Knowledge base

Amazonite – (stone)

Amazonite is a captivating variety of potassium feldspar prized for its soothing blue-green hues and striking presence in both collections and wearable art. This article explores its mineralogy, where it forms, how it is used, identification and care, as well as cultural and market contexts that make amazonite a stone of ongoing fascination for geologists, […]

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Sunstone – (stone)

Sunstone is a captivating gemstone that combines geological intrigue with visual drama. Often admired for its warm, metallic flashes and sunlit hues, this mineral has inspired collectors, jewelers, and storytellers for centuries. In the text that follows you will find a wide-ranging exploration of where sunstone forms, how it is identified and cut, its uses

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Moonstone – (stone)

Moonstone is a captivating gem that evokes the cool, shifting light of the night sky. Its shimmering sheen and soft colors have inspired artisans, collectors, and storytellers for centuries. In this article I explore the geology, distribution, uses, cutting techniques, cultural meanings, and modern applications of this extraordinary stone, providing scientific background as well as

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Carnelian – (stone)

Carnelian is a warm, translucent variety of cryptocrystalline quartz that has been prized for millennia for its vivid orange to deep red hues. As a form of chalcedony colored by traces of iron, carnelian occupies a distinctive place between geology, art, and culture. This article explores the stone’s geological origins, global occurrences, historical uses, modern

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Aventurine – (stone)

Aventurine is a captivating variety of feldspar-bearing or quartz-rich rock celebrated for its shimmering, reflective inclusions and broad palette of colors. This article explores the mineralogical nature of aventurine, where it is found, how it is used both practically and culturally, and several intriguing facets of its history and contemporary relevance. Along the way you

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Citrine – (stone)

The warm, sunlit hues of Citrine have captivated gem enthusiasts, jewelers, and collectors for centuries. As a variety of quartz, this gemstone ranges from pale yellow to deep amber and occupies a unique place at the intersection of geology, craftsmanship, and cultural symbolism. In the following sections you will find a detailed exploration of its

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Peridot – (stone)

Peridot is a gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine that has fascinated cultures, jewelers and geologists for millennia. Known for its distinctive olive-green to yellowish-green color, this gemstone combines a direct link to deep Earth processes with a long human history of use in adornment and ritual. The following article explores where peridot is found,

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Garnet – (stone)

The deep red and sometimes kaleidoscopically colored mineral known as Garnet has captured human attention for millennia. It appears in jewelry cases, geological reports, industrial catalogs and mythic stories alike. Although often associated with a warm, ruby-like glow, garnet is not a single mineral but a family of closely related silicate minerals with a shared

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Fluorite – (mineral)

Fluorite is a widely admired and scientifically important mineral composed of calcium fluoride. Its variable colors, perfect cleavage, and striking crystals make it a favorite among collectors, while its chemical properties secure an essential role in numerous industrial processes. This article explores where fluorite forms, how it is identified, its applications from metallurgy to optics,

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Pyrite – (mineral)

Pyrite is one of the most recognizable and widely distributed minerals on Earth. Its bright, metallic shine and brass-yellow color have fascinated miners, collectors, and scientists for centuries. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, pyrite plays important roles in geology, industry, environmental chemistry and even in the preservation of fossils. This article explores the mineral’s properties, global

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