GEMSTONES A -TO-Z
Agate
Almandine Garnet
Amazonite
Amethyst
Ametrine
Andalusite
Andesine-Labradorite
Apatite
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Azotic Topaz
Aquamarine
Beryl
Cat's Eye Apatite
Cat's Eye Tourmaline
Chalcedony
Chrome Diopside
Chrome Tourmaline
Chrysoberyl
Citrine
Color Change Garnet
Diamond
Emerald
Fire Opal
Fluorite
Garnet
Hiddenite
Imperial Topaz
Iolite
Jadeite
Jasper
Kunzite
Kyanite
Lapis Lazuli
Moonstone
Moss Opal
Mystic Quartz
Mystic Topaz
Onyx
Opal
Orthoclase
Paraiba tourmaline
Pearl
Peridot
Prehnite
Pyrope Garnet
Quartz
Rhodolite Garnet
Rose Quartz
Ruby
Ruby-Zoisite
Rutile Quartz
Sapphire
Smoky Quartz
Spessartite Garnet
Sphene
Spinel
Spodumene
Star Moonstone
Star Rose Quartz
Star Ruby
Star Sapphire
Tanzanite
Tiger's Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Tsavorite Garnet
Turquoise
Zircon
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Gemstones Listed (A-to-Z)
Agate
Almandine Garnet
Amazonite
Amethyst
Ametrine
Andalusite
Andesine-Labradorite
Apatite
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Azotic Topaz
Aquamarine
Beryl
Cat's Eye Apatite
Cat's Eye Tourmaline
Chalcedony
Chrome Diopside
Chrome Tourmaline
Chrysoberyl
Citrine
Color Change Garnet
Diamond
Emerald
Fire Opal
Fluorite
Garnet
Hiddenite
Imperial Topaz
Iolite
Jadeite
Jasper
Kunzite
Kyanite
Lapis Lazuli
Moonstone
Moss Opal
Mystic Quartz
Mystic Topaz
Onyx
Opal
Orthoclase
Paraiba tourmaline
Pearl
Peridot
Prehnite
Pyrope Garnet
Quartz
Rhodolite Garnet
Rose Quartz
Ruby
Ruby-Zoisite
Rutile Quartz
Sapphire
Smoky Quartz
Spessartite Garnet
Sphene
Spinel
Spodumene
Star Moonstone
Star Rose Quartz
Star Ruby
Star Sapphire
Tanzanite
Tiger's Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Tsavorite Garnet
Turquoise
Zircon
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Abalone is a mollusk whose shell is iridescent on the inside which and used as a source of mother of pearl.
Acroite is a rare, colorless variety of tourmaline.
Adularia is a common type of moonstone and is usually set as a cabochon. It was very popular early in the 20th century and extensively used in Art Nouveau jewelry. Hardness=6. S.G.=2.57.
African Emerald is a misnomer for green fluorspar that is mined in South Africa and it is not an emerald at all.
African Jade is not jade but a misnomer for massive green grossular garnet that is mined in South Africa It does look like jade and can be light green, white, or pink. It is also called Buddstone, Garnet Jade, Grossular Garnet, South African Jade and Transvaal Jade.
Agate is a stone with distinct and dramatically banded stone composed of quartz layers. This composition varies greatly and can be of many colors. Agates tend to be translucent or at least contain translucent bands being composed of microscopic "fibers" of crystalline quartz. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in a host rock. As a result, agate often is found as a round nodule with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk. There are many specific colorations of agates that have been given variety names. types of agates. Hardness=7 S.G.=2.6-2.7, R.I.=1.544-1.553
Alexandrite is a gem type of chrysoberyl that appears to be different colors depending on whether it is viewed in natural or artificial light. Alexandrite appears to be red when seen in candle light and blue to green when seen in fluorescent light. Alexandrite was discovered on the birthday of the Russian Czar Alexander II, and it was named in his honor. Alexandrite is mined in Russia, Brazil, Burma, Ceylon, and Rhodesia. Laboratory-produced alexandrite is common, and it is often sold as natural alexandrite. Hardness=8.5, S.G.=3.64-3.74, R.I.=1.746-1.755
Almandine is a the most common type in the Garnet family. It is violet-tinged and ranges in color from deep red to reddish-brown. Some Almandine garnets display asterism when polished as cabochons and are known as "Star Garnets. Hardness=7.5, S.G.=3.85-4.20.
Amazonite is an iridescent variety of microcline used as a semiprecious stone. It ranges in color from green to blue-green. Most Amazonite is opaque often found with white, yellow or gray inclusions and a silky luster or silvery sheen but rare crystals are transparent. It is usually set as a cabochon since it breaks easily if faceted. Amazonite should be cleaned in lukewarm soapy water, never with a steamer or ultrasonic cleaner. Hardness=6, S.G.=2.56-2.58.
Amber is is the fossilized tree resin of now-extinct conifer trees and ancient pines that hardened and became preserved in the earth's crust for millions of years. It one of the few organic gemstones and comes in many colors including yellow, reddish, whitish, black, and blue. It is flammable and can usually be distinguished from plastics and glasses by its inclusions and its ability to float in salt water. H=2.5, S.G.=1.05-1.10, R.I.=1.54.
American Ruby is actually a semi-precious pyrope garnet and not a ruby. It is has a deep red color. Hardness=6-8, S.G.=3.5 - 4.3.
Amethyst is a form of the mineral quartz and relatively common gemstone. It is usually purple, but ranges in color from pale lavender to a very deep, reddish purple to a milky color to green. Deeper-colored amethysts are more highly valued. Most Amethyst is faceted into jewelry cuts, and some are cut as cabochons. Hardness=7, S.G,=2.6-2.7, R.I.=1.544-1.553.
Ametrine is a variety of quartz, a mixture of amethyst and citrine. It is partially purple and partially orange-yellow with the color zones often sharply divided. It is found only in the Anahi mine in BoliviaHardness=7, S.G,=2.6-2.7, R.I.=1.544-1.533.
Ammolite is a fossilized, opalized ammonite shell used as a gemstone. It is a gray, iridescent stone with flashes of green, red, yellow, blue or purple (blues and purples are rare); the color changes as the stone is turned. It is also known as korite, calcentine, or Buffalo Stone. Ammolite is usually treated with a colorless, hard material to increase the strength of the stone and is often mounted as a doublet or a triplet. It is only found in southern Alberta, Canada. Hardness=4 , S.G.=2.8.
Andalusite is highly a pleochroic gemstone, that is the angle of light refraction makes the wide array of colors seen in the stone. Typical colors include green, brown, red and yellow. The angle at which the stone is cut directly affects the resulting color of the stone. Hardness=7.5, S.G.=3.2, R.I.=1.64 & 1.55.
Apache Tears is a type of obsidian (volcanic glass) that is usually black, but is occasionally red, brown, gray, green (rare), dark with "snowflakes," or even clear. Hardness=5, S.G.=2.35.
Apatite is a clear to opaque stone that comes in many colors, including green, yellow, blue, violet, and yellow-green called asparagus stone. Some apatite stones show a cat's eye asterism. This stone is rarely used in jewelry because it is brittle and soft. Hardness=5, S.G.=3.15-3.22.
Aquamarine belongs to the beryl gemstone family. Gem-quality aquamarine is usually free of inclusions and possesses a superior brilliance, while bead-grade aquamarine tends to have many interesting inclusions and numerous opaque areas. The more intense the color of this stone, the higher its value. It ranges in color from light blue to sea-green. Today, blue aquamarines are more highly valued, but this was not true in the past, when sea-green stones were prized. Hardness=7.5-8, S.G.=2.65-2.85, R.I.=1.577-1.583.
Arizona Ruby is actually a semi-precious pyrope garnet and not a ruby. It is has a deep red color. Hardness=6-8, S.G.=3.5 - 4.3.
Arizona Spinel is actually a garnet and not a ruby. Hardness=6-8, S.G.=3.5 - 4.3.
Arkansas Diamond is actually a rock crystal, the purest form of quartz and considered a semi-precious stone. It is transparent and often faceted in the likeness of diamonds. Hardness=7, S.G,=2.6-2.7.
Aventurine is also called goldstone and its often used misspelling Adventurine, is a translucent to opaque, massive variety of Quartz containing small inclusions of one of several shiny minerals which give the stone a glistening, ore aventurescence effect. The color depends on the mineral included in the stone. Mica inclusions give a yellowish or silverish glitter or sheen. Goethite and Hematite inclusions give a reddish or grayish glitter or sheen. Fuschite inclusions give a greenish sheen. Aventurine may be green, orange, brown, yellow, or gray. All colors may be used in jewelry, but the green type is by far the most desirable. Aventurine is cut and polished into cabochons and beads for jewelry. Hardness=7, S.G.=2.6-2.7.
Aventurine Feldspar is also called Sunstone. This gemstone varies from golden to orange to red-brown, and can be transparent or translucent. Sunstone is metallic-looking due to sparkling red, orange or green crystalline inclusions of hematite or goethite crystals. Hardness=6, S.G.=2.63 - 2.67.
Aventurine Quartz is a type of quartz with sparkling inclusions of mica or iron. Colors include red-brown, yellow, gray, and green. This stone is usually cut with a flat or rounded surface to maximize its sparkle. Hardness=7, S.G.=2.64-2.69.
Azurite is a copper-based blue mineral often used in jewelry. Color ranges from very deep blue to pale blue. It usually occurs with green Malachite, which may form green stains or specks on Azurite crystals or aggregates. The two minerals sometimes occur admixed or banded together, forming what is called "Azure-malachite" . It is sometimes coated with a colorless wax or impregnated with plastic in order to enhance the color and increase the hardness. Hardness=3.5 to 4 S.G.=3.7 to 3.9, R.I.=1.730-1.838.
B
Benitoite is a rare, blue gemstone that is found mostly in the San Benito River in San Benito County, near Coalinga, California. It is strongly dichroic; blue when viewed from most directions, colorless when viewed in a single direction. it is the only known ditrigonal-dipyramidal crystal. Hardness =6-6.5, S.G.=3.68, R.I.=1.757 - 1.804.
Beryl is a family of colorful gemstones that include emerald (green), aquamarine (blue), Bixbite (red), morganite (pink), heliodor (yellow), Riesling (pale green with warm golden yellow flash), and goshenite (colorless). Hardness=7 - 8, S.G.=2.6-2.9,R.I.=1.577-1.583.
Black Moonstone is a type of labradorite that is black with bluish inclusions and not true moonstone. It is usually cut with a flat surface in order to highlight the flashes of color. Hardness=6-6.5, S.G.=2.70.
Black Opals are a variety of precious opals found in Australia with a dark ground color. They are luminous, iridescent, and frequently have inclusions of many colors, i.e. "fire". Hardness=5.5-6.5, S.G.=1.98-2.50. R.I.=1.37-1.47.
Bloodstone is also called heliotrope and an inexpensive type of chalcedony that is green with red highlights (caused by iron oxide). It is a dark-green variety of chalcedony (quartz) dotted with nodules of bright-red jasper. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, resembling drops of blood and inspiring its name. Hardness=6.5-7, S.G.=2.60, R.I.=1.535-1.539.
C
Cairngorm is the yellow-brown type of smoky quartz that is often used in traditional Celtic jewelry. The supply of cairngorm is virtually exhausted. Hardness=7, S.G,=2.6-2.7
Calcite is a very common mineral that comes in a wide variety of forms, shapes and colors. Calcite is often fluorescent, and a small amount of manganese is enough to make it glow red under UV light. It also exhibits strong double refraction making anything observed through the crystal appear as double. Hardness=3 (most forms), S.G. ~2.7, R.I=1.49 and 1.66.
Carnelian is also called cornelian and carneole. It is a orange-red form of chalcedony (microcrystaline quartz). When it grades into brown it is known as Sard. When it contains bands of white, it is known as Sardonyx. It is generally cut into cabochons or beads. Most commercial carnelian is really stained chalcedony. Hardness=7, S.I.=2.65, R.I.=1.564-1.660.
Chalcedony is a catch-all term for microcrystalline quartzes. As a marketing term in the gemstone industry "chalcedony" refers more specifically to semitransparent or translucent chalcedony with a solid color (commonly pale bluish-gray) and nearly waxlike luster. The color can also be white, blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange or red. The orange-red,is known as carnelian. Blue and purple are the most popular hues, The stone is extremely porous, so it takes dye easily and is frequently enhanced. Hardness=6.5-7, S.I.=2.6, R.I.=1.564-1.660.
Chrysanthemum Rock is is a black and white rock made up of Gypsum clay, Dolomite and Limestone, with internal crystals of Calcite, Feldspar, Celestite or Andalusite in patterns which can resemble Chrysanthemum flowers or Star Bursts or Snowflake crystals. These stones have been found in Japan, Canada, China and the USA.
Chrysoberyl is a family of stones ranging in color from yellow, to brown, to green. Some chrysoberyls include alexandrite and Cat's Eye. Hardness=8.5, S.G.=3.72, R.I.=1.746-1.755.
Chrysocolla is an opaque blue to blue-green mineral sometimes used in jewelry, usually cut as a cabochon. Hardness=2-4. S.G.=2.0-2.24, R.I.=1.54.
Chrysolite is a synonym of Olivine (i.e. contains half Forsterite and half Fayalite and may also refer to any Olivine that is yellow-green in color. The name is incorrectly used in describing two minerals: Chrysotile and sometimes in the gem trade to describe yellow, transparent Chrysoberyl.
Chrysoprase is one of the most valuable chalcedony (quartz) gemstones, prized for its rarity and opalescent apple-green color. Often opaque, the more translucent the gemstone, the better the quality. Hardness=7, S.G.=2.65, R.I.=1.54-1.660.
Cinnabar is the mineral mercury sulfide with a color ranging from cinnamon to scarlet to brick red and can be translucent to transparent. It is very soft and often carved. Hardness=2-2.5, S.G.=8.1
Citrine is a rare yellow type of quartz that ranges in color from pale yellow to orange to golden brown. The best quality citrine is found in Brazil. Many stones sold as citrine are actually heat-treated amethysts. Hardness=7, S.G.=2.65, R.I.=1.544-1.553.
Coral is one of the few organic gems. It is an animal that grows in colonies in the ocean and ranges in color from pale pink (angelskin coral) to orange to red to white to black. The most valued colors are deep red (noble coral) and pink. In jewelry making, coral is either carved into beads, cameos and other forms, or is left in its natural branch-like form and just polished. It used to be thought that coral protected the wearer, so it was a traditional gift to children. Hardness=3.5-4, S.G.=2.6-2.7, R.I.=1.486-1.658.
Corundum is called ruby or sapphire, depending on the color which depends on which metallic oxides are present: Rubies contain chromic oxide, blue sapphires contain titanium, yellow sapphires contain ferric oxide. In its rare pure colorless form it is called white sapphire. Other impure forms are opaque. All corundum stones can asterisms. Hardness=9, S.G.=4.0, R.I.=1.762-1.770.
D
Demantoid Garnet is the valuable green colored version of garnet with a cubic crystalline structure. It ranges from yellowish-green to brownish green with a golden shine with deep emerald green being the most valuable. They are more dispersive than diamond. Hardness=6-7 , S.G.=3.8 - 3.9, R.I.=1.89.
Diamonds are made of highly-compressed carbon and are one of the hardest materials known. Colors range from colorless, yellow, orange, brown, to almost black. Rarer colors are red, blue, green, and purple; these colors (called fancies) are quite valuable. A diamond's value is based on the "4 C's": color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Hardness=10, S.G.=3.51-3.53, R.I.=2.417-2.420.
Diopside is a common calcium magnesium silicate that crystallizes from magma. It is the deep green chatoyant or double chatoyant forms. and a variety termed violane that is a a blue-violet. Hardness=5-6, S.I.=3.29, R.I.=1.675-1.701.
Dumortierite is a blue to violet silicate mineral sometimes used as a semi-precious stone in jewelry. Hardness=7-8.5, S.G.=3.3-3.4.
E
Emeralds are the green color of beryl. Emerald's precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and some vanadium impurities, and enhanced by traces of iron. Unlike other beryls, emeralds often contain inclusions and other flaws called jardin. These flaws are not considered negative aspects, instead they are part of the character of the stone and may verify its authenticity to the purchaser. Hardness of 7.5-8, S.G.=2.6 - 2.7, R.I.=1.746-1.755.
Eudialyte occurs in distinct colors of a red-violet, pink, blue, yellow, and brown. It is a rare cyclosilicate mineral rarely forming good crystals and its rarely used as a gemstone, more of a collectible curiosity. Hardness=5-5.5, S.I.=2.8-3.0, R.I.=1.598-1.602.
F
Fire Opal is term for an opal that is fiery orange to red in color but without opalescence, generally milky. Hardness=5.5-6.5, S.G.=1.98-2.50.
Fluorite occurs in many colors including purple, colorless, red, pink, yellow, green, blue, black, yellow, and multi-colored stones. Crystals are transparent to translucent. Fluorite is relatively soft and easily scratched limiting its use in jewelry. Hardness=4, S.G.=3.0-3.3.
G
Gagate is more commonly known as jet and is a variety of coal called lignite. It is frequently carved or cabochon cut. Hardness=2.5-4, S.G.=1.30-1.35.
Garnet is any of a group of semi-precious silicate stones occurring in all colors but blue. Some garnets used as gemstones include pyrope (deep red garnet), almandine (orange-red), spessartine (yellow-orange), grossular (colorless, orange, red, pink or brown), an iron-aluminum dark red calledcarbuncle stone, Uvarovite (rare emerald green), Andradite (yellow-green to orange-yellow to black), Demantoid (green to yellow-green), Topazolite (yellow-orange-yellow), and others. Hardness=6.5-7.5, S.G.=3.5-4.3, R.I.=1.73-1.76.
Gaspeite is a pale green to apple-green semi-precious gemstone, often with brown inclusions of host rock. It is translucent to opaque and only recently been used in jewelry. Hardness=4.5-5, S.G.=3.7.
Goldstone or aventurine and commonly misspelled adventurine, is a quartz stone that ranges in color from yellow to red to light green to light brown. The shimmer is caused by tiny metallic particles (mica) within the stone.
Goshenite is the pure, colorless form of beryl.
Grape Garnet is a rare, intense violet to purple-red garnet ade up of almandite and spessartite forms or garnet. Hardness=7-7.5, S.G.=3.8-3.9.
Green Garnet is a Demantoid garnet. They are a rare variety of andradite and have characteristic inclusions that look like horsetails. Hardness=6-7 , S.G.=3.8 - 3.9, R.I.=1.89.
Greenstone is another name for nephrite, a variety of jade. It is often veined and used in carvings.
Grossular Garnet is a type of garnet with many different colors and associated names. Hessionite is a transparent brown, yellow, orange, or honey-colored variety often used in jewelry. The yellow variety is called cinnamon stone, hyacinth or jacinth. Transvaal is green to gray. Pink varieties include landerite, rosolite, and Xalostocite. Tsavorite is an emerald-green grossular garnet. Hardness=6.5-7.5, S.G.=3.5-4.3, R.I.=1.73-1.76.
H
Hackmanite is a vibrant pink variety of sodalite that exhibits tenebrescence. It fades to colorless when exposed to light but will revert when placed in the dark or exposed to shortwave ultraviolet light. Hardness=6, S.G.=2.29, R.I.=1.483-1.487.
Heliodore is the golden yellow or golden green variety of beryl. Hardness=7.5-8, S.G.=2.72, R.I.=1.577-1.583.
Heliotrope is another name for bloodstone.
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