Aquamarine

Aquamarines are very strange and beautiful gemstones. They are usually a deep-light blue color. The rarest and most expensive aquamarines are a rich, deep blue. Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family and ranks a 7.5 on the Mohs Scale Of Hardness. Aquamarine gets it's exotic name from the Latin words for water and sea. *Almost all gemstones get their names from Latin terms.*

Aquamarines have many legends that surround them, the most famous being that it is believed to bring the wearer good fortune, happiness, intelligence, courage, and youthfulness. As for healing and medicinal purposes, it is believed to help with anxiety and in the Middle Ages was believed to bring down the effects of poisoning.

So where do aquamarines come from?
Well, many of the world's best aquamarines are found in Brazil, but aquamarines can also be mined in:

Cat's eye aquamarine
Kenya
Nigeria
Madagascar
Zambia
Tanzania
Sri Lanka
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Russia

While most aquamarines being sold in jewelry stores today are cut into faceted gems, occasionally they are cut in cabochon styled gems and give a cat's eye effect. Aquamarine is the birthstone of those born in March and with the Zodiac sign of the Scorpio.

Chrysocolla

What is chrysocolla?
Chrysocolla is a beautiful, turquoise blue gemstone. In fact, because of its color, chrysocolla is often mistaken for turquoise until touched, as they have different textures. A natural chrysocolla found outside of a quartz cavern is a very soft stone, so soft that it cannot be used in jewelry at a 2 on the Mohs scale.

However, when found in a quartz cavern, chrysocolla becomes just hard enough to put into jewelry. However, it must be worn and taken care of with caution, as it is still relatively soft, only a 3.5/4 on the Mohs scale.

Where is it found?
Chrysocolla coloring has to do with the fact that it is often made near copper deposits. This also affects the hardness of the stone. While found wherever copper deposits are found, more of it is found in these places:

• Southwestern USA
• Chile
• Zaire
• Australia
• France
• England

There is also a stone called the Eliat Stone, which is a type of gem made with chrysocolla and other copper minerals that are often found in the Gulf of Aqaba, which is located in the northwestern end of the Red Sea.

The mystic chrysocolla
The chrysocolla is supposed to inspire creativity and also relieve arthritis. I should by my whole family each a gem... It is also thought to be associated with peace, tranquility, patience, and unconditional love.

Moonstone

What is a moonstone?
The moonstone is an official June birthstone, and also a gem given for a 13th anniversary. Moonstones belong to mineral family called feldspar. It is a stone that looks much like an opal and can range from blue to gray.

It always has a silvery sheen about it, unless is has a lot of albite in it. The albite gives it more of a bluish tint then. Also, there is the rainbow moonstone, which is a pearly looking gem with a rainbow sheen.



Where is it found?
The moonstone is found in many places, including:

• Brazil
• Germany
• Madagascar
• India
• Mexico
• Myanmar
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• United States

While the gem can be mined from all of these places, only India holds it as a sacred stone. The Ancient Romans also used it in jewelry and believed it was formed by the light of the moon, hence it's name. It's name was also given it due to the fact that it looks like a full moon when it just has the silver sheen.

The mystic moonstone

The moonstone is believed to bring good fortune, to enhance passion, and to protect women and children. In early times, people believed that one could see the future if they put the stone in their mouth at the time of the full moon. How weird, and what a choking hazard...

Moonstones are also said to help against epilepsy. I should get my dog one..... It is also said to calm  emotions and nerves and helps relieve painful headaches.