169
Danburite is named
for the US city of
Danbury.
Blue spinel, also
called cobalt
spinel, is rare.Pink sapphire is
the same gem as a
pale ruby.Chrysoberyl is
thought to
promote harmony.Green tourmaline
is tinted with traces
of chromium.Indicolite is a
blue variety of
tourmaline.Sphalerite is a
soft stone that
sparkles like a
diamond.Iolite can look
black from
some angles.Morganite is a
pink beryl with
manganese.Chrysoberyl is
often a honey-
coloured brown.Yellow
tourmaline comes
from Malawi.Sapphire
frequently shows
a starry pattern.Almandine garnet
is bigger than a
typical garnet.Peridot is made
from vivid green
olivine crystals.Topaz is meant to
protect against
sudden death.Aquamarine is
a light blue
variety of beryl.Yellow sapphire is
rarer than blue
but less valuable.Emerald catseye has
a pale stripe.Jade is often
carved, and was
once used for tools.Moonstone is
named for its
shimmering glow.Turquoise gets
its sky blue
from copper.Garnet is
usually a warm,
brownish red.Opal is often
mounted on onyx
as a “doublet”.Star garnet
glints with a
starry pattern.Lapis lazuli was
one of the first
gems to be worn.Haematite is a
lustrous form
of iron ore.Jade is usually
green but can
be mauve.Jade has been
known for at
least 7,000 years.Pink tourmaline
catseye has a
bright highlight.Topaz is usually
yellow but can
be colourless.Fire opal is a
clear opal with
red in it.Kunzite often
flashes various
shades of violet.Opal has changing
colours caused by
scattered light.Moonstone is a
magical gem in
India.Rhodolite is a
velvety red
form of garnet.Sinhalite is a
rare stone from
Sri Lanka.Sapphire containing
iron oxide is
tinted yellow.Green zircon can
glitter like a
green diamond.Kunzite was
unknown until
100 years ago.The natural minerals that make up rocks
can form glassy crystals, which can be cut
into glittering gems. Many are extremely
hard, and contain different impurities
that tint gems such as sapphire,
tourmaline, and topaz a sparkling array
of colours. They can be extremely
valuable. The gem collection shown
here is worth almost a million dollars.Gems minerals
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