Sometimes used as a gemstone, phenacite (or “phenakite”) consists of beryllium orthosilicate and is a rather rare (and highly priced) nesosilicate mineral. The crystals are isolated and occasionally transparent and colorless, but are more often translucent and yellowish or grayish in coloration. They can also be pink, rose-red or brown. Phenacite is often mistaken for […]
Peridot is a magnesium-rich, gem quality variety of olivine (a silicate mineral). Unlike most gemstones, it occurs in just a single color. In this case, that color is a lovely olive green. The green, however, may vary from yellowish to brownish, with the most valuable type exhibiting a well known deep olive green color. While […]
variety of different kinds of opal can be found in Oregon in the United States. Crystal, contra luz, hydrophane, hyalite, dentritic, fire, common opals and more all occur in Morrow county in an area called Opal Butte. Some great gemstones are produced from this location even though some of the opal there is unstable during […]
Opal is a hydrated silicon dioxide. This means that it has a crystal structure that is amorphous as well as a very high water content. It is considered to be a mineraloid,” and has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, a density of 1.98 to 2.5, a refractive index of 1.37 […]
“Ocean jasper” is the registered trademark name given to an unusual variety of orbicular jasper by The Gem Shop, Inc. This mineral is found in only one place in the world: a remote location along the rugged shores of northeast Madagascar. It is an exciting stone that comes in a wild range and combination of […]
“Apache tears” are common nodules of obsidian, or natural volcanic glass, found primarily in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada, where Apache Indians resided in the southwestern United States. It can be relatively difficult to find information on this rock because it is really just a nickname given to some obsidian, in reference to the tale […]
Moss agate, sometimes also referred to as “mocha stone,” “gardener’s stone,” or “birthing crystal,” is made from silicon dioxide and is a semi-precious gemstone. It is included in the agate family even though it is not banded. Agate belongs to the quartz family and is a type of chalcedony. This crystal exhibits a trigonal crystal […]
Morganite, a form of beryl, is a relatively rare and subtley beautiful gem. Beryl is not particularly rare and comes in many varities; perhaps one of the most important and beautiful is Morganite. This beautiful gem was first discovered in good sizes on an island near Madagascar and was actually named after J.P. Morgan. Not […]
Moonstone is a beautiful shimmery stone that has always been surrounded by a great deal of magic and mystique. It is even regarded as holy in many cultures. In India, it is regarded as a “dream stone” that brings its wearer beautiful visions during the night. In Arabic countries, it is sewn into the garments […]
Mookaite jasper is a beautiful mineral of earthy, bold color that is found in the outcroppings near Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges of western Australia. “Mooka” is an aboriginal term that means “running waters,” in reference to the springs feeding into this area. Over the course of millennia, the skeletal remains of microscopic protozoa […]