other chemicals and because of the physical conditions where it is found.  The stone is expensive because of it's beauty and rarity.  

Mohs Hardness of 5 to 6 

Chrysanthemum Stone

This is a beautiful stone that is sometimes called the Flower Stone because how it was created. Colored chrysanthemum stone is a natural flower in geology.  The shape of the petals is lifelike, rich in layers, hard and fine in texture they are a collection of crystalline minerals. Each petal looking shape is a Rhombohedral crystal form.  The mineral composition varies according to the variety of stone.  An example would be a stone from Hunan Province that is mainly calcite and chalcedony with some ling strontium ore and lapis lazuli.  The intact chrysanthemum stone from the naturally exposed environment has become extinct.  It is a fragile and easily damaged after being changed by chemical methods. Chrysanthemum stone is a non-renewable resource, so the value will only rise.   

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Emerald

Emeralds belong to the Beryl family.  They are a rich green color and found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They are highly desirable and have been so for 5,000 plus years. To be an Emerald the stone has to have a distinct green color that is from bluish green to slightly yellow green.
And then we have Trapiche Emeralds.  These are beautiful, very unique and rare.  I have included a picture to show you it’s beauty. The Trapiche Emerald is found in just a few Colombian mines.  The stone has a unique structure that looks like branches off a tree. The name is from the Spanish term trapiche.  They were first described in 1879.   

             
Mohs Hardness of 7.5 to 8   

Fluorite

Fluorite is a mineral created of calcium and fluorine. The miner often call the rock, fluorspar.   Fluorite occurs as a vein filling in rocks such as dolomites and limestones.  The colors are amazing of blue, purple, green, yellow, red and even black. It is transparent to translucent.  This rock is found in many parts of the world.  

 
Mohs Hardness    4
 

Gaspeite 

A rare nickel carbonate mineral also part of the Calcite mineral group.  It got it's name from where it was discovered, Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, Canada.  It was first noticed and talked about in 1966.  It has become very popular in the beading world.  The colors are yellowish green to a bright green with many containing brown matrix.  It has been found mostly in Quebec Canada, Western Australia, Japan and South Africa.

 Mohs Hardness of 4.5 to 5.0
 

Garnet

Garnet is found throughout the world. It is found in metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks.  Usually found near the surface.  Garnet known for it's deep red color but it is also found in other colors such as orange, green, yellow, purple, black, or brown. Blue garnets are extremely rare. The colors depend on the minerals they find the Garnets in.

Mineral              Colors
Almandine        red, brown
Pyrope              red to purple
Spessartine      orange to red to brown
Andradite          green, yellow, black
Grossular          green, yellow, red,                               pink, clear
Uvarovite           green

Mohs Hardness of 6.5 to 7.5

Geodes

These are beautiful stones that look great in jewelry creations.  They are so colorful and each is unique.  The colors are spectacular. It amazes me that when they open an ordinary looking rock there is such beauty inside it.  The mineral lining in the rock produces many unique color variations.  Purple, gray, white, banded Agate, Rhodochrosite Opal and more. There are Geodes that are formed where there is volcanic activity, they can be filled with agate, opal, and quarts. Opening a stone with a Geode in it is like finding a hidden treasure. Then we have sedimentary Geodes. These form in limestones, calcareous shale and dolomite.  

Mohs Hardness of 6.5 to 7.5

Hematite
 

Found in sedimentary, metamorphic, and ingenious rocks. Its color ranges include red to brown and black to gray to silver. 
Hematite is a natural gemstone with highly affordable and common imitations. As a result, natural hematite is quite expensive, due to how inefficient it is to turn the material into gemstones.  Natural hematite is not magnetic.  

Hemalyke is a brand name for hematine, a manufactured material. ). This man-made material can be formed as a block, then cut like standard gemstones. . If it's magnetic, just assume it's a man-made. Not genuine.

Mohs Hardness of 5 to 6.5
 

Howlite

This rock was first discovered in Canada in 1868 by a Canadian chemist named Henry How. The name Howlite was given to this rock by James Dwight Dana shortly after it's discovery. A rock that is white with dark gray streaks running through it. Howlite is a borate mineral.  Howlite in crystal form is rare and found only in a couple locations in the world.  Howlite is  often used to substitute more expensive rock turquoise.  The turquoise dyed version is often sold under the name Turquenite also known as turquoise Howlite.   

Mohs Hardness of 3.5

Iolite

Iolite comes from the Greek word for violet and also the name dichroite which means two-colored rock.  The official mineral name is cordierite. Interesting the rock has also been called water-sapphire.  The stone is pale to dark blue, violet and colorless crystals as well as grey sometimes. The major source for this stone is Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar and Myanmar.

Mohs Hardness of 7 to 7.5

Jade

There are two different types of Jade, Jadeite and Nephrite.  There chemical composition is different as well as their crystal structure.  
Nephrite:  Colors of this type of Jade are mainly white, gray, dark green, reddish brown and black.  
Jadeite:  Colors of this type of Jade are, green, yellow, black, white, lavender.  
There is so much information about Jade and those stones that look like Jade, I can not possibly put it all here.  

Nephrite, Mohs Hardness of 6 to 6.5

Jadeite,  Mohs Hardness of 6.5 to 7

Jasper

Jasper is a variety of quartz that contains iron oxide.  Jasper is harder than glass and is found in metamorphic rocks in mass or as distinct crystals. There are numerous colors associated with this stone, brown, yellow, reddish brown, red, mottled green, black, orange, green, and the patterns are as numerous.

The stone is mentioned in the Bible at Revelation 21:11 and is called a most precious stone. Itis also mentioned in Exodus 28:2,15,18,21; 39:11 and was placed on Aaron's "breast piece of judgment."

The stone can be solid or have unique patterns. This stone is very appealing to many people, the patterns are so beautiful in some of them they call some of the stones Picture Jasper.  It is an affordable stone that is used in creating many things, a lot of jewelry uses these stones because of the vast variety it offers.  

There are so many names that the retail market sells these stones under. The word Jasper means spotted or speckled stone.  The stone is hard and accepts a polish very well, making it popular for many years.  

• African Jasper - with its dark hues

• Agate Jasper  -   Opaque multi-colored Jasper, or Jasper with banding.

• Biggs Jasper  -  Jasper from Biggs Junction, Oregon,  muted gold, brown and ebony almost wooden-looking colors.

• Brazilian Jasper - with its green patches

• Brecciated Jasper  -   Jasper in rounded fragments naturally cemented together in a gray material; appears similar to breccia.

• Bruneau Jasper  -  Jasper from Bruneau Canyon, in Owyhee County, Idaho,  caramel and cream layers of banding and patterns.

• Cave Creek Jasper  -   Reddish Jasper found near Cave Creek in Maricopa County, Arizona.

• Dendritic Jasper - with feathery patterns formed by ancient sea creatures

• Deschutes Jasper  -  Jasper from a deposit slightly east of Biggs Junction, Oregon, near the Deschutes River, with good banding and interesting color formations.

• Egyptian Jasper  -   Form of Orbicular Jasper with white and gray circles on a red background. It is found as rounded pebbles on the beaches of Egypt. A similar Jasper is found on the beaches of Washington state and sometimes also labelled as Egyptian Jasper.

• Flame Jasper - with its swirls of red and orange

• Green Jasper  -  Jasper with a light to dark green color. Green Jasper differs from Prase and Plasma since it is fully opaque.

• Jaspilite  -   Banded rock that is a mixture of Hematite and Jasper.

• Kinradite  -  Orbicular Jasper with concentric rings of colorless or white Quartz. Occasionally used as a synonym of Jasper.

• Leopard Jasper  -   Form of Orbicular Jasper with tan color rings, appearing similar to the spots of a leopard.

• Morgan Hill Jasper  -  Jasper from Morgan Hill, California, with small reddish and yellow "poppy" formations. Also synonymous with "Poppy Jasper".

• Morrisonite  -   Multi-colored Jasper from the Owyhee River gorge in Malheur Co., Oregon.

• Moss Jasper  -  Form of Jasper or Chalcedony containing dense inclusions of green Hornblende that cause the pattern to resemble moss. Often used as a synonym for Moss Agate, though Moss Agate is translucent whereas Moss Jasper is opaque.

• Mushroom Jasper - Mushroom Jasper is a picturesque stone also known as Mushroom Rhyolite.  Found in Phoenix, Arizona.  As you can see in the pictures it has unique and interesting patterns in the stones. It can be polished nicely.  Often it has formations of quartz and agate found in them.  Mohs scale of hardness is 6½ - 7.

• Ocean Jasper  -   Form of Orbicular Jasper found on the coast of Madagascar with small, tight, concentric ring formations.

• Opal Jasper  -  Form of Brecciated Jasper in which the cementing material is Opal.

• Orbicular Jasper  -   Jasper with rounded concentric rings.

• Owyhee Jasper  -  Form of Jasper with scenic picture  resembling deserts and skies, found near the Owyhee River in Oregon.

• Picture Jasper  -   Form of Jasper with scenic picture-like formations.

• Poppy Jasper  -  Form of yellow Orbicular Jasper with red concentric rings.

• Riband Jasper  -   Jasper with banded stripes, usually dark red, brown, yellow, or white bands.

• Ribbon Jasper  -  Form of Banded Jasper with thick banded lines.

• Rogueite  -   Green form of Jasper from the Rogue River in Oregon.

• Russian Jasper  -  Jasper from Russia, often with reddish spots.

• Stone Canyon Jasper  -   Yellowish Brecciated Jasper from Stone Canyon, California.

• Wascoite  -  Jasper from Wasco Co., Oregon, with irregular yellow, pink, and red concentric bands.

• Zebra Jasper  -   Dark brown Jasper with lighter brown to white colored banding streaks.

There are a few varieties of stone that are called Jasper.  This is a common misnomer, Dalmation Jasper and Bumblebee Jasper are not Jasper at all.  
 
This Jasper stone is common and found throughout the world.  India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Egypt, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay and the United States (Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, and Texas).
 

Mohs Hardness of 7

Kyanite

This is a beautiful blue or green stone that consist of aluminum silicate.  The stone was named by Abraham Werner in 1789.  Interestingly this stone  is used in so many ways, head-resistant ceramics, insulators and abrasives, that is when it is not in gemstone form of course. In a jewelry setting it is stunning.  The name of this stone is derived from the Greek word the Ancient Greek word κύανος. This is generally rendered into English as kyanos or kuanos and means "dark blue Kyanos.  However this stone can also come in several other colors; gray, orange, yellow and white. 

Depending on how it is cut the Mohs hardness scale ranges from 4 to 4.5 when cut parallel to it's long axis, when cut perpendicular it hardness can range from 6 to 7.  

This stone is found in several locations around the world.  Austria, Burma, Brazil, India, Kenya, Cambodia, Nepal, Russian, Switzerland and the USA to name some. Orange kyanite was recently discovered in Tanzania

Mohs Hardness of 4 to 7

Labradorite

This stone is a feldspar mineral.  While the most commonly found colors of these stones are white and grey, labradorite stones in blue, green, yellow and brown hues have been found too.   These are beautiful iridescent gemstones that usually have a dark base color with metallic-looking color plays of blue, green, yellow, and red.  This iridescent effect is usually known as labradorescence.  Labradorite is not exclusive to Canada however, and can also be found in Mexico, Russia and Finland. 

Mohs Hardness    6 - 6.5
 

Lapis Lazuli

This is a beautiful and prized stone.  The deep-blue metamorphic rock has been prized since ancient times.  It's predominant use in in jewelry today.  Used in ancient times it is still very prized today, in the middle ages the rock began to be exported to Europe.  It is said that it was ground into powder and made into ultramarine.  Ultramarine was used by artists of the Renaissance and Baroque time.

Mohs Hardness of 5-6
 

Lepidolite

Discover the beautiful, rare gem of Lepidolite! With its stunning pink, red, and purple hues, it not only serves as a minor ore of lithium but also makes a great gemstone when impregnated with quartz. Its gentle hardness of 2.5-3 Mohs provides durability while adding a touch of color to any collection. Luh-PI-duh-lite has never been so alluring!

Pink to purple, also lesser-common rose-red, violet-gray, yellowish, white, colorless
 

Lepidolite is a key component in the creation of stunning “aventurine” quartz gems. With its unique shimmer and shades of pink, red, and purple, lepidolite adds a touch of beauty to any piece. Even a small percentage of lepidolite flakes can result in a noticeable color change in aventurine.

Malachite

Experience the rich and vibrant beauty of Malachite, the gemstone that gets its stunning green hue from copper. With a copper content of 58%, Malachite is a minor copper ore that is often found in copper mining deposits.Discover the stunning beauty of Malachite, formed through natural processes that create its unique swirling patterns. These bands reflect the changes in chemical solutions, resulting in a mesmerizing microcrystalline aggregate. Occuring usually in massive form or as a crust on other rocks, experience the wonder of Malachite for yourself.

Discover the key features of real malachite and how to spot fake ones. Natural malachite boasts predominantly linear and circular ring features, while imitation malachite has more swirling due to its resin composition. Look out for bold black lines and exaggerated swirling, as these are generally signs of imitation.  Not that it is a bad thing to have imitation malachite it should just be priced accordingly.
 

Mookaite

A stone found in the Australian outback. This is part of the Jasper family.  Its deep red and yellow colors symbolize our connection to nature and ancient ancestors. Its name comes from Mooka Creek.

This stone's softness enables easy carving and shaping, while its unique color variations of reddish-brown, yellow, orange, pink, and purple add character to any project. The glossy or silky finish adds a touch of elegance.
 

Moonstone

Moonstones are unmistakable with their characteristic fissure systems, resembling "centipedes" under a microscope, and rectangular dark areas, created by exsolution pressures. Myanmar moonstones have additional needle inclusions, making them truly unique. A must-have for gem collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate natural formations.

Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is technically termed “nacre”. Expertly crafted from the inner layer of mollusk shells, mother of pearl, or nacre. Formed by crystallized mineral compounds on the inner shells of mollusks, it boasts a smooth and iridescent finish. Its interlocking platelets and silk-like proteins create a unique texture, making it a stunning addition to any piece. Saltwater oysters and abalone, along with freshwater mussels, secrete nacre along the inner walls of their shells.  Discover the stunning beauty of this unexpected material hidden inside shellfish. Experience its unique texture and appearance, adding a touch of elegance to any outfit or decoration. A truly one-of-a-kind find, perfect for those seeking something extraordinary.

Obsidian

As a volcanic glass, Obsidian is formed when hot magma rises from deep within the earth and cools quickly on the surface. Its unique properties include a glassy lustre and a hardness greater than window glass. The presence of hematite and tiny gas bubbles can produce red and golden varieties.

Onyx

Onyx is a unique form of chalcedony, formed in lava cavities. Its multi-layered structure, similar to agates, creates a striking contrast between black and white. With a deep black base, this stone is known as black onyx, while sardonyx features a brown base and carnelian-onyx boasts a rich red base. Add an elegant touch to your jewelry collection with this beautiful stone.

Mohs Hardness:  6-1/2 to 7 

Opal

Discover the stunning Opal gemstone, derived from the Sanskrit word upala meaning precious stone. Found in igneous or sedimentary rock, this gem is known for its unique iridescence. With the highest quality found in Australia, it's also found in locations around the world such as in Brazil, Mexico, Czech Republic, Slovakia, southern Africa and Nevada of the United States.

Mohs Hardness:  5.5–6
 

Pearls

Peridot

Petrified Wood

Prehnite

Pyrite

Quartz

Rhodochrosite

Rhodonite

Rhyolite

Sodalite

Sunstone

Tanzanite

Tektite

Tiger's Eye

Tourmaline

Turquoise

Unakite