Healing Properities Of Gems

  Amber

Gold, green, orange, red, brown, black
Although it is an organic material, amber is valued as a gemstone. Sometimes insects or even small mammals may be found in the fossilized resin. It helps clear the mind, gives mental clarity, and inner peace. It promotes optimism and enhances strength and motivation. It can also protect against negativity. Amber has been used since antiquity in the manufacture of jewelry and ornaments. It can be used to detoxify the body from certain types of radiation. A gift of amber is a gift of healing.
Found in many regions, most important are the deposits of Baltic and Dominican amber.

 Amethyst

Pale lavender to deepest violet. Purple is the color of Spirit
Amethyst is a member of the quartz group, the most common crystal. It is well known for powerful intuitive energy. An extremely protective stone with a high spiritual vibration, it is a stone of sobriety and spirituality. It can calm the mind and help connect you to your spiritual side. The name for amethyst derives from the Greek and Roman belief that the stone helped protect against drunkenness. Vessels for alcoholic beverages were made from the gemstone. To gift a purple amethyst is a gift of deep passion.
Found in India, Africa, Brazil, Britain as well as many other places.

   Aventurine

Light green, pink, white, red
Aventurine brings good luck and money, joy, balance and clarity. It helps release anxieties and fears.
It has the ability to ground an individual emotionally. It encourages personal power, a positive attitude, and a state of well-being. Because it attracts wealth and abundance through opportunity, it is often used as a lucky talisman and is a popular stone for gamblers. Carry one in your pocket and be ready to accept opportunity when it comes your way.
Countries of origin include India, Chile, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada.
 

 Blood Stone

Dark green with red random spots.
What we call blood stone is a combination of green chalcedony (a mixture of quartz and moganite) and inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper. During the Middle Ages, the red spots on the gemstones were believed to be real blood. It is a strong mystical healing stone. Blood stone is well known for its creative energy. It is primarily known as an intense healing stone, balancing spiritual forces and reducing emotional stress. It makes a great gift for anyone that earns their living from their art, as it promotes creativity, and self-expression.
Sources are Australia, Brazil, China as well as other places.



  Blue Lace Agate

Light blue with white and tan bands
Brings peace and calmness and works well for overcoming problems. Blue lace Illuminates your mind and improves ego and self esteem. It helps to renew energy and strength. It is great to use in any situation where tensions may reside. Keep one in your home or at your office to help keep everyone at peace. Agate healing stones are power stones and excellent for those that deal with numbers. It is also known as the wishing stone.
Found in the USA, Brazil, New Zealand, but some of the best comes from Namibia



 Carnelian

All shades of orange to red
Carnelian is good for healing of the body and the aura. It promotes creativity and personal power and can accentuate the dramatic. It protects from bad vibrations, poverty, and calms temper. It helps the insecure person to find strength within themselves. As a major grounding stone, carnelian helps you to focus. It can promote increased fertility and also helps combat the jealousy of others. It is used to alleviate exhaustion and stimulates the body’s natural defenses.   Legend has it that Carnelian is used by wizards to strengthen magic powers. During the1500’s, people would keep carnelian in their houses to prevent curses from being directed at their families.
Found mainly in Australia, Britain, Iceland, and Brazil, and many other places.

  Charoite

Lavender to dark purple with light color inclusions
Charoite is a rare mineral, discovered in 1978 and named for the Chara River in Russia. It is found in conjunction with other minerals that altered limestone deposits, producing a new unique mineral. Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to the outside world until 1978, mostly due to its dull appearance in the field. Because of its unusual patterns it is often thought to be an artificially produced stone. The Mongols used the stone to make jewelry and other items, and on feast days they would boil the stone to make tea. This tea was used to protect tribal members from evil. The charoite stone is often confused with the fairly similar sugilite, although it is the charoite's characteristic light colored inclusions that are the main difference between the two stones. It has the appearance of purple marble. Charoite is a stone of transformation. It can turn negative energy into positive by releasing the negative feelings and emotions. It encourages creativity and allows one to look for new solutions to old issues. It enhances courage and strength, and can be used in past life regression as well as prophesy. Its healing properties include regulation of blood pressure, inducing, healing deep sleep, and can help with nervous fears.
Found only in Russia along the Chara River.

Chrysoprase

Apple-green, but varies to deep green.
Chrysoprase is a gemstone variety of chalcedony. The green color of Chrysoprase is due to trace amounts of nickel.
Chrysoprase kept by the door provides protection from negative energy. It helps clarify and strengthen the workings of insight and higher consciousness, and encourages hope and joy. Place it upon the third eye chakra to influence and focus meditation.  It has been used to combat restlessness and unease.  Chrysoprase can be used to promote healing by carrying one or keeping one by your bedside at night. If used in jewelry, it should only be set in silver, and has more power carved in the shape of a heart. Chrysoprase was said to be the favorite gemstone of Alexander the Great.
The best known sources of Chrysoprase are Queensland, Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, Arizona, California, and Brazil. The Chrysoprase deposit in Poland was probably the largest occurrence in the world.



  Citrine

Clear yellow to golden brown
Citrine is a type of quartz that has iron impurities, and is rarely found naturally. Most commercial citrine is in fact
artificially heated amethyst or smoky quartz. Citrine energizes the mind and heart. Known as the lucky "Merchants Stone", it has money energies. Citrine is a great protective talisman. It opens the mind to new ideas and promotes clarity of thought. It strengthens self-esteem, promotes balance and good cheer. It also helps digestion and aids in mental and intellectual functions. It can balance and dissipate negative energy. Citrine is blessed with the power of the sun god.
Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, but it can be found in Madagascar and Spain also.

 Crystal Quartz

Clear
Quartz is the second most common mineral on Earth. Varieties of quartz have been used since antiquity in the making of
jewelry and carvings. Crystal quartz is the most powerful and popular stone. Because it has a resonating quality, it can be used to channel energy and send it out to other stones. It amplifies and directs energy and builds energy pathways. It can strengthen the energies of anything it is put with. It is the greatest of all healing stones and aids in meditation and
visualization. Clear quartz can help focus on your dreams and desires. The Quartz Crystal has a similar vibration as humans. Using a crystal to meditate and wearing or keeping a crystal helps to a better understanding of yourself. The clear crystal point can be a most powerful stone used for healings, rituals, and prayers. It is said to be the master healing stone from Atlantis. Crystals are used in the Crystal Web* ritual as well. (*Crystal Web book used with permission by WSI, Inc.)
Found worldwide.

  Diamond

Typically yellow, brown or gray to colorless.
Less often blue, green, black, translucent white, pink, violet, orange, purple and red.
The diamond’s characteristic "fire" makes it desirable as jewelry. Diamonds have been known to humankind and used as
decorative items since ancient times. Perhaps the earliest symbolic use of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. The earth’s hardest stone, it promotes personal growth, spiritual lessons, perfecting of self as well as resilience and perseverance. Diamonds are the symbol of innocence and constancy. Diamonds manifest abundance and strengthen the properties of other stones. They are used today in most engagement rings in the U.S. The diamond was once thought to endow its wearer with superior strength and courage.
Almost half of all diamonds come from central and southern Africa, although sources have been discovered in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.



   Emerald

All shades of green
The emerald gemstone is one of the many forms of Beryl. Emerald is a protection stone and it aids in success and prosperity. It also promotes memory and learning. Emerald is a stone of prophecy and the symbol of hope and preserving love. It can be used as a tranquilizer for a troubled mind. Emerald is a stone of great harmony, wisdom and love. Giving your lover an Emerald will bring them closer if your motives are pure. The emerald helps to remove toxins from the blood as it goes through the heart, allowing the blood to do a more thorough job. Emeralds are said to be the heart of Ireland.
Emeralds come from three main emerald mining areas in Colombia and they are also found in Brazil, Canada, Egypt, and numerous other countries including the U.S.

Fluorite

Fluorite comes in a large variety of colors and has been called "the most colorful mineral in the world". The most common colors are purple, blue, green, yellow, or clear.
Many samples of fluorite glow under ultraviolet light. It enhances spiritual energy work, focuses the will and balances the psyche. Fluorite helps in aligning all the chakra, and it is a powerful healing stone. The focus of the healing may be emotional, physical, spiritual, etc., depending upon the color of the fluorite. It fortifies bones and can improve joint ailments. It increases concentration and helps with decision making. It is said to absorb and neutralize negative vibrations. Fluorite is known as the "Genius Stone". Said to be a gift to us from the fairy realm.
Fluorite is a widely occurring mineral which is found in large deposits in many areas. Fluorite has been the state mineral of Illinois since 1965. At that time, Illinois was the largest producer of fluorite in the United States; however, the last Illinois mine closed in 1995.

  Red Garnet
Deepest red to brandy wine
Garnet aids in healing, especially blood related diseases. It promotes focus in meditation, and personal power.  Garnet can be used to make a person popular and bring constancy to friendships. Garnet is also known for stimulating success in business. It is a stone of purity and truth as well as a symbol of love and compassion. Garnet helps increase your personal magnetism and if worn for a job interview, can help the interviewer decide in your favor. Wear or carry one to ensure your safety in a dangerous situation. Legend says to give a garnet to a close friend at a time of parting ensures that the two will meet again in this life.
Occurs in Australia, United States, China, and Western India, Bohemia and various other places.

  Green Garnet

Mint green to deep emerald green
One of the most sought after varieties of gem garnet is the fine green grossular garnet from Kenya and Tanzania called Tsavorite. Green garnet is a very passionate crystal that has a grounding effect, while increasing the feelings of the comforts of home. It also aids in reaching the higher levels of balance and growth in spirituality and rational thinking. It restores your vitality and passion for life, giving you extra energy and stay ability. Green garnets are associated with bringing peace, pureness of thought, unobscured mental capacity, and creativity.
Tsavorite was discovered in the 1960s in the Tsavo area of Kenya, from which the gem takes its name.
Demantoid, another green garnet, has been called the "emerald of the Urals" from its occurrence there, and is one of the most prized of garnet varieties.

 

  Goldstone

Yellowish brown with gold flecks
Goldstone is often mistaken for or misrepresented as a natural material. The most common form of goldstone is reddish-brown, due to the presence of tiny crystals of metallic copper. Goldstone is used to draw money, especially through commerce or the collection of monies owed, and is often used in money spells. It is said to stabilize emotions, and revitalize and energize the entire body. By attracting positive energies, Goldstone encourages a positive attitude and reduces tension. Goldstone is said to protect the center of the body and it stimulates you physically. It can also help to keep you grounded. It is said that goldstone assists in astral travel.
Goldstone is a type of glittering glass made in the presence of a reducing flame.

  Hematite

Silvery Black
Hematite, also spelled as hæmatite, is the mineral form of iron oxide. Hematite is a very strong protection stone. It
helps with the pain of grief. It enhances focus, courage, optimism, trust, stability, and balance. It is also believed to bring good luck and good health. Hematite gives protection and absorbs negativity. It is a great stone for grounding. It calms and soothes, reducing stress and blood pressure. Hematite is a great stone for students, mathematicians and engineers. It repels negativity when worn as a charm or as jewelry. Native Americans are said to have used it in their war paint. In the 18th century, Europeans wore it as mourning jewelry.
Gray hematite is usually found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs, such as those in
Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Also found in Italy, England, and Brazil.

  Jade

Most common is Green, but also comes in white, lavender and multi-colors
The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks: Nephrite and Jadeite. Both were used from prehistoric periods for carving. Jade is said to have a host of different meanings, depending on the mind-set of the person wearing it. Jade helps with serenity, inner peace and balance, and good fortune. It promotes the perfection of self and connection to Spirit. It strengthens mental faculties and clear reasoning. It is a protective stone, guarding against accidents and misfortune. It improves dream remembrance and assists dream solving. As with many stones that are green in color, it is said to attract money. Many elements of the Chinese language are connected to Jade. The word "ritual", it is written as "to serve the gods with Jade".
Found mainly in Guatemala, China, Burma, and Canada.

 

  Jasper

Reds, Browns, Yellows, and Blues
Jasper is known to have been a favorite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Latin. The name means "spotted or speckled stone". Jasper awakens the mind and heart to new ideas and allows one to be flexible with others. All the jaspers have some properties of enhancing emotional balance, nurturing, and protection. It is a stone of gentleness and relaxation.  It helps promote openness to new ideas.   Jasper makes a powerful protection against unsettling ideas or people and it eases stress, making it a wonderful stone to have near you.  Jasper is a very good protection stone and is recommended in situations where protection or extra luck is needed. All colors of Jasper help balance the vibrations in your body.  Legend says that Jasper drives away evil spirits. Jasper is known as the supreme nurturer stone.  Different types of Jasper include Dalmatian, Picture, and Picasso.
Found worldwide, a wide variety of named jaspers is found in the western areas of the Unites States

  Jet

Dull black or brown
Jet is a product of high pressure decomposition of wood from millions of years ago. It is also known as lignite. Jet was
popular for mourning jewelry in the 19th century because of its dark color and modest appearance.  Although much less popular now, authentic jet is prized by collectors. Jet helps with mental and emotional clarity and helps to overcome sadness. Jet gives insight in meditation. Jet can also serve as a protective force in life's physical journeys. It is known as a traveler's amulet. Jet gives protection and deflects negativity. Jet is a good stone to use in rituals to channel the
elements of the earth. It is sacred to the goddess Hekate for protection.
The finest jet comes from England but it is also found in the U.S. and other places.

  Labradorite

Clear, white to gray with blue, gold, and green iridescence
Labradorite strengthens the will and inner convictions. It can help in combating addictions. It is good for alignment, spiritual connection, and transformation. Labradorite is known as a gemstone of destiny because it can open your psychic abilities by connecting you to the Universe. If you sleep with Labradorite it will help you to receive prophetic dreams. It is excellent for strengthening intuition. Labradorite regulates metabolism and can help in weight loss. Labradorite can combine creativity, intellect and wisdom to aid in problem solving. It enhances patience and energizes the body to increase productivity. Labradorite was historically worn as a good luck charm.
Originally found in Labrador, Canada, but also mined in Africa, Australia and other areas. Spectrolite, the most valued type of Labradorite, comes from Finland.

  Lapis Lazuli

Dark blue with white veins and gold flecks
The finest color is intense blue with small flecks of golden pyrite. Stones with no white calcite veins and only small pyrite inclusions are the most prized. Patches of pyrite help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Lapis is a very strong clairvoyance stone. It helps to enhance and remember dreams. It is traditionally believed to increase mental clarity, virility, and calm. It is also useful in relieving depression and promoting spirituality. It is a high intensity stone which cleanses the spirit to bring out inner truth and peace. Some believed that dreaming of lapis would foretell love that would be forever faithful. Wearing Lapis Lazuli can help with channeling. The ancient Egyptians used Lapis as a symbol of truth. During ancient times Lapis was ground up and used for medicinal purposes as well as a cosmetic. The stone can be used to connect two people in ways that go beyond just friendship. It is said to have powers of the night sky and is popular for scrying and for messages from beyond.
Lapis has been mined in Afghanistan for over 6000 years, and some the best quality is still found there. It is also found in South America and Russia.

  Malachite

Shades of green with bands and swirls
The most prized pieces have intricate bands of color. Often these bands form "eyes" within a piece. Malachite contains copper and it is said to be helpful in the treatment of rheumatism. It is the copper in malachite that gives it a green color. It improves eyesight and protects against lightning. It gives health, fertility, and joy. Malachite promotes success whether in business or love. It raises one's spirits and increases hope, health and happiness. It attracts physical and material benefits. Malachite was admired by ancient followers of the Goddess Venus and was thought to possess great powers. Malachite amplifies your mood, whether positive or negative, so care should be given when wearing it as jewelry. Malachite is believed to be a strong protector of children.
Today Zaire is the most important malachite producer. Other deposits are in Zambia, Namibia, Australia, and Chile, but it is found almost everywhere in the form of small encrustations, along with azurite.




  Moonstone

Clear to milky white with yellow, cream or brown cracks
It helps with emotional stress problems and aids with feminine energy. It is believed to bring good fortune and to balance yin/yang. Legend says that Moonstone is a highly prized gift for lovers as it arouses tender passion. Moonstone was used in jewelry by the Romans who believed that the stone was formed from the light of the moon. It is also a talisman of good fortune. In ancient times, it was thought that the future could be foretold if you held the stone in your mouth during a full moon. It, absorbs negativity, promotes confidence and psychic opening. Moonstone is a very personal stone. It is a reflection of the person who wears it. It only shows the true self. It is known as the mother stone and is sacred to the Mother Goddess.
Moonstone is found in many countries including Burma, Sri Lanka, Norway, and Canada.

 

   Onyx

Most common is solid black, or brown with colored bands
Onyx is a chalcedony quartz that has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background. It can help release negative emotions such as sorrow and grief. It is used to end unhappy or bothersome relationships. It is helpful in letting go of attachments, and releases you from the past. It is grounding stone as well as a balancing one. It is used to deflect the negativity of others. Onyx is reputed to improve concentration and devotion and is often used in rosaries. It is valuable in difficult times and enhances the self. It is also supposed to cure nightmares, fantasies and visions. It effectively wards off the evil. Onyx jewelry is worn to defend against negativity.
Onyx is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay.

 

  Opal

Opals range from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these, white and greens are the most common.
The water content of Opal is usually between three and ten percent, but can be as high as twenty percent. Opal promotes psychic opening and development and sensitivity to spirits. They were once considered unlucky by those who feared psychic phenomena. Opal assists in the control of  temper and calms the nerves. It aids in the development of psychic ability. Opals are surrounded with superstition and lore. The opal is considered to be the most ill-fated of all gemstones. It is said you should never give or accept a gift of opals. Some people believe that opals turn pale in the presence of poison, and lose their shine once their owners die. Australian Aboriginal Shamans use opals to invoke visions during ceremonial vision quests and "dream time". They believe the opal represents something an ancestor left behind as a sign of his or her presence.
Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opals. Nevada produces a wide variety of precious black, crystal, white, fire, and lemon opals.

 

 Peridot

Shades of green
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one color. The intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal, so the color of individual gems can vary from yellow-green to olive green. The most desirable is a dark-olive green. Its powers include health, protection, peace, and success. Peridot helps to heal a damaged ego by the lessening of jealousy, anger and fear and heals emotional wounds. It is used to ward off the evil effects of certain planets. It favors those who follow intellectual pursuits. Peridot has been used as a power stone for millennia. It can give you common sense in emotional issues and protect you from hurt. It protects against evil spirits and nightmares. The Peridot was believed to be a stone of springtime by ancients who considered it a gift from Mother Nature. Legend says that Peridot was one of the favorite gemstones of Cleopatra and Kind Solomon.  Peridot is the only gemstone found in meteorites.
Sources of Peridot include Egypt, Arizona and Hawaii, Burma, Australia, Norway, South Africa

   Prehnite

Pale green, yellow-green, brownish yellow

Also known as Cape Emerald, this pale green stone has the distinction of being the first mineral named after a person. It was discovered in 1789 and named for Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn, commander of the military forces of the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Prehnite’s bright, luminescent, swirling green colors make it an extremely attractive collector’s gem. Prehnite is a stone of unconditional love. It can enhance spiritual knowledge and growth. It can connect the mind with the heart to help you achieve the best outcome for the good. It strengthens intuition and perception and stimulates the third eye chakra. It is also a very calming stone and can give you inner peace. Wearing one will increase vision and meditation skills, and provide protection. Prehnite helps to find the reason for illness and is often used to help with asthma and other lung diseases.
Deposits are found in Australia, China, Scotland, South Africa, and the USA.
 

  Rhodochrosite

Light to dark pink with white and darker bands
The pink color of Rhodochrosite is caused by the element manganese and it is formed when manganese is dissolved by ground water and combines with a carbonate material and then drips off the ceiling of caves and crevices deep underground. Rhodochrosite occurs as a manganese mineral in the silver mines. Its powers include drawing love to the wearer and it helps to release past psychological issues. It inspires forgiveness, heals emotional scars, and attracts love. It also helps one face reality and new situations. Rhodochrosite is thought to relieve stress and is used by healers to cleanse the aura. It is said to improve eyesight. The Incas believed that it is the blood of their former kings and queens that was turned to stone.
It is found in Argentina, Peru, and Romania. The Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado produces the highly prized and rare red crystals which are found only in a few places on earth.
 

  Rose Quartz

Clear Pink
The Rose Quartz color is usually due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese. It can bring calm during times of stress. It helps us understand the meaning of friendship and is excellent for working with trauma or crisis. A gift of Rose Quartz is a gift of friendship. Rose Quartz opens the heart to love. Carry a Rose Quartz with you at all times to help bring patience and understanding to any situation. It is also said to stimulate the imagination and the intellect. It is a very healing stone for internal wounds, bitterness and sorrows. It makes one more open to beauty and it brings joy to the heart. This stone is claimed to be one of the best stones to use in the treatment of headaches of all types. It is said washing the face in water charged by Rose Quartz will help fade winkles and keep the skin young. Since ancient times, women have kept Rose Quartz under their pillow to maintain their youthful appearance. It is said that most teachers of magic like to wear Rose Quartz.
In crystal form (rarely found) it is called pink quartz. The first crystals were found in Maine but most crystals on the market come from Brazil.




  Ruby

Blood red to dark pink
Next to diamonds, rubies are the hardest gemstones. Rubies are composed of corundum. Corundum comes in a variety of colors, but when it is red, it is always a ruby. Rubies are said to change color according to the health of the wearer. Ruby stimulates the heart chakra. It is believed by some cultures that if you own a ruby gemstone, you will never lose your wealth. Rubies are today the stone most associated with love. The ruby is considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe, and is associated with many astral signs. To own a ruby is to have contentment and peace. To ward off bad dreams and improve lucid dreaming, place a Ruby under your pillow. Ruby rings should be worn on the left hand to receive the life force. The Ruby is a symbol of friendship and love when given as a gift. The Ruby is also the symbol of vitality and royalty.
Most rubies are mined in Myanmar, formerly Burma, and other parts of Asia and Africa. Some high quality rubies have recently been found in Kenya.

  Sapphire

Dark blue to light blue
Sapphires of other colors are always referred to with that color. Blue is by far the most popular color. Like Ruby, Sapphire
is a Corundum. The most valuable are from Kashmir. Sapphires with inclusions of tiny needles and cut as a cabochon produce Star Sapphires. Padparadscha is the name for a rare orange-pink variety. Sapphire symbolizes sincerity and devotion. The stone is often used in an engagement ring because it represents faithfulness. It promotes purity of mind, serenity, joy, and peace. It opens the mind to beauty and love and removes confusion and mistrust. It is often called the stone of destiny and the symbol of heaven. It is said to protect against the evil eye and can preserve chastity. Wearing a Sapphire can help fulfill your dreams and desires. Sapphire is believed to offer healing properties for arthritis and mental illness. It is also considered an antidepressant. Great Britain’s Crown Jewels have many large blue sapphires because they are believed to be symbols of a wise ruler.
Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa.


 

  Smoky Quartz

Gray to warm brown translucent
Like other quartz gems, it is a silicon dioxide crystal, with a small amount of iron impurity which gives it the distinctive color. Smoky Quartz is an excellent grounding and anchoring stone. It helps you to relax and release tension. It instills balance and harmony and can bring you peace. Smoky Quartz can also calm people thought of as stubborn or willful. It is the perfect gemstone to help with meditation. The stone grounds your energies very gently. It is a good stone to have in an office where team work is important. Other stones may attract money, but Smokey Quartz helps you to keep it. It is nature's stone of endurance. Smokey Quartz is connected with the sounds of the universe. It makes you more aware of sounds including telepathic sounds. Smokey Quartz can help relieve depression. Gemstone healers use it to relieve back pain and stiffness by placing a crystal under the bed. This crystal is said to be blessed with magical smoke.
A very dark brown to black opaque variety is known as Morion. This is found in Poland and the Ukraine. Cairngorm is a variety found in Scotland. It usually has a smoky yellow-brown color.




  Snowflake Obsidian

Black and white with snowflakes spots
Pure obsidian is usually dark in appearance, though the color varies depending on the presence of impurities. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, clustered crystals in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake pattern. It has the property of showing a different appearance according to how it is cut. When cut in one direction it is a beautiful jet black; when cut across another direction it is glistening gray. Apache tears are small rounded obsidian nuggets embedded within a grayish-white perlite matrix. In ancient times it was often used to make cutting tools, and as such, Obsidian can have a forceful cutting reality. Snowflake Obsidian has very similar properties to Black Obsidian, and can be used for a softer touch. Obsidian helps with loneliness, isolation and rejection. Snowflake Obsidian is a stone of purity. It balances mind body and spirit. It is considered a good detoxification stone. The blackness of this stone enhances the ability to reach your inner self. It is one of the earliest known stones to be used for scrying.
Obsidian can be found in Canada, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Kenya, the U.S., and other areas with volcanic activity.

 

  Sodalite

Deep blue with white patches

Sodalite is a beautiful deep royal blue and usually contains white or grayish inclusions of Calcite. It is very similar to
Lapis Lazuli and is often used in place of it. The name sodalite reflects its sodium content. Sodalite is a powerful healer
for the nervous system. Sodalite promotes peace and harmony, psychic development and clairvoyance. Sodalite is a good stone for oversensitive and defensive people as it improves courage and self-esteem. It balances and stills the mind and helps promote logical and rational thought. Sodalite can be used to lower blood pressure and balance the metabolism. It aids sleep and can be used for Calcium deficiency. Gemstone Therapists use Sodalite to purify the aura. It is believed that the Sodalite absorbs and neutralizes disharmony. It also neutralizes negative thoughts and emotions directed toward you by others. It is a wonderful stone for creative personalities, and is considered extra lucky for writers.
Found in Canada, Arkansas, Romania, Greenland, South America, as well as other places.

   Tiger’s Eye

Brown and yellow with shiny gold bands
Tiger's Eye is primarily composed of silicon dioxide and is colored mainly by iron oxide. It exhibits a changing luster from light reflection. Tiger ‘s Eye gems are generally cut as cabochons, but are also used as round beads in jewelry. Tiger’s Eye is said to help convert anxiety, fear, and obsession into practicality and logic. It increases confidence and is an aid to achieving clarity. It is beneficial when working with groups. Tiger’s Eye is used for protection when traveling, and for protecting cars and other forms of transportation. It can enhance the ability to acquire wealth. Tiger’s Eye can release tension and inhibitions. It is considered soothing to the body and can strengthen bones and joints, and it can also help alleviate stomach ulcers. Legend says that if you keep a Tiger’s Eye in your wallet, you will never be penniless.
Tiger’s eye it is mined primarily in South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Brazil,  and Australia.

  Topaz

Yellow, gold, and various other colors, some natural such as blue
Pure Topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities. Imperial Topaz is usually gold or yellow. Many gold or pale Topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. Blue Topaz is found in Texas, but not mined there commercially. Naturally occurring Blue Topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated in order to produce a more desired darker blue. Mystic Topaz is colorless Topaz which has been artificially coated giving it the desired rainbow effect. Some say Topaz comes from the Greek Topazos, meaning "a precious stone". Others say the name comes from the Sanskrit word for fire. In folklore it was believed to calm a bad temper. It was also ground into powder and used as a cure for insomnia. A Topaz under your pillow can prevent nightmares. It helps mood swings, fears, and depression. It can be used to achieve enlightenment and clarity of thought, and to change unwanted behavior. In ancient times it was worn to protect from injury and give the wearer great strength. Topaz can increase your attraction to other people and help bring about your desires.
Topaz can be found in many countries including Brazil, the U.S., Sri Lanka, Australia, and Mexico.

 

  Turquoise

 

Bluish green to sky blue, sometimes  with dark veins.
Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined, and while many historic sites have been depleted, some are still worked to this day. Turquoise is often recovered as a byproduct of copper mining operations, especially in the United States. It has long been prized by Native Americans and holds strong symbolism for them.  Mt. Taylor in New Mexico, also known as Turquoise Mountain, is called “Tso odzil” by the Navajo. Legend says that this sacred mountain was fastened to earth with a stone knife and covered with a blue sky blanket decorated with turquoise. Turquoise can fade in bright sun and is affected by the sweat and oil from your hands. Turquoise protects against accidents and is considered a traveler’s stone.  It is good for increased awareness and verbal skills.  Some say it brings good fortune and renewed health. It symbolizes honesty and self worth.  Turquoise works well for a vision quest.  It is said that turquoise will change color when worn by someone who is ill, and this is why it is known for taking on the characteristics of the person who owns it.
It is mined mostly in Iran, the Sinai Peninsula, China, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States.

  Unakite

Mottled green and pink
Unakite is altered granite composed of pink feldspar, green epidote, and colorless quartz. It was first discovered in the Unakas mountains of North Carolina. Unakite helps with rebirth and past life issues and can aid in spiritual growth. It is also used to uncover deception. It is also believed to help release people who have experienced inhibited growth. It is a common stone used in ritual and spell casting. It is often used to make pendulums. Unakite can give you extra patience and allows you to forgive and forget more easily. Holding Unakite while searching for lost items can sometimes turn them up quickly. It can be used for gaining muscle weight, and it is very useful for pregnancy because it promotes the health of mother and baby. It also cleanses and purifies the blood.
Unakite can be found as pebbles in the beach rock of Lake Superior. It occurs in Virginia where it is found in the river valleys, having been washed down from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unakite is found in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Brazil, and China as well.

 

  Watermelon Tourmaline

Green, white, and pink
Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. The Watermelon Tourmaline is a rare variety that displays three different colors in the same crystal.  This variety is one of the most desirable of Tourmalines. Watermelon Tourmaline is used by crystal healers to encourage a calm, centered state of mind.  The green feeds the life force, while the pink soothes and calms.  It attracts inspiration and friendship, and protects the wearer against misfortune. It grounds high-frequency energies. Bi Color Tourmaline strengthens the nervous system and regulates blood pressure.  It enhances the immune system and aids in recovery from long term illness.  It carries a high electrical charge and if rubbed briskly one end becomes positive and one negative.  The energy can then be directed where desired.
Found in South Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Maine, California, and China.