Theophrastus has a discussion about the stone  cinnabar in reference of stone being either natural or artificial. Cinnabar, made of...

Marble has its word origins from Ancient Greece where the word mamaron meant “shining stone”. Although polished marble does not exhibit...

Sardonyx is a reddish stone called a sard mixed with white, banded chalcedony and is composed of crystalline silicon dioxide. Like...

Serpentine's a metamorphic rock abundant at the the boundary between the base of the oceanic crust and the upper mantle, so groups are...

Rhodochrosite forms in cavities of metamorphic rock and is associated with silver. Once known as Rosa del Inca, legends say rhodochrosite...

Corundum is a family of crystals in contrast of the beryl group of minerals. The colorless, clear variety of corundum has the chemical...

The demons have to defend their country and fight against their submission to the king of the witches, Gorice XI. This being accomplished...

“If you take a hammer and hit a diamond, the diamond will shatter into pieces. Hit a piece of quartz and it'll split in two. However, if...

Iolite (gemology) is a relatively modern gemstone that displays a beautiful blue-violet color. Discovered during the 19th century in...

Moonstone is a variety of feldspar with a flash of blue color believed to be derived from the Moon; however, the ingredients for...

Bloodstone is a green chalcedony that has iron oxide inclusions, thus, deriving its name from the red speckles found in the stone....

Article 13 October 4, 2020 September 3, 2021 The chrysoprase is Greek for "golden”, chrysos, and “leek", praso, in reference to its pale...

Beryl is a gemstone that ranges in color from pale blue to white, while aquamarine does not range and has its namesake color. Pliny in...

Spinel is a mineral derived from the generalized spinel group. Spinel generally refers to magnesium aluminum peroxide, a member of the...

Quartz is composed of silicon dioxide, ths same material hard glass is made of; however, quartz rates 7 on the Mohs scale which is much...

Amber is fossilized tree resin of the copal and valued for its properties since Neolithic times. Antiquity has used amber for medicinal...

Items of jewelry that contain gems can be unusual. Jewels may find themselves relegated to a storage box if they fail to fit into a...

"On high the amethyst is set In color like the violet, With flames of if of gold it glows And far its purple radiance flows; The humble...

Fossilization August 1, 2019 A fossil’s original imprint only occurs in a previous geological age. Bones, shells, exoskeletons,...

Robert Boyle was a natural science philosopher and physician. After his father died, Robert dedicated the rest of his life to scientific...