![]() ![]() ![]() Growing up to a meter in height, they have the appearance of leafless bushes and the original species is found mostly in the Mediterranean Sea.Ĭonsisting of hard calcium carbonate, Coral can be polished until it has a glassy shine and was used for decoration by the Ancient Egyptians and has been discovered in prehistoric European burial grounds. Durable and highly colored from pink-orange to intense red, this mineral is mainly used for jewelry. Red coral is also called precious coral and is an intensely colored “skeleton” found on rocky sea-beds with low sedimentation in dark crevices and caverns. Price: From a few dollars per carat, into the hundreds Year Discovered: New reefs are still being discovered to this day, with Italy being the most recent hostĬolor: Many colors, due to algae and other factors Once used as a rouge and in cosmetics, this mineral is highly toxic and can cause mercury poisoning.ĭiscovered At: In tropical oceans near the equator Quite soft, with a hardness of up to 2.5 on the Mohs scale, Cinnabar is incredibly dense and heavy, making it a popular specimen for collectors, with the rarest examples found in China and Spain. Composed of mercury sulphide, it occurs in volcanic veins and alkaline hot-springs. In China and South America, it was also used for decoration and ornaments, due to the various shades of red – from brick to cinnamon and bright scarlet. Price: Small beads can cost as low as a few dollars, however you should exercise caution with this toxic stoneĬinnabar is an interesting and unusual mineral that was favored by the Ancient Romans for its mercury content and its use as a pigment dye called vermilion. Containing thin layers of microcrystals from magnetite, the colors and patterns change depending on the angle it’s viewed from, making it a sought after and wonderful example of a semi-precious stone.ĭiscovered At: All around the world in places with the right conditions Fire Obsidian is a rare form with an iridescent quality and is found in the Northwest of the U.S.A.ĭisplaying brilliant colors and patterns, this stone can be worked into beautiful gems akin to Opals. When broken or chipped, they can be razor sharp and this material was often used in weapons and tools for cutting. Obsidian itself is a fascinating material, which is volcanic glass formed from magma or lava flows that are rich in silica and suddenly chilled by water or other elements, preventing crystallization. Year Discovered: Relatively recently in terms of rare stonesĬolor: A variety of bright and alluring colors What’s fascinating about Blue Amber is that under artificial light or when held against the sun, the color is like regular amber, but in sunlight it has an intense blue florescent glow and when under ultraviolet light is appears bright, milky-blue. The blue coloring is thought be the result of incomplete combustion in an extinct species of trees during forest fires around 25 to 40 million years ago. ![]() It has been used in jewelry for over 10,000 years but the more rare stones are blue, found mainly in mines around the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Price: $5-$10 per gram for smaller piecesĪmber is an o rganic substance with a pleasant scent and is the hardened resin from ancient pine trees, which sometimes has inclusions of trapped insects and plants. Year Discovered: Since the discovery of Dominican amber In the Victorian era, Jet was used to make jewelry for mourning and the adjective “jet-black” comes from how dark this stone is. Since the Neolithic period in Ancient Britain, Jet has been crafted into ornamental items and was even considered to contain magical properties by the Romans. A rare form comes from Whitby, England – called Whitby Jet, which originates from the early Jurassic period, 182 million years ago. ![]() Year Discovered: Has been used as far back as 10,000 BCĪ variety of lignite coal that’s been formed over millions of years from fossilized wood, Jet is technically not a mineral but it is considered by many to be a gem, because it can be polished and faceted. Minerals and other substances can be called rare stones, which may include: They are also used in jewelry, as well as ornaments and other decorative items, not to mention their innate beauty that’s in a world of its own. While gemstones are deemed special for their crystal formations, rocks and stones are equally special for many different reasons. Humans have always been attracted to gems and crystals, especially when crafted into beautiful jewelry and other trinkets, but geologists and experts alike will tell you that rare stones don’t have to be bright, shiny objects that are only destined to be used in rings, necklaces and bracelets. ![]()
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