Rocks & Minerals

The aquamarine is a transparent blue stone used widely in jewelry. Considered a favorite by many jewelry designers for its workability, it is widely popular. Aquamarine is the March birthstone.

Tanzanite is the gemstone quality of zoisite and is found only in Kenya and Tanzania. This blue-violet stone sits on the Mohs scale between 6 and 7 which means that it is a soft stone prone to...

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have used crystals and gemstones in jewelry and as raw stones for religious and metaphysical purposes. Today you can find a variety of crystals...

Stones, minerals and crystals have long been used in metaphysical divining. The quartz crystal has special significance, and it's used in many rituals. Quartz is also thought to be a strong...

Most commonly known for its deep red color and its popularity in jewelry designs of the Victorian era, garnet gemstones have surprised gem trade by becoming available in a variety of colors....

When you want to find gemstones in the United States, it helps to have a basic understanding of where to find them. While you could spend hours sifting dirt in the hopes of uncovering a garnet,...

Because of its vivid, opaque color, with hues from green to sky blue, turquoise has been a valued gem in many cultures, from the ancient Egyptians to the Aztecs and Native Americans. The...

Stones that are set into metal for the purposes of creating jewelry or art may be precious or semi-precious stones. The terms "precious" and "semi-precious" are defined in various ways by...

Determining the value of gems is a combination of cut, caret, color and clarity. In comparing emeralds versus rubies, the two precious stones both have examples of rare gems, typically of a large...

Diamonds are generated from carbon subjected to tremendous pressure and temperature over a very long time. When this happens, the carbon can form crystals that are the hardest substance known. The...

The amethyst, classified as a semi-precious gemstone, is the birthstone of February and is seen in jewelry dating back many hundreds of years. Amethyst is a gemstone with an interesting...

Emeralds (a variety of beryl) are among the world's most precious gemstones and are in constant demand because of their beauty and their rarity.

Known as Australia's gemstone, the opal is one of nature's most amazing masterpieces. From the Sanskrit word "upala" which means valuable stone, the opal is a gemstone that contains all the colors...

.Rubies are some of the most beautiful gemstones available, as well as being a bit rare. Rubies are corundum, a mineral that is composed of aluminum and oxygen atoms. Normally these are colorless,...

Gemstones have been used since the time of the ancients for their healing properties. Used in an elaborate ceremony, or carried in the pocket as a talisman, gemstones offer comfort, energy and...

Amber stone isn't a true gemstone. Rather, amber is fossilized tree resin that can be 30 to 90 million years old. Amber has been highly prized for its warmth and beauty, and has been carved into...

Gem stones have been sought after for centuries by mankind as a form of wealth. There have been gemstones found, bought and sold since the first human picked up a shell and traded it for a scrap...

Cleaning and polishing rough stones is difficult without a rock tumbler. A rock tumbler has different grit sandpaper, depending on what stone you are trying to clean and polish. The rougher the...

The Australian fire opal is a brilliantly colored translucent mineral that is commercially mined and used as a gemstone. Ninety-five percent of the world's precious opals are mined in Australia,...

There are many legends surrounding these strange stones;shamans use them to heal and communicate with other realms and Hopi Indians play marbles with their ancestors to gain knowledge. Moqui...

Stone polishers use varying grades of grit in a tumbler to polish rough rock and semiprecious gems into suitable stones for making such jewelry as rings, keyrings, bracelets and pendants. There is...

A stone polisher is a machine that uses an abrasive substance, water and friction to erode stones. Through a mechanical process it mimics nature where water erodes stone. River stones along a...

Petoskey stones are beautiful stones that can be found littered along the sandy beaches of northern Michigan. Petoskey stones, in fact, are the state stone of Michigan. These stones are actually...

Petrified wood isn't really a crystal, it's fossilized wood, and it carries a mixture of both wood and stone energies. Petrified wood is a calming stone, and increases perseverance and patience....

Learn about flintknapping and how to make stone age tools today! This free video teaches you how to thin a piece of stone for a knife blade.

Are you looking for an easy, decorative way to support your financial success? Try using crystals. There are stones that are specifically recommended for financial prosperity, and others that...

Gemstones have been used throughout human history for many purposes, but chief among them is enhancing mental focus. There are many minerals recommended for this purpose and this article will...

Have you ever wanted to have an OBE, an out-of-body experience? There are many techniques for astral travel and these stones will help boost your abilities. Use them singly or in combination. ...

Meteorites are considered sacred in many cultures. Meteorites amplify thoughts and telepathic sending. It boosts strength and resilience. It also broadens perception, intuition and imagination....

Chrysoberyl assists you in striving for excellence. It brings increased self-confidence by helping you to understand that you already have all that you need within yourself to succeed. Chrysoberyl...

The Petoskey stone is the state rock of Michigan. The Petoskey stone is corral that has been fossilized. These rocks can be found along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The name...

Sunstones are a variety of feldspar, the most common group of minerals in the crust of the earth. They are formed in molten lava and as the lava wears away, crystals are released, giving the...