Gemstones

Cat’s eye chrysoberyl is one of the most distinctive phenomenal gemstones in the mineral world.At first glance, the stone may appear yellow, greenish yellow,...

Gold and pyrite are often confused because both can display a bright metallic yellow appearance.That resemblance gave pyrite its famous nickname:“Fool’s gold.”But despite looking...

Quartz and calcite are two of the most common minerals on Earth, and in some specimens they can be surprisingly easy to confuse.A colorless...

Agate and jasper can look like completely different stones at first glance. Agate is often recognized by its translucent appearance, colorful bands, and ability...

Moonstone and opalite are easy to confuse at first glance. Both can appear milky white or translucent, both may show a blue glow under...

Datolite at first glance is not stone that calls person by shouting. Doesn't scatter light like brilliant diamond, doesn't make color explosion like opal....

Question that comes to person's mind when they see it for first time is generally same: "Is this stone painted?"Most people looking at Polka...

The Earth may look as if it does not change from the outside, but the truth is the exact opposite. Deep within the crust,...

Formation, Structure, and Optical EffectsMoonstone is one of the few gemstones where the beauty comes not from color alone but from something deeper—something moving...

A Frozen Firework Show Hidden Inside StoneThere are some stones in nature that make you say “This can’t be real” at first glance. Most...

People who are new to geology, gemology, or even crystal collecting often run into the same confusion: What exactly is the difference between a...

Color-change gemstones have this strange, almost hypnotic power over people. You look at them once, and they seem familiar. You look again under a...