Amazonite: Semi - Precious Gemstone
Features & Benefits
Crystal structure: Triclinic Occurrence: granite pegmatite rocks
Color: Green to blue-green color Luster: Vitreous to pearly Transparency: Translucent to Opaque
Mineral Family: Feldspar Chemical composition: potassium aluminum silicate KAlSi3O8 Coloring agent: Lead and Water
Color: Green to blue-green color Luster: Vitreous to pearly Transparency: Translucent to Opaque
Most widely cut: Cabochon Mohs hardness: 6 – 6.5
Amber
Chemical Composition: C10H16O Crystal System: Amorphous Colours and Varieties: Various warm hues Localities: Baltic region, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Burma, Ethiopia Hardness: 2-2.5 Durability: Low Lustre: Resinous Background.
Amber with sun spangles (stress fractures)
Insect inclusion in Amber
Various amber
Beryl
(Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite, Heliodor, Goshenite)
Chemical Composition: Be3Al2(SiO3)6
- Crystal System: Hexagonal
- Colours and Varieties: Green (Emerald), Blue (Aquamarine), Pink (Morganite), Yellow (Heliodor), Colourless (Goshenite)
- Localities: Colombia (Emerald), Brazil, Mozambique (Aquamarine, Morganite), Ukraine (Heliodor), Ethiopia (Shakiso, Konso)
- Hardness: 7.5-8
- Durability: Good
- Lustre: Vitreous
- Background: Beryl is a diverse family of gemstones that comes in a stunning range of colours. These are caused by elemental impurities: Emerald green (Chromium and Vanadium), Aquamarine blue (iron), Morganite pink (manganese), Heliodore yellow (iron), Goshenite is clear and has no colour causing impurities.
Aquamarine
Morganite, Heliodore and other beryl
Corundum (Ruby and Sapphire)
- Chemical Composition: Al2O3
- Crystal System: Trigonal
- Colours and Varieties: Red (Ruby), Various Colours (Sapphire)
- Localities: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Madagascar, Ethiopia (Aksum, Chila)
- Hardness: 9
- Durability: Excellent
- Lustre: Bright virtuous
Background: Corundum, the second hardest mineral, is home to the regal ruby and the multi-hued sapphire. Cherished for their durability and brilliance, these gems have adorned royalty for centuries. The red in ruby is caused by Chromium impurities, blue is cause by iron and titanium
Garnet
- Chemical Composition: X3Y2(SiO4)3 (X, Y = various elements)
- Crystal System: Cubic
- Colours and Varieties: Red (Pyrope, Almandine), Green (Tsavorite), Orange (Spessartine), Green (demantoid), Green (uvarovite), brown-yellow (topazolite), Purple (rhodolite)
- Localities: Tanzania (Tsavorite), India (Pyrope, Almandine), Namibia (Spessartine), Russia (demantoid), Madagascar (all), Ethiopia (Dubruk, Yabelo)
- Hardness: 6.5-7.5
- Durability: Good
- Lustre: Vitreous
- Background: Garnet, from its deep reds and vibrant greens, has adorned jewellery for centuries. With a complex chemical formula, garnets are much more diverse and interesting than commonly known.
Red Pyrope Almandine Garnet
Spessertite Garnet
Tsavorite Garnet
Opal
- Chemical Composition: SiO2·nH2O
- Crystal System: Amorphous
- Colours and Varieties: White, black, boulder, hydrophane, water, fire, common (potch)
- Localities: Australia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Mexico
- Hardness: 5.5-6.5
- Durability: Fair
- Lustre: Pearly
- Background: Opal is a gemstone unlike most others, it can exhibit an exhilarating play-of-colour optical effect. It has an interesting history and has meant many things too many different people.
Black Opal
White Opal
Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine,Prasiolite, Rose Quartz)
- Chemical Composition: SiO2
- Crystal System: Trigonal
- Colours and Varieties: Purple (Amethyst), Yellow (Citrine), Green (Prasiolite), Pink (Rose Quartz), Clear (Rock Crystal)
- Localities: Brazil (Amethyst, Citrine, Prasiolite), Madagascar (Rose Quartz)
- Hardness: 7
- Durability: Good
- Lustre: Vitreous
- Background: Quartz, one of the most abundant minerals, showcases a variety of gem varieties. From the regal purple of amethyst to the sunny glow of citrine, quartz is a versatile and durable gemstone. It can also contain fascinating inclusions, prized by collectors and designers alike.
Crystalline
Amethyst (Purple), Al & Fe
Citrine
Prasiolite (Green)
Rock Crystal (Colorless)
Smokey Quartz (Smokey)
Polycrystalline
Chrysoprase (bright Green)
Moss Agate
Onyx
Tiger’s eye
Various Quartz gemstones
Tourmaline
- Chemical Composition: (Ca, Na)(Al, Fe, Li, Mg)3(Al, Cr, Fe, V)6(BO3)3(Si, Al, B)6O18(OH, F)4
- Crystal System: Trigonal
- Colours and Varieties: All colours
- Localities: Brazil, Afghanistan, United States, Madagascar, Congo
- Hardness: 7-7.5
- Durability: Good
- Lustre: Vitreous
- Background: Tourmaline showcases an unparalleled range of colours. With its unique electrical properties, tourmaline has intrigued scientists and gem enthusiasts alike. It has a very complex chemical composition, which allows for a diverse array of colours, often changing between multiple colours in one crystal.
Bi Coloured Tourmalines
