  | 
Actinolite (Cat's Eye)
  
Actinolite is green to grayish green mineral of the amphibole group 
found in metamorphic rocks. It sometimes has a fibrous texture that 
produces strong cat's eye. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Agate is a cryptocrystalline  quartz that is translucent and  patterned 
with   bands, plumes, dendrites, or inclusions that  produce a colorful,
  interesting appearance. It is a  popular gem cut into cabochons, 
beads, and  ornamental objects.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
      Almandine garnet, also known as "almandite,"  is an iron-rich, 
red-to-purple garnet that is geologically very common and typically 
sells on the more affordable side  of the garnet price range. For that 
reason, it is common in jewelry. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Amazonite
 is a trade name given to a light green to bright green variety of 
microcline feldspar.  It has a Mohs hardness of 6 with perfect cleavage,
 so it is best used where it will not suffer abrasion or impact. |  
 
 
  | 
 
Amber is a fossilized resin that was secreted by ancient trees. It 
usually has a yellowish to orangish brown color but can be white, 
greenish, bluish or even black. It is easily cut and polished into 
bright, lightweight gems. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Amethyst
 is a transparent variety of quartz that ranges from  light lilac to 
deep  purple in color. It is one of the most popular faceted gemstones 
and is sometimes cut en cabochon. It is  found in deposits around the 
world. |  
 
 
  | 
 Ametrine
 is a bicolor quartz that is half AMEthyst and half ciTRINE. The color 
combination is caused by twinning. Mined commercially at only one mine 
in the world, located in eastern Bolivia. |  
 
 
  | 
 
Ammolite is a trade name used for iridescent ammonite shell material. It
 produces a bright flash of color that rivals fine opal and labradorite.
 All of the world's production comes from a small area in Alberta, 
Canada. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Ammonite
  
An extinct group of marine invertebrate animals that produced a 
chambered shell.  Their fossilized shells are often cut and used as an 
ornamental or jewelry stone.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Andalusite is a metamorphic mineral that is strongly pleochroic and is 
underappreciated as a gem. A variety known as chiastolite has grains of 
graphite concentrated into a cross-shaped feature. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  
  Ant hill garnet is a novelty gem that ants excavate, haul to the 
surface and deposit on their ant hill. These red chrome pyrope garnets 
are often found on ant hills in parts of the southwestern USA. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Apatite is a mineral that is cut as a gem when found in clear crystals 
with attractive colors. It has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale and is 
brittle. It is a "collector's gem" rather than a jewelry gem. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Aquamarine is a blue variety of the mineral beryl.    It receives its 
name from its seawater color.  It ranges from a very light blue to a 
richly saturated blue, with the richer color being much more desired. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Aventurine
  
Aventurine  quartz that contains a blizzard of  tiny reflective mineral 
inclusions such as mica grains or hematite flakes. When light enters the
 quartz it hits the reflective grains which  produce a sparkle known as 
aventurescence. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 A
 beautiful dark blue  opaque gemstone  found near copper deposits. Often
 associated with malachite and chrysocolla.  It is soft (H: 3.5-4) and 
cleaves easily. Cut into   cabochons for jewelry  that will not 
encounter wear. |  
 
 
  | 
 
  "Beryl" is a mineral with several  gem varieties based upon color. 
Green beryl is emerald. Blue is  aquamarine. Pink is morganite. Yellow 
and yellow-green are heliodor. Red is red beryl. Clear is goshenite. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
The name "black opal" is used for an opal with a black base color. This opal has blue play-of-color on a black base. There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Bloodstone
 
  Bloodstone is a dark green variety of jasper that has numerous 
splashes of red color. These red splashes remind people of blood, and 
that is how the stone received its name.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
"Boulder opal" is a name used for a rough or cut material  that displays
 precious opal within its surrounding rock matrix.  There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Bronzite
  
      A bronze to greenish variety of enstatite with a metallic luster that is sometimes cut and polished as a gemstone.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
Bumblebee
  
Often called Bumblebee "Agate" or "Jasper", it  is instead a  rock 
formed at several volcanic vents in  Indonesia. Some specimens    
reportedly contains arsenic. Not recommended for jewelry or other 
extended  contact with your skin. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Chalcedony
  
      Chalcedony is a name used for any  cryptocrystalline  quartz such 
as agate, jasper, petrified wood, chrysoprase, bloodstone, onyx, sard, 
and  carnelian.  Some people reserve the name for a blue, unbanded, 
translucent material. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Charoite
  
      Charoite is a light lavender to deep purple silicate mineral that 
has  swirling, fibrous, or spotted patterns. It is a rare and relatively
 new gem material, discovered in Russia in 1978. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Chinese Writing Stone
  
A very  interesting black metamorphosed limestone that contains 
geometric crystals of andalusite. Named because some people think the 
white andalusite crystal shapes remind them of "chinese writing".  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
      Chrysoberyl, a gem unrelated to "beryl," is  an "extreme gem." It 
has a hardness of 8.5, a very high luster, and a high index of 
refraction. It is sometimes  a color-change stone and is best known for 
its  "cat's eye." | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Chrysoberyl often contains oriented  inclusions that produce a sharp 
line of light across the surface of the stone in reflected light. This 
optical phenomenon is known as a "cat's eye."  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Chrysocolla
  
      Chrysocolla is a green to blue-green gem material  that forms 
during the oxidation of copper deposits.   The cab on the left is  
malachite with  chrysocolla.  The cab on the right is blue chrysocolla 
in white quartz. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Citrine is a transparent variety of quartz that ranges from  golden 
yellow to  yellowish orange to golden brown in color. It is usually cut 
as a faceted stone and is sometimes produced by applying heat treatment 
to amethyst. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Common
 opal is an opal material that does not exhibit a "play-of-color." Most 
common opal is common in appearance, but some is spectacular in color or
 pattern. There are many types of opal. |  
 
 
  | 
 
Coral is a colonial organism that lives in warm, shallow marine waters 
and often develops reefs. It is a hard calcium carbonate material that 
can be cut or carved and polished into beautiful gems. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
  Crinoids are   organisms that once lived on the ocean floor. They 
looked like a plant but were actually an invertebrate animal. Their 
fossils can be found in limestone that can often be  used to produce  
interesting gems.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Crystal opal is a term used for transparent-to-translucent opal material that has a play-of-color within the stone. There are many types of opal. |  
 
 
  | 
 
Cultured pearls are produced by placing small "seeds" of shell material 
within a live freshwater mussel. The mussel then coats the seed with 
successive layers of nacre to form a pearl. They are produced in a 
variety of shapes. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Demantoid  is a calcium-rich garnet. It has the highest dispersion 
(ability to separate white light into colors of the spectrum) of any  
gemstone - higher than diamond. This gives demantoid an exceptional  
"fire." | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  The most popular gemstone and hardest natural material. A nearly 
colorless diamond  is set in most engagement rings sold in the United 
States. The custom of giving an engagement diamond is spreading to other
 countries. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
      Dinosaur bone is often petrified (fossilized by being infilled and
 replaced by quartz). The quartz can be very colorful. When the 
petrification is  thorough, the material can  be cut and polished into 
attractive gems. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Diopside is a magnesium, calcium silicate mineral. It often  contains 
traces of chromium that cause  a vivid green color. These stones are 
known as "chrome diopside" and can serve as an alternative gem for 
emerald. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Diorite is an igneous rock that can accept a bright polish. It is 
usually a mixture of dark and light-colored minerals. When these are of 
attractive colors, the rock  can be cut into nice cabochons, beads, and 
other lapidary items. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Dumortierite
  
Dumortierite is a dark blue to dark greenish-blue mineral found in 
metamorphic rocks. It is typically opaque and used to produce cabochons,
 beads and tumbled stones | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Emerald is the gemstone name of the mineral beryl when it has a rich 
green color.   It is the most popular stone from the beryl mineral 
group.  Most emeralds  have abundant inclusions and fractures. | 
 
 
 
 
  | 
Eudialyte
  
Eudialyte is a rare mineral found in igneous rocks. It  serves as a 
minor ore of zirconium and as a minor gem mineral. It occurs in yellow, 
brown and bluish crystals - but bright red specimens are favored as a 
collector's gem.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
"Fancy sapphire" is a name used for a gem corundum that has a body color other than blue (sapphire) or red (ruby). | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A  translucent-to-transparent opal
 with a warm background color of yellow, orange or red. It may or may  
not exhibit a "play-of-color." The warm, uniform background color is 
what defines the stone. There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
A mineral composed of calcium and fluorine (CaF2) that can be colorful and attractive and is often cut as a gemstone.  
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
      Coral and bryozoans are organisms that live in warm, shallow 
marine waters. They are often fossilized by being infilled and replaced 
with quartz or calcite. These materials can be polished into attractive 
gems. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Garnet is the name of a group of minerals with a common crystal 
structure, but they vary in composition. Most garnets are red in color, 
but the stone also occurs in orange, yellow, purple,  green, pink, 
black, and other colors. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Rare specimens of garnet contain a rutile silk that allows them to 
display a  four- or six-ray star when cut properly. They are highly 
valued and found in commercial quantities only in India, Madagascar, and
 Idaho.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
A man-made glass produced by fusing ash from the 1980 Mount St. Helens 
eruption. It is sold in  novelty jewelry to tourists visiting the 
eruption site.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Heliodor is the name given to  yellow to yellow-green gems of  the beryl
 mineral group. They can be  attractive, durable, high-clarity stones 
with a relatively low price. Surprisingly, they are infrequently seen in
 jewelry. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Hematite
  
Hematite is an iron oxide mineral and the primary ore of iron. It 
occasionally occurs in a silver metallic form that can be polished to a 
mirror-bright luster. Cabs cut from  hematite are very popular and have a
 very "weighty" feel. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Hemimorphite
  
Hemimorphite is a zinc silicate mineral that occurs in white, blue and 
greenish blue colors. It is a minor ore of zinc. It lacks durability and
 is used  as  a collector's gem or in  jewelry that will be subject to 
light wear.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Hessonite is a  variety of grossular garnet that is rich in iron and 
manganese. It has an  orange to red-orange to reddish brown color and  
is sometimes called  "cinnamon stone." It is occasionally seen in 
jewelry.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Iolite is the name given to gem-quality  cordierite. It is a strongly 
pleochroic gem material that, when properly oriented, can produce 
gemstones with a deep bluish color similar to sapphire and tanzanite.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
   
  Iris agate is a  finely banded agate with a spectacular display of 
color when it is cut into thin pieces  and illuminated from a direction 
that sends light through its very thin bands.   | 
 
 
 
  | 
 An
 extremely durable material that  has been fashioned into gems, 
sculptures, tools, and weapons for thousands of years. Extremely popular
 in China. There are two varieties: jadeite and nephrite.  |  
 
 
  | 
Jaspagate
 
A variety of  chalcedony that displays characteristics of both jasper 
and agate. It has both opaque areas and translucent  areas.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Jasper
 
A variety of opaque chalcedony that is often brightly colored by 
impurity inclusions. It can be almost any color and is popular as beads,
 cabochons and tumbled stones. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Jet is a    coal with  a uniform  texture that can be cut into 
attractive black gems. It was  popular in mourning jewelry of  Victorian
 England. It has a  low specific gravity, which makes a long strand of 
beads  lighter than expected. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A metamorphic mineral that occurs in beautiful hues of blue and green. 
It has perfect cleavage and has a hardness of  4.5  in one direction, 
5.5 in another, making it best used in items that will not be subjected 
to wear. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 A
 gemstone from the plagioclase feldspar family that produces  flashes of
 iridescent blue, green, yellow, orange, or red when moved under 
incident light. This luster is known as  labradorescence. |  
 
 
  | 
 
 
A blue metamorphic rock that has been used as a gemstone for over 6000 
years and as a pigment for at least 1000 years.  It is a popular gem 
material used for  cabochons, beads, inlay and small sculptures. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Larimar
 
Larimar is a rare blue variety of pectolite  found  only in the 
Dominican Republic. It is popular because of its delicate blue color. It
 must be used with care because it is fragile and will fade with long 
exposure to bright light. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Lemon quartz is a yellow variety of quartz that is transparent to 
translucent. It is often cut as a faceted stone or cut en cabochon.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Lepidolite
  
A lithium-rich mica with a rose to lilac color and an aventurescent 
luster that is sometimes used to make cabochons, tumbled stones and 
other lapidary projects.  
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Malachite is a heavy, opaque, green gemstone marked with bands and 
swirls. It is a copper carbonate mineral that is soft and cleaves 
easily. It is best used in items that will not be subjected to abrasion 
or impact. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Malaya is a  pink to pinkish brown or reddish variety of garnet. 
Compositionally, it is a mixture of pyrope, almandine, and spessartine. 
It is occasionally seen in jewelry. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Mali is a yellow to yellowish green variety of garnet, named after the 
African country of Mali. It is a mixture of grossular and andradite that
 is occasionally seen in jewelry. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Mary Ellen is a rock that consists of red jasper and silvery hematite.
 The   jasper is  a fossil stromatolite, a layered structure built up by
 sediment-trapping algae  that lived on Earth about two billion years 
ago - long before land plants. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Matrix opal is a material in which precious opal is in an intimate 
mixture with the host rock, instead of  being confined to seams and 
patches. There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Maw sit sit is a rock composed of jadeite, albite, and kosmochlor (a  
 mineral related to jadeite).  It is attractive, has a bright   chrome 
green color and accepts a bright polish, and for those reasons it   is 
used as a gemstone.  | 
 
 
   |   |     | 
  | 
  
Melanite is a lustrous, black, opaque variety of garnet that is not 
often seen in jewelry.   It is a titanium garnet of the Andradite group 
and is sometimes called "titanian andradite".
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Moldavite is a glassy material that is thought to have formed when a 
large asteroid impacted a location in Europe about 15 million years ago.
  The target rock and impactor melted and solidified into an olive green
 glass.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
Mookaite
  
A colorful gem material mined in Australia that forms from the 
deposition and lithification of a sediment composed of the silica tests 
of radiolarians. It is a popular material for cabochons and beads. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Moonstone
 
Moonstone is a name given to translucent orthoclase feldspar that 
exhibits adularescence (a white-to-bluish light that floats under the 
surface of the stone when it is turned under a source of light). | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Morganite, also called "pink beryl," is the pink- to salmon-colored gemstone  member of the beryl mineral group. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Moss Agate
 
Moss agate is a transparent-to-translucent chalcedony that contains 
mineral inclusions that are shaped like moss, trees, leaves, or other 
vegetation. Material from Montana localities is very popular. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Mother of pearl, also known as "MOP," is the thin inner nacreous layer 
of a mollusk shell. It can be  white, cream, or gray in color with a   
beautiful  iridescent play-of-color. Used in jewelry, buttons, musical 
instruments, and more. | 
 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Nephrite and jadeite are two very similar minerals that are both known 
as "jade." Nephrite is the more abundant and less valuable mineral of 
the pair - but it can still have great beauty and appeal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Ocean Jasper
  
A gem material named because it is found below the high tide line of  a 
Madagascar ocean beach. It is  patterned with beautiful eyes and  bands 
in a wide variety of colors. It also can grade from agate to jasper in a
 single stone. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Onyx is the name given to a black chalcedony with parallel white banding
 or a red chalcedony with white banding. High-quality pieces are 
sometimes used to carve cameos.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A variety of petrified wood from Australia. Some pieces have  white 
markings that remind people of peanuts. It is a fossil driftwood that 
has been bored by marine clams. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Pearls are a very popular gem material.  They are produced by shellfish,
 and people have used them for personal  adornment for thousands of 
years. These are cultured freshwater pearls produced in Tennessee. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Peridot
 is a popular green gemstone from the olivine mineral series.  It is 
widely used in commercial jewelry and is a birthstone for the month of 
August. |  
 
 
  | 
 
Louisiana has been the "bayou state" for over 100 million years. During 
that  history, many palms have been fossilized. Today they are called 
"petrified palm wood" (but they really are not wood) and polished into 
beautiful gems. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A fossil that is formed when woody material is buried, then dissolved 
materials in  groundwater precipitate to replace and infill the wood 
structure with  silica, opal, or other mineral material. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
An opal that exhibits pin points of fire instead of a broad flash is known as "pinfire opal." There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 A
 spectacular gemstone that produces flashes of iridescent color when 
moved under incident light.  The color display is known as 
"play-of-color." There are many types of opal. |  
 
 
  | 
Prehnite
 
Prehnite is a calcium aluminum silicate mineral. Specimens with nice 
color and clarity are often cut as gems. This gemmy yellow prehnite 
cabochon was cut from material mined in Australia.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Purpurite
 
Purpurite is a  manganese phosphate mineral with a bold purple color 
that is often cut into cabochons. It has a low hardness (4 to 5) so is 
best used in jewelry that is not expected to receive rough wear. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Pyrope is a magnesium aluminum garnet that is usually red in color. It
 is often formed in the mantle and transported to the surface in 
deep-source volcanic eruptions that form diamond deposits. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Quartz is the most common mineral in Earth's crust and often occurs in 
colored gem-quality crystals. These include rose quartz, amethyst, smoky
 quartz, citrine, lemon quartz, and others. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 Clear quartz is a common mineral material that is sometimes cut as a
 gem. It is often called "crystal quartz" or "rock crystal." It is the 
state mineral of Arkansas. |  
 
 
  | 
  
Rare specimens of clear quartz have needle-shaped inclusions of rutile. 
These can be used to cut interesting and attractive cabochons and 
faceted stones. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Rare specimens of clear quartz have needle-shaped inclusions of 
tourmaline. These can be used to cut interesting and attractive 
cabochons and faceted stones.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
 
Rhodolite is a purplish red to violet-red variety of garnet that is a 
combination of pyrope and almandine.  It  often has  wonderful color and
 clarity at a relatively low cost - and that is helping it   become 
popular in jewelry.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Rhodochrosite  is a manganese carbonate mineral that is popular because 
of its beautiful pink color. It is typically has lacy or concentric 
bands. Its softness limits its use to earrings, pendants, pins and other
 low-abrasion items..   | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Rhodonite is a manganese mineral that sometimes occurs in a very 
attractive pink color. Usually translucent-to-opaque, it is a popular 
gem material. Rarely, it is transparent and used for faceting.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Rose quartz is a translucent-to-transparent variety of quartz with a 
light to deep pink color. It is a gem material that is very common in 
nature. It is usually cut into cabs and occasionally faceted. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Ruby is the most popular colored stone.  When the mineral known as 
corundum is of gem quality and a vivid red color, it is called  "ruby." 
Historically mined in Asia, many rubies such as these are now being 
found in Africa. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Fuchsite is a metamorphic mica with a green color that often contains 
bright  red corundum crystals or "rubies". It is often carved and cut 
into cabochons. Frequently confused with "ruby in zoisite".  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Ruby in zoisite is an interesting  material. Massive green zoisite often
 contains bright red ruby crystals. The color combination makes an 
attractive and unique gem material. It is  often cut and carved into 
small sculptures.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Sand dollars found  on beaches today are remains of a group of  animals 
that  has lived in the  oceans for millions of years. Their bodies are 
often agatized by nature and then found by people who polish them into 
gems.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Sapphire is a gem variety of the mineral corundum.  When it is reddish 
blue to violet-blue, it is known simply as "sapphire."  Corundums of any
 other color (except red, which is ruby) are known as "fancy sapphires."
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Star sapphire contains elongated crystals of rutile aligned in three 
different directions that cause a properly cut stone to display a 
six-ray star. This phenomenon is known as "asterism."  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Sardonyx
 
 
Sardonyx is a member of the chalcedony family.  It is a banded agate 
that contains bands of bright red alternating with agate of other 
colors.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Scapolite is a metamorphic mineral that sometimes occurs in transparent 
gem-quality crystals that make beautiful faceted gems. Some specimens 
contain a silk that can produce a strong cat's eye. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Cat's eye scapolite is a gem-quality scapolite with a silk of parallel 
mineral fibers. When cut as a cabochon, light striking the stone  
reflects from the mineral silk to produce an "eye" that moves across the
 stone. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Septarian
  
"Septarian" is a name used for round concretions with internal 
mineral-filled fractures found in sedimentary rocks. They are often cut 
into cabochons that display the interesting geometry of the fracture 
network. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Seraphinite
  
Seraphinite is a trade name used for a gem material composed of the 
mineral clinochlore.  It is usually greenish in color and marked with 
fibrous or feather-like patterns.  Its hardness is only 3  to 4 and is 
reserved for delicate use.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
A silicate mineral, that occurs in a wide range of green and greenish 
colors with interesting patterns that is often cut into cabochons or 
used as an ornamental stone.  
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Siderite is an iron carbonate mineral with a very high dispersion. 
Transparent crystals of siderite with great clarity  can be cut into 
attractive gemstones with a strong fire.  It is too soft for most 
jewelry and is a collector's stone.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Sillimanite is a metamorphic  mineral that often has a fine fibrous 
silk. When properly cut, cabochons of the material can reflect a sharp 
cat's eye. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Silver is a precious metal that is often  present as visible crystals in
 its ore. Some people enjoy seeing the bright metal reflecting from the 
surface of a cabochon. It is a novelty gem. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Smithsonite
  
Smithsonite is a zinc carbonate mineral that serves as a minor ore of 
zinc and as a minor gem mineral. It is relatively soft and used as a 
collector's gem and in jewelry that is unlikely to receive abrasion or 
impact. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
Smoky quartz is a grayish brown to nearly black variety of transparent 
quartz. It is often cut as a faceted stone or cabochon. Upon heating, it
 will sometimes change in color to  yellow or yellowish brown citrine. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
A feldspathoid mineral that ranges in color from white to blue to violet
 blue.   It is often used to make cabochons, tumbled stones and other 
lapidary projects. 
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
 
  Some specimens of gem-quality labradorite have exceptional color and 
labradorescence. These unusual gems are given the name "spectrolite" 
because of the spectrum of colors that they reflect.  | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
  Spessartine is also known as "spessartite" or as "mandarin garnet" 
because of its  yellow-orange to orange-red color.   It is a popular 
variety of garnet used in jewelry. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Sphene
  
Sphene, also known as titanite, is a gem with   a   dispersion higher 
than diamond. Specimens of high clarity  can be cut into gems with a 
brilliant fire. Its softness limits its use to earrings, pins,  
pendants, and low-abrasion jewelry pieces. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A mineral of many colors that has been treasured as a gem for thousands of years. It was often confused with ruby and sapphire. Many of these errors were not discovered until the 20th century. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Sugilite
 
  Sugilite is a rare silicate mineral only discovered in  1994. It 
occurs in yellow, brown, pink and purple and is often combined with 
quartz. The purple color has become very popular in the lapidary trade. 
Its high price limits its popularity. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
A plagioclase feldspar that can be a colorful transparent gem. It  can 
also contain plate-shaped copper inclusions that produce an 
aventurescent flash when moved under incident light.  These specimens 
are from Oregon. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
  Tanzanite is a rare and popular blue variety of zoisite produced from a
 small location in the African country of Tanzania. It is a birthstone 
for the month of December and is an alternative stone for blue sapphire. | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Tektites are fragments of ejecta produced when an asteroid struck Earth 
about 800,000 years ago.  The impact melted the target rock and 
scattered a  black glass in a strewn field across Southeast Asia.
 | 
 
 
 
  | 
  
Thulite is a rare, pink, gem-quality variety of zoisite. It can be cut 
into beautiful cabochons, beads, small sculptures, and other lapidary 
items. | 
 
 
 
  | 
Tiger's Eye
  
Tiger's eye is a material that forms when quartz replaces crocidolite.  
When it is cut into a cabochon with its fibrous structure parallel to 
the bottom of the stone, a chatoyance, or cat's-eye effect, is produced.
  | 
 
 
 
  | 
Tiger Iron
  
Tiger iron is a rock composed of alternating bands of silver hematite, 
gold tiger's eye, and red jasper. It is cut into attractive and 
interesting cabochons, beads, spheres, and other lapidary items. | 
 
 
 
  | 
 
 
Also known as "bertrandite," Tiffany stone is a beautiful material that 
is thought to be an opalized fluorite. Found at one beryllium mine site 
in Utah. | 
 
 
 
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  Topaz is a  popular gem. It is usually clear to amber in color when 
mined.  It can be heated, coated, or irradiated to produce other colors 
that include   "Swiss blue,"  "London blue," bright pink, and soft pink.
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Tourmaline is a silicate mineral that occurs in a wide range of 
attractive colors. It is a very durable gem material that is popular 
with jewelry makers. | 
 
 
 
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Tourmaline (Bicolor)
 
When tourmaline crystals grow, the composition of their growth fluid  
can  change. Color-zoned crystals might be the result.   These crystals 
 can be cut into interesting bicolor stones. Some are  known as 
watermelon.    :-) | 
 
 
 
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Tsavorite is a calcium-rich garnet known for its  brilliant green color.
  It  sometimes serves as an alternative stone to emerald. It is the 
most important green garnet and one of the rarest and most valuable 
colored stones. | 
 
 
 
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A copper mineral with a bright blue to blue-green color. The color is so
 familiar and liked that the word   "turquoise" is used in the English  
language as the name of a color. Only a few gems have a color this 
familiar. | 
 
 
 
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      Decades ago, this agate was named "Turritella" after the fossil 
snails that it contains.   That name is  incorrect because the snails 
were misidentified. The proper name should be  "Elimia agate" after the 
snail Elimia tenera.  | 
 
 
 
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  Unakite is an igneous rock that contains green epidote and pink 
orthoclase feldspar. It can be coarse or fine grained. It is popular as 
cabochons, beads and small sculpturers. | 
 
 
 
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A mineral that is  similar to turquoise in mode of formation and 
composition.  It even looks like turquoise but in a blue-green to 
yellowish green color.  Cut into cabochons, but its use is limited 
because it is soft (H: 4.5). | 
 
 
 
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Vesuvianite
  
Vesuvianite is a mineral formed by the contact metamorphism of 
limestone. It is often   an attractive translucent green color that 
reminds  people of jade. Rare transparent crystals are faceted. Named 
after Mt. Vesuvius. | 
 
 
 
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      "Light opal" or "white opal" are terms used for an opal material 
with a white, yellow, or cream-colored body color.  This is the most 
common body color for precious opal.
There are many types of opal. | 
 
 
 
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Zircon is a hard, durable gem that occurs in a variety of colors. It has
 a high dispersion which produces a nice fire. Colorless pieces have 
been used as alternatives to diamond. |  
 
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