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Distinguishing
Rocks, Minerals and Gems
Wondering what the difference is between rocks, minerals and gems?
A mineral is made of inorganic material - substances that were
never alive - and whose atoms are arranged in a regular pattern
(or crystal). Rocks are composed of one or more minerals - and
include clay, sand and limestone. Gems are a special subgroup
of minerals, usually rarer, clearer and more visually appealing
than other minerals. But there is no set rule as to which minerals
are definitively gems; it is more a matter of custom.
Precious vs.
Semi-Precious
The majority of gems can be divided into precious and semi-precious
categories. The term "precious" is reserved for the
most rare and expensive of gems - including diamonds, emeralds,
rubies, pearls and sapphires. Most remaining gems - including
varieties of quartz like amethyst, opal and bloodstone - are semi-precious.
Now that you've completed "Gemstones 101," you're ready
to learn more about birthstones for the 12 months of the year.
January -
Garnet.
The garnet derives its name from the Latin word "granatum",
meaning pomegranate because the crystals bear a resemblance to
the fruit. According to legend, Noah used purple garnets to light
his Arc. Ancient warriors believed that garnets brought victory.
The Egyptians wore them in this life - and beyond, taken into
tombs with the dead as payment to the gods for safe passage through
the nether world. In the Middle Ages, people wore garnets to protect
against demons, poisons, wounds and bad dreams - and even cured
depression. They were thought to relieve fever, hemorrhages and
inflammatory diseases. A lion carved on a garnet several inches
long was carried for protection while traveling. In the 12th Century,
the Crusaders wore them for protection against wounds and accidents.
Conversely, Asiatic warriors believed that glowing garnets, which
they used as bullets, could inflict more damaging wounds.
Although "red" is the
color most associated with the garnet, it exists in a variety
of colors - from black and colorless to many shades of green and
red. This array of colors comes from metals such as manganese,
iron, calcium and aluminum. Green garnets - which were prized
by Russian czars for their entrancing beauty - are the most valuable
because they are so rare; followed by colorless and pure red.
Today, some believe that garnets
help create a power shield against muggers and people with bad
intent. Others believe that the garnet is a healing stone, relieving
skin irritations and inflammations and regulating heart and blood
flow. Whether set in a ring, pendant, earrings or bracelet, this
much is true - January's birthstone symbolizes a light heart,
loyalty and lasting affection.
February -
Amethyst.
The birthstone for February is the very popular amethyst. This
entrancing gem, a member of the quartz family, derives its name
from the Greek word " emthystos ," meaning "not
drunk." According to Greek mythology, Bacchus (the god of
wine) became angry at Diana the huntress. Bent on revenge, he
vowed that the next one to cross his path would be eaten by tigers.
A lovely young maiden named Amethyst was en route to worshipping
at the shrine of Diana - and called upon the goddess to save her.
Diana transformed into a pure white, sparkling image of stone.
Bacchus, feeling guilty and repentant, poured grape wine over
her - giving the stone its trademark violet hue. In light of this
myth, it is understandable why people once believed it prevented
its wearers from becoming intoxicated. In ancient Rome , many
wine drinkers used amethyst cups to prevent overindulgence.
Amethysts can be traced back to
25,000 years ago in France - where they were used as decorative
stones. Early Egyptians believed amethysts possessed good powers,
and put them in the tombs of pharaohs. Cleopatra is said to have
worn an engraved amethyst ring. Arabian mythology held that amethysts
protected the wearer from gout and nightmare. In the Middle Ages
amethysts were used as medication - and believed to sharpen thinking,
dispel sleep, protect from sorcery and bring victory in battle.
It's also said to be the stone of Saint Valentine - that he wore
an amethyst engraved with the figure of Cupid, his assistant.
And the amethyst, with its purple and violet hues, was a chosen
stone of royalty, representative of power.
Today, some wearers believe that
amethysts can help with more increased spirituality, restful sleep,
pleasant dreams, safer travel and repelling negativity - and is
considered a symbol of security, sincerity and peace of mind.
March- Aquamarine
and Bloodstone.
The name "Aquamarine," the first birthstone for March,
is derived from the Latin word for "aqua" - water, and
"mare" - "sea" because the color of this alluring
gem mirrors the beautiful blue hues of the earth's abundant waters.
The first documented use of aquamarines is by the Greeks around
300 B.C., where aquamarine amulets were engraved with the god
Poseidon on a chariot. Aquamarine beads have been found in the
tombs of ancient Egyptians, another gem used to ensure safe passage
through the next world. King Solomon's breastplate is said to
have contained an aquamarine gem. Two thousand years ago, Emperor
Nero is said to have used the gem as an eyeglass - and people
believed the gem possessed medicinal and healing powers. In the
Middle Ages, it was considered an antidote to poison - and it
has been used for telling fortunes.
These bewitchingly blue-hued gems
were thought to have originated from the jeweled caskets of sirens
that washed ashore from the ocean's depths. Neptune, the Greek
god of the sea, considered them sacred. This tie with the sea
made aquamarine the sailors' gem, and it became associated with
prosperous and safe voyages and protection from danger and sea
monsters.
Aquamarines vary in color from deep
blue (the most prized) to blue-greens of varying intensities -
resulting from traces of iron. Naturally occurring deep blue stones
are the most rare and highly prized. This gem is a form of the
mineral beryl - that also includes gemstones such as the emerald,
morganite and heliodor.
The second March birthstone, bloodstone,
is used extensively in the carving of religious subjects such
as the crucifixion. Legend has it that bloodstone was formed during
the crucifixion of Christ, that a Roman soldier drove his spear
in Jesus' side - and that the drops of blood that fell on pieces
of green jasper beneath the cross created this new gem.
Also known as heliotrope, bloodstone
is a form of the mineral quartz. It was used by the Babylonians
to create amulets and seals - and was also popular with Roman
gladiators. In the Middle Ages, it was believed to hold healing
powers and thought to stop nosebleeds. Believers also used it
in powdered form mixed with honey and egg whites to cure tumors
and halt hemorrhages, as well as to treat blood poisoning and
snake bites.
April - Diamond.
April's birthstone has been treasured since antiquity - and remains
an enduring symbol of lasting love. The ancient Greeks thought
that diamonds actually were minute fragments of stars. Hindus
believed they originated from bolts of lightning. Others believed
they provided invincibility and kept illness and evil spirits
at bay.
Diamonds, the hardest of all the
gems, are crystals - and crystals are the ultimate form of symmetry
in nature. There are several types of diamonds - transparent,
translucent and opaque, ranging from colorless to sooty black.
Transparent diamonds - either colorless or tinted - are used in
jewelry. Translucent and opaque diamonds are frequently utilized
in industry.
A diamond's color is related to
the level of impurities embedded within it. For instance, yellow
diamonds have small quantities of nitrogen; diamonds with bluish
undertones contain boron.
When choosing diamonds of measurable
weight, it's wise to consider the 4 C's - carat, color, clarity
and cut.
May - Emerald
May's birthstone mirrors the green of spring - and has long been
prized for its entrancing beauty. Its name derives from the Greek
word " smaragdos ," referring to several types of green
stones. Emeralds were desired by royalty in Egypt and Babylon,
used in tools traced back to 1300 B.C. - and attributed with an
assortment of curative powers such as preventing epilepsy, stopping
bleeding, curing dysentery and fever and preventing panic. Ancient
Romans dedicated emeralds to the goddess Venus because they symbolized
nature's reproductive powers. Early Christians associated them
with the resurrection. In the Middle Ages, believers thought they
held the power to foretell the future.
Emeralds can range in color from
light to very deep green, and belong to the beryl family of minerals
that also includes aquamarine, heliodor and morganite - and most
contain inclusions like diamonds. Very rare transparent emeralds
may in fact be even more valuable than diamonds.
Today, May's birthstone is a symbol
of love and rebirth, and the emerald's vibrant green color is
the perfect reflection of spring.
June - Pearl
and Alexandrite
June's first birthstone - the pearl - epitomizes the exquisite
beauty of nature unadorned. Indian mythology spoke of pearls as
dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea. They were then caught
by shellfish under the first rays of the rising sun when the moon
was full. Warriors in India filled their swords with pearls to
symbolize the sorrow that a sword brings. As far as 2000 B.C.
in China , pearls were believed to have medicinal uses - until
the 17th century, pearls were widely used medicinally throughout
Europe . In the Middle East , it was believed that pearls could
cure many diseases - including mental illnesses. And in fact,
low-grade pearls are still ground up and used as medicine in parts
of the Orient to this day.
Pearls are created within certain
species of oysters and clams. Some are found naturally in mollusks
in both salt and fresh water, but many are cultured - raised in
oyster farms. They are made mostly of aragonite, a carbonate material
that also comprises the shells of mollusks.
A pearl is created when a minute
fragment of rock, sand or a parasite enters the oyster or clam.
It irritates the mollusk, which then responds by coating the foreign
material with layers of shell material. Pearls that are formed
on the inside of the shell usually are irregular in shape; those
that are formed within the tissue of the mollusk are either spherical
or pear-shaped.
A pearl's color depends on the species of mollusk
that produced it, and where. When we think of pearls, white usually
comes to mind - but pearls also are available in shades of black,
cream, gray, blue, yellow, lavender, green and mauve. Black pearls
are found in the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the South Pacific;
Sri Lanka and the Persian Gulf are famous for cream-colored pearls
- and Japan is renowned for its cultured pearls.
June's alternate birthstone, alexandrite, derives
its name from Prince Alexander of Russia - who later became Czar
Alexander II in 1855. This intriguing gem was discovered in an
emerald mine in Russia on the prince's birthday in 1839 - and
became popular there since it mirrored the Russian national colors
of green and red.
This gem is mercurial in its appearance - in the
light of day, it possesses a greenish hue, sometimes with blue
or brown undertones. Under artificial lighting, however, it appears
violet or reddish-violet.
Since Alexandrite is rare, it is very expensive.
Today, it is mostly found in Sri Lanka; some stones have also
been found in Brazil, Malagasy, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Burma .
Synthetic Alexandrite is reddish hued with a tinge of green; attempts
thus far to mirror the intriguing "color change" of
natural Alexandrite have not been successful.
July- Ruby
and Peridot
July's birthstone has been treasured through the ages for its
rare beauty, and continues in the 21st century. Since large rubies
are more difficult to find than large diamonds, sapphires and
emeralds, a ruby's value increases with size more dramatically
than any other gemstone. And like diamonds, rubies are evaluated
on their color, clarity, cut and weight.
The name is derived from the Latin
" ruber ," meaning red. Once believed to contain the
spark of life, in ages past rubies were thought to be self-luminous.
In the Orient, they were called the "glowing stone"
or "lamp stone." Hindu priests believed that huge emeralds
and rubies lit up the homes of the gods. And Greek mythology spoke
of a female stork who repaid the kindness of Heraclea by bringing
her a radiant ruby that was so incredibly bright that it lit her
room up at night.
In the Middle Ages, rubies were
believed to bring the wearer good health, cure bleeding, and guard
against evil thoughts, lust and discord. They were also thought
to have the power to warn of imminent troubles, illnesses and
death; when the stone darkened, so did a person's sunny outlook
about the immediate future.
Rubies (along with sapphires) are
a form of the mineral corundum. Red corundum is referred to as
ruby, all other corundum gemstones - from orange and yellow to
green and violet, are called sapphires.Peridot is the alternate
birthstone for July - as well as the primary birthstone for August.
August - Peridot
, Jade and Sardonyx
The month of August has three birthstones associated with it.
Peridot , which was called the "evening emerald" by
the Romans, ranges in color from light olive to deep green. One
of the oldest gemstones known to mankind, in ages past it was
considered a symbol of the sun. The Greeks thought it imbued royal
bearing upon a person wearing it; in the Middle Ages it was used
to ward off evil spirits. Turkish sultans collected an astounding
collection of peridots - and in the Topkapi museum in Istanbul
, a throne is on display with 955 peridot cabochons. Since crystals
of peridot can be found in volcanic rocks, Hawaiian legends call
peridot the tears of the goddess Pele . Other attributes associated
with it included marital bliss, eloquence and serenity.
Jade, the second of August's birthstones,
is also known as nephrite. For thousands of years, it has been
especially treasured in China - where it's been used in tools
and ornaments.The Chinese considered it the Stone of Heaven -
and used it to protect against devils and to lead to immortality,
wealth and protection from misfortune. Today, it remains a symbol
of peace, kindness, elegance and eternity.
Sardonyx derives its name from the
Greek - " sard " meaning "reddish brown";
"onyx" meaning "veined gem." Most often containing
white and brownish-red bands - sardonyx can also be found in many
shades of white or gray, with the layers ranging from translucent
to opaque. It is found in India , Germany , Czechoslovakia , Brazil
, Uruguay - and in the U.S, in Oregon and in the Lake Superior
region.
Roman soldiers wore talismans of
sardonyx which were engraved with heroes like Mars and Hercules,
believing that the stone would imbue the qualities of bravery
and daring on them. Later on in history, it was believed to make
its wearer most eloquent - and thus became de riguer among orators
during the Renaissance period.
Throughout history, sardonyx has
been quite popular - and since it is relatively common, it has
been more affordable for the average person. Quite often, cameos
and intaglios (the reverse of a cameo) are carved from sardonyx.
September
- Sapphire. Sapphires
September's birthstone, derives its name from several ancient
languages. " Sappheiros " is Greek for the island of
Sappherine , where sapphires were found in ancient Greece . In
Latin, " sapphirus " means blue. The sapphire was the
gem of Apollo, the Greek god of prophesy - so worshipers seeking
his help wore them when paying homage at his shrine. And according
to lore, the ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on
an enormous sapphire - and that its reflection gave the sky its
color and called them the "celestial stone." In the
Middle Ages, sapphires were considered channels to the Oracles
and one of the few stones allowed in holy jewelry.
The stone was once representative
of a pure soul and regarded as a symbol of truth and sincerity.
Up until the Middle Ages, priests wore sapphires to protect against
impure thoughts and carnal temptations. It was also believed to
protect wearers from harm, envy, infidelity and snakes - and ensure
safe travel.
This relative of the ruby is also
a form of the mineral corundum. Ranging in color from palest blue
to deepest indigo, sapphires which are medium to deep cornflower
blue are the most prized. You can find "fancy sapphires"
in many other colors and tints - including colorless, gray, yellow,
pale pink, green, orange, violet and brown.
October -
Opal and Tourmaline
October has two birthstones - opal and tourmaline. The mercurial
opal derives its name from the Latin " opalus ," which
means "precious stone." The ancient Romans considered
opals a symbol of love and hope. In the Orient, they were called
"the anchor of hope." In Arabia, people believed that
opals fell from the skies in flashes of lightning - and since
they were believed to have the power to make the wearer invisible,
opals became the gem of choice for spies and thieves.
In Medieval times, people believed
that when an opal changed color, it indicated whether the wearer
was in good or poor health. They also believed opals could keep
the heart healthy, protect against infection and prevent fainting.
However, perceptions changed midway through the 14th century,
when the Black Death decimated Europe . People believed that opals
were the cause of this horrific plague - and noted that the stone
would change appearance and lose its luster when someone died.
This change was due in fact to the opal's sensitivity to changes
in temperature.
Opals are exceptionally mercurial
in color; like capturing the colors of a rainbow in one stone.
Of all the colors of opal, black is the most valuable, followed
by crystal, white and milky opals.
Tourmaline derives its name from
the Sri Lankan word " tourmalli ," which translates
into "something little out of the earth." It can be
found in a variety of colors - and in the past has been mistaken
for sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
You can find tourmaline in a veritable
array of colors - from yellow, green and red to blue, pink, brown,
black and bi-colored. It's known as the "peace stone"
- and some believe it has the ability to alleviate fear and produce
a calming effect.
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The first mention of associating a special gem with a month of the year occurred in the Bible. In Exodus 28 and 39, an original breastplate of the High Priest of the Hebrews was made by Moses in 1250 B.C., following instructions he received during his 4 days in the mountains. The 12 gems in the breastplate later were associated with the signs of the zodiac, then with the months in the year. Use this guide to unearth the history associated with your birthstone.
