Gemstone A-Z
Please note that the following list of gemstone healing lore does not represent the views of the author. Any alleged properties or powers that are listed below have been collected from books and other sources on ancient beliefs and customs. They are not intended to be a substitute for any medical or professional advice or recommendations. Please seek medical or professional advice from a medical doctor or other expert, if you are experiencing any health issues or any other problems in your life. The following is for general interest only:
Agate Amazonite Amber & Copal Amethyst Ametrine Aquamarine Aventurine Bronzite Carnelian Chalcedony Chrysocolla Citrine Fluorite Garnet Hematite Howlite Jade Jasper Kyanite Labradorite Lapis Lazuli Lepidolite Magnesite Mookite Moonstone Obsidian Onyx Pearl (Freshwater) Prehnite Quartz Rhodonite Ruby in Zoisite Sodalite Sunstone Tigers' Eye Tourmaline Turquoise Unakite
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords
Agate is part of the chalcedony family which is a microcrystalline quartz. There are many, many different types of agates in many different color combinations, and they are found all over the world.
Birthstone for: May, June & September.
Zodiac Stone for: Gemini, Cancer (Moss), Virgo, Sagittarius (Blue Lace) & Pisces (Blue Lace).
Anniversary Stone for: 12th & 14th (Moss).
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Protection, Strength & Harmony.
Amazonite (also known as Amazon Stone) is a green variety of microcline Feldspar, named after the Amazon River. It is found in the United States (Colorado), Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia and Zimbabwe.
Zodiac Stone for: Virgo & Sagittarius.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Inspires truth, Sincerity, Honour, Self-love, Communication, Eloquence, Integrity, Trust & Clarity.
Amber is fossilized tree resin, which has been valued for its colour and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Molecular polymerization, resulting from high pressures and temperatures produced by overlying sediment, transforms the resin into copal. Sustained heat and pressure then results in the formation of amber.
Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, aswell as in jewellery. Because it originates as a soft, sticky tree resin, amber sometimes contains animal and plant material as inclusions. The English word amber derives from the Arabic anbar, via Medieval Latin ambar and Old French ambre.
The oldest amber recovered dates to the Upper Carboniferous period (320 million years ago).
Copal describes resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerization and hardening between "gummier" resins and amber. The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl language word copalli, meaning "incense". Copal is much younger than amber as it is usually thousands of years old rather than millions of years old.
Zodiac Stone for: Leo, Capricorn & Aquarius.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Calming, Energising & Wisdom.
Amethyst is a member of the Quartz family which is coloured purple by iron deposits. Fine amethysts can be seen in the British Crown Jewels. It is mined in Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States (Arizona), Uruguay and Zambia.
Birthstone for: February
Zodiac Stone for: Aries, Aquarius & Pisces
Anniversary Stone for: 4th, 6th & 17th
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Relieves Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Fear & Addictions. Sometimes known as 'the sobriety stone'.
Ametrine is the natural blend of Amethyst and Citrine. Originally found only in Bolivia, it is now also being mined in Brazil & India.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Forgiveness, Allowance, Releasing, Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance.
Aquamarine is a blue or blue-green variety of the Beryl family. Its name is derived from the Latin meaning ‘water of the sea’. It has been found in Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Africa & the United States.
Birthstone for: March & October.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius & Pisces.
Anniversary Stone for: 16th, 17th &19th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Cooling, Soothing & Communication.
Aventurine is a member of the Quartz family. Its name is derived from the Italian ‘a ventura’ a type of glass discovered around 1700 which bears a remarkable resemblance to Aventurine. It is found in green, blue and red-brown . Aventurine has been mined in Brazil, India and Russia.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries & Cancer.
Anniversary Stone for: 8th & 17th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Vitality, Growth & Confidence.
Bronzite is a variety of Enstatite. It is known to be a common part of meteorites. It is mined in Brazil, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Greenland and the United States.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Courtesy & Protection.
Carnelian is a variety if Chalcedony, a mineral in the Quartz family. It can range in colour from deep red-orange to pale orange. Its name is derived from the Kornel variety of cherry. It is found in India, Brazil & Uruguay.
Birthstone for: August.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo & Scorpio.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Courage, Vitality, Sexuality, Confidence & Action.
Chalcedony is a silicon dioxide mineral composed of sub-microscopic Quartz grains. It comes in blue & purple varieties. The name Chalcedony may have been derived from the Greek port of Chalcedon.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Calm, Balance, Centeredness & Communication.
Chrysocolla is a hydrous copper silicate. Most frequently its colour is blue-green although it can be brown or black. It is often found alongside Malachite & Azurite. Chrysocolla deposits have been found in Chile, Zaire, Russia and the United States.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Communication, Gentleness & Power.
Citrine is a yellow variety of the Quartz family. The name Citrine comes from the French ‘citron’ meaning lemon. It was used as a gem in Greece as far back as 300 B.C. Citrine has been found in Brazil, Africa, Madagascar, Spain, Russia, France, Scotland & the United States.
Birthstone for: November.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra & Sagittarius.
Anniversary Stone for: 13th & 17th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Clarity & Creativity.
Fluorite is a calcium fluoride crystal. It can be found in a wide variety of colours including clear, green, purple, white, yellow, red, pink & black. Often multiple colours occur in the same stone. Fluorite has lent its name to the property of fluorescence as fluorite glows vividly under ultraviolet light. Fluorite deposits have been found in Germany, England, China, Argentina & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Libra, Capricorn, Aquarius & Pisces.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Clarity & Decision Making.
Garnet is a variety of aluminium silicate which has been known and used for thousands of years. The word Garnet is derived from the Latin word 'granatum' which means pomegranate, a reference to the similarity in colour between the two. Deposits have been found in Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, Brazil, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Birthstone for: January.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn & Aquarius.
Anniversary Stone for: 2nd & 6th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Strength & Security.
Hematite is an iron oxide mineral. Its name is derived from the Greek word for blood, a reference to the colour of this mineral in powdered form. Hematite is mined in Brazil.
Anniversary Stone for: 11th
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Grounding.
Howlite is a borate mineral which is found in the United States. It was named after Henry How (1828 – 1879), a Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist who discovered it in 1868.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Calming
Jade can either be a sodium aluminium silicate or a calcium magnesium silicate. The name Jade is derived from the Spanish term ‘piedra de yjada’ meaning: stone of the loin. When the term was misprinted in a French translation it became ‘pierre le jade’. Jade is found in a wide variety of colours. Jade deposits are found in the United States, New Zealand, China, Russia, Taiwan, Poland, India & Burma.
Birthstone for: March.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries & Taurus.
Anniversary Stone for: 12th 30th & 35th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Health, Protection, Compassion & Serenity.
Jasper is a microcrystalline variety of the Quartz family. The name Jasper is derived from a Greek word meaning spotted stone. They come in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Jaspers are found all over the world with the most important deposits being in India, Russia, Brazil, France, Germany and the United States.
Birthstone for: March & October.
Zodiac Stone for: Aries (Red), Taurus (Red), Leo (Red & Picture) & Virgo.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Strength & Vitality.
Kyanite is an aluminium silicate mineral, it comes in a variety of colours with the most common being blue & green. Kyanite occurs in Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland, Burma, Kenya, Mexico & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Taurus.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Empathy.
Labradorite is a member of the feldspar family. Its name is derived from the Labrador peninsula in Canada, where it was first found in 1770. However, it should be noted that the Red Paint People of Maine, US were familiar with Labradorite & used it over 1000 years ago. It is treasured for its play of colour called labradorescence, which shows vivid flashes of blue, green, gold, orange, red and sometimes violet. Labradorite is found in Canada, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aquarius & Pisces.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Protection.
Lapis Lazuli is a sodium aluminium silicate with pyrite inclusions. In Latin the name means ‘blue stone’. The ancient Greeks and Romans called it sapphirus. The ancient Egyptians used Lapis Lazuli in scarabs, beads, pendants and other jewellery as far back as 3000 B.C. Most famously Lapis Lazuli was ground down and used by Cleopatra as eye shadow and can be seen prominently featured on the tomb of Tutankhamen.
Zodiac Stone for: Taurus, Cancer, Libra & Sagittarius,
Anniversary Stone for: 7th & 9th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Inner vision & Communication
Lepidolite is a potassium lithium aluminium silicate. Lepidolite often occurs alongside other minerals containing lithium such as Tourmaline. Lepidolite is most often pink, purple or lavender in colour although it can also be grey, white or even colourless. Deposits of Lepidolite have been found in Africa, Brazil, Greenland & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Libra.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Healing, Balance, Purification, Serenity, Relaxation, Stress Relief.
Magnesite is a magnesium carbonate mineral, which forms in sediments, hydrothermal veins and metamorphic rocks. Magnesite is frequently white, but can also occur in shades of grey, yellow or brown. Magnesite is often dyed.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Truth, Bliss & Listening to the Heart.
Mookite is a form of Jasper which is only found in Mooka Creek, Australia. It is found in may colours from mustard yellow to deep burgundy red. It is a ferrous sedimentary rock, made up of the microscopic remains of creatures that have been fossilised into the rock.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Motivation & Immunity.
Moonstone is a feldspar mineral, a potassium aluminium silicate, which is found in Madagascar, Burma, Australia, India & the United States. Moonstone was used in Roma jewellery almost 2000 years ago. It was once believed that placing moonstone in your mouth during the full moon would allow you to see your future!
Birthstone for: June, August & September.
Zodiac Stone for: Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aquarius & Pisces.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Mystery, Self-Discovery, Intuition & Insight.
Obsidian is a glassy silica rich volcanic rock which has been used for making arrowheads and other tools since Palaeolithic times. The name obsidian is derived from the name of the prominent ancient Roman, Obsius.
Zodiac Stone for: Virgo & Scorpio
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Perseverance & Insight.
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, a member of the quartz family. Onyx is defined as banded chalcedony in which the lines of banding are parallel. Black Onyx is most often made by dying gray chalcedony in various ways.
Birthstone for: July, August & September
Zodiac Stone for: Leo & Capricorn.
Anniversary Stone for: 7th & 10th
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Inner Strength, Attention, Willpower, Discipline & Reason.
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc such as an oyster. Just like the shell of the mollusc, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. Freshwater cultured pearls come in many beautiful natural pastel colours including cream, white, yellow, orange, pink and lavender. They can also be dyed to produce many vivid and beautiful colours. White pearls are often bleached to enhance their natural shine whilst black freshwater cultured pearls are treated with dye or heat to produce their inky colour.
Birthstone for: February, June & November.
Anniversary Stone for: 1st, 3rd, 12th & 30th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Honesty, Integrity, Concentration, Tranquillity & Wisdom.
Prehnite is a calcium aluminium silicate mineral which usually has a yellow-green colour but can be yellow, white, gray or colourless. Prehnite is found in Australia, China, South Africa, Scotland and the United States.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Inner Peace & Communication.
Quartz is a silicon dioxide crystal found in every continent, and perhaps every country, in the world. White Quartz is sometimes referred to as white quartz or rock crystal, The name comes from the Greek for ‘ice’ and some ancient cultures believed that quartz crystal was water frozen so hard it could never thaw.
Birthstone for: April (White).
Zodiac Stone for: Aries (Rose), Taurus (Rose), Gemini (Rutilated), Cancer (Rose), Leo (White & Rose), Virgo (White & Rutilated), Libra (Smokey & Rose), Scorpio (White), Sagittarius (Smokey) & Capricorn (White & Smokey).
Anniversary Stone for: 2nd (Rose), 3rd (White), 15th (White),
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Cleansing, Healing & Memory.
Rhodonite is a manganese metasilicate mineral, the name Rhodonite derives from the Greek word meaning ‘rose-red’ which describes the usual colour of the stone. It often contains black or brown inclusions. Rhodonite is found in Russia, Sweden, Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Canada & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Taurus & Cancer.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Compassion, Love, Generosity & Altruism.
Zoisite is the name of a family of calcium aluminium silicate minerals. Colours range through shades of green, gray, white, brown, colourless, blue, purple, yellow & pink. Green zoisite with Ruby is found in India.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Joy & Healing
Sodalite is a chloric sodium aluminium silicate, the name refers to its sodium content. Sodalite is primarily blue or gray but can be white, yellow, red or green. The blue shades of sodalite are found intermingled with white calcite. The largest sodalite deposit is in Bahia, Brazil, but it is also found in Canada, Namibia, India & the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn & Aquarius.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Intuition, Insight & Mental Performance.
Sunstone is an oligioclase feldspar mineral, sometimes referred to as aventurine feldspar. It is usually orange to red-brown in colour with sparkling inclusions. The name sunstone comes from the warm colour and reflected light reminiscent of the sun. Sunstone is found in India, Canada, Norway, Russia and the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Libra, Aquarius & Pisces.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Leadership, Benevolence & Strength.
Tigers’ Eye is a member of the quartz family, a silicon dioxide mineral. Tigers’ Eye has bands of yellow-brown to golden colour. It exhibit chatoyance which is what causes the cat’s eye effect it is famous for. Tigers’ Eye is found primarily in South Africa but also in India, Burma, Australia and the United States.
Zodiac Stone for: Taurus, Gemini, Leo & Capricorn.
Anniversary Stone for: 9th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Balance, Discernment, Vitality, Strength, Practicality & Fairness.
Tourmaline is a complex aluminium borosilicate, it is found in a huge variety of colours such as red, pink, yellow, brown, black, green, blue, lilac and violet. Often the colours vary within a single stone. Heating and cooling or rubbing a tourmaline stone can cause it to become electrically charged, with one end positive and the other negative. Dutch traders used the crystals to pull ashes from their meerschaum smoking pipes. I was given the Sinhalese name ‘turamali’ meaning ‘something small from the earth’. It is found in Brazil, the United States, Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka & Russia.
Birthstone for: October
Zodiac Stone for: Taurus & Gemini.
Anniversary Stone for: 8th
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Purification & Protection.
Turquoise is a copper aluminium phosphate mineral. It’s striking blue colour is due to copper, and the greenish shades of turquoise are due to iron. The name turquoise is derived from the French ‘pierre turquoise’ meaning ‘Turkish stone’ this is because European merchants first bought the stone at Turkish bazaars. Turquoise may be the longest-used of all gemstones with beads dating back to 5000 B.C. found in Iraq. In current times, the best quality turquoise stones come from Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Tibet & the United States.
Birthstone for: June, July & December.
Zodiac Stone for: Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn & Pisces.
Anniversary Stone for: 5th & 11th.
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Wholeness & Communication.
Unakite is an altered granite composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and often colourless quartz. Unakite is named after the Unakas mountains of North Carolina where is was first discovered. Unakite can be found in the beach rock on the shores of Lake Superior. Unakite is not limited to the United States, but has also been found in South Africa, Sierra Leone, Brazil, and China.
Zodiac Stone for: Scorpio
Metaphysical & Healing Lore Keywords: Healing, Balance, Patience & Perseverance.
