Apatite
Bright neon blue-green material is visually striking but relatively soft for a gemstone. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Editorial guides
Form: <span>Crystal</span>
Mineralogy, identification, care, lapidary craft, interiors and documented cultural history—with traditional beliefs clearly labelled as a separate subject.
Chalcopyrite
Fresh surfaces are brass-yellow, while tarnished pieces may show vivid purple, blue and green colours. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Bornite
Its iridescent tarnish can shift through purple, blue and bronze as the surface oxidises. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Magnetite
Small natural crystals can be strongly magnetic, making magnetite physically distinctive. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Emerald
Collector emerald crystals often show hexagonal prisms on matrix, while gem material may be transparent but heavily included. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes…
Read guide →Morganite
Its colour is usually softer and more transparent than rose quartz. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Garnet
The group includes familiar deep red almandine as well as bright orange spessartine and green grossular varieties. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and…
Read guide →Rhodochrosite
Its candy-pink bands can be striking, but the mineral is soft enough to deserve careful handling. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional…
Read guide →Kyanite
Blue blades often show striations and a glassy-to-pearly lustre. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read guide →Peridot
The colour tends toward yellow-green or olive rather than the bluer greens of emerald. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
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