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Category: Birthstones (2)
- History of birthstones by: precious stones
  June 22, 2010, 23:27
  The historian Josephus proclaimed a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron's breastplate, the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the…
- Birthstone by: precious stones
  September 18, 2009, 16:23
  Birthstones have their roots in ancient astrology, and there have been many birthstone lists used over the years. The most common one today is based on a list…
Category: Lithotherapy (7)
- Therapeutic action of precious stones by: precious stones
  February 9, 2010, 19:41
  Robert Boyle, writing in 1663, attempts to show that the theory of the therapeutic action of precious stones is not incompatible with observed facts.…
- Healing stones by: precious stones
  February 9, 2010, 19:37
  In the sixteenth century sapphires, emeralds, rubies, garnets, jacinths, coral and sardonyxes were used in all tonics prescribed to protect the heart against…
- Category: Gemstones healing (5)
  - Virtues of Coral by: precious stones
    February 9, 2010, 20:47
    Coral and safran, if wrapped in the skin of a cat, were believed to have marvellous powers and when emeralds were added to the coral the talisman would drive…
  - Virtues of carbuncle by: precious stones
    February 9, 2010, 20:33
    Many virtues are attributed to carbuncle (red garnet). It is related that those who wear them can resist poisons and are preserved from the pest. They…
  - Virtues of Beryl by: precious stones
    February 9, 2010, 20:17
    Thomas de Cantimpré tells us that the beryl cures quinsy and swollen glands in the neck if the affected part be rubbed with the stone. It is also useful as a…
  - Virtues of Agate by: precious stones
    February 9, 2010, 20:09
    Treating of the medicinal virtues of agates, Pliny distinguishes between the Indian agates, which were a remedy for diseases of the eyes and those from Egypt…
  - Properties of gemstones in lithotherapy by: precious stones
    February 9, 2010, 20:01
    Properties of gemstones and precious stones used in crystal healing and lithotherapy.
Category: Talismans (11)
- Amethyst as talisman by: precious stones
  October 30, 2011, 17:01
  Amethyst was originally regarded as a very precious stone until the immense quantities received from Brazil reduced its value generally. From the earliest…
- Zircon as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 01:25
  THE Zircon as talisman. The zircon includes Jacinth, or Hyacinth, and Jargoons, which, though differing in colour, are actually the same material…
- Garnet as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 01:18
  THE Garnet as talisman. Garnets are found in many varieties, each being described by a special name ; the Bohemian Garnet is a deep red, whilst the…
- Amber as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 01:10
  Amber as talisman. Amber has from the most remote ages been familiar to humanity, ornaments in this material having come down to us, shaped by men of the…
- Tourmaline as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 01:00
  THE Tourmaline as talisman. The Tourmaline is of comparatively modern origin in Europe as far as its use as a precious stone is concerned. It is…
- Rock crystal as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:51
  Rock crystal as talisman Rock Crystal is a form of quartz, clear and transparent, the name Crystal coming from a Greek word signifying "frozen water " or…
- Pearl as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:45
  Pearl as talisman Pearls. Amongst all nations Pearls have ever been considered the most beautiful products of Nature, but having their origin in a living…
- Moonstone as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:39
  Moonstone as talisman THE Moonstone. The Moonstone is a variety of Feldspar and, as its name suggests, is considered to be in close affinity with the…
- Emerald as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:34
  Emerald as talisman THE Emerald held a very high place in the esteem of the Ancients, and no other precious stone has probably been the subject of so much…
- Turquoise as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:20
  Turquoise as talisman The turquoise is universally recognised as a Venus stone, though sometimes erroneously attributed to the Zodiacal House of Capricorn,…
- Sapphire as talisman by: precious stones
  June 23, 2010, 00:09
  The Sapphire as talisman Sapphire, one of the earliest gems known to man, is found in riverbeds and torrents, the force of the water washing the stones…
Category: chakras (1)
- What chakras are by: precious stones
  August 11, 2011, 01:32
  The human body contains lot of spots where there is focused and concentrated energy but, there are seven major energy centers referred to as “chakras.”…
Category: crystal clairvoyance (2)
- What is crystal gazing by: precious stones
  January 28, 2012, 15:05
  Crystal-gazing means, simply, the practice of looking into a ball of crystal, glass or some similar substance and endeavouring to see within it pictures or…
- Crystal gazing by: precious stones
  January 28, 2012, 14:27
  Crystal-Gazing depends largely upon the ability possessed by the psychic to "visualize" or express in pictorial form, thoughts and images which arise from the…
Category: Gems (8)
- Jasper gemstone by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 18:03
  Iron oxide, which for the most part gives color to the various kinds of chalcedony, when present in still greater amounts in the gel phases of…
- Agate gemstone by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 17:47
  The gel phase of silica deposition formed by successive layers of quartz produces, as we have seen, the variously colored varieties of chalcedony. When…
- Chalcedony gemstone by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 17:36
  Just as rock crystal gave us a starting point in the enumeration of the varieties of crystallized quartz, so the relatively colorless gel variety of…
- Aventurine by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 17:23
  An ornamental variety of quartz which encloses minute flakes of hematite or mica is called aventurine, and should not be confused with the feldspar…
- Tiger eye by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 17:15
  A variety of amphibole asbestos which is known as crocidolite occurs in the neighborhood of Griquatown, West South Africa, where the silk-like fibers of…
- Rose quartz, milky quartz by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 14:29
  The pink or rose red quartz, which may owe its color to titanium, belongs among the gem stones derived from crystallized quartz, although it is very…
- Citrine by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 14:21
  A light yellow variety of quartz, which probably owes its color to a trace of ferric iron, was much used in the Victorian period and was erroneously…
- Amethyst by: precious stones
  February 27, 2012, 14:11
  The purple variety of quartz known as amethyst has been employed as a gemstone since very early times, and the appreciation of this gem material has…
Category: Mystical gems (2)
- mystic influences of gemstones by: precious stones
  May 17, 2012, 19:01
  mystical properties of gemstones The physical properties of gems are a matter of scientific determination. Not so the talismanic, curative, and…
- Jewels, gems, stones by: precious stones
  February 9, 2010, 17:55
  Jewels, gems, stones, superstitions and astrological lore are all so interwoven in history that to treat of either of them alone would mean to break the chain…
Category: Mineralogy (43)
- How to classify a precious stone by: precious stones
  May 17, 2012, 21:19
  Amongst so many varieties of these precious minerals, it cannot be otherwise than that there should be important differences in their various characteristics,…
- Cutting diamonds by: precious stones
  May 17, 2012, 19:56
  The great Cullinan diamond. Cullinan Diamond and some of its cuts From this remarkable diamond a great number of magnificent stones were obtained, the…
- Formation of precious stones by: precious stones
  April 25, 2010, 20:02
  All precious stones are transparent, or at least translucent, from which it may be concluded that the matter of which each consists is homogeneous. Now…
- Cutting of precious stones by: precious stones
  September 16, 2009, 16:43
  As existing in a state of nature, precious stones do not, as a rule, exhibit any of those beautiful and wonderful properties which cause them to be so admired…
- Origin of precious stones by: precious stones
  September 16, 2009, 14:45
  Though the origin, formation, composition, characteristics and tests of each stone will be examined in detail when dealing with the stones seriatim, it is…
- What precious stones are by: precious stones
  September 16, 2009, 13:09
  What constitutes a precious stone is the question which, at the onset, rises in the mind, and this question, simple as it seems, is one by no means easy to…
- Category: Classification of gems (8)
  - Magnetic and Electric Influences by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:35
    The word "electricity" is derived from the Greek "elektron," which was the name for amber, a mineralised resin of extinct pine-trees. It was well-known to the…
  - Heat-rays to precious stones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:30
    Another method of isolating certain stones is by the action of heat-rays. Remembering our lessons in physics we recall that just as light-rays may be…
  - Specific gravity of gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 15:53
    The fixing of the specific gravity of a stone also determines its group position with regard to weight; its colour and other characteristics defining the…
  - Hardness of gems and jewels by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 15:47
    Hardness is perhaps one of the most important features in a stone, especially those of the "gem" series, for no matter how colour, lustre, general beauty and…
  - Pleochroism and colour of minerals by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 15:13
    Color is one of the most wonderful effects in nature. It is an attribute of light and is not a part of the object which appears to be coloured; though all…
  - Light and diaphaneity by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 15:04
    Probably the most important of the many important physical properties possessed by precious stones are those of light and its effects, for to these all known…
  - Cleavage of minerals by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 14:57
    By cleavage is meant the manner in which minerals separate or split off with regularity. The difference between a break or fracture and a "cleave," is that…
  - Crystalline structure by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 14:51
    Before proceeding to the study of precious stones as individual gems, certain physical properties common to all must be discussed, in order to bring the gems…
- Category: Liquid solutions to gemstones (7)
  - Jet to Amber by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:19
    Group G. -Stones whose specific gravity is under 2.00. Jet 1.348 Amber 1.000
  - Hauynite to Opal by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:18
    Group F. -Stones whose specific gravity lies between 2.00 and under 2.50. Hauynite 2.470 and occasionally to 2.491 Lapis lazuli 2.461 Moldavite 2.354 Opal…
  - Phenakite to Rock-crystal by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:17
    Group E. -Stones whose specific gravity lies between 2.50 and under 3.000. Phenakite 2.965 Turquoise 2.800 Beryl 2.709 and occasionally to 2.81 Aquamarine…
  - Rhodonite to Nephrite by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:15
    Group D. -Stones whose specific gravity lies between 3 and under 3.50. Rhodonite 3.413 and occasionally to 3.617 Garnets 3.400 " 4.500 Epidote 3.360 "…
  - Pyrope to Diamond by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:13
    Group C. Stones whose specific gravity lies between 3.50 and under 3.70. Pyrope (average) 3.682 Chrysoberyl 3.689 and occasionally to 3.752 Spinel 3.614 "…
  - Garnets to Malachite by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:11
    Group A. Isolates gems with a specific gravity of 4.7963 and over 4.70; in this group is placed zircon, with a specific gravity of from 4.70 to 4.88. Group…
  - Seven solutions by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:08
    Beginning then with the pure double nitrate of silver and thallium, this will isolate the stones of less specific gravity than 4.7963, and taking the lighter…
- Category: Gemstones hardness and gravity by colour (9)
  - Black gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:24
    Black gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Garnet 6-1/2-7-1/2 3.400-4.500 Jet 3-1/2 …
  - Violet gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:22
    Violet gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Amethyst 7 2.661 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Quartz (Amethyst) 7 2.670 Sapphire …
  - Green gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:20
    Green gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Aquamarine 7-3/4 2.701-2.800 Chrysoberyl 8-1/2 3.689-3.752 Chrysolite…
  - Blue gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:16
    Blue gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Dichorite…
  - Pink gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:13
    Pink gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Ruby 9 4.073-4.080 Spinel…
  - Red and rose gemstones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:11
    Red and rose gemstones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Carnelian (a variety of Chalcedony) 6-1/2 2.598-2.610 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Deep Red Garnet 7-1/4…
  - Brown and Flame Stones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:03
    Brown and Flame-Coloured Stones Hardness. Specific Gravity. AndalusiteÂ Â Â Â 7-1/2 3.204 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Garnets…
  - Yellow Stones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:02
    Yellow Stones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Amber 2-1/2 1.000 Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Chrysoberyl 8-1/2 3.689-3.752 Chrysolite 6-7 …
  - White or colourless stones by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 16:58
    White or colourless stones Hardness. Specific Gravity. Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.81 Corundum 9 3.90-4.16 Diamond 10 …
- Category: Properties and composition of precious stones (13)
  - Turquoise by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:18
    The turquoise is a pseudomorph. In colour it is blue or greenish-blue, sometimes opaque, varying between that and feeble translucency, though it should be…
  - Lapis-Lazuli by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:16
    The lapis-lazuli, sometimes called "azure stone," is almost always blue, though often containing streaks of white and gold colour, the latter of which are due…
  - Silicates by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:14
    The chief of these are the garnets, crystallising in the cubic system, and anhydrous. The garnet is usually in the form of a rhombic dodecahedron, or as a…
  - Zircon by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:08
    Zircon appears to have been first discovered by Klaproth in 1789, in the form of an earth, and six years later he found that the stone hyacinth contained a…
  - Tourmaline by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:04
    The tourmaline is a most complex substance; almost every stone obtained has a different composition, some varying but slightly, with mere traces of certain…
  - Emerald by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 18:02
    Considering the particular emerald which is a variety of beryl -although the name emerald in the trade is applied somewhat loosely to any stone which is of the…
  - Beryl by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:59
    The beryl is a compound of silicates of beryllia and alumina, with the formula 3BeOSiO2 + Al2O3,3SiO2, or 3BeO,Al2O3,6SiO2. It differs very little indeed from…
  - Topaz by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:57
    The name topaz is derived from the Greek topazos, which is the name of a small island situated in the Gulf of Arabia, from whence the Romans obtained a…
  - Chrysoberyl by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:54
    There are certain stones and other minerals which, owing to their possession of numerous microscopically fine cavities, of a globular or tubular shape, have…
  - Sapphire by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:48
    The Sapphire is not so easy to imitate, as its hardness exceeds that of the ruby, and imitations containing its known constituents, or of glass, are invariably…
  - Ruby by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:43
    In the dichroscope the ruby shows two images, one square of a violet red, the second square being a truer and a paler red. It may be subjected to strong heat,…
  - Corundum by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:42
    This mineral is a species of crystal, or crystalline alumina -an almost pure anhydrous alumina, Al2O3 -in many varieties, both of shape and colour. The…
  - Diamond by: precious stones
    September 16, 2009, 17:29
    To recapitulate certain of the facts respecting the diamond. -This wonderful gem has the distinction amongst precious stones of being unique; though many are…