AGATE, a type of chalcedony, forms in rock masses, such as volcanic lava. Once split open, a spectacular range of colors and patterns are revealed. The colors and hues are determined by various impurities trapped in the rocks. Agate can range from translucent to gray (moss agate), to organic tones (petrified wood), to banded (sardonyx).

AMBER is actually fossilized tree sap, ranging mostly from yellow to orange. It will be either transparent or translucent. Amber can contain insects or forest remnant, which add to its interest. (hardness-2 1/2)

AMETHYST, which is actually a type of quartz, has a shade variation of purple, lilac, and mauve. It can be characterized by inclusions reminiscent of thumbprints, tiger stripes, or feathers. (hardness-7)

APATITE usually has a bright sea green color, but also can be colorless, yellow, blue, or violet. The density can be anywhere from transparent to opaque. (hardness-5)

AVENTURINE, often mistaken for jade and amazonite, has inclusions which reflect light to give off a multitude of colors. Some colors are green, brown, greenish brown, bluish white, bluish white, and a variety of orange shades. (hardness-7)

CARNELIAN, also called cornelian, is in the chalcedony family. It comes in many variations of red, often achieved by placing the stone in the sun to deepen its color. (hardness-7)

CITRINE is the yellow version of quartz. Most citrine is actually heat treated amethyst, as natural citrine is extremely rare. This stone is said to assist in stimulating a person's mental capacities, and acquiring and maintaining wealth. (hardness-7)

CORAL comes from coral polyps found in the sea. Colors tend to be red, pink, white, blue, and golden, with red being the most valuable. Coral is thought by some to protect children, so it is often given to young children by their parents. (hardness-3)

CRYSTAL QUARTZ, also known as rock crystal, is transparent and colorless. The Greeks call it "drustallos", meaning ice, as they thought it was ice permanently frozen by the gods. (hardness-7)

EMERALD, commonly known as the "stone of love and success", has a consistent green color. The stone tends to be oiled to enhance it full color.

FLUORITE was used by ancient Egypt to accent its statues. The Chinese have carved with this brightly colored stone for more than 300 years. Colors range from golden shades to a rainbow of purples, clears, and green. (hardness-4)

GARNET - A longtime symbol of love and fidelity, garnet comes in a myriad of red tones, such as blood red, orange/red, orange/brown, pinkish red, and yellow. Some varieties also come in a beautiful shade of emerald green. (hardness-7 1/2)

HEMATITE usually has a metallic luster, but can also have short black crystals and iridescent surfaces. Simulated (man-made) hematite is called hemalyke. (hardness-6 1/2")

JADE is divided into two categories, one being jadeite (hardness-7), which comes in a wide range of colors. Some being white, pink, red, orange, yellow, brown, black, lilac, and blue. The second type of jade is nephrite (hardness-6 1/2), which varies from dark green to cream colors.

JASPER is an opaque, finely grained type of chalcedony. The colors can be slate blue, green, brown, red, yellow and any combination of these hues. It also appears in a variety of patterns. (hardness-7)

LAPIS LAZULI, traditionally known as one of the stones for royalty, comes in a royal dark blue and often has small patches of white calcite and brassy pyrite. (hardness-5 1/2)

OBSIDIAN is actually naturally formed glass created from volcanic glass which cools too quickly. Its color can be anywhere from black to grey to brown. On rare occasion, red blue or green obsidian are found. Inclusions can create a metallic or iridescent sheen or even a snowflake effect. (hardness-5)

ONYX, a type of chalcedony, tends to have straight bands of either brown and white or black and white. Because of the banding the stone is usually dyed black, a process used since ancient Egypt. (hardness-7)

PEARLS, once thought to be tears from the gods, are formed as a defense against irritants in shellfish, namely oysters and mussels. Colors range from white, to pink, to brown and black. Most are naturally colored, but some are dyed to create beautifully hued shades as varied as the rainbow. Shapes include button, rice, potato, and stick. (hardness-3)

PERIDOT, a derivative of olivine, comes in a color range from bottle green to olive and is said to help in finding happiness with one's self. Peridot has been a hugely popular stone since the middle ages. (hardness-6 1/2)

QUARTZ comes in a wide range of colors. It can be clear (rock crystal), purple (amethyst), pink (rose or cherry quartz), citrine (yellow), light brown to black (smoky quartz), milky-white (milky quartz), shimmering with mica or hematite (adventurine), containing needlelike pieces of crystal (rutilated quartz), opalescent with asbestos (cat's eye), or yellow-brown streaks (tigereye). Further details are located in individual descriptions. (hardness-7)

ROSE/CHERRY QUARTZ comes in pink or peach colors. Sometimes, rutile can be present in this stone by which a star effect is created. (hardness-7)

SODALITE, touted as a calming stone, is found in various shades of blue and is similar to the stone, Lapis Lazuli. The difference is that sodalite rarely has brassy pyrite specks within, rather it tends to contain only streaks of calcite which can add to its interest. (hardness-5 1/2)

TOPAZ, derived from the Sanskrit word "tapas", meaning fire occurs in a range of colors. Some include yellow, pink, gray, blue, and green. It forms in igneous rocks, such as granite and volcanic lava. (hardness-8)

TURQUOISE has long been prized for its rich color, which varies from sky blue to pale green. One of the most desirable shades is sky blue, which comes from Iran. Another high quality turquoise is the intense medium blue stone from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona, U.S.A. For many, this turquoise sets the standard for the entire world. (hardness-6)