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Cyrstals & Gemstones


Aventurine (Quartz)
Scientific Information: Grayish, yellowish, brownish, or green quartz with small platy mica inclusions (hematite or geothite also) is called Aventurine. The hardness is 7 and the streak is white.

Environment: Quartz is an important rock-forming mineral and developed in many different environments.

Occurrence: Aventurine is found in Brazil, India and Russia.

Legend & Lore: Aventurine was revered by the ancient Tibetans. They used it to represent the "eyes" in sacred statues, thus symbolizing increased divinatory powers.

Magical Properties: This stone is considered to be a gambler's talisman. It is said that it will attract money. It is considered a "lucky" stone.

Healing: This stone is associated with the Thymus Gland. It has been traditionally used for improving eyesight and healing diseases of the eyes.

Personal Experience: I use Aventurine as a Heart Chakra stone, to balance such stones as Rhodonite. In addition, I recommend it to those who are starting out on new paths or adventures because it is protective, but opens the eyes to "new horizons".

Notes: The yellow / brown form of Aventurine is from Russia. It is almost impossible to find anymore.

Green Aventurine: Called the "Stone of Heaven". An all-around healer (mental, emotional physical). It soothes, heals, and balances. It opens and soothes a wounded heart, enhances intelligence, increases opportunities and motivation, brings luck and adventures in love and games. It is a prosperity stone.

Blue Aventurine: All-around healer; opens and dissolves blocks in the brow center. Increases visionary powers and perceptions. Stimulates creativity and expression.

Blue-Green Aventurine: An all-around healer (mental, emotional, physical). It soothes, heals, and balances. Connects the heart and throat centers helping one communicate in a more loving manner.

Orange Aventurine: All around healer to bring joy into one's life. Works with the second chakra, dissolving creative blocks and healing sexual trauma. Aids in independence and originality.

Alexandrite

A variety of chrysoberyl. Aids internal and external regeneration, has positive influence on nervous system, spleen, pancreas. Helps to align mental and emotional body. Spiritual tranformation and regeneration. Reflects highest potentials of unfoldment.

Amazonite

Known as the "Hope Stone." It inspires faith and hope. Balances the emotions. Helps align the heart and solar plexus chakras. Helps perfect personal expression and verbalizing. Works somewhat like rose quartz, but it flows more with the emotions towards others.

Amethyst

Scientific Information: Violet to red-purple quartz is called amethyst. It is the same formula as Quartz (SiO2) with the addition of iron. Its hardness is 7.

Environment: Basic quartz is an important rock-forming mineral and developed in many different environments. Amethyst is often found in Quartz geodes.

Occurrence: Gem quality stones come from Brazil, Uruguay, the Ural Mountains and Japan. Fine deep-colored amethyst occurs in the quarries in Patterson, New Jersey. Drusy amethyst (generally paler in color) is abundant in many silver mines in Mexico. Some specimens have been found in the Four Peaks region of Arizona.

Name: The name comes from the Greek [A-methystos], meaning 'not tipsy'.

Legend and Lore: Amethyst and magic have been connected for at least 2,000 years. The Greeks believed it to be an amulet against inebriation. It is one of the few stones specifically recommended for men to use for attracting women. Amethyst is the birthstone for February:

"The February-born shall find
Sincerity, and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they the Amethyst will wear."

Magical Properties: Amethyst can be used to increase psychic awareness, to sharpen the 'sixth sense'. Because of this, many people keep a crystal with their I-Ching, tarot, or Rune tools. It is considered a very spiritual stone.

Healing: This stone is the major stone for the Crown Chakra. This location deals with extrasensory perception. In addition, it can be used in this position for healing of the nervous system and the brain.

Aquamarine

Scientific Information: Beryl is Beryllium aluminum silicate, frequently with some sodium, lithium and cesium. The chemistry is Be3Al2Si60qi. The hardness is between 7-1/2 and 8 and the streak is white. The name "Aquamarine" refers to the paleish blue, light blue-green or even light green variety of beryl. The green of aquamarine is a watery green without any trace of yellow and is due to iron, not chromium.

Environment: Beryl develops in pegmatites and certain metamorphic rocks. It occurs with quartz, microcline, and muscovite in pegmatites, and with quartz, muscovite, and almandine in schist of regional metamorphic rocks.

Occurrence: Most Aquamarine comes from the pegmatites of Brazil, where crystals weighing several kilos have been found. Other deposits are in the Soviet Union (Transbaikalia, Urals and Siberia), Madagascar, the United States, and recently, Afghanistan.

Gemstone Information: The most valuable color is a rich, sky blue; but because the stone is pleochroic, even the blue stones have a green or greenish-blue tinge in one direction. Quite large stones, ranging from several carats to more than ten or a few tens of carats, are relatively common. Many are virtually free of inclusions. The most common cut is the emerald type, although mixed oval or pear-shaped cuts are not infrequent.

Name: The name is from the Greek [beryllos], indicating any green gemstone. (The majority of Beryl mined is some shade of green.) "Aquamarine" was first coined by the Romans and means "water of the sea".

Legend and Lore: Aquamarine is a traditional protective and luck stone for fishermen. In addition, it has been carved into cups and goblets because of the belief that it aids digestion and reduces body fluids.

Magical Properties: This stone is associated with Sea Goddesses. It is recommended for increasing psychic abilities.

Healing: Traditionally, Aquamarine has been used for relief of stomach disorders and as a diuretic. It has also been recommended for toothaches.

Bloodstone

Scientific Information: Bloodstone is a member of the Chalcedony family. It is a variety of quartz (silicon dioxide) often with some iron and aluminum. The chemistry is SiO2. It is dark, bright green spotted with red inclusions. The streak is white. This is considered a microcrystalline variety of quartz and is not found in crystal form.

Environment: Chalcedony is formed in several environments, generally near the surface of the earth where temperatures and pressures are relatively low. It commonly forms in the zone of alteration of lode and massive hydro-thermal replacement deposits and as bodies of chert in chemical sedimentary rocks.

Occurrence: India, Germany.

Name: This stone is also referred to as "heliotrope," which is derived from two Greek words which signify "sun-turning". It was given this name because of a notion that when immersed in water it would turn the sun red. Chalcedony is derived from Chalcedon, an ancient Greek city of Asia Minor.

Legend and Lore: This is one of the birthstones for March.

"Who in this world of ours, her eyes
In March first opens, shall be wise.
In days of peril, firm and brave,
And wear a Bloodstone to her grave."

Ancient warriors often carried an amulet of bloodstone which was intended to stop bleeding when applied to a wound.

Magical Properties: Because it is green, it can be used for "money spells". It is also considered a "lucky" stone for athletes because it imparts courage and stamina.

Healing: Heliotrope is used today in conjunction with anything having to do with blood.

Carnelian

Scientific Information: Carnelian is the clear red to brownish red member of the Chalcedony family. It is a microcrystalline variety of Quartz (Silicone Dioxide) and may contain small amounts of iron oxides. The hardness is 7, and the streak is white.

Environment: Chalcedony is formed in several environments, generally near the surface of the earth where temperatures and pressures are relatively low. It commonly forms in the zone of alteration of lode and massive hydro-thermal replacement deposits and as bodies of chert in chemical sedimentary rocks.

Occurrence: Fine carnelian comes from India and South America.

Gemstone Information: Carnelian is used as an alternate birthstone for the month of May. It is normally cut into cabochons, engraved, or made into seal stones or rounded, polished, and pierced for necklaces and other items of jewelry.

Name: The name means "flesh-colored", from [caro], meaning "genitive" and [carnis], meaning "flesh".

Legend and Lore: Carnelian has long been associated with courage and cleansing of the blood. It was believed that the stone would improve one's outlook, making the individual cheerful and expelling fears.

Carnelian can be used to "see into the past". The "Crystal Oracle" says that Carnelian refers to the Self, and Current Conditions. It is a grounding stone, and associated with the Earth. As such, it is considered practical, sensible and balanced. Cunningham associates the stone with the element of Fire. He suggests it as a talisman against Telepathic invasion.

Healing: It is recommended for infertility or impotency. In addition it is used for purification of the blood. It has also been suggested that this stone will stop nose bleeding.

Cinnabar

Scientific Information: Cinnabar is Mercury sulfide. The chemistry is HgS. It is bright red, purplish red to brownish red. The streak is scarlet to brownish red. The hardness is between 2 and 2-1/2.

Environment: Cinnabar is formed at low temperature, usually near hot springs or where there has been volcanic activity. It also forms in epithermal veins, associated with opal, chalcedony and dolomite.

Occurrence: Almaden, Ciudad Real, Spain, is a famous locality for cinnabar. In North America important cinnabar deposits occur in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas. In California fine crystals of cinnabar have come from the Almaden Mine in Santa Clara Co. and the New Idria Mine in San Benito Co. Beautiful crystals occur in calcite at the Cahill Mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada.

Name: The name is said to have come from India.

Warning: Cinnabar is extremely POISONOUS! Do not use it for healing or magical purposes.

Coral

Scientific Information: CaCo3, or calcium carbonate in the form of calcite, is the main constituent of calcareous corals; minor constituents are MgCo3, or magnesium carbonate and proteinaceous organic substances, which act as binding agents. At 2.5 to 4, the hardness is slightly higher than that of calcite. The skeletons of corals vary in color: from bright to dark red, slightly orange-red, pink and white.

Environment: In all cases, coral consists of the branching skeletons of animals which live in colonies planted on the seabed at depths varying from tens to hundreds of meters. They are typical of warmish to very warm seas.

Occurrence: The most famous of these organisms is Corallium rubrum, which lives in the waters of the Mediterranean and, despite its name, provides not only red, but orange, pink, and white coral. Similar to this are Corallium elatius, C. japonicum, and C. secundum, which mainly live off the coasts of Japan, China, Indochina, the Philippines, and other archipelagos of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Coral colonies occupy large areas especially in the Pacific, but also near the coast of South Africa, in the Red Sea, and to the east of Australia. These latter colonies, however, consist of madrepore, which has little in common with the corals used as ornaments.

Gemstone Information: Most of the coral used since antiquity as an ornamental material comes from the calcareous skeletons of colonies of marine organisms of the phylum Cnidaria, order Corgonacea, genus Corallium. Corals take a good polish. They also have a certain degree of elasticity and can be heated and bent into bangles. Thin branches were and still are polished, pierced, and threaded, unaltered, into necklaces. Larger pieces are cut into spherical or faceted necklace beads, pear shapes for pendant jewelry, or cabochons. It is also used for carved pieces and small figurines, in both oriental and western art styles. The most highly prized varieties of coral are those that are a uniform, strong bright red.

Name: The name is derived from the Latin [corallium,] related to the Greek [korallion].

Legend and Lore: The oldest known findings of red coral date from the Mesopotamian civilization, i.e. from about 3000 BC. For centuries, this was the coral par excellence, and at the time of Pliny the Elder it was apparently much appreciated in India, even more than in Europe. Red coral has traditionally been used as a protection from the "evil eye" and as a cure for sterility. One of the Greek names for Coral was Gorgeia, from the tradition that blood dripped from the Head of Medea, which Perseus had deposited on some branches near the sea-shore; which blood, becoming hard, was taken by the Sea Nymphs, and planted in the sea.

Magical Properties: Coral is associated with Venus, Isis and Water. It has been used as a form of protective magic for children for hundreds of years. Cunningham recommends it as a luck-attractor for living areas. Sailors use it as a protection from bad weather while at sea. Red-orange coral is one of the four element gemstones of the Pueblo Indians. It is one of the four colors used for the directions in the Hopi/Zuni Road of Life. Coral is considered a representative of the warm energy of the Sun, and the southern direction.

Healing: Coral's healing properties are mostly associated with Women, young children and the elderly. For women it is said to increase fertility and regulate menstruation. For young children, it is recommended to ease teething and to prevent epilepsy. For the elderly, it is used as a cure for arthritis.