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Amethyst. Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος amethystos from α- a-, "not" and μεθύσκω ( Ancient Greek) methysko / μεθώ metho ( Modern Greek ), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. [ 1]
The English name of the stone is derived from Middle French hématite pierre, which was taken from Latin lapis haematites c. the 15th century, which originated from Ancient Greek αἱματίτης λίθος (haimatitēs lithos, "blood-red stone"). Ochre is a clay that is colored by varying amounts of hematite, varying between 20% and 70%. [8]
Nephrite is a variety of the calcium, magnesium, and iron-rich amphibole minerals tremolite or actinolite ( aggregates of which also make up one form of asbestos ). The chemical formula for nephrite is Ca 2 ( Mg, Fe) 5 Si 8 O 22 (O H) 2. [1] It is one of two different mineral species called jade. The other mineral species known as jade is ...
The name pyrite is derived from the Greek πυρίτης λίθος (pyritēs lithos), 'stone or mineral which strikes fire', [10] in turn from πῦρ (pŷr), 'fire'. [11] In ancient Roman times, this name was applied to several types of stone that would create sparks when struck against steel ; Pliny the Elder described one of them as being ...
Jasper. Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases, [ 1][ 2] is an opaque, [ 3] impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. The common red color is due to iron (III) inclusions. Jasper breaks with a smooth surface and is used for ...
Ametrine, also known as trystine or by its trade name as bolivianite, is a naturally occurring variety of quartz. It is a mixture of amethyst and citrine with zones of purple and yellow or orange. Almost all commercially available ametrine is mined in Bolivia. The colour of the zones visible within ametrine are due to differing oxidation states ...
Luminous gemstones. Folktales about luminous gemstones are an almost worldwide motif in mythology and history among Asian, European, African, and American cultures. Some stories about light-emitting gems may have been based on luminescent and phosphorescent minerals such as diamonds.
A mixture of other minerals, often including pyrite. Lapis lazuli ( UK: / ˌlæpɪs ˈlæz ( j) ʊli, ˈlæʒʊ -, - ˌli /; US: / ˈlæz ( j) əli, ˈlæʒə -, - ˌli / ), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color.