A - Calsilica

AGATE - There are many beautiful varieties of agate. Agate is the stone of the Guardian Angel Barbiel. Industry uses agates chiefly to make ornaments such as pins, brooches, paper knives, inkstands, marbles and seals. Because of its hardness and ability to resist acids, agate is used to make mortars and pestles to crush and mix.

AFRICAN BLOODSTONE - See Bloodstone

AMAZONITE - Amazonite is sometimes called Amazon stone and is a green variety of microcline feldspar. The name is from the Amazon River, where certain green stones were once found, but it is doubted whether green feldspar is actually located in the Amazon area.

Amazonite is a mineral with fairly limited occurrence. It was once obtained almost exclusively from an area in Russia, but more recently, high-quality amazonite crystals have been found in Pike's Peak, Colorado. There it is associated with smoky quartz in a coarse granite or pegmatite. Crystal Park, El Paso County, Colorado is well-known for crystals of amazonite. Some other places in the U.S. yield amazonite and it is also found in pegmatite in Madagascar and Brazil.

Because of its bright green color when polished, amazonite is sometimes cut and used as a gemstone, although it is easily fractured. For many years, the origin of amazonite's color was unknown. Many assumed the color was copper-related because copper compounds often have blue and green colors. More recent study suggests the blue-green color is from small quantities of lead and water in the feldspar.

AMBER - Amber is a petrified tree resin. Amber has a rich history of use from prehistoric times. Amber's artistic use varies from jewelry and religious objects to amulets and smoking accessories. In addition to art objects, amber is used in creating varnish and lacquers, and burned for its pine scented aroma. The two main sources for amber on the market today are from the Baltic states and Dominican Republic.

Special care should be given to amber jewelry in part because of its low hardness, but also because it is very sensitive to hair spray and perfume, which creates a whitish encrustation. Storing amber properly (do not let it rub against other gems and metals) and cleaning it occasionally with clean, lukewarm water and a flannel cloth, will help to maintain its beautiful polished luster.

AMETHYST - Amethyst is the stone of the apostle St. Matthias and the Guardian Angel Adnachiel. St. Matthias' feast day is May 14th. Amethyst is the birthstone of February.

The amethyst is a violet extravagance. For many thousands of years, the amethyst has been the most striking representative of the large quartz family and a jewel coveted by princes both ecclesiastical and secular. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest of the Jews, and the Russian Empress Catherine the Great sent thousands of miners into the Urals to look for it. In ancient times, amethyst was already being engraved and cut into sculptured forms. In earlier times, people liked to drink wine from amethyst cups, which speaks of the stone's lore of protection against alcoholism or drunkenness.

AQUAMARINE - Aquamarine (from Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. It occurs at most places which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. Clear yellow beryl, such as occurs in Brazil, is sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite. When corundum presents the bluish tint of typical aquamarine, it is often termed Oriental aquamarine. The deep blue version of aquamarine is called maxixe. Its color fades to white when exposed to sunlight or is subjected to heat treatment, though the color returns with irradiation. Other precious varieties of beryl are emerald and morganite.

In the U.S., aquamarines can be found at the summit of Mt. Antero in the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. In Wyoming, aquamarine has been discovered in the Big Horn mountains, near Powder River Pass. Mines in Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya also produce aquamarine.

The biggest aquamarine ever mined was found at the city of Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1910. It weighed over 110 kg and its dimensions were 19 inches long and 17 inches in diameter.

AQUA TERRA JASPER - See Jasper

AZURITE - Azurite is a very popular mineral because of its unparalleled color, a deep blue called "azure", hence its name. Azure is derived from the arabic word for blue. Azurite has been used as a dye for paints and fabrics since ancient times. Azurite is often associated with its colorful close cousin, malachite. The intense color of azurite makes it popular collector's stone. However, bright light, heat, and open air all tend to reduce the intensity of its color over time. To help preserve the deep blue color of a pristine azurite specimen, collectors should use a cool, dark storage environment similar to that of its original natural setting.

BASE METAL - Alloy of non-precious metal, including tin, nickel, aluminum, and numerous combinations.

BLOODSTONE - Bloodstone is also known as heliotrope and is a form of the mineral chalcedony. It is known as bloodstone due to its scattering of red jasper throughout its mass, resembling drops of blood. Its physical properties are those of quartz. In the Middle Ages, it was thought to have mystical powers as the red was denoted as drops of Jesus' blood. Bloodstone is found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar Peninsula and the U.S. (Wyoming). This stone should be kept dry to preserve the polish.

BLUE TOPAZ - See Topaz

BONE - Organic origin, as are pearls, coral, amber, and more. Generally carved, bone has been used since antiquity for functional and decorative purposes. The carving of bone and horn is probably one of the earliest examples of today's "green" concept. The ancients necessarily made the most of all materials at hand, and certainly bone and another organic, horn (such as used for the shofar), are historically fundamental.

BOTSWANA AGATE - See Agate / Botswana agate has gray, brown, cream, and pink translucent banding and subtle coloring. Each stone is lovely and unique.

BRONZE - Bronze is an ancient alloy frequently used in the Old Testament in the fabrication of temple objects and vessels, as were silver and gold. Typically, bronze is a tin-copper alloy. Other elements sometimes appearing include phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, and silicon. Bronze has an unclear boundary with brass historically and has a wide range of possible combinations. Scholars and museum experts are likely to refer more cautiously to bronze as "copper alloy." Brass is a copper-zinc alloy, likewise with many variations.

BRONZITE - Bronzite is a mineral belonging to the Pyroxene group, which includes enstatite and hypersthene. Rather than a distinct species, bronzite is a variety of enstatite. It has a sub-metallic luster like the chatoyancy in tiger eye. Bronzite is a constituent of many basic igneous rocks and contains iron, which contributes to the luster, or schiller, present along the cleavage lines of the mineral. Bronzite in masses sufficient for cutting is found in the Fichtelgebirge mountains in northeastern Bavaria, Germany, and the mining city of Leoben in central Austria, although for this city, mining is more a part of history.

CALSILICA - Calsilica is a controversial stone because it was initially--and remains at times--claimed to be a natural stone found in Mexico. However, it has been shown to be a mixture of natural stone, paraffin-like additives, and pigment. The mine in Mexico where the stone has been claimed to be found has denied access to scientists, and there is an unsubstantiated claim of a large find in China. Until scientists are able to appropriately study the mine supposedly having the stone naturally, controversy will continue. Nonetheless, the beauty of calsilica has captured the imagination of jewelry designers and consumers and it will very likely to continue to be used extensively because of its appeal.

Carnelian - F

CARNELIAN - Carnelian is the Stone of the Apostle St. Philip. Carnelian (Sard) is one of twelve stones of Aaron's Breastplate, which represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Carnelian is a mineral commonly used as a gemstone, noted for its rich shade of reddish-brown. The names carnelian and sard are often used interchangeably. Carnelian is found primarily in India and South America. It is a variety of chalcedony. The most favorable pieces are regular in its translucent color, a deep red to red-orange hue. Carnelian has a long and storied past, and was once considered strictly the property of the noble class. Carnelian appears in the gemstone known as sardonyx, which has parallel layers of  carnelian and onyx.

CHALCEDONY - See Quartz

CHERRY QUARTZ - See Quartz / Cherry quartz is a synonym of strawberry quartz.

CHINESE TURQUOISE - See Turquoise / China has been a minor source of turquoise for 3,000 years or more. Gem-quality material is found in the fractured, silicified limestone of several provinces. Additionally, Marco Polo reported turquoise found in present-day Sichuan.

CHRYSOCOLLA - Chrysocolla is related to turquoise in that chrysocolla is found to be part of turquoise's composition. It is a soft stone, only 2-4 on the Mohs scale, and is often confused with turquoise. Chrysocolla grows abundantly and is not considered rare or hard to find. It is found in the Czech Republic, Israel, England, the Congo, and the United States. In the United States, chrysocolla is found in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. Chrysocolla looks similar to azurite. Both stones are related to malachite.

CHRYSOPRASE/CHRYSOPHRASE - St. Jude’s representative gemstone is semi-precious chrysoprase. He is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28.

Chrysoprase or chrysophrase is a gemstone variety of chalcedony that contains small quantities of nickel. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are also referred to as prase. As with all chalcedony, chrysoprase has a hardness of 6 - 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Chrysoprase is cryptocrystalline, which means that it is composed of crystals so fine that they cannot be seen as distinct particles under normal magnification. This sets it apart from rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, and the other varieties of crystalline quartz which are basically transparent and formed from easily recognized six-sided crystals. Other members of the cryptocrystalline silica family include agate, carnelian, and onyx. Unlike many silica minerals, it is chrysoprase’s color, rather than any pattern of markings, that makes it desirable. The best known sources of chrysoprase are Queensland, Western Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, Arizona, California, and Brazil.

CITRINE - See Quartz / Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Most commercial citrines are heat-treated amethysts or smoky quartz. It is nearly impossible to tell cut citrine from yellow topaz visibly, but they differ in hardness. Citrine has iron impurities and is found naturally, but it is rare. Brazil is the leading producer of natural citrine. The name is derived from Latin citrina which means yellow. Sometimes citrine and amethyst can be found together in the same crystal and is referred to as ametrine. Citrine is one of the birthstones for the month of November.

CONNEMARA MARBLE - Connemara marble is found only in a remote area of western Ireland's Atlantic seaboard. It was formed over 700 million years ago from Ireland's limestone and its shades of green are reminiscent of Ireland's verdant landscape.

COPPER - Copper was a very important resource for the Romans, Greeks and other ancient peoples. In Roman times, it became known as Cyprium because so much of it was mined in Cyprus. The Bible also refers to the importance of copper: "Men know how to mine silver and refine gold, to dig iron from the earth and melt copper from stone" (Job 28:1–2). Copper has been in use at least 10,000 years. Copper is a finite resource, but it can be recycled. Recycling is a major source of copper in the modern world.

CORAL - Coral beads and artifacts were discovered in the graves of pre-dynastic Egypt, dating back to as far as 4000 B.C. They are also found in the graves from Iron Age and Neolithic sepulchers from 10,000 B.C. All over the world, museums have collections of amulets and ornaments made of coral belonging to the period of 1000 B.C. Coral is calcified skeletons of sea creatures that grow in formations resembling the branches of a tree. The use of coral was so highly prevalent in the 13th century that the famous traveler and historian Marco Polo mentioned it. In Africa, coral was worshipped in the ancient days. It was considered the most valuable gift the ruler could bestow. Over a long period, people all over the world have and continue to delight in coral. The Renaissance and the Victorian periods used it in fine jewelry designs. Most coral used for jewelry comes from the Mediterranean Sea or from the Pacific Ocean near Japan and Taiwan.

CRYSTAL - See Glass & Swarovski

CZECH GLASS - See Glass / Czech glassmaking maintains a very long uninterrupted tradition with a reputation and privileged position since medieval ages. North Bohemia had been a European glass-manufacturing center since the 13th century because it was rich in the natural resources needed for glassmaking. Bohemia was a part of what is now known as the Czech Republic, and was famous for its beautiful colorful glass. Bohemia turned out expert craftsmen with crystal and Bohemian crystal set itself apart from the glass coming from other places. It became famous for its excellent cut and engraving. Bohemian craftsmen became skilled teachers of glassmaking in neighboring and distant countries.The cities of Jablonec, Stanovsko and Bedrichov (now Reichenberg) all produced glass beads, mainly for use in rosaries, but in the second half of the 16th century, they started producing decorative beads. The industrial revolution of the 19th century allowed the development of machines to enable mass production of molded pressed shapes. The mechanically shaped beads were a real innovation in terms of glassmaking history, as little had technically changed for centuries. Mass production saw the expansion of the industry and Czech beads were exported around the world. Venice, Italy continued to concentrate on handmade glass beads, while the Czechs became masters of pressed glass. Today the Czech Republic is making and exporting large numbers of beads. Once again in history, the Czechs are in the forefront of the world bead market.

DIAMOND - Diamonds have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient India. Because of the diamond's hardness, its use in engraving tools also dates to ancient times. On the Mohs scale of hardness, diamond is 10. The most familiar use of diamonds today is as gemstones for adornment, which likewise dates into antiquity. The dispersion of white light into spectral colors is the primary gemological characteristic of gem diamonds. In the 20th century, gemologists developed methods of grading diamonds and other gemstones based on the characteristics most important to gem value. Four characteristics, known informally as the four Cs, are now commonly used for the basics of diamonds: carat, cut, color, and clarity. A large, flawless diamond is known as a paragon. Any diamond is known as "a girl's best friend."

EMERALD - Precious emerald is a stone with much significance and history. Emerald is the stone of the Apostle Saints James (July 25th) and John (December 27th) and the Guardian Angel Muriel. It is the birthstone of May. Emerald is a precious variety of beryl, as are morganite and aquamarine; beryl is the stone of the Apostle St. Thomas (July 3rd) and the Guardian Angel Humiel. Emerald shares with turquoise as the oft-cited first stone in the second row of Aaron’s Pectoral of Judgment.

FANCY JASPER - See Jasper

FLOWER SUGILITE - See Lepidolite

FLUORITE - Semi-precious fluorite is an interesting and beautiful stone because often more than one color occurs in a single stone. The ancient Egyptians used fluorite to carve statues and scarabs and the Chinese have used it in carvings for over 300 years. Fluorite is well known and prized for its glassy luster and rich variety of colors. The range of common colors for fluorite starting from the hallmark color purple, then blue, green, yellow, colorless, brown, pink, black and reddish orange is amazing and is only rivaled in color range by quartz. Intermediate pastels between the previously mentioned colors are also possible. Fluorite's purple shade rivals amethyst in beauty.  The rich purple color is by far fluorite's most famous and popular color.

Freshwater Pearls - L

FRESHWATER PEARLS - See Pearls

GARNET - Garnet is the Stone of the Apostle St. Andrew and the Guardian Angel Ambriel. St. Andrew's feast day is November 30th and Garnet is the birthstone for January. Garnet is likely to have been the "carbuncle" of the ancients and in the first row of the Pectoral of Judgment.

The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. Garnets can be used by geologists as a gauge of how much temperature and pressure the rock has endured. As a gemstone, garnets are highly refractive, hard, have pretty colors, are wonderfully transparent, lack cleavage and are durable; thus making good candidates for gemstones. Garnets vary greatly in colors and varieties and many of these are both rare and beautiful, producing genuinely precious gemstones.

GLASS - Natural glass has existed since the beginnings of time, formed when certain types of rocks melt as a result of high-temperature phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes or the impact of meteorites, and then cool and solidify rapidly. According to the ancient-Roman historian Pliny, Phoenician merchants transporting stone actually discovered glass (or rather became aware of its existence accidentally) in the region of Syria. The earliest man-made glass objects, mainly non-transparent glass beads, are thought to date back to around 3500 BC, with finds in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia. The first glassmaking "manual" dates back to around 650 BC. Instructions on how to make glass are contained in tablets from the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (669-626 BC).

Venetians provided the link between ancient and modern glassmaking. Venetian glass was noted for its brilliance and form. So by the 15th Century, Venice had become the major producer of glassware in Europe. So highly esteemed were the Venetian glass makers, they were forbidden to leave the Island of Murano. However, it was to be another two centuries later that in 1676, an Englishman named George Ravenscroft made a discovery that by adding lead to the glass a brilliant sparkle was achieved.

GOLDSTONE - Goldstone is neither gold nor stone. It is an historic glass with interesting history. It is sometimes called aventurine glass, as the internal glittery flecks mimic the mica inclusions in the semi-precious gemstone aventurine. It has also been known as "monk's gold" or "monkstone" as one story of its origin attributes it to Italian monks. Another name is stellaria, which speaks to its starry reflections. The glittery particles are created by the addition of copper to molten glass, which also creates its most common color, a rusty red. Goldstone can vary in other colors, which depend upon the element used as substitute for the copper. The earliest documentation of goldstone glass dates to the 1600's. A likely origin may well be the Venetian glassmakers in Italy, whose artistry has contributed brilliance and form to the glass arts for centuries. Goldstone had a heyday in the Victorian era in jewelry and is often mistakenly believed to be a gemstone. Its beauty certainly rivals gems, so it remains highly desirable for use in the same articles gemstones adorn.

HORN - Organic gemstones, like horn, coral, and pearls, were most certainly known and used by the ancients in design. The use of horn has a long and varied history. Horn has been used in many ways, for example, musical instruments, such as the shofar; drinking vessels; a hold for gunpowder called powder horns, so commonly that even powder containers made of other materials are still called powder horns; and the legendary cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty.

HOWLITE - Howlite was discovered by the 19th century geologist Henry How from Nova Scotia. Although sold legitimately as howlite, it is often used to imitate turquoise as it takes dyes well because it is porous. Naturally occuring howlite is always white or gray. Henry How first found it in his native Nova Scotia, but it has since been located in California.

IMPERIAL TURQUOISE - Imperial turquoise is not turquoise at all, but dyed and stabilized chocolate jasper. The blue is dyed into the lighter browns of the chocolate jasper and the darker browns stay the same color. These beads are made from a softer jasper and are prone to inclusions on their surface.  

JADE - Jade is one of the oldest traded gemstones and is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite can be found in a creamy white form as well as in a variety of green colors, whereas jadeite shows more color variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colors. Of the two, jadeite is rarer, documented in fewer than 12 places worldwide. Translucent emerald-green jadeite is the most prized variety, both today and historically. As "quetzal" jade, bright green jadeite from Guatemala was treasured by Mesoamerican cultures, and as "kingfisher" jade, vivid green rocks from Burma became the preferred stone of post-1800 Chinese imperial scholars and rulers. Burma (Myanmar) and Guatemala are the principal sources of modern gem jadeite, and Canada of modern lapidary nephrite.

JADEITE - See Jade above.

JASPER - Jasper is the stone of the Apostle St. Peter and the Guardian Angel Barchiel. Jasper comes in variety of colors and shades. The name jasper means "spotted or speckled stone." It is a form of chalcedony and is found in many sub-varieties. Jasper is known to have been a favorite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Latin. On Minoan Crete within present day Greece jasper was carved to produce seals circa 1800 BC based upon archaeological discoveries at the palace of Knossos.

LAPIS LAZULI - In ancient times, sapphire was frequently translated as lapis lazuli. The name Lapis Lazuli comes from the Persian word lazhward meaning blue, in allusion to its color. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was known as sapphirus, which is today's name for the blue corundum variety sapphire. Lapis Lazuli has been highly valued for many thousands of years. The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is the same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afghanistan where it was originally mined at least 6000 years ago. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in many religious ceremonies, and was often used as an inscription stone for various passages from the Book of the Dead. Lapis lazuli was one of the stones in Aaron's Breastplate, described in the Bible (Exodus). Up until the 19th century, lapis lazuli was ground up and mixed with oil to produce the deep blue-green pigment known as ultramarine which meant literally beyond the sea, as the lapis lazuli was brought from far away by ship.

LEOPARDSKIN JASPER - See Jasper / Leopard Skin Jasper has wonderful spots, not unlike a leopard. It comes in variety of colors and shades.

LEPIDOLITE - Semi-precious lepidolite is frequently known as flower sugilite. Its color is violet to pale pink or white and rarely gray or yellow. Its luster is vitreous to pearly and crystals are transparent to translucent. It is 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Associated minerals are quartz, feldspars, and tourmaline.

Lepidolite is an uncommon mica and has only become available on the mineral market in sufficient quantities in the past decade. Lepidolite forms in granitic masses containing lithium. The typical violet to pink color of lepidolite is characteristic and is the only field test available to identify lepidolite from other micas.

Notable occurrences include Brazil, the Ural Mountains in Russia, several African localities and California in the U.S. Lepidolite belongs to the silicates class in the mica group. Its uses include ornamental stone, ore of lithium, and as a heat insulator in industry. A rock made of granular pink lepidolite and red to pink tourmaline is used as an ornamental stone for carving. Single large plates or "books" of lepidolite can have an appealing violet color and make attractive mineral specimens.

M - Q

MALACHITE - Malachite's extensive deposits in Sinai were exploited in antiquity. The combination of hardness ideal for carving, color variation in concentric layers, and adamantine-to-silky luster has made malachite a highly prized ornamental stone. Malachite is a mineral, an important ore of copper, and when finely ground is used as a pigment.

MOOKAITE - Mookaite jasper, also known as mookite, mookalite, mookerite, moakite, moukalite and moukaite. However, mookaite is considered the correct spelling and is named for its local area, Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges in Western Australia. Mookaite is found only in Australia. Microscopic examination shows this rock consists of the remains of tiny organisms known as radiolaria that have an unusual skeletal structure of opaline silica. Billions of these creatures were deposited as sediment in the shallow areas of ancient sea beds. When the seas retreated, these sediments were cemented into solid rock by silica carried in groundwater. Mookaite has been found in many bright colors: reds, purples, tan, snow white, ivory white, pinks and other shades.

MOSS AGATE - See Agate

MOTHER OF PEARL - Mother of pearl is also known as nacre (pronounced "nay-ker"), and is an organic/inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer. Nacre is also familiar as the make-up of pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent. Pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. Many other families of mollusk also have a nacreous inner shell layer.

OLIVE WOOD - Over the years, the olive branch has been the symbol of peace. The olive tree and olives are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible in both the New and Old Testaments. It is one of the first and most significant plants mentioned in the Bible. For example, it was an olive leaf that Noah’s dove brought back to him to demonstrate that the flood was over. The Mount of Olives is mentioned several times. The Garden at Gethsemane where Jesus suffered and prayed before his arrest is on the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane means, “olive press.” The very tree under which Jesus prayed that night is said to still stand there.

Olive trees are very hardy, drought, disease, and fire-resistant, and can live a very long time. Olive trees grow very slowly and the trunk can attain a considerable diameter. Where the olive trees are carefully cultivated, the trees are regularly pruned. Raw olivewood material is obtained from the pruning of the trees. The process of pruning trees is essential to the growth of the trees and no trees are ever damaged or destroyed. Olivewood by nature is heavy, dense and durable and with distinctive grains. Its root system is very robust and capable of regenerating the tree even if the upper tree is destroyed. The older an olive tree, the broader and more gnarled is its trunk. Many olive trees in the groves around the Mediterranean are said to be several centuries old, and in some cases this has been verified scientifically.

Christian carving and crafts in Bethlehem began in the 4^th century following the construction of the Nativity Church built on the traditional birth place of Jesus. Monks taught the local residents how to carve olive wood. In the 16^th century major development took place due to the Franciscan fathers who brought Italian artisans to teach the residents of Bethlehem how to carve olive wood.

OPAL - Opal is one of the world's stones most rich in folklore and knowledge of its desirability is cited to be 250 B.C. Australia produces about 97 percent of the world's gem opals. Fine opal displays what is referred to as fire, the play of light on the stone, which gives opal its uniquely famous quality. Fine opals have a high content of water, and thus should be protected from arid conditions. Opals are also quite soft and care must be taken while wearing, so they should not be worn casually. Fine opals would not be appropriate for a rosary, which needs unsuitable handling. There are numerous types of opal, but most common to the typical consumer is called a doublet or triplet. It is as the name infers, a  composition of a base layer onto which is glued a finer opal layer. A triplet indicates the same double layer, but has a third protective quartz top. Since opals are quite delicate and environmentally sensitive (meaning temperature changes, arid conditions, etc.), doublets and triplets enable needed durability while preserving the beauty of the opal gem. Doublets and triplets are smiled upon in the industry and are wholly acceptable to the trade.

There are other gemstones also called opals, such as Peruvian opal or African green opal. The green opal is largely a jasper matrix in which are inclusions of  green opal. It most closely resembles a typical jasper, which is also a semi-precious gemstone and quite common. Whether the inclusions of green opal are chemically related to fine opal is unknown to me, but doubtful. Both Peruvian opals and African opals are opaque stones and, while they are beautiful unto themselves, they do not resemble fine opal gemstone and exhibit no play of color.

ONYX - Pure black onyx is common, and perhaps the most famous variety, but more rare than onyx with banded colors, which is sardonyx. It has a long history of use for hardstone carving and jewelry, where it is usually cut as a cabochon, or into beads, and is also used for intaglio or cameo engraved gems, where the parallel bands of colors make the image contrast with the ground. Onyx is the stone of the Apostle St. James and the messenger to Our Lady, the Archangel Gabriel.

PEACH JADE - See Jade

PEARLS - Organic stones such as pearls were most certainly used in design by the ancients. Pearl is the traditional birthstone for June. A pearl is a hard, generally spherical object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in crystalline form which has been deposited in layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur.

The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has come to signify something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. Valuable pearls occur in the wild, but they are very rare. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters make up the majority of those that are currently sold. Pearls from the sea are valued more highly than freshwater pearls.

PERIDOT - Sometimes referred to as olivine, peridot is only found in green. This uncommon green color varies from olive to brownish green. Peridot was highly prized by ancient admirers because it was often thought to be emerald. It is the national gem of Egypt. The ancient Egyptians knew peridot as the gem of the sun. Jewelry researchers are now convinced that some, if not all, of the emeralds that Cleopatra was famous for wearing were really deep green peridot from Egypt. Peridot has been written about extensively through out history. Ancient Egyptian scrolls record the mining of peridot as early as 1500 B.C. on what is now called St. John's Island, in the Egyptian Red Sea.

PEWTER - Pewter was first used around the beginning of the Bronze Age in the Near East. The earliest piece of pewter found is from an Egyptian tomb from 1450 BC. Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally 85-99% tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth and lead. Copper and antimony act as hardeners while lead is common in the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. It has a low melting point, around 170–230 °C, depending on the exact mixture of metals. 15 Promises uses only lead-free pewter.

QUARTZ - Quartz is the most common mineral found on the surface of the Earth. A significant component of many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, quartz is found in an impressive range of varieties and colors. There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones, including amethyst, agate, chalcedony, jasper, carnelian, rock crystal, sardonyx, and many more. Especially in Europe and the Middle East, since antiquity, varieties of quartz have been the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings.

R - Silver

RAINBOW JASPER - See Jasper

RED JASPER - See Jasper

ROSE QUARTZ - See Quartz / Rose quartz has been used as a gemstone and as other ornamental and religious objects for thousands of years. Historically, it is a symbol of love and beauty. Quartz is the most common mineral found on the surface of the Earth. A significant component of many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, quartz is found in an impressive range of varieties and colors. There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones, including amethyst, agate, chalcedony, jasper, carnelian, rock crystal, sardonyx, and many more. Especially in Europe and the Middle East, since antiquity, varieties of quartz have been the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings.

Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, India, Germany and several places in the US. Much rose quartz was extracted near Custer, South Dakota, but now, most of the supply of carvable rose quartz comes from Brazil.

RUBY - Precious ruby is a variety of corundum; the other well known variety is sapphire. It was known as carbuncle (although garnet is sometimes said to be carbuncle as well) to the ancients and is one of the stones in the first row of Aaron's Breastplate, with twelve stones altogether representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Ruby is the stone of the Guardian Angel Malchediel and is the traditional birthstone of July.

RUTILATED QUARTZ - See Quartz / Rutilated quartz is a macrocrystalline quartz variety, meaning the individual crystals can be seen with the naked eye. Rutilated quartz is found in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan and the U.S. Rutile is a major ore of titanium. It often forms needle-like crystal inclusions inside quartz. This form of quartz is known as rutilated quartz and it looks like small golden needles inside the transparent mass.

SAPPHIRE - Precious sapphire is a variety of corundum; the other well known variety is ruby. Sapphire comes in a wide range of colors. Blue is the most commonly recognized sapphire color, and only red is not called a sapphire, but rather, a red corundum is the ruby. Corundum is second in hardness only to the diamond. Sapphire is the birthstone of September, the stone of the Apostle to the Gentiles, St. Paul, and the stone of the Guardian Angel Herschel.

SARDONYX - See Carnelian and Onyx / A banded gemstone, sardonyx has parallel layers of carnelian and onyx. Sardonyx is the stone of the Apostle St. James and the messenger to Our Lady, the Archangel Gabriel.

SERAPHINITE - Seraphinite exhibits what is called chatoyance, which means to have a changeable shimmer or luster, silvery shadings in the stones; they are not surface shadings, they bear the lustrous quality. This is a most unusual stone found only in the Lake Baikal region of Siberia. Its name is derived from Seraphim, angels of the highest order.

SILVER - Silver was used frequently for fabrication of sacred temple objects and vessels in the Old Testament, as were gold and bronze. The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a by-product of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining. Silver is valued as a precious metal, and it is used to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware, utensils (hence the term silverware), and currency coins.

Sterling silver is an alloy of 7.5 percent copper and a minimum of 92.5 percent pure silver to legally to be called sterling. That is the origin of the “925” often stamped onto silver pieces. It is the copper content that causes sterling silver to tarnish by oxidizing. Sterling silver that has been polished over many years develops a highly desirable patina. As a matter of fact, bright silver pieces with design details are often purposely oxidized to define the crevices and thereby highlight the design. There are several chemical solutions that can be applied to accomplish this purposeful oxidation. If a piece has been chemically oxidized, the blackening is quite durable. Traditionally, silver has been maintained with specially formulated silver polish, or polish- containing cloths, but in recent years, easier chemical maintenance in the form of disposable silver wipes has found its way to the marketplace.

The Wisdom Writings of Job 28 in Job’s solemn discourse refers to silver, gold, and precious gems: "Silver has its mines, and gold a place for refining. Iron is extracted from the earth, the smelted rocks yield copper." "Underground, the rocks are set with sapphires, full of spangles of gold." Lamented are that the prized worth of glass, onyx, sapphire, coral, crystal, pearls, and topaz are valueless in comparison to wisdom and understanding.

Sodalite - Z

SODALITE - Sodalite is a scarce mineral that can be rock forming. Sodalite is named in reference to its sodium content. It is used for carvings and some jewelry pieces. Its light to dark pure blue color is well known in the semi-precious stone trade. Sodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental gemstone. Sodalite is a member of the sodalite group and—together with hauyne, nosean, and lazurite—is a common constituent of lapis lazuli.

Discovered in 1806 in Greenland, sodalite did not become important as an ornamental stone until 1891 when vast deposits of fine material were discovered in Ontario. It has since been named Princess Blue after Princess Patricia who, upon visiting Ontario some time after its discovery, chose sodalite as interior decoration for Marlborough House in England.

SUGILITE - Sugilite is an interesting stone, partly because it is a fairly new addition to the many minerals used in ornamental jewelry.  Sugilite was only discovered in 1944 by Japanese geologist Ken-ichi Sugi off one of the islands in Japan near Kyoto City, hence its name. Sugilite is a wonderful semi precious stone that comes in several colors, most notably a deep purple.  Sometimes known as Purple Turquoise, sugilite is highly prized, especially when it is very deep purple. It also is found in other hues. There is another beautiful stone sometimes called flower sugilite which is not sugilite at all, but lepidolite.

SWAROVSKI - In 1676, an Englishman named George Ravenscroft made a discovery that by adding lead to glass a brilliant sparkle was achieved. In 1892, Daniel Swarovski revolutionized the glass arts by inventing the first crystal cutting machine, making it possible to cut stones with far more precision than ever possible by manual cutting. In 1895, he founded his company in Austria. His motto, which still defines Swarovksi today, is "what is good now is still to be improved." In 1949, Swarovski Optik is founded and goes on to become the leading manufacturer of precision optical instruments. In 1956, in cooperation with Christian Dior, Swarovski develops the Aurora Borealis, a shimmering finish that enhances the sparkle of crystal. In 2010, the Swarovski website says, "A laser eye to the future, always..."

TIGER EYE - Tiger eye is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually a metamorphic rock that is yellow- to red-brown, with a silky luster. Tiger eye  is a member of the quartz group of chalcedonies. Chatoyancy exhibits a changeable silky luster as light is reflected within thin parallel fibrous bands. Red stones are brought about through gentle heat treatment. Tiger Eye mostly comes from South Africa.

TOPAZ - Topaz is the stone of the Apostle St. Matthew and the Guardian Angel Asmodel. Silver, gold, and bronze were all used in the Bible in the construction of precious and sacred objects. Blue topaz is one of the modern birthstones for December.

Topaz occurs naturally in many colors including blue, orange, brown, green, pink, beige and red. Colorless topaz, a common variation, can be treated by irradiation to produce a wide range of shades of blue. Thus treated, blue topaz is one of the most popular and widely used of all gemstones. The topaz has been known for at least 2000 years and is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name 'topazos' means 'green gemstone'. Topaz is the Texas state gemstone.

TURQUOISE - The history of the use of turquoise in the Middle East coincides with the beginning of civilization itself. Turquoise mining began in the Sinai Peninsula around 5500 BC. The book of Exodus contains an important reference to turquoise. The Breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest Aaron contained twelve stones set in four rows. Turquoise was the first stone on the second row, although emerald is also frequently cited. Turquoise is usually treated to enhance both its color and durability, as it has a generally low hardness. American turquoise is from the Southwest region including New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado. Arizona is currently the most important producer of turquoise by value. Two mines exist in the state, one is the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, the other is the Kingman Mine that operates alongside a copper mine outside of the city. Nevada is the country's other major producer, with more than 120 mines which have yielded significant quantities of turquoise, much of it of a high quality not requiring treatment.

TURQUOISE JASPER - See Jasper

WEB AGATE - See Agate

ZIRCON - Zircon occurs in many different colors, including red, pink, brown, yellow, hazel, black, or colorless. The color of zircons is sometimes changed by heat treatment. Depending on the amount of heat applied, colorless, blue, and golden zircons can be brought about. In geology, the development of pink, red, and purple zircons occur after hundreds of millions of years provided the crystal has enough trace elements to produce color. Zircons are commercially mined for the metal zirconium, and are used for abrasive and insulating purposes. It is also the source of zirconium oxide, one of the most refractory materials known. Large specimens are appreciated as gemstones due to their high refractive index. Due to zircon’s hardness, durability, and chemical inertness, it persists in sedimentary deposits and is a common to most sands.