Featured Gemstones page 2

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Magnesite or Wild Horse Often called Wild Horse Turquoise, Magnesite is not really turquoise but a mixture of Magnesite and hematite. Discovered fairly recently in the 1990's in southern Arizona in the Gila wilderness area it is a beautiful and popular stone. This stone is characterized by its creamy white color against a darker matrix of which can be red, brown, green, or black. The black variety is known as White Buffalo. It is also known as Viper Jasper.

Marra Mamba Tiger Eye is the most treasured of all tiger eye gemstones. From the Pilbara region of Australia’s Hamersley Ranges this stone is highly valued for its multiple colors and brilliant chatoyancy. Like tiger iron it contains veins of hematite. Unlike other tiger eyes it can contain patterns of red, blue, gold and green all on the same stone. No longer mined it is becoming increasingly rare and it’s value continues to increase.

Ocean Jasper is produced from a mine in Madagascar. It is an unusual and beautiful stone with extraordinary markings in a variety of colors. Primarily pure silica which has been converted from rhyolite. It falls into the orbicular jasper category, since traditionally rhyolite with enough silica to take a polish has been labeled jasper. It may also be considered an agate as it is translucent while jasper is opaque. The label “ocean” comes from the location where it was discovered along the coast and the patterns in the rock are suggestive of ocean waves.

Petrified Peanut Wood is a rare type of petrified wood from Western Australia. It comes from trees which grew 70 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Peanut wood refers not to the type of tree, but to the appearance of the peanut shaped light color markings against the blackish background of this petrified wood. Peanut wood was created from wood which washed into the ocean and became infested with small marine clams that bore into wood. Eventually the wood sank to the ocean floor, where the bore holes filled with sediment, and later petrified. This unique process created a uniquely beautiful petrified wood. Peanut wood has beautiful glossy shine when polished, and the lighter beige colored markings are striking against the black background.

Rhodochrosite Gemstone Pendant with sterling silver wirework

Rhodochrosite is a stunning pink gemstone with very distinctive color and intricate scallop patterns. It’s name comes from a combination of Greek words meaning rose colored. The pink color of this gemstone is the result of manganese ore as it is dissolved in the formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves and crevices. It is commonly found in Argentina.

Wyoming Jade is actually nephrite jade discovered in Wyoming in the early 1900s, where some very high quality jade has been found. It is hard and tough and can vary in color from an opaque black to translucent apple green.. The green color is caused by iron within the crystal lattice. If no iron is present the result is an almost colorless or cloudy white variety of jade. Other varieties of Wyoming jade include translucent, emerald-green; apple- green, olive-green, leaf-green, black, and snowflake jade. The apple-green and translucent varieties are rarer and more valuable.

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