Monkley Designs Jewelry

Semi-precious Stones (A - L)

Facts, history and attributes

Traditionally, those stones used with silver are referred to as semi-precious; however, the same stones have
been used with gold and referred to as gems. Garnet and amethyst are two such examples. As used here, the term to describe those stones not traditionally considered gems by the general public. Examples of gemstones are ruby, emerald, diamond or sapphire; however, it would appear there is no clear delineation
separating stones in the market today.

Semi-precious stones are valued for a number of reasons, ranging from their attractiveness to the healing or mystical powers attributed to them. Whatever the reason for their appeal, their strength and wide variety of colors make them a warm addition to any piece of jewelry.

Please note, semi-precious stones are formed by natural processes. Due to this, each stone has a unique appearance and some flaws are inherent. Below is a list and descriptions of some of the stones used in Dragonfly jewelry. It is by no means a complete list, however, and I am also happy to meet special requests for jewelry, when possible.

In addition to the factual aspects of the stones, the historical and metaphysical attributes for each are also given below; however, I make no assertion as to the validity of these beliefs. The meanings for certain stones lie wholly in the practice and belief of the holder and are recounted here for those who are interested in the historical uses of stones as talisman or jewelry. I would also like to acknowledge Melody's work "Love is in the Earth - A Kaleidoscope of Crystals (Updated)", published by Earth-Love Publishing House in Denver, Colorado, as one of the sources used for metaphysical references on this page. The rest are an amalgam of historical, traditional, and superstitious examples gleaned from across the web, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works.

African turquoise - Actually a form of jasper, African "turquoise" is completely unrelated to the stone it is often misrepresented as. A recent Google search turned up 9,630 sites selling African turquoise jasper jewelry, and of those, easily 90% or more misrepresented the stone as real turquoise. Conversely, a search for "African turquoise jasper" turned up a mere 2 pages, and of those, at least 2 sites were given for the proximity of the words "African turquoise" to the word jasper, not because the stone was fairly identified. This beautiful jasper is an acceptable substitute for actual turquoise if all you are concerned with is appearance, but the difference should certainly be reflected in the price; African "turquoise" is a much more plentiful stone and far less expensive than the real thing. A member of the quartz group, jasper ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it a somewhat sturdier rock than turquoise. Jasper can contain up to 20% foreign materials, and it is those that give it its mottled appearance and colors.

amazonite - Named for the Amazon river, this softly-colored opaque stone gets a 6 on the Mohs scale and is a member of the feldspar family. It's found mostly in varying pastel shades of blue-green, sometimes with white streaks, in Virginia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Australia, and Russia. Legend has it the Amazon women gave the stone to those who visited their tribe, and the stone is believed to be a balancing stone which holds the power to soothe nerves, dispel negative energy, promote clarity, and enhance communication, particularly that having to do with love.

amethyst - Amethyst is a variety of quartz and occurs naturally throughout the world. Its color ranges from almost clear, very light lavender to very dark purple. This translucent stone carries a hardness of 7 and has been widely favored in jewelry throughout history. The subject of Greek myth, amethyst has been treasured by Egyptian royalty, Catherine the Great, Buddhist monks, and the Roman Catholic church and is featured prominently in the British Crown Jewels. Long a symbol of pure love and piety, it was once the only stone appropriate for wear in mourning. It is mined primarily in South America and the African continent, as well as Australia, Siberia and Colorado, and is considered a spiritual stone, used to balance one's energies and to create stability, strength, and peace within the wearer.

ametrine - A 7.0 on the Mohs scale, ametrine is a combination of the translucent stones amethyst and citrine, ametrine ranges in color from yellow to purple or a combination of both. It was found almost solely in the Anahí mine, in eastern Bolivia, but that mine is reported to have "run dry," making ametrine a fairly expensive stone and hard to find. Believed to be a perfect stone, the metaphysical properties assigned to ametrine are those of amethyst and citrine, as well as its own qualities in dispersing negativity, enhancing intellect, and achieving higher consciousness and tranquility.

aquamarine - Named for the sea and long a popular and much sought-after stone, aquamarine is a translucent gem with a Mohs rating of 7.5 - 8. Its gorgeous blue colors are the result of trace amounts of iron and will fade if the stone is left in the sun. A form of beryl, the classically beautiful stone is mined in Brazil, India, Zambi, Mozambique, Angola, and Russia, and in the United States in Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont. Legend holds that aquamarine is treasured by mermaids and has the power to keep sailors safe at sea. It is the birthstone for March and is also believed by some to promote compassion and moderation, as well as to provide courage to the wearer. It should be noted that two substances often misrepresented as aquamarine are "Siam aquamarine," actually heat-treated blue zircon, and a blue glass called mass aqua. "Brazilian aquamarine" is actually blue topaz, and is discussed below.

aventurine - An un-enhanced stone found in a wide variety of colors, aventurine is generally composed of quartz and mica, the latter giving a sheen to the stone which is known as aventurescence. Rated a 7.0 on the Mohs scale, in its most common, green, form, aventurine is often mistaken for jade; however, it is also found in green-brown, blue-green, blue-white, and orange, and in both translucent and the more common opaque forms. The color of sheen present in a piece of aventurine is decided by the mineral responsible. Mica gives the stone a gold or silvery shimmer, but other minerals give the appearance of green, red, or grayish glitter. Some feldspar also glistens with aventurescence and is called aventurine. Sunstone is one example and is rightfully labeled aventurine feldspar to distinguish it from true quartz aventurine. Practitioners of Wicca and crystal healing use aventurine to aid in achieving inner peace, to ground one's spirit, and to balance male/female energies. Green aventurine in particular is often used to shield and protect the heart chakra. Aventurine gets its name from the Italian a ventura, meaning "by chance," which is how it was discovered in the 18th century.

Brazilian aquamarine - This translucent stone, very similar to aquamarine in color, is actually blue topaz, the birthstone for November, and the state gemstone of Texas. It carries a Mohs rating of 8, and despite its name, occurs in a variety of colors in addition to blue, including orange, green, pink, and red. Blue topaz is often irradiated to produce the shades of blue for which it draws its name, Sky Blue being the lightest and London Blue the darkest, with Swiss Blue falling between the two. One of the most widely used and popular gemstones, blue topaz occurs naturally across the globe and is found in Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Burma, Russia, Japan, Australia, Tasmania, Pakistan, Mexico, and the United States. It is believed to stimulate the throat chakra to enhance communication.

carnelian - Drawing its name from the Latin word carneolus - meaning "red stone" - carnelian derives it's rich pink, orange, and orange-red colors from iron, quite possibly the busiest bee in the mineral world. A form of chalcedony, carnelian is a translucent to opaque stone rated a 6.5 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale. It ranges in color from light orange to deep orange-red, but now and again can be found in mauve, with milky white veins. While the best carnelian comes from Indi,a and the stone is also produced in Australia, most of the carnelian on the market today is mined in South America. Because it separates easily from wax, carnelian was used for intaglio seals in ancient times and by both the Egyptians and in the Middle East as a stone of protection. In the present day, carnelian is still used at a stone of protection against negative energies from another person, as well as to cleanse negativity from other stones, provide inspiration, and especially in the pink form of the stone, as an offering of love. Carnelian is also believed to assist in the pursuit of theatrical presentation, making it an excellent gift or talisman for actors and actresses.

celestite - Also called "celestine," celestite is a beautiful sky blue mineral with a slightly metallic shimmer. It draws its name from the word "celestial" and is sometimes referred to as "the dream stone," believed to facilitate dream recall, astral travel, and connection to the spiritual realm. Celestite is primarily found in the United States and Madagascar, in blue, yellow, clear, and with brown, red and green tints. It is a soft mineral, rated 3 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale, so extra care should be taken with your celestite jewelry.

cubic zirconium - Also called CZ, cubic zirconia is not, strictly speaking, a semi-precious stone, though it is rather loosely related to the semi-precious gemstone zircon, a naturally-occurring mixture of zirconia and silica also known as zirconium silicate. Cubic zirconia are simulated stones made up of zirconium powder(usually obtained from zircon) which has been heated to an extremely high temperature and stabilized with other minerals, most often yttrium oxide. The addition of other metal oxide "impurities" results in colored CZ. Cerium gives the resulting "stone" a yellow, orange, or red color; chromium results in green, neodymiumyields purple, erbium lends the color pink, and titanium imparts a golden-brown color. Cubic zirconia are very hard, carrying a Mohs rating of 8.5, so care should be taken with jewelry bearing CZ to prevent scratching other metals and stones.

jasper - Regarded in India as the mother of all stones, jasper was also chosen as the foundation stone of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. An opaque stone ranging from 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs scale, jasper belongs to the quartz group and comes in a wide range of colors, from yellow to brick red, green to black, and multi-colored specimens. The various types of jasper get their color from other minerals in the quartz, and jasper can contain up to 20% foreign matter. Jasper's range is quite wide and it takes its names from color - red or green jasper; place of origin - Kabamba or Owyhee jasper; the thing it's thought to resemble - poppy or dalmatian jasper; or is completely lacking the word jasper in its titles - bloodstone (aka heliotrope), african "turquoise", or moukaite, to name just a few. The American Indians considered jasper a sacred stone, and shaman often wore it to provide protection. Even today, many people consider it a stone of protection and believe it helps to achieve balance and find inner peace.

chalcedony - Chalcedony, also spelled Calcedony, is a very fine-grained (cryptocrystalline) variety of the silica mineral quartz. It has a waxy luster and appears in a great variety of colors -- usually blue-white, buff, light tan, gray, yellow or brown.A form of chert, it forms rounded crusts, rinds or stalactites (mineral deposits suspended from the roofs of caverns) in volcanic and sedimentary. It has a compact fibrous structure and fine splintery fracture. Other physical properties are those of quartz variously colored quartz withIn the petrified forests of the Desert Southwest, many of the original tree tissues have been replaced by chalcedony in the formation of petrified wood. What remains is a mineral replica of the original tree in various fantastic colors. The brilliant reds and greens are caused primarily by traces of iron oxides. Some of the best displays of petrified wood can be seen in eastern Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park.In all ages many varieties of chalcedony have been used as gems, and many colored varieties are still cut and polished as ornamental stones. Unless it is intricately carved or featured, Chalcedony is valued much less than it once was. Commercial production is primarily in Uruguay, Brazil and southwestern Africa. It is said that chalcedony was used as a sacred stone by the Native Americas, promoting stability within the ceremonial activities of the tribe. Chalcedony is said to augment emotional balance, vitality, stamina, endurance, kindness, charity and friendliness. It supposedly alleviates hostilities, irritability and melancholy. Chalcedony occurs in many varieties and colors. If chalcedony is conspicuously color-banded, it may be called agate. Agate is a common semiprecious variety of chalcedony is conspicuously color-banded with other minerals in successive layers. It occurs in bands of varying color and transparency in cavities of eruptive rocks or ancient lava. Agates come in many varieties themselves, including the following:

• Bloodstone: Also called Heliotrope, this dark-green variety of chalcedony has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout. Bloodstone was greatly prized in the Middle Ages and was used in sculptures representing flagellation and martyrdom.
• Carnelian: Translucent red chalcedony is
• called Carnelian, which owes its red to color to hematite (iron oxide). It is a close relative of Sard, which is brown in color. The Greeks and Romans used carnelian in rings and signets.
• Chrysoprase: This brittle, translucent form of chalcedony owes its bright, apple-green color to the inclusion of nickel silicates, but heating or prolonged exposure to sunlight causes the color to fade.
• Plasma: This semi-translucent, microgranular variety of chalcedony occurs in various shades of green, caused by amphibole or chlorite inclusions. Plasma often has nodules of gray quartz or Bloodstone throughout its mass. It has long been used for carvings and mosaics.

chrysoprase - The subject of Roumanian legend, chrysoprase is the rarest and most valuable form of chalcedony,often mistaken for Imperial Jade. It derives its color from nickel oxide and ranges from bright, translucent green to the key lime pie color and opacity of less-expensive lemon chrysoprase. Also called "Jadine" or"Australian Jade," most chrysoprase today is mined in Australia, though the stone is also found in Brazil, the Ural Mountains of Siberia, and near Visalia, California. It is rated a 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs scale. In the book of Revelations, chrysoprase is described as the stone used in the 10th wall of the city of Jerusalem, andit enjoyed popularity with the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used the stone to carve signet rings and seals. It graces the 14th century Wenzel Chapel, in Prague, and in 1745, Frederick the Great of Prussia was so enamored with the stone that he overmined it, leading to the eventual exhaustion of the stores located in Silesia and the increased rarity and price of the stone today. Frederick so loved chrysoprase's bright green that he had not one but two tables made of the stone and used it extensively in mosaics. Perhaps in part due to this royal favor, chrysoprase managed to maintain its popularity and again saw a resurgence of favor during the Victorian Era, when it was believed to offer spiritual protection and increase fertility. Today chrysoprase is often used to balance yin-yang energy, aid in the pursuit of perfection, prevent depression, and encourage fidelity.

eudialyte - Discovered in Greenland in 1819, eudialyte is sometimes referred to in Russia as "Dragon's Blood," due in large part to for it's rich red colors. Because it dissolves easily in most acids, the mineral takes its name from the Greek for "easily disposable," and is found largely in Greenland, though deposits also occur in Russia, Canada, and the US. A good source of zirconium, eudialyte is a relative new comer to the jewelry scene, rated a 5 - 5.5 on the Mohs scale Fairly rare, it is found most commonly in shades of red and pink, but may also be blue, yellow, purple, green and brown, the richly colored crystals often embedded in a white or black matrix of syenite. It is considered a stone of forgiveness and brings love to the wearer.

citrine - A relative newcomer to the popular jewelry scene, this sunny golden form of quartz gets its name from citron, French for lemon, and usually began life as amethyst or smoky quartz. Though found most often with deposits of amethyst, citrine is fairly rare, usually found in very small amounts in large deposits of quartz. Translucent, it occurs naturally in pale shades from yellow to orange, but with heat, its color darkens to dark browns with tints of yellow, orange and red. Interestingly, while citrine which has been created from heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz has a reddish tinge, samples of the stone taken from the ground in its natural state do not. It is rated a 7.0 on the Mohs scale and found mostly in Brazil, with additional deposits located in Argentina, Madagascar, Burma, Namibia, Russia, Scotland, France, Spain and the United States. Throughout history, it has been carried to protect the bearer against evil thoughts, snakebite,and the plague, and as a “merchant stone,” useful for acquiring and maintaining wealth - a cluster or crystal of citrine placed in a cash box is said to help produce more income. Practitioners of the metaphysical arts believe citrine helps to dispel negative energy, clear the aura, stabilize one’s emotions, and encourage positive feelings and energy. Similar to topaz in color, citrine is much more affordable. It is one of the traditional and modern birthstones for November, a gift for the 13th and 17th anniversaries, and was one of Greta Garbo's favorite gems.

faustite - sometimes called apple-green turquoise, faustite gets its bright yellow-green color from zinc. It is a member of the turquoise family, with a matrix ranging from black to brown to grayish-white, and rates a 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Like turquoise, faustite may be treated, though as far as we can determine, it is not generally sold in chalk or reconstituted forms, as turquoise often is, and the items on this site utilizing faustite are of stone, not chalk, and though they may have been dyed to color their gray matrix, as far as we can determine, they have not been treated with waxes or resins. While there are no historical references to the stone to be found, because of it's bright green color, faustite is considered by many as a "nature stone" which provides the wearer with a keen appreciation of the life around him/her and allowing for deeper communication with nature, especially plants. This makes it an ideal gift for the gardener or landscape artist in your life!

garnet - Deep red garnet gets its name from the Greek word for pomegranate, granatum, but the stone is also ound in a wide range of colors, including green, orange, brown, black, and various shades of red from pink to red-brown to very dark red. Blue seems to be the only color thus far which is not represented by some member of the garnet family. The term "garnet" is actually best applied to a mineral group, as it encompasses a great many minerals with similar chemical structure and is usually found as a composite of more than one. While the stone is fairly common and inexpensive, some forms of it - such as Tsavorite and Demantoid - are more rare and can be expensive. Garnet is highly refractive and carries a Mohs rating of 7 - 7.5, making it an ideal choice of gemstone and a popular one throughout the ages. It was one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest, was included in the tombs of ancient Egyptians to ensure their safe passage through the land of the dead, and was a sacred stone to Native American Indians, the Incans, Mayans, and some African tribal elders. It has been credited with helping to keep the blood clean of infections and to cure depression, and is considered a stone of compassion and symbol of affection, carried to draw love to the bearer and given to friends to ensure future reunions. Garnet is found in Scotland, Switzerland, South Africa, Tanzania, Myanmar, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States, most notably in Arizona.

goldstone - Actually a man made glass from China, the bright flecks in goldstone are flecks of copper embedded in the glass.

howlite - Once called "white buffalo" by some Native Americans, gray-streaked white howlite is a soft stone rating 2.5 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Most notable for it's ability to masquerade as turquoise and some other semi-precious stones, howlite draws its name from that of its discoverer, Nova Scotian geologist Henry How. Often erroneously labeled "white jasper," howlite isn't jasper at all, but a much softer stone rating 2.5 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Its soft nature makes howlite ideal for carving, and slabs of the material are often painted with scenes and designs that make artistic use of the veins. Howlite represents patience and is often worn to help increase observation, memory, inner peace. It is said howlite reflects offensive behavior and is a good stone to wear to help positively resolve confrontation. Because of it's softness, care should be taken with howlite jewelry. It is found in most substantial quantities in Canada and California, with smaller deposits located in Germany and Serbia.

jade - Most jade used in jewelry making is either jadeite or nephrite jade. The stone most of us tend to think of as jade is nephrite, a form of actinolite, ranging in color from bright, yellowish to medium-dark green; however, nephrite jade is also found in shades of black, cream, tan, blueish gray, and pink. Nephrite jade rates a 6.0 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Jade's other popular form is that of jadeite, a 6.5 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite comes in a wide range of colors, including mauve, lavender, red, orange, yellow, aqua and gray, in addition to its many shades of green. Burma Jade, or Burmese Jadeite, is highly prized and rare and includes varying shades of white, yellow, green, and black. A durable stone popular for carving, jade was considered a sacred stone in China and was often used in the making of sacred items, as it was believed to bless whatever it came into contact with. Many cultures throughout history and the world have long believed jade to hold powers of good luck, magical protection, wisdom, and spiritual atonement. It is often used as a symbol of excellence and purity. And legend has it sleeping with a piece of jade beneath one's pillow will help in the remembrance of dreams to allow for a realization of potential...sleep with jade beneath your pillow and your dreams will come true!

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