GEMSTONE MEANINGS

Gemstone is a collective term for all objects used with ornamental stones for personal adornment that possesses beauty, durability, and stability. Beauty, a quality that varies among individuals, can be based on one or any combination of: color or lack of color, luster, transparency, or enhanced optical properties due to cutting and fashioning by the lapidary. Durability is the resistance of the gemstone damage and dependent upon physical properties, such as hardness and tenacity. Tenacity is the resistance to bending and breaking, while hardness measures the resistance to scratch. Gemstones and crystals have been used througt out history for everything from adorning a shield or armor to aiding in the healing process for everything from broken bones to the plague and back again. Different cultures have placed differing values on each gemstones meanings in some cases and in others it is almost amazing that two cultures so vastly different could come up with the same concepts.

ONIX
Onyx is a gemstone with alternating light and dark bands, which are colored in brown, red, black, white and grey. The name onyx was used by the Romans for a variety of stones including alabaster, chalcedony, and what is now known as onyx marble. Roman soldiers wore sardonyx talismans engraved with heroes such as Hercules or Mars, god of war. They believed that the stone would make the wearer as brave and daring as the figured carved on it. During the Renaissance, sardonyx was believed to bring eloquence upon the wearer and was regarded with great value by public speakers and orators.               

FANCY JASPER
Fancy Jasper is an opaque mix of creamy beige or gray with lavender, green, pink, orange or red swirls and speckles.  It is considered a stone of gentleness and relaxation, believing it enhances one's ability to relax by inspiring tranquility, comfort & wholeness. Fancy Jasper is credited for embodying both nurturing and protective energies. 
 Mohs hardness:  6-1/2 to 7
          

YELLOW TURQUOISE
Known as "turquoise" because it occurs in the same mines and has similar matrix patterns, this stone is actually a serpentine with a high amount of quartz inclusions. The tones range from yellow to green and black to brown.                
Mohs Hardness Scale: 3-5

RED AVENTURINE
Aventurine is a translucent to opaque variety of Quartz that measures a hardness of 6.5 on the Moh's scale. It is best recognizable by its inclusions of shiny minerals, usually mica or hematite, that give the stone a sparkling effect known as 'aventurescence'. It derives its name from the Italian term "a ventura," which means "by chance". Aventurine ranges in color from green, peach, brown, blue and a creamy green. Deposits are found in Chile, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Austria, and Tanzania. 
 Mohs hardness:  7             

OLIVE JADE
Olive Jade is a form of semi-translucent serpentine  that is commonly a light to medium green color in soft hues and mottled designs. Olive Jade is said to have the same spiritual values as green Jade. Because it produces a tranquil mood, it helps us when we're depressed, especially when we feel stuck in a situation. Like green Jade, Olive Jade can help you get grounded, so you can live with the situation and feel more tranquil while you're doing it.
Mohs hardness:  2 - 51/2            

RED SESAME JASPER
Jasper is a category unto itself. Basically, jasper is a crypto-crystaline  quartz, a relative of quartzes like amethyst and citrine, except that in the  case of jasper, there are many teeny tiny quartz crystals that are joined  together and layered. There are many different varieties and colors and patterns of jasper gemstones. They are collected by jasper connisseurs or just enjoyed  for their uniqueness in jewelry pieces. The prices and values of jasper  gemstones are very subjective, influenced by trends, mine finds, etc. Generally  speaking, rough jasper is not rare, and most of the value of a piece of jasper 
jewelry is in the artistic use of it by the cutter (lapidary) and the jewelry  artist. Red sesame jasper has a similar appearance to brecciated jasper, with lighter shades of brick red and grey streaks, and areas of translucent quartz inclusions. Well-polished, red sesame jasper has a smooth finish.               

PURPLE AVENTURINE
A member of the quartz family, Aventurine, (SiO2) is a  chalcedony that contains small inclusions of one of several shiny minerals which give the stone a glistening effect. The glistening effect of Aventurine is known as aventurescence. The color of the aventurescence depends on the mineral included in the stone. Mica inclusions give the give the stone a yellowish or silverish glitter or sheen. Goethite and Hematite inclusions give the stone a reddish or grayish glitter or sheen. Fuschite inclusions give the stone a greenish sheen. Aventurine may be green, orange, red, purple, brown, yellow, or gray. Allow though most notably known for its green sparkle, the sunny orange yellow version of this stone is known as sunstone feldspar from the quartz
family.             

RUSSIAN SERPENTINE
From Russia’s Ural Mountains, Russian Serpentine is an olive green gemstone with a black matrix pattern and is sometimes referred to as "green snowflake." The stone has an appearance that reminds many of snakeskin. The word “Serpentine” comes from the Latin “serpens”, or snake. Russian Serpentine is thought to be named after a serpent, for its smooth and brilliant surface is like that of a snake.Russian Serpentine is said to balance mood swings and encourage the ability to solve conflicts by peaceful means. 
Mohs Hardness Scale: 3-4
            

GOLDSTONE BROWN
Goldstone is a man made gemstone that has been around since the European  Rennaissance. Early monks working at a glass factory near Venice, Italy were practicing alchemy when molten copper accidentally tipped into a molten glass  container. This crystallized into thousands of tiny crystals and formed a melt with golden light sparkles. This is how the first goldstone came about. Though it is not technically a gemstone, it is often referred to as one.

JASPER AUTUMN
Jasper  is a fine grained opaque crypto-crystalline variety of Quartz (Chalcedony) that forms in a multitude of varying colors and patterns. Found worldwide, Jasper often contains organic material and mineral oxides which give it interesting patterns, bands and colors. Its hardness ranges from 6.5-7 on the Moh's scale and was a favorite gem in ancient times and is referenced in Greek, Hebrew, Assyrian and Latin literature. Legend says that Jasper would drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites. In the fourth century, it was thought to bring about the rain. Jasper is believed to be protective. Credited for aligning the chakras, balancing the yin yang energies, as well as
stabilizing and healing. Jasper is also one of the birth stones listed for the sun sign of Virgo and regarded the mystical birthstone for the month of October. Autumn Jasper (also called "Epidot") is a close relative of Unakite. This gemstone of mottled red, green and pink symbolizes emotional security and is therefore believed to give emotional stability to the wearer.               

BLACK OBSIDIAN
With its glassy luster, obsidian is a distinctive stone. Obsidian is formed as lava from volcanic eruptions cools within the earth. The speed at which it cools prevents crystallization and the rock forms as solid volcanic glass. Although its most common color is black, obsidian can also be found in light brown, brown mottled with black, and black with a beautiful golden or silvery sheen. Snowflake obsidian  is dotted with white patches where parts of the rock have begun to crystallize. The most prized obsidian by gemologists is the rainbow obsidian rainbow obsidian variety with purple, green and gold bands of sheen. Obsidian was revered by ancient cultures. It was one of the major barter materials, and prized for its ability to be worked to razor-sharp edges for arrows and spears. It has been used since prehistoric times for making tools, masks,weapons, mirrors and jewelry. Obsidian can be found anywhere that volcanic activity has occurred. Some of its important sources today are South America, Japan, Mexico, Afghanistan, and parts of the United States. The San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, United States, produces an interesting banded variety of obsidian known as "Apache Tears".               

UNAKITE
Unakite or epidote with feldspar as it is also known, consists of a combination of deformed red jasper and green epidote solidly bound together, thus creating the beautiful pistachio and pink coloring. The splashes of soft peach against a fresh green colored background makes Unakite a much beloved and magical gemstone. The stone takes it's name from the Greek word epidosis, meaning "growing together", and it is these materials bound together that conveys the meaning that what comes together, belongs together.  Deep in the Unaka Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, Peach Feldspar (a sister to Moonstone) formed in Quartz rich Granite, while green Epidote precipitated out of nearby magma flows, and it is this marriage of elements that gave birth to a beautifully balanced gemstone. Unakite does not crystallize. It is found in masses, much like Chalcedonies are. Some deposits are found in Zimbabwe and Switzerland, but the gemstone is named for it's North American home, the Unaka Mountains. Occasionally the gem is listed as Epidotized Granite or Grandodiorite, but it is Unakite that is the most commonly known.               

BRECCIATED JASPER
The ancient Egyptians wore jasper scarabs as amulets as th stone was believed to increase sexual energy. According to the Bible, jasper was a direct gift from God and would be the first foundation stone of the New Jerusalem. Also, both Indians in Asia as well as Native Americans see jasper as a magical rain stone and also a powerful healing stone. Jaspers is called an ornamental rock, it is an opaque and fine grained variety composed mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, in association with other minerals, which is what give it those colorful bands and patterns. It is found in almost all colors . Found worldwide, a wide variety of named jaspers is found in the western areas of the Unites States; California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washington. Brecciated Jasper has the qualities of enhancing organization abilities, relaxation and acquiring a sense of wholeness. It is used occasionally to assists when dowsing, it brings happiness and a good outlook on life as it eases stress. It is an excellent stone for grounding oneself, as well it is a stone of protection, especially during times of astral travel. Physically Brecciated Jasper encourages attunement and communication with animals and can help with animal allergies specifically as well as other allergies in general. It can also increase physical endurance and ward off dehydration.

DALMATIAN JASPER
Acquired its name due to the similarity of spotted markings with the Dalmatian breed of dog. Jasper helps us release our tendencies to over think or over analyse things. It allows us to see beyond our disillusionment toward a brighter future, bringing a sense of fun. Dalmatian Jasper is just the stone you need when you want a pick-me-up.  When you wear or carry it, your mood is lifted immediately alleviating depression and negative thinking. Make sure you wear it to places you are expecting to have a dull time. Dalmatian Jasper is also excellent at preventing nightmares. An ideal stone for athletes as it provides stamina and determination. It can also prevent strains and muscle spasms.               

ONYX MARBLE BLACK SILK
Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word onux, meaning fingernail. The story is that one day frisky Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. He left the clippings scattered on the sand and the fates turned them into stone so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish.  True, black isn't normally the color one associates with fingernails. But in Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Today when we think of onyx we often preface the word with black to distinguish it from other varieties of onyx that come in white, reddish brown, brown and banded. Later, the Romans narrowed the term "onyx" to refer to black and dark brown colors only.  Although onyx, sard and sardonyx are all varieties of chalcedony, onyx is similar to agate, with straight rather than curved bands. These bands may be brown and white or black and white. Sard is a brownish red variety, sardonyx is a blend of sard and onyx and therefore has the straight white bands of onyx and the brownish red color of sard.  Onyx is mined in Brazil, India, California and Uruguay. It has a fine texture and black color; however some onyx also displays white bands or ribbons against a black or brown background and again, this variety is known as sardonyx.

RAINBOW FLUORITE
The colors of fluorite are very pictorial and pleasant for the eye. The fluorite mineral can combine many shades of various colors, but mostly purple with white, or purple with green, or sometimes, green, yellow or gray. Most notable occurrences are in the United Kingdom , Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Canada, USA and China.  Fluorite is occasionally also called fluorspar. Its name is derived from the Latin word "fluo" which means to flow. The industrial use of fluorite is to decrease the viscosity of slags in the process of steel production and to help eliminate the impurities from the final product. It is also used for
manufacturing some sorts of glasses and polymers. Rainbow fluorite can have a full range of nuances starting from purple and blue up to red and golden yellow. This is the reason why this type of fluorite is so popular and comes in so many forms, such as wands, points, eggs and orbs. Rainbow fluorite is believed to help the nervous system on physical level, but on more spiritual grounds it readily shows its meditative and inspirational features, promoting positive events, joy and creativity.

CHERRY QUARTZ
Quartz is a chemical compound consisting of one part silicon and two parts oxygen. It is silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is the most abundant mineral found at Earth's surface and its unique properties make it one of the most useful natural substances. Quartz is the most abundant and widely distributed mineral found at Earth's surface. It is present and plentiful in all parts of the world. It forms at all temperatures. It is abundant in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It is highly resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering. This durability makes it the dominant mineral of mountaintops and the primary constituent of beach, river and desert sand. Quartz is ubiquitous, plentiful and durable. Minable deposits are found throughout the world. Quartz occurs in virtually every color. Common colors are clear, white, gray, purple, yellow, brown, black, pink, green, red.