Metaphysical Properties
Metaphysical
Property Information
A-Z
Crystal Healing Index
Listing
by Crystal
Listing by Issue
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The Gemstone Healing
Guide,
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Distance Healing Grid
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Crystal
Articles
Trademark
Names, Part One
Trademark
Names, Part Two
Do Crystals
Really Heal?
When
is "Rare" not Rare ??
Never need cleaning
??
I can't feel my
crystals !?!
Ethical
Mining ??
What Hand
is best? Dominant??
Everything
is Energy
Crystal Education
Be
Informed/Educated
Buyer's
Guide
Crystal
Cautions
Crystal
Configurations
Fakes and Forgeries
Old Rock-New
Names
Ruby
Zoisite is NOT Ruby Fuchsite
Simple Smudge Instructions
Q
and A
Beginner
Advice
My
Hematite Ring Broke!
Online
Shopping Tips
Cleaning Dust/Dirt
off of Crystals
Simple Full Moon
Crystal Cleansing
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BE
INFORMED!
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Herkimer
Diamonds
- Herkimer
Diamond Quartz Crystals come exclusively from the area surrounding
HERKIMER county, New York, USA - hence the name "HERKIMER".
- Quartz
from Tibet, China, Pakistan, Mexico may have the same or similar
configuration but they are not true Herkimer Diamonds.
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Leaverite
- Talk
about misleading! This is not a specific crystal, mineral, rock
or well, anything! Leaverite is listed in Melody's "Love
is in the Earth"
- Leaverite
is a old Rock Hounder's term--"If you find a rock with no
intrinsic value (or not what you are looking for), you LEAVE ER
RIGHT there."
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BE
SMART!
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Definitions
you may need to know and understand
Friable
or Friability ~ Friability is the characteristic of materials
that easily disintegrate or fall apart into their loose constituent
grains. Those individual grains can be very soft (like clay minerals)
or hard (like granular spinel) or anywhere inbetween.
Moh's
Scale ~ Measures the resistance to scratching and has nothing
to do with friability.
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Radioactive
- Autunite
- Betafite
- Boltwoodite
- Euexinite
- Gadolinite
- Gummite
- Monazite
- Samarskite
- Torbernite
- Trinitite
- Weeksite
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Asbestos
Minerals
- Actinolite
- Anthophyllite
- Grunerite
- Magnesioriebecktite
- Orthochrysotile
- Riebeckite
- Tremolite
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Hot!
Hot! Hot! Heat Treated
- Aqua
Aura - Quartz crystals super-heated in a vacuum and bonded with
vaporized Gold.
- Apple
Aura - Quartz crystals super heated in a vacuum and bonded with
nickel.
- Carnelian
- often heat treated to intensify its color
- Citrine
- Heat Treated Amethyst
- Crackle
Quartz (ALL colors) - currently called Fire Agate something or
other
- Flame
Aura - Quartz crystals super heated in a vacuum and bonded with
titanium and niobium.
- Imperial
Gold Quartz™ - Quartz crystals super heated in a vacuum and
bonded with iron, titanium and other trace minerals
- Indigo
Aura - Same as Tanzan Aura Quartz ™
- Kunzite
(Emerald Green) - Irradiated
- Opal
Aura - Quartz crystals super heated in a vacuum and bonded with
platinum.
- Prasiolite
(Amegreen) - While natural does exist, the majority is Heat Treated
Amethyst
- Rainbow
Aura Quartz - crystals super-heated in a vacuum and bonded with
vaporized Silver & Platinum
- Rose
Aura - Quartz crystals super heated in a vacuum and bonded with
platinum.
- Scapolite
- Dark Purple is irradiated and will fade in sunlight
- Tangerine
Aura - Quartz crystals super-heated in a vacuum and bonded with
vaporized Gold & Iron Oxide
- Tanzan
Aura Quartz ™ - aka Tanzine Quartz Crystals super-heated
in a vacuum and bonded with vaporized Gold, Indium, and Niobium
- Tanzanite
- Heat Treated Zoisite
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Colored/Dyed
- Agate
- frequently dyed to highlight the banding using color.
- Carnelian
- frequently dyed to intensify color
- Gaia
Stone
- Art
Glass with Mt. St. Helens Ash introduced for color
- Howlite
- frequently dyed blue and other colors
- Brightly
colored Obsidian (ALL) - Glass with color introduced
- Smelt
Quartz - Glass with various colors introduced
Currently
being irradiated via Cobalt-60 Method in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Brazil
- Spodumene
(Kunzite and turning it green as well)
- Tourmaline
(light pinks to dark pinks, if over treat they end up with Achroite/white/clear
- Topaz
(dark rootbeers, browns, golds)
- Scapolite(purple)
- Beryl
(Aquamarine, heliodor, goeshenite, and Morganite)
- Fluorite
- Quartz
(amethyst, citrine, prasiolite)
The super
light light colored Topazes are most definitely natural from what
I have been told by my sources, reliable ones of course. It is the
darker sought after colors that have been irradiated. But
both types will and do fade in direct sunlight. Even the
lighter natural stuff, very much like the Thomas Range material from
here in the USA.
This information was provided by a mindat.org member and reliable
source, Jamey Swisher who is a Registered
Gemologist, Research Gemologist, Rockhound/Cutter/Collector, and Club
President/Owner
http://www.gemaddicts.com
http://www.topgemz.com
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Lab
Grown
- Alexandrite
(mostly for gemstones)
- Bismuth
- the colorful stair stepped specimens. Bismuth does occur in nature
as dull gray lumps (amorphous- no crystal structure).
- Carborundum
- Chalcanthite
Crystals- Chalcanthite does occur in nature as a blue massive or crusty
material
- Cobalt
- Diamonds
-yes, sometimes these too are grown, not mined
- Pink
Lazurine
- Quartz-super
clear lab grown variety, reconstituted
- Siberian
Blue Quartz (also Siberian Green, Siberian Purple, and Siberian
Gold)
- Silicon
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What's
in there?
- Aquamarine
is colored by trace amounts of Iron
- Adamite
(Green variety) is colored by trace amounts of copper and/or uranium
- Adamite
(Purple variety) is colored by trace amounts of cobalt.
- Amethyst
is colored by Ferric Iron (Fe3+) (not manganese as originally thought).
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BE
SELF EMPOWERED!
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Gem/Jewelry
Stones (Aquamarine, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, etc) are often
heat treated to intensify the color, crevices/fissures may be filled
with wax, or gemstones may be lasered to remove any inclusions.
For more on Gemstone Jewelry Enhancements, I recommend this
page which explains in detail how the enhancements are carried
out.
Paraiba
Tourmaline
There are a lot of pieces being sold as Paraiba Tourmaline
and most of them sadly, are not. True Paraiba Tourmaline is an electrifying
blue-to-green coloured, gemmy, variety of cuprian elbaite and comes
only from the original source, Paraiba, Brazil. All the rest is
just marketing. You see, TRUE Paraiba is uncommon and mined in only
the one location. As such, it's asking price is normally quite high.
From
Mindat.org we learn that, "In mineralogical terms, Paraiba
Tourmaline should refer only to tourmaline from the original source,
Paraíba, Brazil. However, the name has an extended use through
the gem trade to include similar electric-blue tourmalines (where
the colour is caused by trace copper) from other sources in Brazil,
Mozambique, Nigeria, etc.
Note
- some stones, on TV shopping channels for example, have been labelled
as Paraíba Tourmaline, but appear on screen to be ordinary
green tourmaline. This may simply be a problem with the reproduction
of the colour over TV, but buyers should beware, only tourmaline
with a genuine Electric blue or blue-green colour should with any
honesty be called by this name."
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BE
EDUCATED
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| Is
this an Agate? a Chalcedony? Both??
Yes, there is often a lot of confusion here. For instance, many non-banded
forms of Chalcedony, such as Moss agate, are often erroneously called
'Agates'. True Agate is concentrically banded. Mottled and included
Chalcedony is more accurately called simply Chalcedony.
Petrified or fossilized wood (also called Agatized wood) is the name
given to fossil wood where the replacement of the wood is by Chalcedony.
The banding in this case is due to the wood structure itself, not concentric
deposition of the Chalcedony (and the material is Chalcedony) therefore,
it should not be called Agate or Agatized wood.
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| SiO2
Silicon Dioxide (Quartz) |
Macrocrystalline
(Large Crystals). Quartz is the most stable and most common form of silica. |
Rock (Clear),
Rose, Amethyst, Citrine, Smoky
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Chalcedony
- A subvariety of Quartz
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A
fibrous cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz |
Chrysoprase,
Sard, Carnelian, Heliotrope (Bloodstone), Onegite, Flint, Dendritic, Moss,
Tree, Fossilized/Petrified Wood (see Note #1 below) |
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Jasper
-
Subvariety
of Chalcedony
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A dense
microcrystalline variety of Quartz/Chalcedony which is usually
red, brown, green or yellow and coloured by oxides of iron is caled
by the subvariety name Jasper.
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Red,
Yellow, Brown, Basanite, Biggs, Bloodstone, Brecciated, Bruneau, Egyptian,
Ferruginous, Green, Porcelain, Riband, Cave Creek, Morgan Hill, Ocean,
Orbicular, Orbicular Sea, Leopardskin, Ochoco, Owyhee, Picture, Poppy,
Rainbow, Starry, Stone Canyon, Zebra |
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Agate-
Subvariety
of Chalcedony
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A
concentrically banded (often in rather wild patterns) Chalcedony is called
by the subvariety name Agate. |
Blue
Lace, Botswana, Brecciated, Cloud, Crazy Lace, Eye, Fairburn, Fire,
Holly Blue, Laguna, Mexican Lace, Youngite, Plume, Pigeon Blood, Lake
Superior, Snakeskin,
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Onyx-
Subvariety
of Chalcedony
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Flat
layered or banded Chalcedony is called by the subvariety name Onyx. |
Sardonyx,
Carnelian Onyx, |
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NOTE:
These
specimens listed below are NOT Agate(no concentrical banding) even though
they may be called an Agate
Dendritic
Agate- Chalcedony which includes dentrite growth patterns
Holly Blue Agate (unless banding is present- see above)
Landscape Agate- Chalcedony whose inclusions look like landscaping scenary
Moss Agate- Chalcedony with inclusions of Chlorite, Hornblende, etc
Fossilized/Petrified Wood-Often called Agatized Wood. Even though concentric
banding may be seen here, it is due to the natural growth (wood structure)
of the tree, not from the deposit of Chalcedony.
Tree Agate- Chalcecony with inclusions of Chlorite, Hornblende, etc
Macrocrystalline--
Large Crystals
Microcrystalline--Composed of tiny crystals that cannot be seen
by the naked eye, but CAN be seen with the aid of a microscope
Cryptocrystalline--crystals too small to be seen even with the
aid of a microscope
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NOTE:
References:
http://www.mindat.org
http://www.galleries.com
http://chemistry.about.com/od/geochemistry/a/gemstonelist.htm
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/silicate/tecto/quartz/varietys/qrtzvary.htm
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| BE-WARE!!
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| I
received this question while working on some crystal recommendations.
I found it very interesting and wanted to share my response here. Suffice
it to say, this, for me personally, is a true case of misinformation
and trickery. In my opinion, these folks should be ashamed of themselves!
The inquiry
was as follows: "I have been searching for a specific crystal/mineral
and Ihave not had any luck in finding it. The name of the crystal I
am looking for is AURAURALITE AULMAURACITE (the magical Stone
of Truth)."
I want
to preface this by saying, I love crystals. I work with crystals every
day. However, some times, I run across something that screams "misleading"
and I will admit this was one of them. Please do not misunderstand,
that is just how I feel, and should not, in any way, deter from the
fact that you resonate with it. My opinion is mine only.
I did some
extensive research on this "new find" which was, from what
I can gather found around 2007 in limited supply under very mysterious
(i.e. no way to prove) circumstances. Because this "new find"
was only from one source, the prices are ridiculous ($5 a gram with
pieces no smaller than 10 grams). According to the website, you can
order no less than 10 grams.
My second
phase of research is to go to a reputable geological rock site and see
what they have to say. Remember, these scientific types are not the
most forgiving of the metaphysical community, but the geological information
they provide is always sound. They are scientists after all- they deal
in fact. Here is their conclusion:
"An
unofficial name coined by crystal healers for a dark submetallic rock
that appears, from photographs, to contain Hematite. They claim it is
from somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, but originated from another planet.
In fact, they claim, it's not a rock, it's an advanced alien life form
that can be harmed by synthetic materials (eg plastic). It is said to
give off a sparkling powder (sounds very much like micaceous Hematite)."
My next
point of research was in the naming of this piece. Someone simply made
the name up. It is not a geologically recognized name in any Rock Guide
or reference that I can find. I sent an email to the website that carries
this specimen, asking for a geological report or other data to confirm
the make up of this rock.
Here is
their response:
Hello,
It sounds like you are really into geology.
We would
suggest that you do your own testing as our source has the original
assay. We know there was a high % of iron and traces of every other
mineral. And we know it did not originate from this planet and has some
very unique qualities.
Regards,
XXXX (the name has been deleted on purpose)
If
this rock is a real geological find, approval through the IMA and registration
of the name is part of the process. Most are proud of their find and
more then willing to supply the geological report, when requested. These
folks chose not to. In fact, they suggested I BUY a piece ($50.00 minimum)
and pay to get my own report done (they are very expensive $80.00 and
up).
I only
provide this extensive information so that you can make up your own
mind. If you are like me, you like to have all of the facts before purchasing
a piece such as this.
If you
do decide to purchase a piece, i would love to hear your feedback! I
am always open to others experiences with their crystals.
with love
and crystal blessings,
Mira
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