Malachite is a soft,
green gemstone
that is a copper ore. It has been used
for hundreds of years to create beautiful
carvings, beads and cabochons.
Malachite is found in the
western United States,
Australia, Russia and Africa.
Malachite is generally
a combination of
green colors in beautiful banded patterns.
Malachite has been traditionally believed to
reduce stress and tension and enhance balance.
It is also used by many people
who believe it will make them more prosperous
and attract money. Many business people
and gamblers traditionally carry a piece
of malachite or wear malachite jewelry.
Malachite is a very soft stone which
should not be cleaned with commercial
jewelry cleaning compounds.
It is a porous stone
which can absorb liquids
that can affect its color and erode the stone.
It should not be worn
while washing
dishes or using harsh household cleaning chemicals.
Ultrasonic cleaning is
not recommended.
A rouge polishing cloth
is okay.
Malachite will usually polish up nicely when
rubbed with a soft cloth.
Opal is a soft,
multicolored gemstone
that is in the silica family. Actually, opal is
hydrated silica
- it has a very high water content.
(Up to 20% of the weight can be water!)
Opal has been used for
thousands of years
to create beautiful carvings, beads and cabochons.
Opal is found in the western
United States,
Australia, central Europe and Mexico.
Opal is generally found
in two varieties.
One type is a
translucent gemstone
that displays no fire. Mexican fire opal,
despite its name, is this type of opal.
It ranges in color from white to a gorgeous red.
Mexican fire opal is the one type of opal that is
also commonly cut into faceted stones.
The second type, also
referred to
as "precious opal," has a base color
that can range from white to black.
This type of opal displays multicolored "fire".
This is caused by the reflection of light
off the microscopic silica spheres
that the opal is composed of.
Opal cabochons can be
solid,
or they can be doublets or triplets.
Opal doublets are
composed of a layer
of precious opal bonded to a base -
usually dark colored potch - common
opal, usually opaque with no fire.
The top is then finished and polished
like a solid opal cabochon.
Opal triplets are made
in a similar manner,
with opal bonded to a potch base.
However, the opal can be a very thin slice,
because it is covered with a cap,
to produce an opal "sandwich".
The cap is usually clear crystal quartz.
An inexpensive
alternative is the mosaic triplet.
Instead of one large but thin slice of opal,
many small pieces are tightly fitted together
in a "mosaic" on the base, and then capped.
A very popular
synthetic form of opal
is now widely available.
Named for its creator,
Pierre Gilson Sr.
GilsonŽ synthetic opal is a true opal.
It has the same
chemical composition
and properties when compared to
natural opal, with a few differences.
It has a lower water
content.
This makes it harder than natural opal,
at an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale.
It withstands very high
heat.
It compares visually
with the finest
Lightning Ridge black or
Coober Pedy crystal opals.
Opal has been traditionally believed to
enhance the emotions of the wearer,
making it easier for them to
get in touch with their inner feelings.
Natural opal is a very soft stone which
should not be cleaned with
commercial jewelry cleaning compounds.
It is a porous stone
which can absorb liquids
that can affect its color and erode the stone.
It should not be worn
while washing
dishes or using harsh household cleaning chemicals.
Ultrasonic cleaning is
not recommended - ever.
A rouge polishing cloth
is okay.
Opal will usually polish up nicely when
rubbed with a soft cloth.
Pearls are soft,
multicolored organic gemstones.
They have been used for thousands of years
to create beautiful jewelry.
They have also been
used as a
decorative element in clothing,
and to make beautiful buttons.
Pearls are found naturally in
many
warm water areas in the United States,
Asia, and the South Pacific.
They are generally
found in two varieties.
One type is found in
mussels.
These mussels live in fresh water rivers and
streams and produce "fresh water" pearls.
The second type, also
referred to
as "precious pearls," are round in shape
and occur naturally in marine oysters.
In modern times, the
pearl industry
now produces most pearls.
These are known as "cultured" pearls
and are formed in the same way
that natural pearls are.
The difference is that an irritant
such as a piece of shell is planted
in the body of the oyster where,
after several years, a substance
known as nacre is deposited
layer after layer over this irritant.
The result is a pearl.
Pearls have been traditionally believed to
enhance tranquility. They are known
as a symbol of virtue and purity.
Pearls are very soft and should not
be cleaned with commercial jewelry
cleaning compounds. They are porous and
will absorb liquids (even dirty dishwater)
which will affect the color and erode the pearl.
Rings with pearls should not be worn while
washing dishes or using harsh
household cleaning chemicals.
Ultrasonic cleaning is
not recommended.
Pearls will usually
polish up nicely when
rubbed with a soft cloth.
Pearl necklaces and
bracelets
should be restrung every 2 to 3 years.
It is important to knot between each pearl
to stop them from rubbing against
each other which will wear them down.
Knotting also prevents
loss
in case the strand breaks.
Peridot is a beautiful
transparent gemstone.
It is actually magnesium iron silicate.
It has been used for thousands of years
to create beautiful beads,
cabochons and faceted stones.
Peridot is the
birthstone for August.
The best peridot is
found
in Myanmar (Burma) and Arizona.
Peridot is green,
varying in shades
from a golden green to a deep
oily brownish green color.
Peridot has been worn
since
ancient Greek and Roman times.
It is believed to be a
purifying
and regenerative stone.
Peridot is a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
It can be chipped or scratched
on impact with a hard object.
It should not be worn while doing physical work.
Cleaning jewelry with
peridot is easy.
Most dipping solutions are okay,
and a final polish with a rouge
polishing cloth is recommended.
Rhodochrosite is a soft
gem mineral
in the manganese family. It is generally pink,
but depending on the quality, it can have
very attractive white band patterns.
Rhodochrosite is used
mainly as
a carving material. It takes a high polish,
but is easily chipped or scratched,
so care should be taken when wearing
jewelry containing this lovely stone.
It is better suited for pendants
and earrings than it is for rings or
bracelets, which show wear more easily.
The best rhodochrosite
is found in Argentina.
Top quality material is a vivid, deep pink color
with a fine microcrystalline structure.
Many people believe
rhodochrosite is a
very spiritual stone, that can bring
a better understanding of one's inner self,
as well as kindness, compassion
and friendship toward other people.
Because it is so soft,
care should be taken
not to scratch or chip this stone
during wear or handling.
Do not use harsh
cleaning fluids
or polishes on this stone, as it can
be stained by colored liquids
or be partially dissolved, ruining
a finely polished surface.
Ultrasonic cleaning is
not recommended.
A soft toothbrush with
hot water and
a small amount of mild dishwashing detergent
are generally okay, followed by a final polish with a
rouge impregnated
jewelry polishing cloth.
Rose Quartz is a very
popular stone for
jewelry use due to it's beauty and durability.
It's a member of the quartz family.
It is a fairly hard stone at 7
on the Mohs hardness scale,
and is non porous. It takes heat well,
although very high temperatures
will affect the appearance. Most rose quartz
is permanently dyed to give it an even color.
Rose Quartz is believed by many
to enhance love, compassion, nurturing
and all matters of the heart.
Rose quartz jewelry
made with
sterling silver or gold can be
dipped in a solution to remove
tarnish without harming the stone.
It requires little care other than
to clean and polish the jewelry it's set in.
The best polish can be obtained with
a rouge impregnated jewelry polishing cloth.
It can, of course, be chipped
or scratched upon impact
with a harder material.
Ruby is one of the most
valuable gems
used in jewelry. It is a member of the
corundum mineral family, which is a form
of aluminum oxide. Pure natural corundum
is a colorless material, and as with many
other gems, the color of a specific stone
is determined by the presence of impurities.
Rubies are red because the material
is "contaminated" with chromium.
Corundum in any other
color is a sapphire,
which can be the familiar blue, or
many other brilliant colors -
but only red corundum is a ruby.
Many rubies are heat treated
to enhance their color.
Fine quality rubies
come from many areas,
but the most commercially important
source is Thailand.
Ruby is a very hard
gem.
It is a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale,
which means that it can be scratched
only with diamond. When a lapidary
(stonecutter) cuts and polishes a ruby,
he or she must use diamond saws
and polishing compounds.
Many corundum gems
contain
fine needle like inclusions,
which are similar in structure
to the inclusions in cats eyes or moonstones.
When this occurs, gems that are cut correctly
can display a very strong "star" effect.
Over the centuries,
many powerful leaders
have favored rubies. They are considered
by many to be a strong influence
on leadership abilities, as well as
a stone that promotes healing,
friendship and courage.
Ruby jewelry made with
sterling silver or gold can be
dipped in a solution to remove
tarnish without harming the stone.
It requires little care other than
to clean and polish the jewelry it's set in.
The best polish can be obtained with
a rouge impregnated jewelry polishing cloth.
Like its cousin the
ruby,
Sapphire is one of the most
valuable gems used in jewelry.
It is also a member of the
corundum mineral family,
which is a form of aluminum oxide.
Pure natural corundum is a colorless mineral,
and as with many other gems,
the color of a specific stone
is determined by the presence of impurities.
Rubies are red because the material
is "contaminated" with chromium,
and sapphires are colored by
the presence of titanium and iron
along with the chromium.
This can result in a virtual rainbow of colors -
pink, golden yellow, purple, green -
and the most valuable cornflower blue color.
Blue sapphires have little or no chromium present -
iron and titanium is what gives them their color.
Many sapphires are heat
treated
to enhance their color.
Fine quality sapphires
come from many areas -
Australia, Thailand, several African nations
and the Americas. Some of the best
quality stones are found in Montana.
Sapphire is a very hard
gem.
It is a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale,
which means that it can be scratched
only with diamond. When a lapidary
(stonecutter) cuts and polishes a sapphire,
he or she must use diamond saws
and polishing compounds.
Many corundum gems
contain
fine needle like inclusions,
which are similar in structure
to the inclusions in cats eyes or moonstones.
When this occurs, gems that are cut correctly
can display a very strong "star" effect.
Sapphires are
considered
by many to be a strong influence
on spiritual qualities, and are used
by many people to promote wisdom,
friendship, generosity and love.
Sapphire jewelry made
with
sterling silver or gold can be
dipped in a solution to remove
tarnish without harming the stone.
It requires little care other than
to clean and polish the jewelry it's set in.
The best polish can be obtained with
a rouge impregnated jewelry polishing cloth.
Tiger eye is a quartz
mineral.
It is an opaque stone used for cabochons,
beads and carvings. Most tiger eye
comes from South Africa.
It is usually a golden
brown color,
but a blue variety called hawks eye
is also very popular.
Tiger eye is best known
for the strong
chatoyant effect it displays when properly cut.
This is caused by the inclusion of asbestos fibers
caught in the forming quartz mineral.
These fibers
deteriorate, and are
either replaced by iron oxide,
which give it the familiar golden brown color,
or in some cases the original blue color
of the asbestos is left as a residual material,
forming the more rare hawks eye.
These fibers occur in
parallel
growth patterns, and when the stone
is cut along these lines, they form
the familiar effect seen in these gems.
Many people believe
that these stones
possess strong spiritual properties.
Tigers eye is believed to enhance
clear thought, willpower and inner strength.
Hawks eye is a favorite for those
who believe it gives them strength to
deal with the difficulties of everyday life.
Like all quartz
minerals, tiger eye is
a fairly hard stone that will
take a very good polish.
It is easy to care for, and can
be maintained with most commercial
jewelry cleaning and polishing compounds.
Topaz is a very common
and popular
gem material in the silicate family.
It is a hard gem, 8 on the Mohs scale,
but it can be very easily chipped or cracked
because it cleaves very easily along the
growth lines parallel to the crystal's base.
The many colors of
topaz are caused
by impurities, mainly fluorine and water.
Most of the familiar colors are created
by irradiation and heat treatment.
All blue topaz is
treated this way -
the vivid blue colors popular now
do not occur naturally, so clear
or very light blue material is exposed
to gamma treatment and then heated
to produce the Swiss, London Blue
and other popular shades. Most of the
commercially available stones are from Brazil.
Many people believe
that topaz
has strong spiritual influence.
Topaz is believed by some to enhance
psychic abilities, inner tranquility,
wisdom and insight.
Topaz is very easy to
care for.
A good scrubbing with a commercially
available jewelry cleaner and a brush
are okay, and a rouge cloth for
polishing to a high shine is recommended.
Remember that topaz
cleaves easily -
try not to strike it against a hard surface!
Tourmaline is a very
popular
and beautiful gemstone. It is found
in a virtual rainbow or colors,
from clear to black - there are more
naturally occurring colors of tourmaline
than any other gemstone!
Many tourmalines
actually are multi colored,
like the popular watermelon variety.
It is a fairly hard
mineral, 7 - 7.5
on the Mohs hardness scale.
Tourmaline is a borosilicate mineral.
It is found in many locations -
Brazil, Russia , Afghanistan and California
are important sources.
Many people believe
that tourmaline
has strong influence on the ability
to deal with others - enhancing
understanding, objectivity and tolerance.
Tourmaline is very easy
to care for.
A good scrubbing with a commercially
available jewelry cleaner and a brush
are okay, and a rouge cloth for
polishing to a high shine is recommended.
Turquoise is one of the
most
popular gems used in jewelry.
It has been mined and
used for over 6,000 years -
many ancient Egyptian artifacts contain turquoise.
The finest quality
stones have traditionally
come from Iran, where it has been mined
continuously for over 3,000 years.
However, the
southwestern
United States, primarily Arizona
has been producing some of the
most valuable material recently.
There are many famous
mines that produce turquoise
in the area, such as the Kingman and Morenci
mines,
and the most well known, the Sleeping Beauty mine.
Very fine material is
now being mined in China (Hubei).
Turquoise is a
phosphate mineral, and
it gets it's vivid blue color from copper.
This stone can also contain iron,
which occurs as a familiar black matrix
in many stones, or if it is well integrated,
can give turquoise a green color.
Turquoise is very
commonly treated
in several different ways -
mostly to seal it so it is protected
from moisture and exposure to air.
Most lesser quality "chalk-like"
material is treated this way -
it is coated with a plastic polymer
after it is dyed to give it a good blue color.
This is called
"stabilized" turquoise
and is less valuable than natural turquoise.
Another variety is
"colorshot" -
powdered white turquoise is "reconstituted"
by mixing it with a colored adhesive,
and it is pressed into blocks which are
then cut into cabochons or beads.
The best material is a
natural blue,
which is cut and polished with a
natural wax coating to seal it.
Many people believe
that turquoise
has strong influence on clear,
positive thought and many social attributes -
friendship, trust, sincerity, strength
and emotional balance.
Turquoise is a very
soft
and porous stone, and will be stained
if it absorbs a colored liquid.
It should never be
dipped or
soaked in a cleaning solution.
Ultrasonic cleaning is
not recommended.
Polishing with a soft
cloth is recommended.
Gemstones
A - L
