Gemstones have allured and enchanted man for many thousands of years. Whether luminous and brilliant or opaque and lustrous, gemstones can be found in almost any color along the spectrum; each having its own unique beauty. Gemstones are primarily mineral, but can also be organic, rock or synthetic. Some are heavy and dense others light and porous, even buoyant in some cases. While man has always had a fascination for jewelry, the alluring beauty and mysterious origin of gemstones quickly precipitated the arise of symbolic meaning in gemstones.
In some cultures gemstones were believed to contain mystical and cosmic powers, the capacity to heal and even the power to ward off evil spirits. Some gemstones were believed to effect and contril certain actions and behaviors such as sobriety and chastity. Early man believed, for instance, that amber could increase longevity of life because specimens were often found with fossilized insects and other life forms. In one European culture women wore opals in their hair because it was believed to prevent your hair from turning gray.
Gemstones have been placed in tombs of the dead, carried, worn, held against the skin, buried in the ground and even crushed and ingested to cure illnesses, prevent illnesses, purify the soul and spirit and nourish the mind. In the days of heraldry gemstones represented wealth and power and in some European countries, certain gemstones were reserved only for persons of royal decent.
Amber
Amber, also called Succinite, is classified as an organic gemstone since it is not mineralized. Amber is actually fossilized, hardened resin of the pine tree, Pinus succinifera. Most people mistake resin as sap. Sap is the fluid that circulates through a plant's vascular system, while resin is the semi-solid amorphous organic substance secreted in pockets and canals through epithelial cells of the plant formed 50 millionyears ago2. Amber is relatively porous; 2 - 2.5 on the Mohs Scale. Amber comes primarily from the Baltic region in Northern Europe. The most valuable pieces of amber contain inclusions of insects or plant pieces such as this mosquito.
Amber has been used since prehistoric times for jewelry, amulets and religious objects. Besides its beauty, amber is appealing because no two pieces of amber are alike. Each piece is completely unique. Amber has 256 identified shades of color ranging from black brownish-red to hues of cream and white. In prehistoric times amber was believed to be a symbol of eternal youth since so many specimens were found containing preserved animal and plant life. Empress Poppaea, the wife of Roman Emperor Nero, had a passionate love for amber. Besides her royal status, she was also recognized for her exquisite beauty such that women began dying their hair to match its color. Medicinally amber was often crushed, mixed with honey and ingested as a remedy for headaches and toothaches. When worn, amber beads were thought to remedy toothaches, rheumatism, rickets and jaundice.
Amethyst
Amethyst is the most valuable gemstones in the quartz group and also the most popular. It is a relatively hard stone; 7 on the Mohs Scale. Amethyst is found in Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar, Canada, the U.S., Uruguay, India, Namibia, Mexico, Russia and Sri Lanka. The largest It is typically a rich violet-purple, but can also appear in lighter shades of purple such as lilac and mauve. The most desired amethyst is the "Deep Siberian" because its primary purple hues are between 75-80 percent with 15-20 percent blue as well as red hues which can be seen under certain forms of light3. Amethyst can also be heat treated between 878 to 1382 degrees to produce pale yellow, red-brown, green or even a colorless stone.
Amethyst is the the birthstone of February and the symbolic anniversary gemstone for the 6th year of marriage. The derivation of the name amethyst is derived from the Greek word "amethystos" which means not drunken. The naming resulted from the Greek belief that if used as an amulet, the amethyst would prevent intoxication. In fact, it was common for both the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans to drink from chalices made of amethyst.
The royal purple color was a symbol of Christ and the preferred stone among high officials in the early Christian Church. Amethyst is mentioned in the Bible (Ex. 28:19; 39:12) as one of the 12 stones adorning the breastplate (ḥoshen) of the high priests of Yahweh4.It is also believed that Saint Valentine wore a ring set with an antique Amethyst carved with an image of Cupid. Ancient civilizations believed that amethyst would bring forth higher and most pure aspirations of human kind. Amethyst has been associated with enhanced mental activity, strength, will power and self control. Amethyst was worn or used as an amulet for chastity, sobriety and to guard against passionate acts of anger and violence. It was also believed to quicken one's intelligence and enhance intuition thus protecting soldiers from battle wounds and bringing about victory in battle. Medicinally, it was believed to protect the wearer from contagious diseases.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a from of beryl. It's name comes from the Latin term meaning "water of the sea". It's colors range from light greenish-blue to dark bluish-green, however the darker hues of blue are the most desirable. Lighter colored varieties are often heat treated to 725 to 850 degrees to permanently darken their color5. It is a relatively hard stone, measuring 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.
Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. In the Middle Ages it was believed to give the wearer both insight, foresight and freedom from insomnia. Among various peoples, it had the reputation of providing happiness and everlasting youth. Water in which an aquamarine had been soaked was believed to cure eye troubles and stop hiccups. Legends say that it is the treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep sailors safe at sea. Aquamarine is said to be a particularly strong charm when immersed in water, which may explain why sailors took to them so faithfully on rough seas. Aquamarine was also said to have a positive influence on love relationships’, especially married couples, by smoothing out differences. This may have led to its popularity as an anniversary gift. Named for the Latin term for sea water, aquamarine has been credited with providing courage, curing laziness and quickening the intellect. Aquamarines are also cited in modern "gem therapy" as a cure for headaches and a talisman for attracting new friends. Madagascar used to be a prime source of medium and darker blue stones, but nowadays Brazil is the most prolific supplier of aquamarine. Stones from China and Colombia tend to be of a yellowish tint.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a member of the quartz family and is the name given to the entire species of cryptocrystalline quartzes. It is found in Brazil, India Madagascar, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Uraguay and California. It can seem a bit confusing to those outside the study of gemology since you may also hear someone use the term Chalcedony for the bluish, white and/or gray form of this stone. Both are correct. There are actually many stones in the Chalcedony family including petrified wood, chrysoprase, bloodstone, jasper, carnellian, moss agate, onyx, sard and, of course the blueish and/or gray to white Chalcedony.
Agate
This is a semi-pellucid (allowing some light to shine through) variety of quartz. Brownish-orange agate is known as cornelian, the green variety is called chrysoprase, brownish-red variety is called carnelian. Black agate is called onyx. The blueish is a variety of chalcedony with multi-colored concentric circle banding. It is found mainly in India, Brazil, Madagascar, China, Russia and Australia. The stone, widely distributed is generally brown.
Black Onyx
Pure black onyx is common, and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as onyx with banded colors. Onyx is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Commonly, specimens of onyx available contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. Sardonyx is a variant in which the colored bands are sard (shades of red) rather than black. It is usually cut as a cabochon, or into beads, and is also used for intaglios and cameos, where the bands make the image contrast with the ground. Some onyx is natural but much is produced by the staining of agate.
The name has sometimes been used, incorrectly, to label other banded lapidary materials, such as banded calcite found in Mexico, Pakistan, and other places, and often carved, polished and sold. This material is much softer than true onyx, and much more readily available. The majority of carved items sold as 'onyx' today are this carbonate material.
Carnelian
Is a translucent red or orange variety of chalcedony, sometimes banded red and orange like an agate. Once believed to benefit the wearer's health and love life. Most carnelian comes from Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany. Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a reddish-brown mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally harder and darker. (The difference is not rigidly defined, and the two names are often used interchangeably.) Both carnelian and sard are varieties of the silica mineral chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration.
Chalcedony : Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals quartz and moganite. These are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, whilst moganite is monoclinic. Chalcedony has a waxy luster, and may be semitransparent or translucent It can assume a wide range of colors, but those most commonly seen are white to gray, grayish-blue or a shade of brown ranging from pale to nearly black. The mineral is found in Madagascar, Brazil, India, China and the USA.
Citrine
Citrine: November’s Birthstone. Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. It is nearly impossible to tell cut citrine from yellow topaz visibly. Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, with much of its production coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Crystal
Diopside
Gemstone quality diopside is found in two forms: the black star diopside and the chrome diopside (which includes chromium giving it a rich green colour). At 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale, chrome diopside is relatively soft to scratch. Mohs scale of hardness does not measure tensile strength or resistance to fracture. Diopside is found in ultramafic (kimberlite and peridotite) igneous rocks, and diopside-rich augite is common in mafic rocks, such as olivine basalt and andesite. Diopside is also found in a variety of metamorphic rocks, such as in contact metamorphosed skarns developed from high silica dolomites. It is an important mineral in the Earth's mantle and is common in peridotite.
Emerald
Emerald, May's birthstone, is among the most revered and expensive of all gemstones. It has long since been regarded as the quintessential green in nature. The soothing green color of emerald was believed to have a calming, healing affect on those who wore it. Its typical color is a beautiful, distinctive hue known, in fact, as emerald green. But emerald can also be light or dark green, bright green or leaf green. On the Mohs scale of hardness, emerald ranks 7.5-8. In addition to its place as May's birthstone, emerald is also a recommended gift for couples celebrating their 20th or 35th wedding anniversary. According to Hindu astrology, emerald is the zodiacal gem for Cancer (June 22-July 22); in the Arab tradition emerald represents Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today, most natural gem-quality emeralds are produced in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. Emerald is also found in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa, Australia, Russia and the United States (North Carolina).
Garnet
January's birthstone is famous for being as red as a ruby, but this colorful gem actually comes in every color but blue. In addition to its place as January's birthstone, garnet is a recommended gift for couples celebrating their second wedding anniversary. According to Arab tradition, garnet was also the zodiacal gem for Scorpio (Oct. I24-Nov. 21). Garnet is thought to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion, garnet is known as the stone of commitment Garnet was thought to help the wearer resist melancholy, cure heart palpitations, word off evil spirits, spark creativity and provide a grounding influence. This gem was endowed with the power to protect against poison, cure lung and blood diseases, and remedy anger and discord. It was also a talisman for travelers to keep them in good health. Garnet is found in Ceylon, Australia, Madagascar, India, Australia and Brazil. On the Mohs scale of hardness, garnet ranks 6.5-7.5 -- hard but somewhat brittle, so avoid impact which could nick or crack the stone. Garnet is one of the most exciting gems on the market. This hard, durable and often very brilliant gem offers great versatility because of its variety. Believed Most people think of garnet as a single type of gem that is dark red in color. Actually, garnet is a gem family that spans a range of red, green, yellow, orange, purple and brown shades. Truly an ancient gem, garnet's history dates back to long before the birth of Christ. Noah used a fiery red garnet as a bow light while he sailed in torrential rain for 40 days and nights.
Iolite
It is said that Iolite is the stone of happiness and joy. Gem quality iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes. As the transparent variety iolite, it is often used as a gemstone. It has also been called "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass", because of its ability to determine the direction of the sun on overcast days. It is softer than Sapphire. Often used a substitute for sapphire. Iolite mostly occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique and Brazil.
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals. See description below. Jadeite measures between 6.5 and 7.0 Mohs hardness and Nephrite between 5.5 and 6.0, Jade is the official gemstone of British Columbia,Nephrite Jade, consists of a microcrystallines interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content the greener the colour.
Jadeitite, a rock consisting almost entirely of jadeite, a sodium- and aluminum-rich pyroxene. The gem form of the mineral is a microcrystalline interlocking crystal matrixNephrite can be found in a creamy white form (known in China as "mutton fat" jade) as well as in a variety of green colours, whereas jadeite shows more colour variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colours. 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 jadeitite 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 jadeitite, and Canada of modern lapidary nephrite
Kunzite
Kunzite is a pink to lilac colored gemstone, a variety of spodumene with the color coming from minor to trace amounts of manganese. Some kunzite used in jewelry has been heated to enhance its color. It is also frequently irradiated to enhance the color. Many kunzites fade when exposed to sunlight. Kunzite was discovered in the United States in 1902 by George Frederick Kunz, thus the name. Georgwe Kunz was Tiffany & Co's chief jeweler at the time and a noted mineralogist. Kunzite comes from Brazil, Madagascar and Burma. greenish variety of this mineral is called 'hiddenite'.
Marcasite
Also called white iron pyrite. The mineral marcasite is sometimes , is iron sulfide. Marcasite is often mistakenly confused with pyrite, but marcasite is lighter and more brittle. Specimens of marcasite often crumble and break up due to the unstable crystal structure, and it is this crystal structure that is the main difference between marcasite and pyrite. Though marcasite has the same chemical formula as pyrite, it crystallizes in a different crystal system, thereby making it a separate mineral. In jewelry, pyrite used as a gem is improperly termed "marcasite". True marcasite is never used as a gem, due to its brittle and chemically unstable structure.
Moonstone
Moonstone is a alternative to Pearl for June birthstone. Moonstone is an orthoclase feldspar that is usually measured in millimeters. Gems of large proportion are seldom seen, and can carry a hefty price tag. Moonstone shows a “haze” around its perimeter that is usually either white, silver or blue. This phenomena is known as “adularesence” .To clearly depict this effect, moonstone is most always seen cut en cabochon. Ancients called this mysterious gem “the pebbles of the moon”. Most believed that this gem was a direct link to the moon. In ancient times, a full eclipse struck terror in the hearts of men, who blamed the moonstone for the disappearance of light.
Opal
Opal: October's birthstone, is sometimes considered the "Queen of Gems," because it encompossed the colors of all other gems. On the Mohs scale of hardness, opal ranks 5-6.5. Opals are the gem world's silvery mirrors, reflecting back every color in a flash of pastels or a streak of fire. In addition to its place as October's birthstone, opal is also a recommended gift for couples celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary.
Opal is a gemstone that ranges from semi-transparent to opaque. Its body color covers a broad spectrum of colors, but is mostly prized for what is known as "play of color," the ability to reflect and refract light into flashes of multiple colors. The Romans revered opal as a symbol of hope, fidelity, purity, and good fortune and held it to be second only to the prized emerald. Scandinavian women wore opals as hair ornaments to prevent their blonde locks from going gray. 95% of the world's opal is mined in Australia, known for producing the most spectacular material on the planet. White opal is also being produced in Brazil. Fire and crystal opal is found in Mexico and the United States (Nevada). Natural opal occurs in several types: White opal--the most common on the market--has a transparent or white body color with vibrant pastel flashes of rainbow color. Black opal has a blue, gray or black body color that reveals a more dramatic play of color. Boulder opal is most often black opal with some of the ironstone matrix in which it occurred still intact.
Pearl
Pearls: Is June’s birthstone. The various types of pearls differ in their luster and their mysterious colors depending on the type of oyster that produced them, and they can take on a wide variety of appearances. Akoya pearls are produced by Akoya oysters in Japan. Depending on the size of the oyster, their size may vary between 3-10mm. The range of color of these pearls includes white, cream, pink, green, silver, and gold. Akoya pearls are known for their high luster and rich color. Black Sea Cultured Pearls: Produced by black lipped oysters, these naturally black pearls come from Tahiti and Okinawa and are approximately 8 - 15 mm. Their color combines blue, green and violet tones with the peacock green being the most popular. It may take a dozen harvest years to collect enough black pearls that match in size, shape and color to create one necklace. Conch Pearl: These are natural pearls harvested from Queen conch, which lives in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The highest-quality examples are characterized by a distinctive 'flame structure' that gives the appearance of a fire burning on the surface. Fresh Water Cultured Pearl: These are cultured mostly in the lakes and rivers of China using Hyriopsis Cumingi as the host oyster. As many as ten to fourteen pearls can be cultured in one mussel. The pearls are usually either shaped like grains of rice or are oval-shaped. South Sea Cultured Pearl: These are large pearls, most more than 10mm, produced by much larger oysters (Pinctada maxima) in the warm waters of the South Seas, in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The color of the South Sea pearls is determined by different oyster types. White South Sea pearls are produced by Silver Lipped pearl oysters. Golden pearls are produced by the Golden lipped oyster. Their warm, natural golden color is said to be rarer than gold itself.
Peridot
also known as olivine, is August's birthstone. As a medical remedy, it was powdered to cure asthma. Holding a peridot under the tongue was supposed to lessen the thirst of a person suffering from fever. The high priest's breastplate, which is described in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, includes a stone for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, one being peridot.It is found in varying shades of olive green, yellow-green, brownish-green, but the most valued color is a lively lime green. The yellower varieties are often referred to as chrysolite, but are chemically identical. Peridot is usually lighter in hue than emerald, and has a more velvety color rather than a brilliant one. On the mohs hardness scale peridot ranks 6.5 - 7.0. Peridot is a gem that gets around. From ancient Egypt to present-day Apache mesas, even in space meteorites--you never know where its green gleam is going to show up. Peridot found in Alexandria, Egypt suggests that the earliest known mines were the island of Zebargad, about 50 miles from the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea .
Quartz
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust (after feldspar).
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is a type of quartz which exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, in the massive material. Some rose quartz contains microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the massive quartz. Rose quartz is not popular as a gem - it is generally too clouded by impurities to be suitable for that purpose. Rose quartz is more often carved into figures such as people or hearts. Hearts are commonly found because rose quartz is pink and an affordable mineral.
Smoky Quartz
Smoky Quartz: Smokey quartz is a gray, translucent version of quartz. It ranges in clarity from almost complete transparency to a brownish-grey crystal that is almost opaque. Some can also be black.
Ruby
The somewhat deeper color of the uncut, unpolished ruby crystal is called rubelite.
Ruby: July's birthstone, The color of courage and blood, rubies are even more precious per carat than diamonds. In addition to its place as July's birthstone, ruby is also a recommended gift for couples celebrating their 15th or 40th wedding anniversary. The color of the heart, ruby has inspired passion and romance for centuries. Ruby has the power to stimulate sexual desire and energy. This gem was thought to attract and maintain love and friendship. It's a great choice for an engagement ring. On the Mohs scale of hardness, ruby ranks 9, sharing status with sapphire as the highest in the gem world after diamond. Perfect natural gems--in color and appearance--are very rare and expensive. The most famous source for natural gem-quality ruby is Myanmar (Burma). Good stones have also come from Thailand, Sri Lanka, and most recently, Vietnam. However, Myanmar remains the largest and best source for rubies of top-quality, free of inclusions and a dark-pink red color that holds its glow in all lighting conditions.
Sapphire
Sapphire: Blue Sapphire September's birthstone. Sapphire is sister to the Ruby. Sapphire is also recommended for a couple’s 5th or 45th anniversaries. The sapphire has for a long time, been identified with chastity, piety, and repentance. It brings wisdom and truth, increases perception and the understanding of justice. It helps find peace of mind and serenity and promotes a life of sincerity, helping preserve one’s innocence while learning life’s truths. Sapphires also are associated with romantic love, representing fidelity and romantic devotion. I it also used for a quest to increase one’s faith, hope, and joy, and to keep thoughts pure and heavenly. While sapphire has become the ultimate blue stone, it actually comes in virtually every color except red (red sapphires are rubies), including colorless and white, and such fancy colors as yellow, peach, orange, cognac, pink, violet, purple and green and all their many shades. In fact, white sapphire has become a popular natural diamond substitute for many people. Moreover fancy color sapphire often provides an alternative to other gems in similar colors that are less durable. It is considered the most important and versatile of the gem families. Like ruby, sapphire may be found in a translucent variety that may display a six-rayed star effect when cut into a cabochon (dome) shape. This type is known as star sapphire, of which there are numerous synthetics on the market. Natural gem-quality sapphire is found in many parts of the world, but the rarest gems are from Kashmir and Myanmar (Burma), most prized because their color is closest to pure spectral blue. Fine sapphire is also produced in Sri Lanka in limited supply, both in blue and fancy color. Sapphire is also found in Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia and the United States (Montana).
Sunstone
Today, it is widely linked with human being as protective energy. It lends extra energy at times of stress or ill health. Sunstone is metallic in appearance and comes in red, orange or green colors. However, cleaner red sunstone is very rare and it commands true gemstone prices. Sunstone is formed in molten lava and is discharged onto the surface with the help of a volcano. The hardness of the stone is 6.5 - 7.2 on Mohs scale. This the one stone that is prevalent in the united states. Oregonian sunstone is found in colors ranging from colorless to pale green, orange and red. Ponderosa sunstone can be found in vibrabrant reds with beautiful reds with lots of copper “schiller”(the copper platlets that causes the sparkle in the stone).Dust Devil sunstone is usually colors peach and green colors with less schiller.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite which was discovered in the Meralani (Merelani) Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha. It is used as a gemstone. Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism, appearing alternately sapphire blue, violet, and burgundy depending on crystal orientation. Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddish brown color. It requires artificial heat treatment to 600 °C in a gemological oven to bring out the blue violet of the stone. Tanzanite is a rare gem. It is found mostly in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2003 the Tanzanian introduced legislation that banned the export of unprocessed Tanzanite to India. Like most gemstones, most tanzanite is cut in Jaipur.
Topaz
Blue Topaz
Blue Topaz: Decembers birthstone. Blue topaz is the Texas state gemstone. Topaz is given in celebration of the 4th and 19th anniversaries of marriage. Topaz is a symbol of love and affection, and has been said to be an aid to ones sweetness and disposition. Naturally occurring Blue Topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated in order to produce a more desired darker blue. Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, straw yellow, pale gray or reddish-orange. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink (rare), reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent. It comes from Brazil, where it is as widespread as amethyst, Australia, Madagascar, USA, Mexico and Ceylon
Imperial Topaz
Imperial topaz is yellow, pink (rare, if natural) or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a beautiful bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. This variety is the most sought-after and highly valued among the topaz gems. Some imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time
Mystic Topaz
OrangeTopaz
Orange Topaz: also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US State of Utah.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is the alternate birthstone for October, along with the opal. The stone was first discovered by Dutch traders off the West Coast of Italy in the late 1600's or early 1700's. They said it was to be the substance that would grant enlightenment, give power over spiritual affairs, reconcile opposites and change base metals to gold. In most recent years, the stone is used by tribes in Africa, Native Americans, and aboriginal groups in Australia as a talisman that protects against all dangers. Tourmaline 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Turquoise
¹ Water Schumann, Gemstones of the World Revised & Expanded Edition (New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 1997), p 10.
2Schumann, p 228.
3 Richard W Wise, Secrets of the Gem Trade; The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstone (Brunswick House Press: Lenox, Massachusetts), 2003
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Amethyst
