|
Amethyst is an extremely sought-after gem which has been valued by many civilizations since antiquity. A variety of vitreous quartz, amethyst often forms dramatic prismatic crystals which are often formed into jewelry without being cut. Brazil and Uruguay are common sources of high quality amethyst. In the early Christian church, amethyst was believed to guard against intoxication, hence its derivation from the Greek "amethustos," meaning "not drunk." Citrine is quartz generally occurring in a golden color. Citrine occurs naturally in Scotland and in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Much citrine available today is actually smoky quartz or amethyst that has been heat-treated to achieve its characteristic color. Deep red garnet is derived from a number of minerals, including pyrope and almandine. Popularized in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, garnet has been used in decoration and jewelry across Europe for many years. Its color is generally a dark burgundy, sometimes with a hint of orange, pink, or purple. Labradorite is a glowing silicate mineral which shows lovely blue and golden green iridescence. This iridescence is the result of thin layers in the stone, a phenomenon which happens during the cooling process. Jewelry quality labradorite comes from India, Finland, Madagascar and Russia. Tourmaline is a coveted stone that comes in a wide range of colors from black to pink, green and blue. Crystals which display more than one color together are common. A cross-section of a watermelon tourmaline crystal reveals green on the outside and pink within.
|
