Amethyst

Amethyst is famous for its purple color. Not all amethyst is purple in color, there are also light purple, reddish-purple, bluish-purple, dark purple and there is even almost black in color. Top quality ametyst is a deep medium color of purple with rose-colored flashes. In its purest form, amethyst is colorless. The color agent of amethyst is iron. A fine amethyst is transparent, which allows light passes through the gem unhindered, while a translucent amethyst slightly weakens the passage of the light thrrough the stone. Amethyst of best quality is "clean" or free of visible inclusions of any kind. In order for the color of the gem to shine through and eliminates any darker or unneven patches of color, most amethyst pieces are cut into circular or round shapes. Amethyst crystals consist of two types. The first is a six sided piece (looks similar to a pyramid) and the other type is a crusty type with pointed ends.

Pieces of amethyst cut are graded or labeled as Uruguayan, Bahain or Siberian. These cuts represent high grade and low grade pieces and are used no matter where the piece comes from. Fro example a Mexican amethyst may be labeled as Bahain depending on the quality. Expert can identify where the piece of amethyst comes from based on its characteristics and color. The Siberian deep purple with blue and red flash commands the highest prices.

Amethyst and Citrine

Today, most of amethyst gemstones on the market are heat-heated to produce deeper color. The process is permanent and these gems will not fade over time. Amethyst can lighten if exposed too long to strong sunlight. Its color will change to dark reddish brown or yellow when heated to 550-560 Centrigade (they are then called citrine, they are more expensive and richly colored than natural citrines). Also note that most citrine found on the market today is actually heat treated amethyst.

Since purple has always been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in the ornaments of in the British Crown jewels and in the adornments of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians as well. Purple dye was once scarce and very expensive, therefore it was reserved for the garment of royalty, the color then regarded as symbol of power and status. Tibetans consider amethyst sacred to Buddha and fashion rosaries from amethyst beads.

Amethyst is the most popular crystalline quartz for jewelry and is the most valued member of the quartz family, it is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone. Amethyst gemstone appears to be transparent to translucent and it is a Type II gemstone and is usually included. The Crystal structure of the Amethyst is hexagonal. Amethyst can occur as six sided crystals on either end. It also forms as drusy (sometimes misspellled as druzy) which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock. It is founnd inside geodes and in alluvial deposits and occurs in both crystalline or massive forms. Ametyst is produced when manganese is present in clear quartz, while the amount of iron contained in thhe specimen accounts for the depth of purple.

Amethyst Healing Properties

Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the sixth of marriage. The name “amethyst” comes from the Greek which means “sober”. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. Even today, amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviours. Once amethysts birthstones considered more valuable than diamonds, it occurs naturally as crystals within rocks. Amethyst generally illuminate if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time.

It is believed amethyst have special properties:

• Control your temper and emotions.
• Protect you from drunkers, it is believed that wearing amethyst while drinking wine would prevent the wearer from becoming drunk or being intoxicated.
• To give good moral character.
• To bring love and affection.
• Brings peace and calm to your life.
• Enhance your spirit and energy to solve any difficulties and problems.
• It can save from deceit and protect people from baldness. It is believed also to improve the condition of skin of a person too.

Astrologically, amethyst is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces.
February birth flower: Iris.
Mohs scale hardness: 7

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Amber

Amber is not a stone, it is an organic material made from fossil tree resin, not a typical gemstone mineral. Organic refers to having its origin in living things. These resin dripped from and oozed down the trees of ancient forest. Amber is an amorphous mixture of organic compounds, including hydrocarbons, succinic acid, resins and oils. Amorphous means that it has no crystalline structure. It is a hard brown-yellowish substance used to make jewelry and other ornamental articles.

Amber Characteristics

However, it is not a fossil in the common sense. Fossils mostly begin by having a plant or animal buried in the earth. The organic material is replaced slowly with elements from the mineral kingdom over a period of millennia. On the other hand, amber has not had its organic elements replaced. Instaed, the resin has gone through a chemical transformation. It has become a polymer, a natural plastic.

People often classify amber as a gemstone due to its colour and beauty. Amber is not made from tree sap (a vital circulating fluid of a plant) as many people always thought. Sap is the fluid that circulates through a vascular system of a plant, while resin is the semi-solid amorphous organic substance that is secreted in canals and pockets through epithelial cells of the plant. The resin may be produced by the tree to protect it from disease and injury inflicted by fungi and insects. Resins possess odors or tastes that both repel and attract insects. Resin may be exuded from the tree to heal a wound such as a broken branch. In mature trees, this resin may simply exude from vertical fissures in the bark ddue to tension produced by rapid growth. The resin may also be produced as a method for disposing of excess acetate.

Because amber degrades and oxidizes when exposed to oxygen, it is preserved only under certain conditions. Therefore they are almost always found in dense, wet sediments, such as sand and clay that formed at the botom of an ancient lagoon or a river delta.

Amber is light in weight (but heavier than water), warm to the touch and the color is not always yellowish-brown, it can be found in blue, brown, whitish color, lemon color, orange, red (cherry amber), green, and even black. Many of the most valuable amber is transparent.

Insects in Amber

Amber can contain many preserved animals inside such as gnats, wasps, flies, ants, bacteria, amoebae, bees, centipedes, spiders, frogs, scorpions, and lizards or preserved plants such as flowers, seeds, mushroom caps, stems, pine cones and pine needles that are tens or hundreds of millions years old. Sometimes fur or feathers can be found inside too. Because these fossils are not the same species taht are alive today, these frequent fossil inclusions that are often seen in amber normally add to the stone’s unique look and can greatly increase its value. More than 1,000 extinct species of insect have been identified in amber.

How to Identify Amber

Amber is often confused with copal which is also a tree resin but has not fully fossilized to amber. They are nearly identical in origins. The difference between those two is that amber is millions of years old, while copal just a few hundred thousand years old.

When heated amber will turns soft and starts to yield fragrant odour and when it is overheated it can be burnt out completely. If it is rubbed with a cloth, it will atract ashes, dust and small pieces of paper. These techniques will not distinguish amber from copal, but the techniques will separate amber from plastic imitations. To distinguish between copal and amber is not that simple since they share the same specific gravity, refractive index and most other properties. There is strong debate about certain deposits of African amber as to whether it is true amber or copal.

There are several treatments that can be carried out on amber gemstone like heating, dyeing, surface coating and amber reconstruction. Heating is applied to increase the inclusions and enhance the color, dyeing is done to give it an aged look, surface coating is done to remove any damages or blemishes on the surface. Reconstructed ambers are made by pressing small pieces of amber together with linseed oil at high temperature and pressure. Reconstructed amber is also called ambroid. This can be distinguished with a microscope. Many ambers used in commercial jewelry is actually reconstituted which makes them harder and less prone to scratching. Reconstituted ambers and processed ambers usually do not have natural inclusions.

Probably amber is consider the oldest substance that is used for human adornment. Pendants and beads made from this substances were found in northern European gravesites in 8000 B.C. Most of the ambers that are found today are 30 to 90 million years old. The largest and richest amber deposits can be found in the Baltic Sea region. Baltic amber is older and more valuable while amber from the Dominican Republic is likely to have more insect inclusions, which are prized by collectors. The Dominican amber is said to be softest and the Burmese amber is the hardest. The percentage of succinic acid contained in the amber determines its quality. The highest percentage of succinic acid found in the ambers are from the Baltic Sea region. Be ware of glass, plastic, synthetic resin and other natural resins amber imitations.

It is believed amber have special properties:
• To improve eyesight by gazing into it.
• In ancient times this aromatic resin was used to cleanse the air by burning it, especially during childbirth.

Amber is not a birthstone, but astrologically, amber is associated with the zodiac signs of Taurus.

Mohs scale hardness: 2-2.5

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Agate

Agate is a hardstone with curved, bands of different colors or other markings used in jewelry, it is a type of chalcedony, a microcrystalline variety of quartz. You can find agates in all colors of the rainbow, although blue and green are quite rare. Like the rest of chalcedony members, its chemical formula is SiO2 and the colours of the stone come from impurities in the silicon dioxide. Agate is the most common variety of chalcedony and the most creatively striped gemstone by nature.

In order for the stone to be called as an agate, it has to show the band effect. Without it, people will only recognize the stone as any other variety of chalcedony. The banded appearance is due to the other substances deposited in the layers of the stone. These bands may consist of other quartz such as amethyst and rock crystal or chalcedony such as onyx, carnelian or even jasper. Agates are identical in chemical structure to flint, jasper, chert, tiger eye and petrified wood, and are often found in association with opal. Since the stones are porous, sometimes agate stones are dyed to enhance its colour and beauty. Most of the agate that people used for ornamental purposes is artificially colored.

How Agates are Formed

Natural agates develop when an empty bubble, pocket or space inside a host rock filled with silica-rich water and other mineral impurities and eventually coagulating into a gel. The gel dissolves surrounding metals such as iron and leaves a layer of residue which settles into this gel. The layer is then followed by another layers, until over time this acidic type of gel loses water and the entire subtance begins to crystallize. Eventually, the crystallized gel and entire pocket of dissolved layers hardens. If at some point water breaks open all of these bubbles and washes into them, the material of agate will be broken apart and drawn into lakes, rivers and oceans. Although they can form in any types of host rock, most of agates developed in ancient volcanic lava.

Drusy (sometimes misspelled as druzy), the tiny quartz crystals often form within the stone and add to the uniqueness and beauty of individual stones. Lapidaries often cut just the drusy from the stone and these drusy cabochons are used by the jewelers as the main stone.

If agate is heated or left in sunlight, its color will fade and the stone can crack. Keep it in a dark and cool place is safe enough. To clean the gemstone you can wash it in soap and mild detergent, avoid using abrasive or harsh chemicals on it. Although the stone is very hard, it can crack or scratch if it is handled roughly.

Different Types of Agate

The name of the stone, agate was given by a Greek naturalist and philosopher, Theophrastus who discovered it between 4th and 3rd centuries BC in the river Achates in Sicily. Raw agates can be found in Uruguay, Brazil and United States. Many products made from agate from all parts of the world comes from Germany (the agate’s capital processing). Common types of agate are moss agate, blue lace agate, petrified wood and tree agate.

Moss agate: Dark green in color with clear patches and contains visible impurities. This is the most-sought-after variety and it is also known as Mocha stone. Do note that many non-banded forms of chalcedony such as moss agates are often erroneously called ‘agates’. True agates are concentrically banded. Included and mottled chalcedonies are more properly called simply ‘chalcedony’.

Dendritic agate: A colorless or whitish-gray in color with fern- or tree-like markings known as dendrites. The variety name ‘agate’ is given to this stone even though the gem does not exhibit the banding typical of agate.

Riband agate: In this variety, the bands appear as straight lines across the gemstone. These stones are also called as ribbon agate. Such agate, witth white bands alternating with bands of red, brown or black is called onyx.

Ring agate: Agate with concentric ring pattern, looking like an eye. It is also called as eye agate.

Plume agate: Agate with dark-colored, plume-like structures within the material. Color varies from shades of white, blue, red and yellow. Unites States is the primary source for this variety. The inclusions of this stone sometimes resembles feathers, flowers or plants.

Fire agate: A variety of agate containing inclusions of limonite or goethite, producing an iridescent effect or "fire."

Agates are the anniversary gemstones for those who celebrate their 12th year of marriage and considered the mystical birthstones for the month of September.



It is believed agates have special properties:

• To make healthy or improve blood circulation.
• To protect the wearer against danger and bring lucks.
• To overcome fears and increase concentrations.
• Produce calming effect during difficulty times and brings courage.
• To improve wearer's physical strength.

Astrologically, agates are associated with the zodiac signs of Gemini.
Mohs scale hardness: 7

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Astrological Precious Jewels For Each Chakra

Stones, the sun, the heat of the sun and soil, water mixed with mud as a result of the “stone” is to enrich. “The color of the stones” out of the sun’s effect in supply relative to the location and environment, the supply of the stars and known planets outside the marked influence of light. Gain an insight into the effect on treatment of the stones are as follows;

agate, aquamarine, amazonite, amatist (purple ruby), andalusite, apatite, aragonite, moon stone, azurite, dioptaz, diamond, fluorite, garnet, sun stone, hematite, pearl, Cordierite, jasper, chalcedony, amber, krizikol, krisoprase crystal quartz, smoky quartz, sand stone, labradorit, lapis lazuli, malachite, magnetite (magnetic), coral, obsidian, onyx, opal, pyrite, sapphire, pearl, selenite, citrine, sodalit, turquoise, ruby​​, jade, zircon, emerald .

According to cosmic science, reason for the formation of cosmic disturbances, can be explained by blockage of energy, an energy level of the center. Therefore, the size of each stone has an energy and minimize the wavelength emitted by the human body energy centers, these stones are preserved. So for example if you have problem with your thyroid glands, where the cells you have a blockage of energy, making energy turquoise gives a warning here. As a result, the energy flow so alive.

Peak Chakra  (7th chakra)

Peak located at the top of the head (crown) chakra color is purple. Precious jewels for peak chakre are amethyst, fluorite, calcite, crystal quartz, kyanit, opal, pyrite, rutile quartz, sugulit.

Forehead Chakra  (6th chakra – third eye)

Forehead chakra in the middle of the two eyebrows color is deep blue. Precious jewels for third eye chakra are lapis, ayolayt, amethyst, aventurine, azurite, fluorite, quartz crystal, chrysocolla, kunzite, kyanit, labradorit, opal.

Throat Chakra  (5th chakra)

The color of the throat chakra is blue. Precious gemstones for throat chakra are aquamarine, amazonite, calcite, crystal quartz, chrysocolla, kyanit, labradorit, coral, pyrite, rutile quartz, sapphire.

Heart Chakra  (4th chakra)

The color of the heart chakra is green. Precious gemstones for heart chakra are agate, aventurine, moonstone, fluorite, garnet, jasper, calcite, agate, crystal quartz, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, kunzite, malachite, obsidian, rose quartz.

Solar Plexus Chakra  (3rd chakra)

Two fingers above the navel chakra color is yellow in the stomach. Precious astrological stones for Solar Plexus Chakra are citrine, aventurine, moonstone, fluorite, chalcedony, calcite, amber, crystal, quartz, malachite, coral, obsidian.

Sacral Chakra  (2nd chakra)

At the bottom of the navel orange is the color of the sacral chakra. Precious astrological jewels for sacral chakra are moon stone, sun stone, chalcedony, calcite, amber, crystal quartz.

Root Chakra  (1st chakra – base chakra)

Root chakra located in the Reproductive organs, color is red. Precious astrological jewels for root chakra are garnet, smoky quartz, hematite, calcite, agate, crystal quartz, coral, obsidian, onyx, pyrite, quartz, rutile, tourmaline and ruby.

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While some gemstones are manufactured to make them more affordable for everyone, true gemstones, in their natural state, are found all over the world, and there are hundreds of different gemstones - several having different varieties. The most common gemstones are the garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, sapphire, opal, jade, onyx, and topaz.

Garnets are found in Africa, Brazil, Canada, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and even in the United States. In the United States, you can find garnets in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia. Amethysts are also found in the United States in Colorado, Georgia, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Amethyst can also be found in Brazil, Canada, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia, and 

Sri Lanka.

Aquamarine is a gemstone found in Brazil, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and The United States. In the United States, Aquamarine can be found in Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont. Diamonds are scarcer in the United States, and in other countries, which attributes to their high value. In the United States, they are found in Arkansas, California, Colorado, and North Carolina - and the two biggest diamonds found in North America came from Arkansas. Other countries that diamonds come from are Australia, Ghana, Zaire, and Russia.

North Carolina is the only state in the United States where emeralds are found. Australia used to mine emeralds as well, but emeralds now typically come from Columbia and Zambia, although they are still found in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and Russia.

Pearls, unlike other gemstones, are not really mined. They are formed inside shellfish, and start formation from a single grain of sand. Pearls are harvested from the Red Sea, Gulf of Manaar, and the Persian Gulf. Cultured pearls come from the waters of Australia and Polynesia. Austria, France, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States produce fresh water pearls. In the United States, fresh water pearls are found in waters in Florida, California, and Delaware, and various states that the Mississippi River runs through.

Rubies are found all over the world, but different color and quality stones come from different areas. The highest quality stones come from Myanmar, and the brightest stones come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Darker stones are found in Thailand, Australia, India, Russia, and the United States in Georgia, North Carolina, and Wyoming. Myanmar also produces the highest quality sapphires, as well as Sri Lanka and India. Lighter colored sapphires are produced in Montana in the United States. Darker colored sapphires come from Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Brazil, Cambodia, Columbia, Kenya, and Malawi.

Opals, which are one of the least expensive stones, are actually harder to find. They are only found in Australia, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, and the United States - in Idaho. Topaz is another inexpensive gemstone, and is only found in Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, 

Sri Lanka, Russia, and the United States. In the United States, topaz is only found in Colorado, Maine, and Utah.

Jade, which is more expensive than opal or topaz, and is only found in Myanmar, Japan, Russia, China, and the United States - in Wyoming, Alaska, and California. Onyx is found all over the world, and is considered to be common.

With the exception of Pearls, gemstones are mined from mountains and underground lodes. In some areas, they are simply lying on the ground. Once they are mined - or harvested in the case of pearls - the gemstones are cleaned and cut into various shapes. Few gemstones are sold in their natural state to consumers. Usually, jewelry makers or mass jewelry producers purchase larger stones, and cut them down into smaller designs.

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Gemstones Facts

Hardest Gemstone

The most popular and hardest gemstones on earth are diamonds. No other gemstone or even ‘stone’ that is harder than diamond on earth and diamond can only be polished or cut by another diamond itself. However, diamonds and many other "hard" gemstones can chip. Although they are very hard but don’t forget they are also brittle.

Toughest Gemstone

Toughness of a gemstone may be defined as the ability to resist chipping. Jade is the toughest gemstone in nature. What makes Jade the toughest gemstone is due to its strong, interlocking fiber crystal. It may be fashioned or cut into statues or other figures and even axe heads with ease, but it’s resistance to chipping is intensely high. Early hammers and tools have been found which were formed from this gem mineral. Since the toughest gemstone is jade, it is also the most difficult to polish and carve. It requires highly trained workmanship as well as creative aesthetics to create a piece of fine jade jewelry.

Rarest Gemstone

The rarity of a gemstone will contribute to it’s value. Generally the rarer a material, the higher its value. A fine quality rubies are one of the rarest gemstones, it costs even more expensive than diamonds and may easily exceed $10,000 per carat. However, there is no connsensus on what is the rarest gemstone according to the Gemological Institute of America because there is no consensus on the definition of "rarity".

Most Colorful Gemstone

Tourmaline and opal are known to be the world’s most colorful gemstones:

• Tourmalines are the only gemstones that occur in all colors and for a long time has been called by mineral collectors as the “Rainbow Gem”. These stones are also known to attract dust when displayed under hot lights. Together with quartz, they will develop an electrical charge when heated. Tourmaline is also the only gemstone that has three sided prisms in its crystal structure.
• Opals are the most colorful gemstones, but some forms are colorless. Opals are best known for their flashes of color, some varieties have no flashes of color, it can be white, it can be black and some of it can be dull and dead. Iridescent (not opalescence) is the best word to describe the brilliant flashes of opal’s colors. Top quality opals can be more valuable than diamonds. Black opal is also the only gemstone that is believed to bring fortunes and good luck to all signs of the zodiac.

Lightest and Softest Gemstone

Amber is the lightest and softest gemstone known, it is light enough to float in salt wwater, which aided in its discovery. This organic gem originates from the sticky resin of prehhistoric trees. Since Amber is the lightest gemstone, choker of large, carved beads is made from this unusual stone. Baltic amber is the strongest amber and therefore favored for use in amber jewelry. Fossilized tree sap need to be at least 30 million years old to be considered as an amber.

Most Creatively Striped Gemstone by Nature

No other gemstone that is more creatively and naturally striped than agate. The banded appearance is due to other substances which may include quartz (amethyst or rock crystal), chalcedony (jasper, onyx, carnelian) and etc. Onyx (a variety of quartz) is similar to banded agate, it is only that in onyx the bands are straight and parallel.

Largest Faceted Gemstone

Topaz holds the record for the world’s largest faceted gemstone. It was mined in Brazil, the infamous stone is a whopping 36854 carats and maesures 34.9 x 15.5 x 12.1 cm – according to the American Gem Trade Association.

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Relation Between Gemstones And Horoscopes

Gemstones, attracted the attention of mankind ever since. But the truth is, the natural sources of healing is one of earth offered by people carrying stones in various colors and patterns. For a century, both in preventive medicine and curative medicine and the gemstones, in particular find use in more recent years. Both physical and mental health of people in relation to the gemstones. There is a huge gemstone list for each horoscope.

Aries: diamonds, agate, opal, amethyst, hematite

Taurus: emerald, blue sapphire, blue and green agate, malachite

Gemini: moss agate, pearl, garnet, aquamarine, citrine, yellow amber,

Cancer: moonstone,  ruby, pearl, citrine

Leo: ruby, yellow sapphire, diamond, aventurine, tourmaline

Virgo: jade, olivine, lemon quartz, jasper, sapphire blue

Libra: opal, rose quartz, mountain crystal, malachite, sapphire, turquoise

Scorpio: Hematite, tiger eye, obsidian, garnet, magnetite, topaz

Sagittarius: ruby, turquoise, lapis lazuli, obsidian, amethyst

Capricorn: garnet, onyx, agate, malachite, smoky quartz, jet, jasper

Aquarius: blue topaz, moonstone, amethyst, jade, aquamarine

Pisces: coral, turquoise, aquamarine, amethyst, star (sand), emerald

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