Category: Uncategorized

At Gemstoneindex you can find information on gemstones, minerals, jewelry, birthstones and more. It is intended as a guide to the beautiful and fascinating world of gemstones. Throughout history gemstones have been admired and worn as amulets and talismans; believed to have powers to protect against evil, disease, and as safeguards of health. Gemstones have…

Amazonite is also called Amazon stone.  The name is derived from that of the Amazon River, from which certain green stones were formerly acquired, but it is doubtful whether green feldspar occurs in the Amazon area. Amazonite is one of the most common feldspar minerals. It can be colorless, white, and cream to pale yellow,…

Howlite was discovered in 1868 by a Nova Scotia chemist, geologist and mineralogist named Henry How. It is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide. It is usually white in color with veins of other minerals running through the nodules. They are easily distinguished by its inferior hardness – turquoise Moh’s hardness being 5-6 and Howlite – Moh’s…

The name garnet comes from the Latin word granatus, meaning “seed,” because it often resembles small round seeds (similar to the red kernels of the pomegranate)when found. Garnets are isomorphous, meaning that they share the same crystal structure. This is a group of six differently colored minerals with similar crystal structures and related chemical compositions.…

Sardonyx is a variety of agate with reddish-brown and white bands. It is a member of the layer stones. Sard is the brownish-red variety of chalcedony. Sardonyx has straight bands of white, together with bands of brownish red sard thus, the name sardonyx. Sard takes its name from the Greek “Sardis,” the capital of ancient…

There are two different minerals known as jade.  They are “nephrite”, which is an amphibole, and “jadeite,” which is a pyroxene.  Nephrite is the most common and widespread.  It is formed of a mat of tightly interlocking fibers, creating a stone tougher than steel.  It was used in China and New Zealand for tools and…

Moonstone is a potassium feldspar of the orthoclase (adularia) species with white shimmer, similar to moonshine (therefore the name) adularescence. It is a member of the feldspar group of gems. It can be transparent with a strong blue schiller on the surface; or it can have a striking cat’s eye or star effect. Moonstone’s shimmer…

Carnelian is a brownish red to orange, translucent to opaque chalcedony variety. The coloring agent is iron. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally harder and darker.  It is probably named after the color of the kornel cherry because of its color.  Its name comes from the Latin word carneus, which means “fleshy” also…