The definition of gemstone is broad: the term can be used to describe any material highly prized for its beauty and rarity. 


AMBER

MEXICAN AMBER and BALTIC AMBER

AMETHYST
 A violet or purple variety of quartz, it is the most valuable of the quartz gem stones. The best quality is dark purple with a red-flash. At one time it was one of the most expensive stones on earth, but with the huge finds in the new world (especially Brazil) the price plummeted. It's the birthstone associated with February and with the astrological signs of Pisces and Aries.

CHRYSACOLLA
The term Chrysacolla originates in ancient times, and it was applied by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus in 315 BC to various materials used in soldering gold. The name is derived from the Greek chysos, meaning "gold", and kola meaning, meaning “glue”.

Chrysacolla is commonly very fine grained and massive. Crystals are very rarely seen, but is found worldwide. Localities include Cornwall, England, Israel, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Australia, the Congo and New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in the United States.  It is frequently intergrown with other minerals such as quartz, chalcedony, or opal to yield a harder, more resilient gemstone variety. Chrysacolla intergrown with malachite and turquoise in Israel is called Eilat.

CORAL
The skeletal material generated by sea-dwelling coral polyps. Red and pink precious corals are found in warm seas around the world. Coral has a dull luster when recovered, but can take a bright polish.




GARNET
It canbe found in different colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. Red is the most commonly used in jewelry. Garnet is associated with the astrological signs of Aquarius (Jan. 21-Feb. 19) and Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20).



GOLDSTONE
Goldstone was developed by the great early glassmakers of Murano; The original Italian name for goldstone is "avventurina" or some similar word or phrase indicating its accidental discovery, hence the mineral name "aventurine" for forms of feldspar or quartz with mica inclusions that give a similar glittering appearance. Also called "Aventurine Glass," goldstone introduced the term of "aventurescence" into the mineralogical lexicon, and varieties of quartz which contain small, reflective spangles of other minerals such as muscovite are still referred to as "aventurine" quartz today.

SILICUM OR SILICON
Silicium or silicon is a metalloid element that occurs in both gray crystalline and brown noncrystalline forms. It is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust and can be found only in silica and silicates. Silicon is used in glass, semiconductors, concrete, and ceramics. 
 



LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis lazuli is a physical mixture of calcite, pyrite, lazurite and other minerals to a lesser degree. Found as veins in limestone, and created at the contact metamorphic zone of marbles. The name comes from the Persian "lazuward, meaning "blue".



MALACHITE  
A green copper carbonate hydroxide. Probably the earliest ore of copper, having been mined in the Sinai and eastern deserts of ancient Egypt for as early as 3000 BC. The name derived frin the Greek word "malache", meaning "mallow" in reference to its green color or "malackos", meaning soft.
Malachite is easily damaged by acids like carbonates, and when subjected to heat it turns black.
 


MOONSTONE 
Moonstone is an opalescent variety of orthoclase and some other feldspars, which has a blue or white sheen known as schiller.

Moonstone derived its name from its opalescent moonlike appearance. It was said that if lovers placed it in their mouths during the full moon, their futures would be revealed. In 11^th-century Europe, moonstone was believed to bring about reconciliation of lovers .

Moonstone along with alexandrite and pearls are birthstones of a person born under the zodiac sign of Gemini (Twins) from May 21 - June 21.

PERIDOT  
Peridot is the gemstone variety of olivine, a yellowish-green mineral not only found on Earth but in some lunar rocks and in meteorites.  Pakistan is the principal source of gem-quality olivine.

Peridot beads were made by Egyptians as early as 1580-1350 BC. Peridot was considered the symbol of the Sun from ancient times to the Middle Ages, and in early Greek manuscripts, informs us that it confers royal dignity to its bearer.

 

TOPAZ
The legendary island of Topazios off the coast of Egypt on the Red Sea now called Zebirget is one source of the name “topaz”.  It is also thought to derive from tapaz, a Sanskrit word for “fire”.

Topaz is found in a wide range of colors, with the sherry-yellow stones from Brazil being particularly valuable.  Brazil is a famous locality for topaz, as well as other gems. The Brazilin State of Minas Gerais is the world’s largest producer of topaz.

Aside from Brazil, Russia and Nigeria are major producers of topaz. Gem topaz is also found in Japan; Saxony, Germany; Colorado, Texas and California; the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; Australia; Tasmania; Pakistan and Mexico.

TURQUOISE 
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. It is very porous and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for years. Sky-blue turquoise from  Persia  (present-day Iran) has been mined for centuries. Turquoise from several sources was first transported to Europe through Turkey, probably accounting for its name. Turquoise is French for "Turkish".  

Turquoise also occurs in Tibet, north Africa, Australia, Siberia, England, Belgium, France, Poland, Ethiopia, Mexico, Chile and China and in the south-western United States.

Turquoise is the birthstone for those born in December and is associated with the sign of Aquarius.

 
AMERICAN INDIANS AND TURQUOISE
American Indians have worked the numerous deposits of the south-west United States since AD 1000. In 1853, silver-working was introduced to the Navajo for the first time by Mexican smiths. The Navajo soon started reworking Spanish American designs into traditional American Indian styles. In 1872 the Zuni learned silversmithing from the Navajo.

Some American Indians regard turquoise as “male” or “female”, depending on its color. “Male” blue is associated with  the sky-Father Sky- and “female” green is associated with earth-Mother Earth.