Name from the Latin word perula<\/em> meaning pearl<\/p>
Organic Color: A pearl has 2 colors: a body color and an overtone color in the sheen. Body colors are white, cream, any other delicate shade, black Pearls grow inside the shells of mollusks (saltwater oysters and freshwater clams). When a tiny foreign object gets inside the shell, the mollusk coats it with layers of aragonite, or mother of pearl material. Eventually the pearl is formed.<\/p> Natural pearls are found by fishing for the mollusks<\/a>. Salt water pearls are often called Oriental Pearls. Natural fresh water pearls were harvested in China before 1000 BC. They have been found in the rivers and streams of China, Bavaria, England, Ireland, and the Mississippi River in the USA.<\/p> Click here to see CULTERED PEARL JEWELRY<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> (Mg,Fe)2<\/font>SiO4<\/font> hardness 6 1\/2 specific gravity 3.34<\/p> Color: olive green from iron Mined in Pakistan, Egypt, China, Myanmar, Brazil, Norway, Australia, South Africa, Hawaii, Arizona Ancient Lore: May have been grouped with other green stones. Look at PERIDOT JEWELRY<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> Color: browns<\/p> Mined in Africa and China<\/p> See PIETERSITE JEWELRY<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> SiO2 <\/font>hardness 7 specific gravity 2.61<\/p> Color: green, not as bright as chrysoprase, from actinolite inclusions Mined in Germany, Finland, Austria, Scotland<\/p><\/td> <\/tr> Ca2<\/font>Al2<\/font>Si3<\/font>O10<\/font>(OH)2<\/font> hardness 6-6 1\/2 specific gravity 2.87<\/p> Color: pale to mid green, tan, pale yellow, gray, white Sometimes called Cape Emerald<\/p> Mined in Canada, Australia, Scotland, Germany, and many other countries<\/p> See PREHNITE JEWELRY<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> FeS2<\/font> hardness 6-6 1\/2 specific gravity 4.90-5.0<\/p> Color: pale brass yellow Known as fool’s gold<\/p> Gives off sparks when struck by iron.<\/p> Mined in Spain, Mexico, Peru, Italy, France, world wide.<\/p> Used by North American Indian medicine men<\/p><\/td> <\/tr> Colorless transparent variety: Mined in Brazil, Swiss and French Alps, Madagascar, Russia, USA<\/p> Ancient belief: It was ice formed by the gods. Varieties of Quartz: Man made quartz is many colors including aqua, blueberry, cherry or strawberry, moss green, pineapple, pink, ruby, sea foam, topaz. This is not glass.<\/p> Want to find QUARTZ JEWELRY?<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> MnCo3<\/font> hardness 3 1\/2 -4 specific gravity 3.60<\/p> Color: pink from manganese Mined in Montana, Colorado, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, Japan<\/p> See RHODOCHROSITE JEWELRY<\/a><\/p><\/td> <\/tr> (Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)SiO3<\/font> hardness 6 specific gravity 3.60<\/p> Color: pink or rose red, often with black veins from manganese oxides Mined in Australia, Russia, Sweden, New Jersey and many other countries<\/p>
mostly CaCo3<\/font> hardness 2.5-4.5 specific gravity 2.6-2.78<\/p>
Color depends on the mollusk and its environment.<\/p> ![\"Coquette](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Site-cartoon107-4-3.gif\" "\\"Coquette")
What are cultured pearls? Some people use the term to distinguish between genuine pearls and imitation glass based pearls. Cultured means genuine pearls that are grown on pearl farms in either salt water or fresh water. A small sphere, usually mother of pearl, is implanted inside the mollusk. The pearl is formed in a short period of time.
The sizes and shapes of pearls are determined by sorting.
The shapes of fresh water pearls are given descriptive names such as potato, button, rice.
They may be natural colors or dyed.
Most pearls on the market today are cultured.<\/p> PERIDOT<\/strong>
Name from the 13th century English word peridota<\/em>.<\/p>
Considered a variety of olivine
Transparent to translucent<\/p>
Mined for more than 3,500 years in Zebirget, an island in the Red Sea.
It was made into beads as early as 1580 -1350 BC in Egypt.<\/p>
From ancient times to the Middle Ages, it was a symbol of the sun.
According to an 11th century French bishop Morbodious, a peridot stone had to be pierced, strung on the hair of a donkey, and then attached to the left arm. It could then protect against evil spirits or dissolve enchantments.
It could cure asthma and prevent nightmares.<\/p> PIETERSITE<\/strong>
Named for Sid Pieters who discovered it in Namibia, Africa
also called Eagle’s Eye
variation of Tiger Eye<\/p> PRASE<\/strong>
Name from the Greek word prason<\/em>, meaning leek, referring to its color.<\/p>
Translucent<\/p> PREHNITE<\/strong>
Named for Hendrik von Prehn who discovered tit.<\/p>
Transparent to translucent<\/p> PYRITE<\/strong>
Name from the Greek pyr<\/em> meaning fire<\/p>
Opaque<\/p> QUARTZ<\/strong>
Name from the Greek krustallos<\/em> meaning ice
Rock Crystal name started in the late Middle Ages to differentiate it when other glass was made and called crystal.<\/p>
SiO2<\/font> hardness 7 specific gravity 2.65-2.7<\/p>
Used for crystal balls to predict the future.<\/p>
Milky – inclusions of gas and liquid bubbles
Black and White
Frosted – surface treated
Ice Flake or Cracked- heated to produce internal cracking
Rose – pink or peach color from titanium, usually cloudy or cracked
Rutilated – needle like rutile crystals of red, black, or brassy yellow
Smoky – grayish brown. Can be irradiated rock crystal. Black called Morion.
Tourmalated- inclusions of black tourmaline in needle like crystals
Green
Lemon
Blue<\/p> RHODOCHROSITE<\/strong>
Name from the Greek rhodokhros<\/em> meaning of rosy color<\/p>
Usually opaque with bands of rose and white. Transparent is rare and gem quality.<\/p> RHODONITE<\/strong>
Name from the Greek rhodos<\/em> meaning rose<\/p>
Translucent to opaque<\/p>