THE GEMSTONES their stories, origins, and mystical powers
Gemstones - some mineral and some organic, some precious and some semi-precious - all are treasured for their beauty, rarity and durability. Most of what we think of as gemstones are of mineral origin, but a few are of organic origin, such as pearls and amber. Following are the most widely known and treasured gemstones ... and their stories.
The year or period indicated at the beginning of each entry refers to the earliest written or printed use of the word relative to its description of a gemstone. The word, of course, may have been spoken and/or written in relation to gemstones or other meanings many years earlier.
The mystical powers and healing properties referred to are taken from many and varied sources ... both ancient and modern. To facilitate the healing properties, various suggestions are made: the stone may be held, worn, carried or simply placed in one's environment.
Amethyst
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Azurite
Beryl
Bloodstone
Carnelian
Cat's-Eye
Chalcedony
Chrysolite
Chrysoprase
Citrine
Coral
Corundum
Crystal
Diamond
Emerald
Carnet
Haematite
Heliotrope
Jade
Jasper
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Magnetite
Malachite
Moonstone
Obsidian
Onyx Opal
Pearl
Peridot
Pyrite (or Marcasite)
Rhodochrosite
Rhodonite
Rock Crystal
Rose Quartz
Ruby
Rutile
Sapphire
Sardonyx
Smoky Quartz
Snowflake Obsidian
Sugilite
Sunstone
Tiger's-Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Verdite
Amethyst | Aquamarine | Aventurine | Azurite |
Beryl | Bloodstone | Carnelian | Cat's-Eye |
Chalcedony | Chrysolite | Chrysoprase | Citrine |
Coral | Corundum | Crystal | Diamond |
Emerald | Carnet | Haematite | Heliotrope |
Jade | Jasper | Labradorite | Lapis Lazuli |
Magnetite | Malachite | Moonstone | Obsidian |
Onyx | Opal | Pearl | Peridot |
Pyrite (or Marcasite) | Rhodochrosite | Rhodonite | Rock Crystal |
Rose Quartz | Ruby | Rutile | Sapphire |
Sardonyx | Smoky Quartz | Snowflake Obsidian | Sugilite |
Sunstone | Tiger's-Eye | Topaz | Tourmaline |
Turquoise | Verdite |