Gemstone Significance
Abalone Shell |
Jade |
Abalone Shell: Abalone are large sea snails, the thick inner layer of their shells is composed of nacre or mother-of-pearl, which is highly iridescent, giving it a range of strong and changeable colors. This makes abalone shells a source of colorful mother-of-pearl that has traditionally been used in jewelry, buttons, and as inlay in furniture and musical instruments. As the abalone shell is connected to the sea it represents the tides of emotion, an easy flow of feelings and sensitivity to others. The iridescence and variety of color in abalone shell represent change in the beauty of existence.
Agate: Agates are a microcrystalline variety of quartz and are characterized by their fineness of grain and brightness of color. Agates are one of the oldest known gemstones in recorded history, they have been prized since Biblical times. The agate is a stone everyone should wear for protection as they provide strength. Agates are also known to protect against bad dreams, stress and energy depletion. Once, agates with banded colors were once placed near the head of a sleeper to provide rich and varied dreams. Agates cannot change emotions, but can help to change your level of acceptance. When you are very sad an agate help you to understand that it will pass and help you move forward. The agate is powerful because it gives us the strength to carry on. Be sure to wear an agate when you have to make an important decision. Agates are mined all over the world.
Amber: Amber is fossilized tree resin, and ranges from 30 to 90 million years old. Although amber is not mineralized, it is classified as a gemstone. Because it was once a soft and sticky tree resin, amber often contains insects and sometimes small vertebrates. Amber occurs in a range of colors from the usual yellow-orange that is associated with the color "amber" to a whitish color to pale lemon yellow, to brown and almost black.
Amethyst: Amethyst is a crystalline violet quartz in shades of purple, lilac or mauve. Traditionally included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald), amethyst has lost much of its value due to the discovery of large deposits in Brazil. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness". In Greek and Roman times amethysts were worn to guard against drunkenness and to instill a sober mind. The amethyst has long been used to open the spiritual and psychic centers, making it one of the power stones. It is also used as a meditation aid when worn as a necklace. The amethyst symbolizes piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom. Amethyst is often worn by healers, as it has the power to focus energy.
Aquamarine: Aquamarine is a gemstone-quality transparent variety of beryl, having a delicate blue-green color with the tint of seawater. It is closely related to the emerald. Aquamarine is mined in Colombia and Brazil. It is an excellent stone to use for meditating as aquamarine brings peace and serenity.
Aventurine: Aventurine is a form of quartz, characterized by its translucency and the presence of mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect. The most common color of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or gray. Most green and blue-green aventurine is mined in India. Aventurine is the stone of opportunity, and is known for bringing luck. It is said to increase perception as well as creative insight. Aventurine has a stabilizing effect on emotions, which makes it an excellent choice for teenagers.
Chalcedony: Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals quartz and moganite. Chalcedony is a variety of the mineral quartz that occurs in in a great variety of colors inlcuding blue, lavender, white, buff, light tan, gray, yellow, pink, red or brown. If chalcedony is conspicuously color-banded, it may be called agate and with other minerals it has various other names including carnelian, mocha stone, onyx, bloodstone to name a few. Chalcedony occurs in a wide range of varieties. Many semi-precious gemstones are in fact forms of chalcedony. The more notable varieties of chalcedony are as follows: agate, carnelian, chrysophrase, heliotrope. Chalcedony nurtures and promotes brotherhood and good will. Chalcedony is used to assist telepathy, to absorbs negative energy and dissipate it, harmonize mind, body, and spirit and instill generosity. New mothers have used chalcedony to increase lactation, and it also fosters the maternal instinct. It increases physical energy. Healers use it to decrease ill effects of senility and dementia.
Coral: Coral has been called the 'garden of the sea'. Coral was once believed to be a plant, but is now known to actually contain living animals called polyps. Coral is the result of accumulated skeletal masses from these polyps. Red is considered the most sought after color but coral also can be found in pink, white, yellow and black. Records dating back thousands of years confirm that coral was used in decorative art objects. It was believed to prevent ill fortune and offer protection from skin disease when worn as a necklace. Dreams about coral are believed to foretell recovery from a long illness. Coral is a good aid for meditation or visualization. Coral symbolizes life and blood force energy. Dark red coral is used for stimulating the bloodstream. Pink shades restore harmony to the heart. It is used as an aid to depression, lethargy or deficient nutrition. Coral is found in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Australia, the South Pacific, and in the waters of Japan and Africa.
Carnelian: Carnelian is mined worldwide, but India is known for mining the finest quality gemstones. Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony. The most prized variety are a deep red to red-orange hue. Carnelian was once considered strictly the property of the noble class. Carnelian is an energy booster, wear carnelian and feel energy flow to you. Carnelian can help an insecure person find inner strength. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word meaning horn, in reference to the fleshy color it sometimes exhibits. Carnelian is known to give energy, guard against poverty, provide a sense of humor and calm the temper.
Cinnabar is a pigmented lacquer made from red mercury sulfide or natural vermilion, the common ore of mercury. The most popular use of cinnabar is in Chinese carved lacquer-ware, a technique that originated in the Song Dynasty. In the modern jewelry industry, the toxic mercury pigment is replaced by a resin-based polymer that approximates the appearance of vermilion lacquer.
Citrine: Citrine is a yellow-to-golden member of the quartz mineral group. A deep golden variety from Madiera Spain can resemble the costly imperial topaz gemstone, which is one reason that citrine is a popular birthstone alternative to those born in November. Sources of citrine include Brazil, Bolivia, several African countries and parts of the Soviet Union. Citrine has been called the "stone of the mind". Ancient cultures believed that placing a citrine on the forehead of an elder would increase his psychic power. Citrine is known as the lucky "Merchants Stone". If you are in any type of sales, just put a citrine in the cash drawer and watch what happens. Also used by healers to increase self esteem, protect from the negative energy from someone else's abuse, open the mind to new thoughts and promote clarity of thought. Citrine has the power to calm and soothe distressed conditions. It offers help with depression, digestive problems (including constipation and diabetes). It will give joy and love to the owner.
Garnet: Garnet is a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. Garnet gemstones are most often red, but are available in a wide variety of colors spanning the entire spectrum. The name garnet comes from the Latin granatus (grain), possibly a reference to the Punica granatum (pomegranate), a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. The world's largest supply of garnets is in Africa. The Garnet is known as the stone for a successful business. It is believed that if a garnet is put under a pillow it will cure depression. Garnets can be used to make a person popular and have self-esteem when worn as jewelry. It helps protect one on trips. Garnets bring constancy to friendships. Garnets are also known for stimulating success in business. The Garnet is a stone of purity and truth as well as a symbol of love and compassion. The Garnet will help everyone's security level and spiritual awareness.It can help increase the sex drive.
Hessonite: Hessonite or cinnamon stone is a variety of grossular, a calcium aluminium mineral of the garnet group. The name is from the Greek hēssōn, inferior, in allusion to its lower hardness and density than most other garnet varieties. Hessonite comes from Sri Lanka, Brazil and California. It has a characteristic orange color inclining to yellow-orange, much like that of gem zircon.
Iolite: Iolite is a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate. Ancient mariners used iolite as a compass to guide their way at sea. They noted that it would show different hues of blue-violet when held to the northern and southern skies. Ancients believed that it could unlock creativity in an artist. As the transparent variety iolite, it is often used as a gemstone. The name "iolite" comes from the Greek word for violet. Iolite has also been called "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass" because of it's ability to determine the direction of the sun on overcast days. Gem quality iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes Wear this stone to discover the lost parts of self and your inner treasures. It is an excellent stone for shamanic journeying or to assist in recovering information from past lives. Iolite supports the healing of the eyes, stimulates memory and helps with sleep imbalances.
Jade: The term jade is applied to two different rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals. Nephrite jade consists of the calcium and magnesium rich amphibole mineral actinolite. The rock called jadeitite consists almost entirely of jadeite, a sodium and aluminium rich pyroxene. Nephrite and jadeite are both about the same hardness as quartz, and they are exceptionally tough. Nephrite can be found in a creamy white form as well as in a variety of green colors, whereas jadeitite shows more color variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colors. Of the two, jadeite is rarer, mined in fewer than 12 places worldwide. Translucent emerald-green jadeitite is the most prized variety. Jade is beautifully colored and can be delicately shaped. The beauty of jade has made it valuable for use in making ornamental and decorative objects. The soothing green color of jade makes it a wonderful healing stone, it can assist self-healing. Jade is an ancient stone that has historically been used to attract love.
Jasper: Jasper is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow or brown in color. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called striped or banded jasper. Jaspilite is a banded iron formation rock that often has distinctive bands of jasper. Jasper is basically chert which owes its red color to iron inclusions. Jasper is an ornamental rock composed mostly of chalcedony, microcrystalline quartz, in association with other minerals, which give it colourful bands and patterns. Jasper was a favourite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Latin. Jasper is often named according to its pattern: landscape jasper, the most popular, offers a small panorama in stone. Ribbon jasper, picture jasper, and orbicular jasper are the names of other varieties. Jasper is found in many countries. Jasper can appear as an opaque rock of shades of red due to mineral impurities. Patterns can arise from the formation process and from flow patterns in the sediment or volcanic ash that was saturated with silica to form jasper, yielding bands or swirls in the rock. Jasper may be permeated by dendritic minerals providing the appearance of vegetative growths. The jasper may have been fractured and/or distorted after formation, later rebonding into discontinuous patterns or filling with another material. Heat or environmental factors may have created surface rinds (such as varnish) or interior stresses leading to fracturing. A brown jasper that occurs as nodules in the Libyan desert and in the Nile valley is known as Egyptian jasper or Egyptian pebble. Picture jaspers simultaneously exhibit several of these variations (such as banding, flow patterns, dendrites or color variations) resulting in what appear to be scenes or images in a cut section. Spherical flow patterns produce a distinctive orbicular appearance. Complex mixes of impurities produce color variations. Healed fractures produce brecciated jasper. Examples of this can be seen at Llanddwyn Island. Orbicular jasper or leopard jasper is usually an opaque combination of tan, gray, black or reddish-brown circles or 'spots' of color, hence its name. Jasper comes in many colors. All colors of Jasper will help balance the vibrations of the body. Jasper is slow to show a change to the person, but is such a basic "good" stone that one should always have it on hand. Jasper gives one the courage to speak out and have personal independence. It also protects from fears in the night. Jasper is one of the oldest known gemstones. It is mentioned in the Bible several times. Jasper is a strong securing gemstone. It is a stability gemstone. It is a powerful protection against things that are not good for you and it eases emotional stresses, making it a wonderful gemstone to have in your home.
Labradorite: Labradorite, a feldspar mineral, is an intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase series. Labradorite occurs in large crystal masses and shows an iridescence or play of colors. The iridescence is the result of light refracting within lamellar intergrowths. Labradorite was first found in 1770 on the Labrador Peninsula in Canada. It is also found in Norway, and Russia. Gemstone varieties of labradorite exhibiting a high degree of iridescence are called spectrolite; moonstone and sunstone are also commonly used terms, and high-quality samples with good iridescent qualities are desired for jewelry. Labradorite is a power stone, allowing you to see through illusions and determine the actual form of your dreams and goals. It is excellent for strengthening intuitions. Wear labradorite to stimulate imagination, develop enthusiasm and new ideas.
Lapis Lazuli: Lapis lazuli, often abbreviated to lapis, is a semi-precious stone prized since antiquity for its intense blue color. Lapis lazuli is a rock, not a mineral: whereas a mineral has only one constituent, lapis lazuli is formed from more than one mineral. The main component of lapis lazuli is lazurite, a feldspathoid silicate mineral composed of sodium, aluminium, silicon, oxygen, sulfur, and chloride. Most lapis lazuli also contains calcite, sodalite and pyrite. The finest lapis is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. Inferior lapis is dyed to improve its color, but this is often a very dark blue with a noticeable grey cast. Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for 6,500 years, and trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian sites, and lapis beads at neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and even as far from Afghanistan as Mauritania. Lapis lazuli is an ancient gem, and as such, has a storied history. Egyptian cultures made a practice of burying a lapis lazuli scarab with their dead, and believed it to offer protection. The very earliest cultures valued lapis lazuli more highly than gold. Greeks spoke of an ancient sapphire which was included with gold, and this was unmistakenly lapis. Some believed that dreaming of lapis would foretell love that would be forever faithful. In ancient Egypt lapis lazuli was a favorite stone for amulets and ornaments such as scarabs; it was also used by the Assyrians and Babylonians for seals. Lapis jewelry has been found at excavations of the Predynastic Egyptian site Naqada (3300–3100 B.C.), and powdered lapis was used as eyeshadow by Cleopatra. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was known as sapphire, which is the name that is used today for the blue corundum variety sapphire. It appears to have been the sapphire of ancient writers because Pliny refers to sapphirus as a stone sprinkled with specks of gold. The Romans believed that lapis was a powerful aphrodisiac. In the Middle Ages, it was thought to keep the limbs healthy, and free the soul from error, envy and fear. Many of the blues in painting from medieval Illuminated manuscripts to Renaissance panels were derived from lapis lazuli. Ground to a powder and processed to remove impurities and isolate the component lazurite, it forms the pigment ultramarine. This clear, bright blue, which was one of the few available to painters before the 19th century, cost a princely sum. When working or meditating with Lapis Lazuli, it can bring matters more clearly to the mind. Lapis Lazuli can be found in Chile, the Soviet Union, the United States, but most significantly from the mountains of Afghanistan.
Malachite: Malachite is a carbonate mineral normally known as copper carbonate. Malachite often results from weathering of copper ores and is often found together with azurite, goethite, and calcite. Most malachite comes from Zaire, Chile and Australia. Malachite is always green, usually in banded tones varying from very dark green to a mellow green. Malachite was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until about 1800. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used malachite for jewelry and ground it to use as eye shadow. It was used in amulets to protect against the evil eye. Malachite is believed to be a strong protector of children, during the Middle Ages it was used to protect children from witches and other dangers. It is said to protect the wearer from accidents and protects travelers. Malachite has been used to aid success in business and protect against undesirable business associations. It is a stone of balance in relationships. Malachite has been called the "mirror of the soul". It reaches the inner feelings of a person and reflects what is there, negative or positive. Malachite will always reflect how you feel, if you feel negative don't wear Malachite. It reminds us that we have a dual nature and it is up to each person to know and rule his own person.
Pearls: Pearls are the oldest known gem, and for many centuries was considered the most valuable. A pearl consists of organic matter derived from living creatures, oysters and mollusks. Like the shells of mollusks, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. A "natural pearl" is one that formed without any human intervention and is very rare. A "cultured pearl" is one that has been created on a pearl farm. Most of the pearls sold today are cultured pearls. The perfect pearl is round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur. Pearls have eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. And recently cultured pearls are being produced in many nontraditional shapes such as square, triangle and round discs. Natural pearls are often white or cream, but the color can vary significantly according to the natural color of the nacre in the various species of mollusks. Natural pearls can also be black, or pastel shades. In addition, pearls can be dyed any color. Natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, hence the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, very fine, very admirable and very valuable. In some early cultures it was said that the pearl was born when a single drop of rain fell from the heavens and became the heart of the oyster. Pearls have also been called 'teardrops of the moon'. Some even believed that pearls were formed by the passage of angels through the clouds of heaven. Pearls has become the symbol of purity and innocence and are worn by brides. Pearls stimulate spiritual transformation, promote prosperity and success, and will enclose you in an aura of calm and beauty.
Peridot: Peridot is the gem quality variety of forsteritic olivine. Olivine in general is a very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rare. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of peridot gems can vary from yellow-green to olive green to brownish green. Peridot is mentioned in many ancient references as chrysolite. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred.
Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, it is made up of a lattice of silica tetrahedra. Throughout history, quartz has been the common chameleon of gemstones, standing in for more expensive gemstones ranging from diamond to jade. But the incredible variety of quartz is now beginning to be appreciated in its own right. Purple to violet amethyst and yellow to orange citrine are jewellery staples that continue to increase in popularity. Ametrine combines the appeal of both amethyst and citrine, purple and yellow in one gemstone. Different colours and types of chalcedony, from agate to chrysoprase, have grown in popularity with the growing appreciation for carved gemstones and artistic cutting and carving. And unusual specialities like drusy quartz, with its surface covered by tiny sparking crystals, and rutilated quartz, which has a landscape of shining gold needles inside it, are adding variety and nature's artistry to unusual one-of-a-kind jewelry. Pure quartz is colorless or white; colored varieties include rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others. Quartz goes by an array of different names. The most important distinction between types of quartz is that of macrocrystalline (individual crystals visible to the unaided eye) and the microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline varieties (aggregates of crystals visible only under high magnification). Chalcedony is a generic term for cryptocrystalline quartz. The cryptocrystalline varieties are either translucent or mostly opaque, while the transparent varieties tend to be macrocrystalline. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice, permanently frozen after great lengths of time
Serpentine: The serpentine group describes a group of common rock-forming hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals; they may contain minor amounts of other elements including chromium, manganese, cobalt and nickel. In mineralogy and gemology, serpentine may refer to the 20 varieties belonging to the serpentine group. These varieties are not always easy to individualize, and distinctions are not usually made. Serpentine is found in New Zealand, China, Afghanistan, South Africa, USA, and England. The more attractive varieties are termed "noble" or "precious" serpentine and are used as gems and in ornamental carvings. Often dyed, serpentine can imitate jade. Misleading synonyms for this material include "Korean jade", "Suzhou jade", "Styrian jade", and "new jade". Most serpentines are opaque to translucent, light. Luster may be vitreous, greasy or silky. Colours range from white to grey, yellow to green, and brown to black, and are often splotchy or veined. Serpentine gets its name from the word 'serpent' because it resembles the skin of a snake. It is sometimes called New Jade and occurs in a variety of colors including red, green, brown-red, brown-yellow and white. It has been used since ancient times to guard against disease and sorcery. Serpentine makes an exceptional meditation stone. It helps you to find inner peace. Nursing women used it to regulate their milk supply. Some of the uses of serpentine include protection against poisonous creatures such as snakes, insects, etc., balances mood swings and encourages the ability to solve conflicts by peaceful means. Healing properties of Serpentine. It is an aid to kidney and stomach complaints, relaxes cramps and menstrual pain and helps women who are unable to reach orgasm due to tension.
Tiger’s Eye: Tiger’s eye is a chatoyant quartz gemstone that is usually golden yellow to red-brown, with a silky luster. Chatoyance is an optical reflectance effect arising from the fibrous structure of the stone. The effect is a luminous streak of reflected light that runs perpendicular to the direction of the fibres. For a gemstone to show this effect best it must be cut cabochon style, with the fibers or fibrous structures parallel to the base of the finished stone. Faceted stones are less likely to show the effect well. Most Tiger's Eye is mined in South Africa. When used in jewelry the tiger’s eye brings good luck and protection from the evil eye to the wearer. Tiger's eye is also known to bring clear thinking and insight.
Topaz: Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine. Pure topaz is transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine or straw-yellow. They may be made white, gray, green, blue, pink or reddish-yellow and transparent or translucent. When heated, yellow topaz often becomes reddish-pink. Only stones of a brown-yellow color yield the pink; the pale yellow ones usually turn white. The pink color is stable. Topaz can also be irradiated, turning the stone blue, ranging from a light pure color to very dark almost electric blue.
Tourmaline: Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline gem stones come in a wide variety of colors. The name comes from the Sinhalese word "turamali" or "toramalli", which applied to different gemstones found in Sri Lanka. Tourmaline has a variety of colors. Usually, iron-rich tourmalines are black to bluish-black to deep brown, while magnesium-rich varieties are brown to yellow, and lithium-rich tourmalines are almost any color: blue, green, red, yellow, pink etc. Rarely, is tourmaline colorless. Bi-colored and multicolored crystals are common, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallisation. Crystals may be green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink inside: this type is called watermelon tourmaline. Some forms of tourmaline are dichroic, in that they change color when viewed from different directions. Some tourmaline gems, especially pink to red colored stones, are altered by irradiation to improve their color. Irradiation is almost impossible to detect in tourmalines, and does not impact the value.
Turquoise: Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. The word turquoise was derived around 16th century from the French language either from the word for Turkish (Turquois). This may have arisen from a misconception: turquoise does not occur in Turkey but was traded at Turkish bazaars to Venetian merchants who brought it to Europe. The color was derived from the colour of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast and the association quite possibly has caused the name to take root. In recent times turquoise, like most other opaque gems, has been devalued by the introduction of treatments, imitations, and synthetics onto the market, some difficult to detect even by experts. The Southwest United States, China and Africais are significant sources of turquoise.Turquoise is treated to enhance both its colour and durability (i.e., increased hardness and decreased porosity). Waxing and Oiling. Historically, light waxing and oiling were the first treatments used in ancient times, providing a wetting effect, thereby enhancing the colour and lustre. This treatment is more or less acceptable by tradition, especially because treated turquoise is usually of a higher grade to begin with. Oiled and waxed stones are prone to "sweating" under even gentle heat or if exposed to too much sun, and they may develop a white surface film or bloom over time. Stabilization. Material treated with plastic or water glass is termed "bonded" or "stabilized" turquoise. This process consists of pressure impregnation of otherwise unsaleable chalky American material by epoxy and plastics (such as polystyrene) and water glass to produce a wetting effect and improve durability. Plastic and water glass treatments are far more permanent and stable than waxing and oiling, and can be applied to material too chemically or physically unstable for oil or wax to provide sufficient improvement. Dyeing. The use of Prussian blue and other dyes, often in conjunction with bonding treatments, to"enhance – that is, make uniform or completely change – colour is regarded as fraudulent by some purists,[14] especially since some dyes may fade or rub off on the wearer. Dyes have also been used to darken veins in the turquoise. Reconstitution. Perhaps the most radical of treatments is "reconstitution", wherein fragments of fine turquoise material, too small to be used individually, are powdered and then bonded to form a solid mass. Much, if not all, of this "reconstituted" material is likely artificial with no natural components, or may have foreign filler material added to it. Being a phosphate mineral, turquoise is inherently fragile and sensitive to solvents. Perfume and other cosmetics will attack the finish and may alter the colour of turquoise gems, as will skin oils, and jewelry cleaning products. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will also discolour and dehydrate turquoise. Cosmetics, including sunscreen and hair spray, should be applied before putting on turquoise jewelry. After wearing, turquoise should be gently cleaned with a soft cloth to avoid a build up of residue, and should be stored in its own container to avoid scratching by harder gems. Turquoise is one of the oldest protection amulets, and was also known as a symbol of wealth in many ancient cultures. It provided strength, protection from harm, psychic sensitivity and connection to the spirit world The turquoise is the symbol of friendship. It also brings peace to the home. This stone is a very personal and meaningful to one who wears it as turquoise takes on the characteristics of the owner.
Unakite: First discovered in the United States in the Unakas mountains of North Carolina, unakite is an altered granite composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and generally clear quartz. It exists in various shades of green and pink and is usually mottled in appearance. In good quality unakite is considered a semiprecious stone, will take a good polish and is often used in jewelry and other lapidary work such as eggs, spheres and other carvings like animals. It is also referred to as epidotized granite. Unakite, also called epidote, derives its name from the Greek epidosis, meaning "growing together". It is a combination of red jasper and green epidote solidly bound together. From this we get the meaning that what comes together belongs together. Unakite is said to lift your spirits when you are feeling down - this is the gemstone to help you to see the beauty in life. It is also used to uncover deception. |
Sources: wikipedia.com, crystal-cure.com, amerindea.com, gemstone.org