Mineral Specimens

Amber

Amber is fossilized tree resin (not sap), which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty. 

Amethyst

The Gemstone Amethyst, was created when Bacchus, the God of wine poured wine over the stone, staining it purple.

Apophylite

Apophyllite is a crystal of facilitating and strengthening conscious, intended connection with the spiritual world.  

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is emerald's most famous sister. It has been credited with providing courage, curing laziness and quickening the intellect. 

Beryl

Beryl as a gemstone refers to all varieties of the beryl group which are not emerald-green or aquamarine blue.  

Calcite

Calcite is transparent to opaque and may occasionally show phosphorescence or fluorescence. 

Carnelian

Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a brownish-red mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. 

Celestite

 Celestite is a mineral made of strontium sulfate. Celestite is the principal source of the element strontium, commonly used in fireworks. 

Chrysanthemum Stone

Chrysanthemum stone is named for its unique patterns embedded in the stone that resemble flowering chrysanthemums. 

Citrine

Citrine is from the quartz group with a Moh’s hardness of 7.  Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. 

Copal

Copal is tree resin identified with the aromatic resins used by the cultures of pre-Colombian Mesoamerica as ceremonially burned incense. 

Copper

Copper is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable. 

Coral

Coral have built reefs and atolls with their branching trunks. Only their calcified skeletons are used in jewelry. 

Dioptase

Dioptase is an intense emerald-green to bluish-green copper cyclosilicate mineral. It is transparent to translucent. 

Emerald

Emerald derives from Greek Smaragdos. It means "green stone".   In ancient times referred to probably most green stones.

Fluorite

Fluorite is a halide, or one of the minerals composed of metals with the halogen elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. 

Garnet

Garnet is a rainbow of gemstones. With the exception of blue, it is found in every color of the spectrum. 

Jade

The name goes back to the time of the Spanish conquest of Central & South America & means piedra de ijada, i.e. hip stone. 

Jasper

Jasper is usually considered as a chalcedony. Some scienists, however, put it in a group by itself within the quartz group.

Labradorite

The name is derived from the Canadian peninsule of Labador. It shows a play of color often blue and green,  

Lapis

As lapis lazuli is composed of several minerals, some experts consider it not to be a mineral, the main ingredient being lazurite. 

Lepidolite

Lepidolite is a lilac-gray or rose-colored member of the mica group. It is a secondary source of lithium. It is aphyllosilicate mineral

Malachite

When cut it shows layers of lighter and darker concentirc rings, parallel lines, or other shapes caused by its shell like formation. 

Marble

Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.

Opal

Opal is derived from an Indian word for "stone". It is divided into three groups: the opalescent precious, yellow-red fire & opal.

Onyx

Onyx is characterized by it hardness & durability. Onyx has been traditionally favored in the carving of cameos, statuettes, scarabs & beads

Peridot

According to astrologers, the wearer of peridot will enjoy happiness in marriage, the power of eloquence in speech 

Pyrite

Pyrite has been confused with gold since the beginning of time, hence the nickname "Fool's Gold." 

Quartz

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after felspar. 

Ruby

Ruby is named because of its red color. It was not until about 1800 that ruby was recognized as belonging to the corundum group. 

Ruby in Zoisite

Ruby is named because of its red color (Latin Rubeus). 

It was originally called saualpite, and has only recently been considered a gemstone. 

Septarian

Septarian is a geode that is a combination of yellow calcite, brown aragonite, grey limestone and white/clear barite. 

Tiger Iron

Tiger Iron is a combination of hematite, red jasper, & sometimes yellow jasper or golden tiger eye. 

Topaz

The Egyptians said topaz was colored with the golden glow of the mighty sun god Ra. The Romans associated topaz w/ Jupiter, god of the sun. 

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a large family of gemstones with more than 100 hues available. It is believed to promote continued good health.

Travertine

Travertine is a form of calcite.  It is often beautifully colored & banded as a result of the presence of iron compounds or other impurities.