Rocks Gemstones

The Colorful Gemstone Tourmaline

Referred to as the “gemstone of the rainbow” the gemstone tourmaline is found in amazing array of colors. Egyptian legend tells up that tourmaline is on a journey from the center of the earth and whilst on that journey passed a rainbow and assumed the colors of it and combinations of those colors. In translation the word tourmaline means stone mixed with color and come from the Singhalese words tura mali.

In ancient times tourmaline was revered as having many magical powers and is known as the gemstone for friendship and love. It is believed to enhance communication, tranquility, gives strength to the mind, and aids in sleep. Helps self confidence, memory and creativity. Gem therapists believe that it aids in the treatment and maintenance of digestive system, nervousness, balances the endocrine and aids the lymphatic system. It is thought best to wear the gemstone tourmaline next to the skin for optimum benefits. Tourmaline is the birthstone for October.

The tourmaline gemstones belong to the trigonal crystal system and appear as long slender elongated and heavily streaked pieces of stone. It is easily distinguished as unlike other gemstone it has three sided prisms. Tourmaline range in color from red to green and from blue to yellow and some even have two or more colors. Some can change color when moved from natural to artificial light and others can have a cat’s eye appearance. Depending from which angle you view the gemstone the color may vary or the shade become more or less intense. When a cutter is preparing to cut a stone he must pay particular attention as the color is most intense when being looked at towards the main axis. Tourmaline is a durable stone with a hardness of between 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. There are different names for different pieces. Green tourmaline is called Verdelite or sometime chrome tourmaline, there is also rubilite which is obviously a rich red, blue tourmaline is referred to as indigolite and yellow to browns are called dravites. The black tourmaline, known as schorl, is believed by many esoteric people to have special powers and is often used in esoteric rituals. It is also often used for engraving. Some of the rarer tourmaline gems are Paraiba tourmaline which was first discovered in a Brazilian mine in 1987, it is a very strong blue to blue green color. Another rare color comes from Malawi and is called canary tourmalines because of the very vivid yellow hues. Over the years tourmaline deposits have been found scattered all over the world in place as diverse as Afghanistan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Madagascar and in small pockets of the USA, although the major deposits are in Brazil, Sri Lanka and in South and south west Africa.

From a scientific point of view tourmaline is quite amazing in that when heated and allowed to cool again these stones become electrically charged. They are negative at one end and positive at the other. ‘Pyro-electricity’ as it is called was derived from the Greek word for fire, pyr.

Because of the diversity of the colors the gemstone tourmaline can be made into literally hundreds of pieces. Using the natural elongated shape of this stone some amazing styles of pendant and drop earring can be purchased or made to your own specifications, for example a pillar of black tourmaline held by an 18 gold claw with a gold chain gives a look of quality and class especially when used with matching earrings worked a smaller stone. Beautiful dangling bi-color stone earrings with diamonds top and bottom, Victorian style rings and broaches using whatever color tourmaline takes your fancy. Modern settings to antique to retro fashion, rings for the ladies and the gentlemen, cufflinks, stick pins.

All can be set in your choice of Platinum, white or yellow gold or sterling sliver and used in combination with diamonds or other precious gems. When in comes to the use of the gemstone tourmaline you are limited only by your imagination as the many colors of the stones offer you a choice to match your clothing, mood, personality or just you personal preference. These striking gemstones will always be noticed and admired by those who appreciate fine jewelry.

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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE

The Amethyst is a violet kind of quartz often used as an ornamental stone in a jewelry. Amethyst was derived from the Ancient Greek words “a” meaning not and “methustos” which means intoxicated. It is a basis to the belief that the precious stone protects the owner from being drunk or drunkenness. Ancient Greeks and Romans wore the Amethyst and made cups to drink from in the belief that it would prevent them from being intoxicated.

The Amethyst is a violet kind of quartz. During the 20Th century, amethyst’s color was proven to be caused by the presence of manganese. Since it is capable of being changed and discharged by heat, the color was believed by some researchers to come from an organic source. The ferric thiocyanate was proven and sulfur was detected in the mineral.

Recent research has shown that amethyst’s coloration is caused by ferric iron. There are also some studies that show the presence of iron and aluminum to cause its color. When exposed to heat, the amethyst becomes yellow and much of citrine or yellow quartz is said to be merely as burnt quartz.

The synthetic amethyst is made to imitate the best quality of amethyst. The chemical and physical properties are kind of similar to that of the natural amethyst. Sometimes it can not be differentiated with absolute certainty without the use of advanced gemological testing.

The amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae of left-handed and right-handed quartz. Research shows that the structure may be due to mechanical stresses. Since it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs Scale, the amethyst is suitable to be used for jewelry.

The amethyst occurs in primary tones from a light pinkish violet to a deep grape purple. The amethyst can exhibit one or two secondary hues, blue or red. Deep siberian is the ideal grade and has a primary hue of 75% to 80%.

The amethyst was originally used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglios. There are some ancient communities that believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication while some European soldiers wore the amethyst as amulets for protection in battle. There were graves in England to prove that the Anglo-Saxon civilization wore beads of amethyst.

There are several descriptive terms that have been coined in the gem trade to describe the color of the amethyst. The “Rose De France” is a pale pinkish lavender or lilac shade.

The amethyst is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It occurs in large quantities in volcanic rocks. The amethyst can also be found in South Korea.

The amethyst is considered as the birthstone for February and associated with the astrological signs of Pisces and Aries, Aquarius and Sagittarius. Amethyst is the symbol of heavenly understanding and of the pioneer in thought and action on the religious, philosophical, and spiritual planes.

Birthstones symbolizes a person’s month of birth in the Gregorian Calendar. Commonly known as birthday stones and sometimes as an anniversary gift that is related to the recipient’s age and year of birth.

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MARCH BIRTHSTONE

The heliotrope mineral or commonly known as the bloodstone was traditionally the birthstone for March. It is in the form of chalcedony and is a cryptocrystalline kind of quartz. The common green jasper having red formations of iron oxide is known as the classic bloodstone. There are times that the yellow or other colors of jasper are also available, however, these multi-colored bloodstones are called fancy jasper.

The presence of the red formations are supposed to resemble spots of blood, this is where the name “bloodstone” was made. Heliotrope came from different ancient beliefs about the manner in which the mineral reflects light.

Bloodstone is commonly found in India. Other sources are found in Brazil, Argentina, China, and the United States.

Originally, the bloodstone was the birthstone for March, however, today, jasper, bloodstone and aquamarine are all known as the gemstones for those people who were born in the month of March. The bloodstone is used to create harmony, balance, and promotes self esteem.

During the Middle Ages, the red inclusions were believed to be the blood of Jesus Christ, and the stone was known to have miraculous and spiritual powers. People in the ancient times wore the bloodstone to make them invisible. Christians during the Medieval Age used bloodstone to carve out pictures of the crucifixion and martyrs. This is how the “Martyr’s Stone” was born. Today, the finely powdered bloodstone is useful as a medicine and an aphrodisiac in some countries.

Aquamarine is considered as the modern gemstone for March. This is the birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio. Aquamarine is known as one of the members of the beryl family and it comes in a wide variety of color from colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. Most prized color is the deep blue aqua color. Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale. The beautiful name aquamarine came from the Latin words meaning water and sea.

Valuable and the most rare aquamarines are found mostly in Brazil. However, it is also mined in Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Russia and Afghanistan. Today, aquamarines in the market are used as a set stone jewelry and they are able to show the cat’s eye look known as asterism.

There are some gemstones that when heated to a high temperature can increase the color and clarity of the stone. On the other hand, aquamarines are heated to change from blue green or teal colored stone to a pure blue and this results to a permanent color.

In the early times, aquamarine was believed to provide the owner the power of foresight, courage and happiness. Early civilization also believed that the aquamarine increases intelligence and make one youthful. It is used to treat anxiety this it was believed to be a powerful healing stone. It is also believed that it has the power to stop the effect of the most powerful poisons.

Birthstones are sometimes used as another name for an anniversary gift that is connected to the person’s age and year of birth.

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