Onyx is considered the "modern" choice of birthstone for February. Personally when I think of onyx I think of a black stone, however it can come in a wide variety of colors! The colors can range from translucent , white, gray, red, and even brown. Most of the black onyx stones on the market today have had black dye added to them.
Reference:
Encyclopedia of Gemstones
To see some pictures of different types of onyx, click on the links below:
http://www.donaleedesigns.com/G_Onyx.jpg
http://www.exbali.com/images/Onyx_Vase_E.jpg
http://www.spherestoyou.com/Sshoppe/onyx.jpg
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Amethyst
The birthstone for the month of February is the Amethyst, which is a purple variety of quartz. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greeks meaning "not drunken". The stone was thought to lessen the effects of alcohol.
Amethysts were used as medication during the Middle Ages. It's powers were believe to sharpen the intelligence of the wearer and protect him/her from sorcery.
Amethyst is always purple, no exceptions. However, it can vary in the shade of purple.
Amethyst is prevalent in Mexico and South America, but can also be found in Russia, Germany, Africa, and even here in the United States. (North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Maine).
References:
galleries.com
starryskies.com
Amethysts were used as medication during the Middle Ages. It's powers were believe to sharpen the intelligence of the wearer and protect him/her from sorcery.
Amethyst is always purple, no exceptions. However, it can vary in the shade of purple.
Amethyst is prevalent in Mexico and South America, but can also be found in Russia, Germany, Africa, and even here in the United States. (North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Maine).
References:
galleries.com
starryskies.com
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Garnets & Pink Quartz (JANUARY)
GARNETS:
The name "garnet" comes from the Latin word granatus ("grain") and refers to the Punica granatum ("pomegranate"), which is a plant with red seeds.
Garnest have been used since the Bronze ages as both gemstones and abrasives. Pure crystals of the garnet are used as gemstones, while garnet sand can be uses as an abrasive.
Garnets are mostly seen in the color red, but can also be orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, pink, and even colorless! Wow! I did not know this until doing my research. I've always thought garnets were red. The blue garnet is the rarest of the colors (1)
FUN GARNET TRIVIA:
It is known as the birthstone for January in the USA(2)
It is the gemstone for the 2nd wedding anniversary (3)
It is the state mineral of Connecticut (4)
It is also New York State's gemstone (5)
References:
(1) Wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia
(2) GIA Gem Reference Guide 1995
(3) LongLocks Hairsticks Boutique 10-04-2007
(4) Connecticut State Register & Manual January 2007
(5) State Symbols USA 10-12-2007
Garnet Pictures:
http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=garnets&mkt=en-us
PINK QUARTZ
Pink Quartz is known as the "alternate" January birthstone. It can vary in color from a pale pink to a rose/red hue. Popularity of the pink quartz is not that great because of the pink quartz's tendency to have almost a cloudy look to it.
It is usually found in granite rock in mass form. Some of the areas that pink quartz are mined: Brazil, India, Madagascar, & the United States (South Dakota, California, Maine & Montana)
According to Greek myth, pink quartz got its name from an incident where Aphrodite was cut by a thorn bush trying to save Adonis from an attack. Their combined blood is said to have stained the white quartz a pink color. Hence, Pink Quartz!
For Pink Quartz Picture, click on the following link:
http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=picture+of+pink+quartz&mkt=en-us
The name "garnet" comes from the Latin word granatus ("grain") and refers to the Punica granatum ("pomegranate"), which is a plant with red seeds.
Garnest have been used since the Bronze ages as both gemstones and abrasives. Pure crystals of the garnet are used as gemstones, while garnet sand can be uses as an abrasive.
Garnets are mostly seen in the color red, but can also be orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, pink, and even colorless! Wow! I did not know this until doing my research. I've always thought garnets were red. The blue garnet is the rarest of the colors (1)
FUN GARNET TRIVIA:
It is known as the birthstone for January in the USA(2)
It is the gemstone for the 2nd wedding anniversary (3)
It is the state mineral of Connecticut (4)
It is also New York State's gemstone (5)
References:
(1) Wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia
(2) GIA Gem Reference Guide 1995
(3) LongLocks Hairsticks Boutique 10-04-2007
(4) Connecticut State Register & Manual January 2007
(5) State Symbols USA 10-12-2007
Garnet Pictures:
http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=garnets&mkt=en-us
PINK QUARTZ
Pink Quartz is known as the "alternate" January birthstone. It can vary in color from a pale pink to a rose/red hue. Popularity of the pink quartz is not that great because of the pink quartz's tendency to have almost a cloudy look to it.
It is usually found in granite rock in mass form. Some of the areas that pink quartz are mined: Brazil, India, Madagascar, & the United States (South Dakota, California, Maine & Montana)
According to Greek myth, pink quartz got its name from an incident where Aphrodite was cut by a thorn bush trying to save Adonis from an attack. Their combined blood is said to have stained the white quartz a pink color. Hence, Pink Quartz!
For Pink Quartz Picture, click on the following link:
http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=picture+of+pink+quartz&mkt=en-us
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