Posts Tagged ‘woo converted’

Citrine Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Natural citrines are rare; most commercial citrines are heat-treated amethyst. Citrine contains traces of Fe3+ and is rarely found naturally. The name is derived from Latin citrina which means “yellow”. Citrine crystals can form together with amethyst or smoky…

Charoite from Russia Charoite 001 This is one of the worlds rarest, and prettiest, gem minerals. Charoite deposit called “Sirenevyi Kamen” has only been known for less than 30 years, and this is the only location in the world where this material was ever found. The region in which Charoite was discovered is rather difficult…

Home Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic Rock Cycle Chabazite Crystals with Stellerite

Celestine aka Celestite Rare Blue Celestine and Calcite Celestine Crystal Plate Celestine Crystal Geode Celestine aka Celestite is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate. The mineral is named for its sometimes alluring light blue color. Celestine is the principal source of strontium which is used in fireworks and metal alloy compounds. Celestine normally occurs as…

Corundums Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide, with impurities or trace elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium. These impurities are what create the wide range of colors to be found in corundum crystals: grays, browns, yellows, greens, blues, purples, reds and pinks. It is a naturally transparent material, but can have different…

Carborundum Carborundum is actually the worlds very first artificially produced mineral. In the mid 1880’s an inventor/scientist named Edward G. Acheson, who had worked as assistant manager of European interests for Thomas Edison, started his own experimental laboratory in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. He had a crazy notion that he could produce man made diamonds by…

“Iceland Spar” (aka) Optical Calcite Brazilian Optical Calcite beautifully ground and Polished in Germany Calcite, Iceland Spar, Optical Calcite This variety of Calcite is called “Iceland Spar”, which is basically clear cleaved fragments of completely colorless (ice-like) calcite. Originally discovered in and named after Eskifjord, Iceland. The Iceland spar displays the classic cleavage form of…

Dogtooth Calcite and Mariposa Calcite Rare Purple Dogtooth Calcite Dogtooth Calcite is a variety of Calcite that forms as multiple scalenohedral crystals. Dogtooth Calcite is often referred to as Dog-toothed Spar. (Spar is a general term for transparent to translucent, generally light-colored and vitreous crystalline minerals.) Dogtooth Calcite is an unusual variety of calcite and…

Calcite Calcite is the principal mineral of the rock group known as carbonates and is a major component in limestone and dolomite. Calcite is made of calcium carbonate which reacts to most acids (such as hydrochloric acid) and effervesces on contact. Calcite can be found in many seashells and also in caves and karsts such…

Home Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic Rock Cycle Bismuth Crystals Bismuth Made in America Bismuth is a natural mineral but  Mother Nature doesn’t make Bismuth Crystals!  Bismuth is rarely found in nature in its elemental form. Of growing interest in rock shops, however, are laboratory-grown bismuth crystals. These crystals, while not natural, are nonetheless very interesting and…