What is the difference between a mineral and a rock? A rock is an aggregate or mix, of one or more minerals. Here are some fun facts about minerals to enjoy…

René Just Haüy

2022 was the bicentennial of the death of René Just Haüy (2/28/1743 – 6/3/1822). Not a name many of us know, but Haüy was a French mineralogist and is important because he is known as the Father of Modern Crystallography. He studied crystal structure, applied his theories to mineral classification and wrote several books including the Traité de Minéralogie.

To honor him and the importance of minerals in our world, the International Mineralogical Association named 2022 the Year of Mineralogy.

What are Mineralogy & Crystallography?

Mineralogy is the study of everything about minerals including their crystal structure, physical and chemical properties. Crystallography is the study of the structure and properties of crystals.

How Minerals Are Formed

Minerals are formed in four main ways:

• From Magma – Hot, molten lava cools and crystallizes to form minerals such as topaz.
• From Water – Chemicals in saturated water precipitate, or separate, into solids. An easy example is salt, halite, that’s left behind after ocean water evaporates.
• Alteration – As minerals react, slowly or quickly, with their environment they form different minerals. Cuprite forms when it’s exposed to oxygen.
• Metamorphism – Exposure to heat and pressure alters the chemistry of a mineral to become a different mineral such as rubies.

Glorious Gemstones

Gemstones used for jewelry can be considered at the top of the mineral world. They are rare, valuable, popular and prized for their mineral colors which can be quite vivid once they are cut and polished.

FYI – Not all gemstones come from minerals, for example, pearls and amber. Gems can be precious meaning they are the rarest and most valuable. There are only four precious gems; diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Gems that are also popular for jewelry but not as rare are called semiprecious…think amethyst, agate and turquoise.

The rating of precious or semiprecious was made long ago. Today, some semiprecious stones can be worth more than precious stones. Also, it doesn’t take into account scientific classifications of minerals. For example, emeralds are a type of beryl. Aquamarines are also a type of beryl.

Fabulous Diamonds

The word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas which means “invincible.” That’s certainly an accurate description given that diamonds have a Mohs hardness of ten!

According to National Geographic Kids Weird but True Rocks & Minerals, “On Earth’s surface, diamonds are rare. But go down around 100 miles below the surface and it’s a different story. Some scientists have estimated there may be more than a quadrillion tons of diamonds locked in rocks in Earth’s interior.”

This story about celebrating minerals appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe. Story by Pam Freeman.

The post Celebrating Minerals first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

January

Garnet has been the birthstone for January since the 15th century, at least. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, it can be faceted into beautiful gemstones that wear well in jewelry. Since the term “garnet” actually refers to a group of nesosilicate gems, those born in this month can choose from a rainbow of colors.

The most common members are red almandine, an iron-aluminum silicate; red pyrope, a magnesium aluminum silicate; orange-yellow spessartine, a manganese aluminum silicate; the yellow or green varieties of andradite, a calcium-iron silicate; predominately green grossular, a calcium-aluminum silicate; and rare, bright-green uvarovite, a calcium chromium silicate.

February

From the 15th century to the present, amethyst has been the preferred birthstone for February. Amethyst belongs to a mineral family that can compete with garnet for diversity of color: quartz.

Pure quartz is colorless, as exemplified by Herkimer diamonds. The causes of amethyst’s shades of pale violet to rich purple are radiation and the inclusion of iron impurities and trace elements.

As a rule, amethyst crystals are short and stubby, and occur in large numbers, often filling a large vug a hollow petrified tree section, or lining the inside of a geode. Fine crystals that are large enough to produce a faceted gem of over 20 carats are rare.

March

The current choice of a birthstone for March is aquamarine. Aquamarine is a variety of beryl (Mohs 7.5-8). Its name was derived from the fact that the beautiful, transparent, blue-green coloration of the gem resembles that of seawater. It can be found in translucent to transparent crystals that form in the hexagonal system. The six-sided crystals are often striated lengthwise.

Aquamarine develops in metamorphic rocks and, more often, in pegmatites.

April

Before 1900, a person with an April birthday had two choices of birthstone: diamond or sapphire. During the 20th century, however, diamonds became the preferred stone.

Diamond, a mineral consisting of pure carbon, heads the list of all gemstones for its beauty and hardness. A 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, it is resistant to scratching and is an ideal gem to set in rings. Its hardness results from the arrangement of its atoms in cubes.

All diamonds have slightly rounded faces, and they’re so smooth they feel greasy to the touch. They can be colorless and water clear to blue, pink, yellow, brown, green or black, and transparent or translucent. They shine with an adamantine luster when held to the light.

May

There were two choices for May birthstones for several hundred years: emerald and agate. The popularity of agate seems to have waned at the turn of the 20th century, so emerald is now the favorite. It’s the green member of the beryl family of gemstones. The color varies from bright green to pale green and, sometimes, darker shades of blue-green.

Fine emeralds have a velvety surface appearance and, in the better stones, an even distribution of color. One bad trait of emeralds is a tendency to have inclusions. It’s rare to find an emerald without some slight imperfection. This in no way deters from the beauty of this gemstone, though. It can also be one way of determining whether an emerald is a simulated gem or the real thing, as manmade stones have no imperfections.

June

The contemporary choices for June are pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Of course, a pearl is the organic product of marine bivalves and not a mineral.

Moonstone is a variety of feldspar that shows adularescence, or schiller, an optical effect that produces a milky luster with a bluish tinge that appears to move across the stone when it is tilted. The phenomenon is named after the feldspar variety adularia.

Alexandrite is a color-change variety of chrysoberyl (beryllium aluminum oxide). This is a very rare and expensive gemstone. It has a hardness of 8.5, and its crystals are either tabular or prismatic. The distinction between alexandrite and chrysoberyl is simply color. A strange characteristic of alexandrite is that it is red, purple or violet when held under artificial light, but in daylight, it looks green.

July

Ruby is the standard birthstone for the month of July. It is a corundum (aluminum oxide) gem that gets its color from the presence of chromium in its structure. An exceptionally hard mineral, corundum illustrates a hardness of nine on the Mohs scale. “Pigeon-blood” red is the preferred color for rubies, though they also occur in lighter shades, including pink. All other colors of corundum are called sapphires.

Ruby exhibits all the desirable properties of a jewelry stone: beauty, durability, optical properties, and rarity. Some rubies display a star or asterism when fashioned into a cabochon. This effect is caused by the reflection of light from numerous inclusions of minute, needle-like crystals of rutile. Corundum crystallizes in the hexagonal system with a tabular-barrel-shaped habit.

August

Current birthstones for August are peridot, the gem-quality form of olivine and spinel. Olivine makes up a large portion of the earth’s mantle. Rocks containing olivine have been brought to the surface by volcanic action and actually blown out in the form of volcanic bombs. Masses of olivine have been found in meteorites, and the Apollo astronauts brought basaltic rocks back from the moon that contained olivine.

A popular jewelry stone, peridot has a hardness of 6.5-7 and can be transparent or translucent, with a vitreous luster. Its color shades from deep green to apple green, yellow-green or olive. It’s most often found in granular nodules, forming short, prismatic crystals in the orthorhombic system.

Spinel is the gem-quality member of the larger spinel group. Its hardness (Mohs 7.5-8.0) makes it ideal for jewelry use. Its spectrum of colors includes red, pink, purple, blue and lavender. In times past, red spinel was often mistaken for ruby. A notable example is the Black Prince’s Ruby, set in the royal crown of England.

September

The birthstone for September is sapphire. This term refers to any corundum (aluminum oxide) gem that has any color other than red (ruby). Sapphires may be colorless, blue, green, yellow, orange, brown, pink, purple, gray, black, or multicolor. At Mohs 9, its hardness is second only to that of a diamond.

Heat treatment is sometimes used to give natural blue sapphires a deeper, more pleasing color. Natural star sapphires, which display the optical phenomenon of asterism, are very rare.

October

Two options for October are opal and tourmaline. Opal is a magnificent gemstone with a play of color or “fire” in all colors of the spectrum. Spaces between the tiny spherules of silica that make up the gem diffract light into its spectral colors. Red, yellow, green and blue, in strong to pastel shades, flash from the stone when it is tilted.

Opal occurs in common and precious types. Common opal does not display any reflective fire. It may have a honey-yellow, brown, gray or colorless body color that is milky and opaque. Opal (Mohs 5-6) is not a very hard gemstone.

Tourmaline, a silicate of boron, has a complicated chemical composition, in which a number of elements, including calcium, iron, sodium and aluminum, may combine. It has a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5.

It belongs to the trigonal crystal system and its habit is hemimorphic (a crystal having two ends of an axes unlike in its planes).

Because of the coloration of the individual stones, tourmaline has several names, including schorl (black), rubellite (red), indicolite (blue), and dravite (brown). Tricolor crystals are common. The popular watermelon variety has an outer layer of green around a red core.

November

The current birthstones for November are topaz and citrine. People tend to think of topaz, a silicate mineral with aluminum and fluorine, as a yellow stone, but heat-treating and color-enhancing adaptations have made blue the predominant color on the market. It is an allochromatic mineral, which means its color is caused by internal defects in the crystal and has a Mohs hardness of eight.

Citrine is the golden member of the quartz family (silicon dioxide). Though quartz in its many forms is one of the most abundant minerals on earth, fine, gem-grade crystals are not that common. Citrine is affordable and, when faceted, rivals more expensive gemstones in beauty.

December

There are three birthstones for December: turquoise, blue zircon and tanzanite. Turquoise (hydrated copper aluminum phosphate) is an opaque, blue-to-green, massive gem material. It has a relatively low hardness of Mohs 5-6, so care must be taken with turquoise jewelry.

The rarest and most valuable variety is robin’s-egg blue with black “spiderweb” veins of limonite. Fake turquoise, consisting of dyed howlite or magnesite, is common. Buyer beware.

Zircon (zirconium silicate) can be blue, black, red, brown, green, yellow, smoky, or water-clear. It has an adamantine luster much like that of a diamond, and it is often misidentified as such.

Tanzanite, the blue/purple variety of zoisite (basic calcium aluminum silicate), is a recently introduced alternative for December. Tanzanite crystals in shades of yellow to brown, green, pink, gray or blue are often heat-treated to produce a gemstone that is a beautiful and permanent blue.

This story about what are birthstones by month previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe! Story by Kenneth H. Rohn.

The post What are the Birthstones by Month? first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Gemstones of early Christianity are surrounded by colorful stories and traditions that add to the richness of the gems we love. Many of the stories are obscure but offer an opportunity to rediscover some nearly forgotten legends.

The significance of these valuable gemstones of the Bible originated in the Old Testament through the history of the Israelites. Many of the gems were indigenous to the region. From the Book of Exodus, there was a specific list of 12 gems in the breastplate of the High Priest, foreshadowing the same symbols in the Book of Revelation.

Bloodstone

One of the most poignant stories for the Easter season concerns bloodstone. According to the story, when Jesus hung on the cross, his blood dripped on the deep green jasper below his feet, staining it with telltale deep red spots. By the late second and early third centuries, scenes of the crucifixion, some- times with a written inscription, were carved into bloodstone amulets. The practice continued for centuries. While widespread martyrdom wasn’t prevalent during the Middle Ages, bloodstone was often referred to as the “martyr’s stone,” where medieval Christians etched scenes of either the crucifixion or martyrs within the stone.

Amethyst

Amethyst found significance in the early church with royal purple symbolizing the kingship of Christ. As a result, it was often found in the rings of the bishops. Amethyst is the symbol of St. Matthias, who replaced Judas as reported in the Book of Acts and is also the patron saint of carpenters, tailors, and people suffering from smallpox. There are often rosaries with amethyst beads made in the name of St. Matthias.

In Hebrew, the word for amethyst, which is “ahlamah,” means “dream stone,” indicating its use to encourage sound sleep. In the Old Testament, amethyst was one of the 12 precious stones in the High Priest’s breastplate, and this symbolism continues to the Book of Revelation where it is one of the 12 foundational stones of the Holy City.

Emeralds

Another stone often associated with royalty, emeralds found their way into a large number of myths and legends related to early Christians. One rather odd story claims that an emerald in a shape of a bowl dislodged from Satan’s crown. In one version, this was the bowl Christ used during the Last Supper, which later became the much sought-after Holy Grail in the legend of King Arthur. Another story claims the bowl was used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch Christ’s blood from the cross.

Around 37 to 68 A.D., legend notes that Nero, the eccentric, and frankly, downright mad, emperor of Rome reportedly watched gladiatorial games, which often involved using Christians for sport, through a concave emerald. Of course, since it is impossible to identify stones during that time, it’s a distinct possibility it might have been another transparent green stone such as olivine. But the story is still intriguing.

Pearls

In the “Parable of the Pearl of Great Price,” told in the Book of Matthew, the story talks about a merchant who was looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he sold everything to purchase it. This story correlates with the importance of obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven. Pearls are often used to this day to illustrate the concept.

This story about stone stories previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe. Story by Amy Grisak.

The post Gemstones of Early Christianity first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

The Importance of Relieving Stress

The tension and anxiety connected with daily life sometimes make stress unavoidable. Stress can severely impact your health and is sometimes to blame for various issues. Talk to any doctor and they’ll give you a rundown of the effects stress can have on your body, your mood and even your behavior. Headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, upset stomach and frequent insomnia can all be potentially caused by tension. Anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, frequent irritability and lack of motivation can also be a result of stress.

“Feeling weighed down by stress can impact your health and well-being,” said Kyla Miller, an experienced spiritual practitioner who uses her vast knowledge in the many aspects of metaphysical practice to help clients in the privacy of her Los Angeles home. “It can also have a negative impact on your loved ones, coworkers and others regularly around you. Quelling the negative emotions that cause stress can increase your pleasure in life and enhance your personal connections.”

How Metaphysics Can Help

If you’re open to alternative healing techniques, using stones to relieve stress may be an effective, complementary way to deal with unhealthy tension. However, you should always consult a licensed healthcare provider if you’re experiencing any type of medical or mental condition.

“I’ve been a firm believer in the healing properties and energies of rocks, minerals and crystals for decades, as well as, the energy centers of the body called chakras,” said Miller. “Recently, I’ve seen a resurgence in the popularity of healing crystals and stones as more people explore alternative therapies.”

Miller explains that there’s an entire category of crystals and stones that ease anxiety and stress. She says the most effective ways to use them are by displaying them in your home or workplace, wearing them as jewelry, carrying them in your pocket, using them as palm stones and/or incorporating them into your meditation practice.

“Stress is an inevitable, even normal, part of life, but if you don’t get a grip on your stress, it can seriously ruin your entire vibe. Healing crystals are a natural tool for relieving your anxiety and curbing your stress,” she said. “I’ve even had clients who said certain stones have helped with their panic attacks. Your body, mind and emotions are all energy fields and stress disturbs those energy fields.”

While there are many stones noted for their calming effects, the following seven are popular options. However, when you find the stone that’s right for you, many experts agree that you’ll just feel it.

Amethyst

One stone that appears on almost every list for relieving stress is amethyst. It’s considered a favorite stone for many reasons. This purple, semiprecious stone is a variety of quartz that can range in color from pale pink to violet to deep purple. It’s said to facilitate calmness and tranquility while releasing negative energy, irritability and stress.

“Amethyst is such a beautiful stone, so it can pull double duty when worn as jewelry,” said Miller. “A lovely amethyst pendant worn against your skin can bring calming peace throughout your day while also looking nice with nearly any outfit.”

Other recommended ways to use amethyst include displaying it in your home as part of your décor to create a peaceful ambiance. You can hold amethyst palm stones during meditation and while practicing breathing techniques. Placing heart-shaped amethysts on your heart chakra is said to increase relaxation.

Rose Quartz

A pale pink form of quartz, rose quartz is often touted for deepening the bonds of love. However, it’s also commonly suggested for balancing your emotions during stressful times to help with emotional healing and the release of stress.

“Rose quartz is also known as the Heart Stone,” Miller said. “Therefore, a good way to use it is by displaying heart-shaped rose quartz in your home, especially your bedroom, to create a tranquil ambiance that not only helps reduce stress but also radiates pure love.”

You can also wear rose quartz in a necklace or bracelet to exude gentle feminine energy. It’s also a popular option for Feng Shui in your office or used as a palm stone during meditation and relaxation.

Hematite

While technically a relatively soft iron oxide mineral, many people refer to hematite as a stone or crystal. It has a metallic luster that typically ranges from black to silver, but there are also reddish-brown varieties. Darker-colored hematite is said to absorb negative energy and help people see the positive side of situations, which can help ease stress.

“Hematite absorbs toxic emotions,” said Miller. “It’s also great at keeping you grounded, which is essential during stressful times. Wearing black hematite jewelry is a great way to stay grounded throughout your day and add a touch of class to anything you wear.”

Hematite rings are commonly sought as an adornment to provide calming energy, but take care as some versions have been known to shatter easily. Another popular option is keeping a piece of tumbled hematite in your pocket to help you remain focused and stress-free.

Ocean Jasper

Also known as sea jasper and Atlantis stone, ocean jasper is defined by the circular patterns within the stone. These orbs can present in a multitude of colors, including various shades of yellow, orange, green, blue, gray, brown, black, white, pink and red. Ocean Jasper is touted for its ability to release negativity and stress and help you feel more optimistic.

“These are lovely stones to wear and often have very unusual patterns,” Miller said. “Because they give off such a positive vibe, they’re a great stone to wear to work and social gatherings to encourage positivity among others.”

Ocean jasper is a popular option to place in your workplace, especially if it’s become a tension-filled environment. Having a piece present can also encourage cooperation and better relationships. Tucking a piece under your pillow at night may help ward off insomnia.

Lepidolite

Lepidolite is a mica mineral that’s rich in lithium and typically pink, gray or lilac. Because it naturally contains lithium, lepidolite is said to be one of the most effective stones for relieving stress. It’s also noted for promoting serenity, balance and emotional healing.

“When you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed, lepidolite can help you regain your emotional balance,” said Miller. “Balance is important in reducing stress, so place a piece of raw lepidolite on your heart chakra area to help restore your emotional balance.”

Placing a tumbled lepidolite stone in your pocket is a common suggestion to keep its energy close to you all day. However, some suggest wearing a lepidolite bracelet or other piece of jewelry that touches your skin to ensure the healing vibrations more easily soak in without any obstructions.

Blue Lace Agate

Some people find the gentle, light blue hue of blue lace agate to be visually soothing, which can provide immediate tension relief. The stone is also said to neutralize anger, calm the mind and bring inner peace.

“Blue lace agate is especially helpful when situations are highly stressful and communication is lacking,” Miller said. “Display a piece in your office to help everyone communicate without misunderstandings or tension.”

It’s also recommended to display tumbled or raw blue lace agate in your bedroom to provide gentle energy while you sleep. You’ll find beautiful pieces of blue lace agate jewelry to wear or keep a piece in your pocket to help relieve all types of anxieties.

Sodalite

Sodalite is often a rich royal blue mixed with white calcite for a unique speckled pattern in each semi-precious stone. Besides reducing stress and anxiety, sodalite is said to stimulate self-confidence and prevent you from becoming overly emotional.

“This is one of the most powerful crystals for ridding your body of toxic vibes and it promotes positive thinking,” said Miller. “It’s great for calming the mind and may be used as a palm stone to ease panic attacks.”

The calming effect of sodalite makes it a good Feng Shui option around your home but it can also be placed beneath your pillow to help with insomnia. It’s also suggested to carry tumbled sodalite in your pocket or wear it in a piece of jewelry to make the most of the stone’s healing nature.

This story about seven stones to relieve stress appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe. Story by Moira K. McGhee.

The post 7 Stones To Relieve Stress first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Changing Colors

Exposure to heat, especially when set in direct sunlight, often turns this violet-purple quartz mineral to shades of yellow, orange-brown, occasionally clear or colorless. Sometimes, when amethyst is used as a gemstone, heat is purposely applied.

Amethyst crystals can be found around the world. Amethyst crystals are small in size and pyramidal in shape. They are also frequently present in geodes.

Amethyst Uses

Amethyst is popular with almost everyone. It’s found in jewelry and art. It’s also found as a specimen in collections of beginners and the most experienced. Amethyst is also used as a decorative piece in many homes and offices.

Amethyst Crystals Through the Ages

Archaeological research reveals examples of amethyst in decorative pieces created by prehistoric humans. The earliest recorded mentions of amethyst appear in ancient Greece and Rome. It was believed that wearing amethyst would aid in keeping one clear-headed and quick-witted. Kind of strange considering its Greek translation!

Amethyst also appears in references regarding royal history, legends, religions and mythology. Amethyst was revered for generations. It was viewed as a gemstone and a mineral for the wealthy, clergy and the elite. As more sources of amethyst were discovered and those discoveries became more frequent, its availability increased and its popularity increased.

Amethyst Fast Facts

• Chemical Formula (SiO2)
• Mohs Hardness – 7
• Luster – Vitreous
• Crystal System – Hexagonal
• Properties – Transparent to Translucent

As February’s birthstone, amethyst crystals bring something beautiful to help offset the shorter days, colder temperatures and lack of sunshine that happen during this cold, winter month.

The post Amethyst Crystals 101 first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

1. AMETHYST

Known for helping to develop a person’s spiritual connection and abilities, amethyst is often used in meditation. Purple is the color associated with the seventh or Crown Chakra. It is the February birthstone.

2. APACHE TEAR

These are small round pebble-like pieces of obsidian, each containing flecks of white. Apache Tears are often used to help release grief.

3. BLACK TOURMALINE

Tourmaline comes in several different colors. The black is used for protection against negative energy.

4. CITRINE

Citrine restores warmth and energy. Like the tiger’s eye, citrine can be used to increase your personal power and is associated with the third or Solar Plexus Chakra. It is the November birthstone.

5. HEMATITE

Hematite helps improve focus and provides clarity when your mind begins to spin out of control. Some associate it with the first or Root Chakra.

6. MALACHITE

Malachite helps in attaining goals and has a strong financial connection. Often associated with the fourth or Heart Chakra.

7. RED CARNELIAN

Red Carnelian helps to increase creativity, passion and self-confidence. Can also be used to clean other stones and crystals. Both the ruby and red carnelian are seen as birthstones for July.

8. SHUNGITE

Similar in chemical composition to coal, shungite also contains the carbon molecule, Fullerene. Shungite has a wide range of uses from improving the health of bees to water purification to protection from the harmful effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMFs).

9. TIGER’S EYE

Tiger’s eye is often used in jewelry. It helps to ground the wearer and to remind them of their personal power. Tiger’s Eye is often associated with the third or Solar Plexus Chakra.

10. TURQUOISE

Turquoise is believed to be a powerful stone, it too is often used in jewelry. It aids in repelling negativity and restoring harmony and joy. It is associated with the Heart, Throat and Third Eye Chakra. Some view it as the birthstone for Sagittarius.

This story about a top 10 metaphysical rocks list previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe! Story by Kris McElhinney.

Disclaimer: The metaphysical properties discussed in this story are not intended as a substitute for traditional medical treatment. If you have a health issue, please seek a licensed medical professional. The crystals and stones discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any conditions.

The post Top 10 List of Metaphysical Rocks first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Traveling in Morocco

I traveled to Morocco several times over the last two decades, where I visited a few of that country’s many fossil and mineral localities. Most of these localities are quite famous, such as the vanadinite mines near Mibladene. A few days later on that same trip, I was able to visit a fascinating locality that was, in contrast, totally unknown. Until now.

All of my trips to Morocco have been arranged by tour leader, Sara Mount, of Silver Spring, MD. In Morocco, Sara works with brothers Adam and Aissa Aaronson. In addition to serving as tour guides, the Aaronson’s are dealers of fossils, minerals and meteorites.

They have developed connections with fossil and mineral miners all over Morocco. It is through their contacts that I have been able to see many of the geological riches of Morocco. Morocco is a safe country for Americans to visit and I have never felt threatened in any way. Comfortable accommodations and good food are widely available. I have never had to rough it, aside from day trips like the one described below.

A New Amethyst Stones Locality

The new locality I visited is an amethyst deposit in the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Amethyst has been known in Morocco for many years, but the new site has the potential of greatly increasing production.

Amethyst is found in a small percentage of geodes that occur in the High Atlas Mountains. In recent years, amethyst crystals with hourglass zonation have been coming from a place called Tata, in southern Morocco. Massive amethyst has also been found in eastern Morocco, near the Algerian border.

The Anti-Atlas Mountains

The Anti-Atlas Mountains are one of the four main mountain ranges of Morocco. The High Atlas Mountains, with peaks up to 13,671 feet, are the highest and bisect the entire country from southwest to northeast. To the northwest are the Middle Atlas Mountains. and, further north, the Rif Mountains. With peaks up to 10,841 feet, the Anti-Atlas Mountains lie to the southeast of, and run parallel to, the High Atlas. Further south and east begins the Sahara Desert.

The geology of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. is very interesting. A wide variety of formations is present. Much of the mountain range consists of igneous rocks of the late Precambrian age. Granite formations occur in some areas, along with metamorphic rocks, such as schists.

In many places, Paleozoic age sedimentary rocks are also found. Some of the sedimentary formations contain interesting fossils, particularly of trilobites. The Anti-Atlas Mountains are thought to have initially been formed in the late Paleozoic Era when plate tectonics caused Africa to collide with North America. The same collision resulted in the uplift of the Appalachian Mountains in North America. Further uplift occurred in the Cenozoic Era when Africa collided with Europe.

The climate of the Anti-Atlas Mountains is mostly quite arid. Vegetation is sparse, mostly low-growing herbaceous plants. The vegetation does support some grazing of goats, sheep, and camels. Rugged terrain and exposed rock formations give a certain stark beauty to much of the area.

The Unnamed Amethyst Locality

The new amethyst locality, as yet unnamed, lies about ten miles east of the city of Ouarzazate. The nearest named town is Tabount, which is a suburb of Ouarzazate. Not far away is Bou Azzer, where a fabulous array of cobalt and silver minerals is found. These minerals can be seen at several dealers in the area. Ouarzazate is also the center of Morocco’s thriving movie industry.

Moviemakers often go to Morocco when they want a safe place to film scenes set in the Middle East. Scenes from “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Gladiator,” and “The Last Temptation of Christ,” for example, were shot in the area.

The amethyst deposit is on the side of a hill at an elevation of about 4000 feet. The rocks in this area consist primarily of volcanic rocks of late Precambrian age. Much of the country-rock consists of breccia. These are igneous rocks that were shattered by later volcanic eruptions and then cemented back together. Also, present are porphyries and other igneous rocks. The amethyst deposit consists of large quartz veins cutting through the breccia.

Besides amethyst, there is also copper mineralization in the area. These deposits appear to consist of copper sulfides, possibly chalcocite, in quartz and their alteration products, such as malachite. Not far from the amethyst deposit there is a small, abandoned copper mine, dating back possibly to the 1950s or 1960s.

Checking Out the New Find

As mineral dealers, Adam and Aissa are always looking for new mining opportunities. Adam, for example, has mined industrial barite near Erfoud. Adam had heard of the new amethyst deposit from two prospectors, Lahrou and Hussain.

I had met Lahrou years ago and featured him prominently in my June 2020 article. He and his brother Hmad mine vanadinite near Mibladene, and serve as guides to other local mineral localities. When our group of travelers was in Ouarzazate, Adam wanted to check out the new find.

Several members of the group were going to tour a local movie studio that day. I, however, chose to accompany Adam to see the amethyst deposit. Also choosing to see the amethyst was Jim Cooper, a gemstone collector and travel enthusiast from Michigan, who has been on a number of these trips.

Adam drives a capable four-wheel-drive SUV, which would come in handy that day. The weather was sunny with temperatures probably in the 70s, typical for the season. After picking up Lahrou and Hussain, we headed out of town on a good two-lane paved road.

Soon, however, we turned off onto an unpaved dirt track, which was barely visible in spots. Passing the old copper mine, we followed the track for about three or four miles, until we couldn’t go any further. We then hiked a half-mile, or so, to the site. At first, we followed a dry creek bed, which was not too bad. Then, we started uphill. We passed one small area of copper mineralization, but there was not much of interest to be collected there. I’m not in as good shape as I used to be, and I was nearly out of breath. I was beginning to wonder if it was worth the hike. It was.

Finding Amethyst Stones

There was amethyst galore. The quartz vein is about a yard thick, and mostly solid amethyst. Hussain and Lahrou had dug up a section measuring 15 – 20 yards long and up to about six feet deep. Adam said that they had done this with only hand tools over the course of four working days, though not consecutively. He aptly describes them as “bulldozers.”

The vein is nearly vertical in the ground. The portion near the surface, down to perhaps a foot, is mostly white. Over time, exposure to sunlight will cause amethyst to fade to white quartz (Remember this when you are looking for a spot to display your prized amethyst specimens!). Exposure to the intense Moroccan sun for many years appears to have bleached out the near-surface portion of the vein. Below this layer, however, the vein is nearly all amethyst. In some areas, there are gaps in which terminated crystals had formed. In other areas, the vein appears to be solid amethyst.

Most of the amethyst is an attractive shade of medium lavender. Generally, there is no smoky caste that a lot of amethyst has. Much of the material has interesting white chevron banding. I did not see any material that was clean enough to facet, but much of it should make good cabochon material. After I got home, I polished a piece, which turned out nice. Larger chunks should make good decorative pieces, while smaller fragments should tumble polish nicely.

Mineral Specimens

The new site also promises to be a good source of mineral specimens. Terminated crystals are numerous. Most are in the two-to-three-inch range, but I found one about seven inches long by four inches across. In some areas, there were layers of amethyst several inches thick with terminations on one, or both, sides. I saw one small piece that had doubly terminated amethyst crystals.

Adam picked up a couple of pieces of amethyst associated with what appears to be botryoidal hematite. The purple color of amethyst is caused by iron, so the presence of hematite, an iron oxide, could explain the presence of amethyst instead of white quartz.

Jim and I were given free rein to collect. Hussain and Lahrou had dug out piles of amethyst, so there was not much need for the hammers that Adam had brought along. While Jim only took a few pieces, I soon had more than I could carry. Every time I thought “that’s enough,” I would find another piece that I could not pass up (Sound familiar?).

Bringing Amethyst Specimens Down the Mountain

Thankfully, Lahrou and Adam volunteered to carry some of it back to the car for me. Going down was in some ways harder than going up had been. I had to slowly pick my way down to the bottom of the hill, but from there the rest of the walk to the car was not bad. A good drink of water and an electrolyte tablet, and I was good to go.

Getting a pile of amethyst down from the site was one thing. Getting home with it was another. There was no way I could get on a plane with all of it, and mailing it back would have cost a small fortune.

Fortunately, Adam and Aissa are major fossil and mineral dealers. Their business is large enough that every year they send a shipping container full of fossils and other merchandise to Tucson. Adam graciously offered to send my amethyst along with his shipment.

Since I go to the Tucson shows every year, getting it home from there would be relatively simple. I thus cleaned and packed a few choice pieces in my suitcase, and let Adam take the rest. Unfortunately, when I was in Tucson, the shipment had not yet arrived. However, it arrived soon thereafter, and Adam was able to ship it me at a reasonable cost. Everything arrived safe and sound.

Much more exploration of the site will be needed to fully assess potential amethyst production. It is unknown how far the exposure extends on the surface, or how deep it goes. There is also at least one other vein that has not been excavated. The potential is there, however, for the site to become a major source of both specimens and lapidary material.

Adam indicated that he was interested in commencing mining of the new amethyst deposit, provided that someone else does not already own the mineral rights to the area. If someone still owns the rights to the old copper mine, for example, it could also include the area where the amethyst occurs. Adam says that Moroccan mining laws are complex, and it may take quite a while to sort it all out.

When I saw Adam a few months later in Tucson, he said that there had been little progress. Regardless, I feel fortunate to have been among the first people to see this new discovery. I wish Adam success in his pursuit of it and hope to see his amethyst on the market in the future.

This story about digging for amethyst stones appeared in the October 2021 issue of Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe! Story and photos by Bob Farrar.

The post Digging for Amethyst Stones in Morocco first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Dale Huett of West Coast Mining owns the claim, near Denio, Nevada, where the material can be found. Although this material is abundant in the area, not all examples contain the purple hues everyone is after.

The purple hue is called  “grape jelly.”  It’s the appeal of this material. The translucent purple chalcedony that presents with flowering manganese dendrites is breathtaking. Color variations include pale lilac and grey with dendritic patterns – perfect for cabochons.

Hunting for “Grape Jelly”

When beginning to cut a slab from this material, be aware that it is a hard agate, and saws should be set at a slower setting to keep the blade from overheating. When securing the stone in the vice, there’s no wrong way, as the patterns have no direction.

Often when I am working with a larger size piece of this type of agate, I like to cut it in half first to see what’s inside, which also reveals the patterns and their direction, which helps me to determine my next cut. After examining the stone, I reposition it in the vice and begin cutting my slabs.

As with all agates, you might end up with a few fractures, but this material is generally pretty solid. It’s always best to bench test any agate slab to check for invisible fractures before cutting preforms. To do this, lightly tap the slabs on the edge of your workbench, which will usually knock off loose pieces, or indicate that the slab is solid and good to go.

Moving Through the Cabbing Process

Once your preforms are cut, and you are ready to start cabbing, begin with the 80 grit wheel, but be cautious not to chip too much off the back edge. With harder agates like this, my practice is to grind the preform shapes just a tad larger than my patterns, about .5mm away from my drawn-out lines.

Next, I go to the 140 grit soft resin wheel, which is coarse enough to still grind material but does so in a softer manner than steel wheels. Additionally, it allows me to avoid any further chipping on the back edge as it smooths the edges and domes the top of the cab nicely. Using a 140 grit soft resin wheel means less effort and time will need to be spent on the 280 and 600 grit wheels.

The rest of the process is quite routine, finishing with the 14k grit wheel. At this point, the cabochon should reveal a beautiful high gloss polish. If you wish to go a step further, to obtain more of a mirror polish, you can use a leather buff with cerium oxide.

If you are interested in obtaining this material, contact West Coast Mining via email at WCMining@bmi.net. The amethyst sage agate mined in this location range in size from that of a baseball to a VW Bug.

This What to Cut column about amethyst sage agate previously appeared in the September 2020 issue of Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe! Story and photos by Russ Kaniuth.

The post What to Cut: Amethyst Sage Agate first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Understanding what brings and keeps people interested in rockhounding, mining history, and mineralogical study is as varied as the natural discoveries they make.

For Canada’s Jason White, one could say it dates back to his years as a Cub Scout in St. John’s, Newfoundland. During this time, a Scout leader presented him with a book about Newfoundland’s mineral deposits, written in the 1950s. Perhaps it was during the late 1990s when he staked his first claims, operating on little knowledge but a deep passion and excitement for what he may discover. It also could be when he was prospecting full-time and selling vegetables and herb transplants to afford money for fuel to get to the dig sites. Or, it could be each of these moments and many others that brought him to the place he is today, continuing to explore one of his most significant discoveries, amethyst from the La Manche mine.

La Manche’s Mining Legacy

The La Manche mine property consists of four claims on the western side of the Avalon

Peninsula, which is adjacent to the former community of La Manche, in Newfoundland, Canada. In researching the mining and cultural history of the area, White, a technical writer, has mapped out a timeline of activity at the mine. As he explained, the La Manche mine was formally discovered in the 1850s, but the locals collected lead in the area for fishing weights long before that. There has been evidence of mining attempts dating to the 16th century in Placentia Bay (Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English were the first Europeans to explore the region).

The first mining attempts during the 1850s were the work of a company owned by the Transatlantic communication cable developers and employed Cornish miners. The veins reach from under the sea of Placentia Bay to two miles inland, ranging from four inches to 16 feet in width, with the deepest shaft sunk to a 400-foot depth. Historically, the first noted formal mining attempts were undertaken by the same people responsible for the transatlantic cable in 1855 and again in 1864, according to White’s research.

La Manche’s connection to amethyst quartz, while the focus of White’s present-day mining and research activities, dates back to an 1868 geological survey of Newfoundland, which revealed amethyst quartz in the La Manche mine.

Not unlike many things, the 1920s were not kind to the mine, as the shaft on the main deposit was extended to 400 feet, but in 1929 the dam broke and flooded the mine, and with the market crash the following month, it was impossible to raise the money to repair the damage, White reports.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the area again was prospected, White stated. Soil samples were taken. It was trenched and drilled. While prospectors did uncover the deposit, they didn’t find a base metal deposit but rather unknowingly a smaller gemstone deposit, and they abandoned efforts to mine in the 1980s. Between the 1980s and early 2000s, “A few people briefly picked at exploring the property, including the discoverer of the Voisey’s Bay Nickel deposit and now mine in Labrador, and La Manche went back on the shelf again,” White stated.

Then, in 2004, White took a chance on the mine, which he had first visited in 2002.

As he explained, “I had the idea that lead usually had silver with it, so I had staked the La Manche mine, the Silver Cliff mine in Argentia, The Meadow Woods Fluorite/barite/galena vein near St Lawrence fluorite mines, and the Traverstown Lead deposit in Fleur De Lys, Newfoundland.” As various historical accounts reveal, the area was quarried several thousand years ago and was known about by Europeans in 1668. But, since nobody wanted lead at the time, they were all available to be staked, he added.

It was also White’s fascination and career task involving research that brought him to La Manche.

“What allowed me to do the initial trenching at La Manche to discover the vein was the employment as a technical writer at Syncrude Canada Ltd. in Fort McMurray, Alberta, one of the largest mining operations on earth,” he explained. “I enjoyed reading all the technical specifications and meeting the technical experts in their fields.”

Research Broadens the Appeal

In fact, the technical documentation review has opened the door for White to enjoy an even more personal approach to understanding the extended history related to the site.

“It has gone from just looking at the rock to looking at the people who were here mining in the 1850s, my ancestors,” he explained. “I see the holes in the rock where the drill steel was pounded into the solid rock and filled with powder, and I feel my arms ache from the hammer hitting it.”

He went on to explain another fascinating discovery. “I have traced the mining engineer Harry Verran, who put La Manche into production the 1850s, back to his birthplace in Cornwall, one of the Cornish diaspora, as were some of my ancestors. In addition, my family worked in the mines of Bell Island in Conception Bay, one of the largest underground iron deposits ever mined; my grandmother’s brother was a blaster at the Pyrophyllite mine in Manuels, in Newfoundland, up until his retirement in the 1980s.”

As exciting as the research part of the journey may be, that first actual discovery is undeniably thrilling.

“The first time I had found the vein with some galena and clear quartz clusters, and the second time I had found the same vein 500 feet away with large masses of galena weighing over 35 pounds, and now they are joined. The next day, I was on site with a geologist and hit the large pocket where the first good material was discovered,” White explained.

As is often the case, the connection between rockhounds of varying experience and interest, such as White and the geologist, can forge friendships that result in countless collaborations. Before discovering the treasures at La Manche, White and the same geologist paired up on a tungsten project wherein they spent countless hours jumping in and out of 300-foot-long, 20-foot-deep trenches in the dark of night with a UV light looking for the blue glow of scheelite in the gravel, White said.

In fact, over the past 20 years, friendships, collaborations, and the excitement of future projects have marked the journey.

“There may be potential academic involvement for the La Manche project to discover additional crystal-filled pockets using ground-penetrating radar and seismic to differentiate between the hard rock and gravel and clay-filled pocket,” according to White. The same technique worked well when used at a barite site 15 miles away at Collier Point during a research project with Memorial University.

White went on to explain, “With the close proximity of La Manche and the other deposits from the University, these can be used for academic study as well. What first-year geology student wouldn’t love to do a field trip to a mine with large mineral crystals including UV fluorescent calcite, smithsonite, and a few others, large pseudomorphs of galena after calcite and a gemstone deposit in the middle of the vein?”

Presently, Dr. Phillippe Belley is beginning study of the amethyst from La Manche, and the goals, as explained by White, are to define and map the deposit, mineralogy, and then to determine the very subtle features such as color shade, inclusions, and trace element geochemistry, the unique factors of the deposit.

Among the many lessons that prospecting has taught White over the years, one of the greatest may be the value of details.

“The most important thing you can learn is to pay close attention to details, every detail, whether that be stories from locals in an area, company press releases, government reports, academic research, and everything you can find. Sometimes the slightest detail can lead to the largest discovery in the same area where others have looked for generations.”

The delight of discovery and details is clearly part of what keeps this prospector, technical writer, husband, father, and proud Canadian steeped in rock and mining history.

The post New Discoveries in Newfoundland first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.

Faceting Focus is sponsored by…

One of the many benefits of being a lapidary artist is the opportunity to spend time doing something you love to create one-of-a-kind art and jewelry to sell to someone who finds it enchanting or to give as a gift to someone special. It’s a win-win, whatever the reason or result.

Sometimes such a piece is even more memorable because of the inspiration. For Jim Perkins, the mastermind behind the patterns and cut stones featured in the Faceting Focus column, the inspiration for Diane’s oval is a classmate. While attending his 50th high school class reunion, Jim was able to catch up with a classmate, Diane. She and her family were people Jim always thought a lot of, he said. Diane was a majorette in school, and her brother was a fellow Boy Scout with Jim.

“I simply was inspired to cut a stone for her,” Jim reports. “Amethyst is her birthstone, so I designed the stone. I often do this for my friends from school.”

Early Exposure Creates Carving Passion

We are not sure if Jim was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” during his senior year, but when it comes to faceting, Jim’s carved an exciting and inspiring path in faceting. His exposure to gemstone cutting and design took place when Jim was in seventh grade and attending a meeting of the Akron, Ohio, Gem & Mineral Club and The Medina Gem & Mineral Society, a group in which his family was involved.

For more than three decades, he has been honing his skills, amassing faceting and gemstone knowledge, and encouraging others to do the same. A perfect example of this mindset can be seen in Jim’s response to the question: What important advice would you share with anyone looking to tackle Diane’s oval faceting pattern?

“We all stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “Read everything you can that they have written, study designs they have done, and look for ways to improve the designs to make (each) your own.”

During a year such as 2020, interests such as faceting, other lapidary work, and rockhounding can have a considerable impact on an individual’s life and people with whom they seek to stay connected.

“It has given me something positive to work on and kept me away from the television,” said Jim about faceting projects during 2020. “Faceted stones that I do let my friends and family know how highly I think of them. Anyone can go buy a gift, but I take time to create a gift, especially for them.”

To Know More

If you’ve been thinking about whether faceting is for you or getting started faceting, we have a few tips to get started.

• If you are not involved with a local or regional gem and mineral group, visit the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (www.amfed.org) to locate a gem and mineral group near you. Many groups, or the federation with which the group is affiliated, have at least a few people skilled in various forms of lapidary and can point you in the right direction.

• The United States Faceters Guild (www.usfacetersguild.org) is focused on promoting the art, skills, and instruction of faceting. Also, the organization aims to be a national repository for faceting resources and host of faceting competitions. Note: Jim Perkins was a 2020 award winner in the pre-master class.

• William Holland School of Lapidary Arts (www.lapidaryschool.org) is a Georgia-based institution offering courses on a variety of lapidary practices, including faceting. Normally, the School hosts many sessions between the end of April and the first part of November, but with COVID-19-related restrictions in place, the School is closed to in-person sessions. However, the School is offering online programming.

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The post Faceting Focus — Diane’s Oval first appeared on Rock & Gem Magazine.