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Lapis lazuli (UK: / ˌ l æ p ɪ s ˈ l æ z (j) ʊ l i, ˈ l æ ʒ ʊ-,-ˌ l i /; US: / ˈ l æ z (j) ə l i, ˈ l æ ʒ ə-,-ˌ l i /), 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.
Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO 2) and owes its violet color to irradiation, impurities of iron (Fe 3+) and in some cases other transition metals, and the presence of other trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions. [2] [3] [4] The irradiation causes the iron Fe 3+
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 .
Fire agate, a variety of chalcedony, is a semi-precious natural gemstone discovered so far only in certain areas of central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (New Mexico, Arizona and California). [1] Approximately 24-36 million years ago these areas were subjected to massive volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period.
Alongside jewelry, due to the fact that the material can be massive in size, charoite can be used in the making of bookends, vases, goblets, boxes, or in small statues. Despite its relatively high hardness, it makes poor center pieces in rings and in bracelets. As it is a heat sensitive mineral, the mechanical cleaning of it should be avoided.
Agate (/ ˈ æ ɡ ɪ t / AG-it) is a banded variety of chalcedony, [1] which comes in a wide variety of colors. Agates are primarily formed within volcanic and metamorphic rocks.The ornamental use of agate was common in Ancient Greece, in assorted jewelry and in the seal stones of Greek warriors, [2] while bead necklaces with pierced and polished agate date back to the 3rd millennium BCE in ...
The OED defines pyrope (from Greek Πυρωπός, lit. "fire-eyed")" as: "In early use applied vaguely to a red or fiery gem, as ruby or carbuncle; (mineralogy) the Bohemian garnet or fire-garnet"; and carbuncle or carbuncle-stone (from Latin "carbunculus", "small glowing ember") as: "A name variously applied to precious stones of a red or ...
The name nephrite is derived from the Latin lapis nephriticus, which in turn is derived from the Ancient Greek λίθος νεφριτικός (líthos nephritikós) or νεφρός λίθος (nephrós líthos), which means "kidney stone" and is the Latin and Greek version of the Spanish piedra de ijada (the origin of jade and jadeite). [3]