Gemstone List S to Z
Gemstones S-Z |
SAPPHIRE Name for the Latin word for blue Al2O3 hardness 9 specific gravity 4.0-4.1 Color: colorless, blue from titanium and iron, pale green, yellow, brown from iron, pink from small traces of chromium, pink orange variety is called padparadscha. Mined in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, Kashmir, Cambodia, Kenya, Colombia, USA Ancient belief: |
SARDONYX a blend of sard and onyx. The name sard is from the Greek Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia SiO2 hardness 7 specific gravity 2.61-2.7 Color: bands of white and brownish red Mined world wide. Ancient lore for sard: |
SERPENTINE Named for the mottled color that resembles snake skin. Mg6(OH)8Si4O10 hardness 5 specific gravity 2.60 Color: predominately green Varieties: Mined in England, USA, Germany, Canada, China, Afghanistan, South Africa, Italy, and many other countries. From 3000 BC to 1100 BC carved into vases, bowls, and other objects by the Minoans on Crete. Ancient healing: Protects from snake bite, and when put on the wound, draws out the poison. |
SODALITE Named in 1811 for its high sodium content 3NaAlSiO4NaCl hardness 5 1/2 -6 specific gravity 2.27 Color: all shades of blue with streaks of white calcite Mined in Canada, Brazil, India, Namibia, Russia, Germany, Maine, New Hampshire, Arkansas |
SUGILITE Named for Ken-ici Sugi who discovered it in 1944. It was recognized as a mineral in 1976 KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2Li3Si12O30.H2O hardness 5 1/2- 6 1/2 specific gravity 2.7-2.8 Color: pink to purple from manganese, purple from iron, pale to deep pink from aluminum, brownish yellow Mined in Canada, Japan, South Africa, Italy |
SUNSTONE common name for aventurine feldspar KAlSi3O8 hardness 6-6 1/2 specific gravity 2.6 Color: orange, reddish brown, metallic glitter caused by hemitite or goethite Mined in India, Canada, Madagascar, Norway, Russia, USA Ancient belief: associated like the sun with health, physical energy, passion, and courage |
SMITHSONITE Named for James Smithson, English founder of the Smithsonian Institute ZnCO3 hardness 5 specific gravity 4.35 Color: usually bluish green or green, colorless, pink from cobalt, yellow from cadmium, white, brown Mined in Namibia, Zambia, USA, Spain, Greece, Sardinia, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Australia |
TANZANITE Named for Tanzania where it is mined variety of zoisite Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH) hardness 6-7 specific gravity 3.2-3.4 Color: sapphire blue from vanadium, looks more violet in incandescent light. Heat treating enhances the color. Found in 1965 near Mount Kilimanjaro Mined in Tanzania, Pakistan |
TOPAZ Name from the ancient Sanscrit word tapaz for fire or from the name of the legendary island of Topazios off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Ancient name was chrysolite. Al2(F,OH)2SiO4 hardness 8 specific gravity 3.54 Color: yellow, pink, colorless, blue, green. Heat treating and irradiation make a large range of blue. Mined in Brazil, USA, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Russia, Australia, Tasmania, Pakistan, Mexico, Japan, Africa Ancient healing beliefs: Cured dimness of vision |
TOURMALINE Name from the Singalese word turamali meaning gem pebbles Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 hardness 7 1/2 specific gravity 3.06 Varieties: Mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Namibia, Tanzania, Russia, Madagascar, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, South and East Africa |
TURQUOISE Name means Turkish stone because the trade route to Europe was through Turkey. CuAl6(PO4)4OH8.5H2O hardness 5-6 specific gravity 2.80 Color: sky blue, bluish green, apple green, depends on the amount of iron and copper, usually interspersed with black, dark gray, or brown veins of host rock or minerals Natural color can be damaged by light, perspiration, oils, cosmetics, and household detergents. Stabalizing by soaking with artificial resin hardens the surface. Most turquoise being sold has been stabalized. Mined in Iran, Tibet, China, Egypt, Chile, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico Ancient lore: It was believed to warn the wearer of danger or illness by changing color. |
UNAKITE Named after the place of discovery in South Carolina Aggregate of quartz and pink feldspar with greenish epidote. Color: pink and green Mined in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, in the Blue Ridge Unaka Range |
VARISITE Named for Variscia, the old name for the German district of Voightland, where it was discovered. AlPO4.2H2O hardness 4 1/2 specific gravity 2.6 Color: pale to apple green Mined in Austria, Czech Republic, Australia, Venezuela, North Carolina, Utah, Arizona |
ZOISITE Named for Baron von Zois who discovered it in Austria. Ca2(Al,OH)Al2(SiO4)3 hardness 6 1/2 specific gravity 3.35 Color: usually green Variety: Ruby in Zoisite – green variety containing ruby inclusions Mined in Spain, Germany, Scotland, Japan, |
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