Gemstones have been used for their healing properties by different cultures and civilizations for many thousands of years. The Egyptians would grind down crystals and drink them for their “magical” healing properties, as would the people of the Roman Empire who also made goblets and other artefacts using gemstones. Semi-precious stones and crystals are known to store and carry energy. Their healing power can absorb negative energies and increase positive energy levels. As your crystals will be working to increase your energy levels, it is important to clean them, and to let them recharge by leaving them near a window under the moon’s rays.

AGATE

Gives courage, energy, strength, and dispels fears. Enhances creativity and stimulates the intellect. Agate is a fine-grained Chalcedony Quartz. The characteristic that sets Agate apart from other Chalcedonies is its appearance: dramatic curved or angular stripes, or bands of color. The patterns in some Agates look like moss, ferns, trees and even entire landscapes. Hardness: 6 to 7. Toughness: Good

ALEXANDRITE

Balances, heals and regenerates. Re-energises the overworked. Supports the immune system and relieves inflammation.A rare Chrysoberyl variety with color-change qualities. Its color is green in daylight or fluorescent light and changes to brownish or purplish red in the incandescent light from a lamp or a candle flame. This gem was named after Czar Alexander II and it caught the country's attention because it displayed the same colors as the Imperial Russian Flag. Hardness: 8 ½ on Mohs Scale Toughness: excellent

AMAZONITE

Eliminates negative energy. Aids concentration and enhances creativity.It is also said to alleviate muscle pain and normalize calcium levels in the body. Amazonite is the green variety of Microline Feldspar. The name comes frome the Amazon River where some crystals were found. Traditional sources of Amazonite are found in Russia and lately in Colorado in the USA. The cause of the green colour in Amazonite is the presence a small quantity of Lead in the Feldspar.

AMBER

Allows the body to heal itself by absorbing and transmitting negative into positive energy. Soothes stress and anxiety. Promotes strength of character. Amber belongs to the category of the organic gems, the products of living organisms and biological processes. It formed millions of years ago when sap from ancient trees hardened and fossilized. Scientists and Collectors treasure amber that contains suspended animal or plant fragments. Some types of Amber are found in the ground other types have been freed and carried by tides and end up in beaches or near shore areas. Amber's colors range from whites, yellows and oranges to reds and browns. Hardness: 2 to 2 ½ on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Poor

AMETHYST

Amplifies the healing and spiritual energies.Calms and balances emotional highs and lows. Aids in meditation. Strengthens the immune systems. Helps insomnia. It symbolizes sincerity and spiritual wisdom. Amethyst is the most well known and most prized of the Quartz family. Russia was once the main source of Amethyst but close to the turn of the centuries new deposits were discovered in South America. Since then it became more widely available. Colors rage from lilac to deep purple. The best color is considered to be the African Royal Purple with reddish overtones. Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale Toughness: Good

AQUAMARINE

Sharpens intuition. Aids in verbal expression. Excellent for meditation and connecting with nature. The name of Aquamarine comes from the Latin for “Sea Water” . Aquamarine Crystals can grow to huge sizes and are usually blessed with excellent clarity. Usually the color is more intense in larger stones. Brazil supplies most of the aquamarines to the modern market. Aquamarine is a member of the Beryl species like Emerald and it's the gemstone for March. Hardness: 7 ½ to 8 on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Good

ARAGONITE

Soothes emotions. Brings comfort and clears blocks.

BLUE APATITE

Aids communication and self-expression. Encourages extroversion. Draws negativity from oneself. Stimulates creativity and intellect and clears confusion.

CARNELIAN

Strengthens creativity and aids personal and spiritual growth. Stimulates, helps and balances women’s reproductive systems. Good for lower back trouble. It is a semi-transparent to translucent variety of Chalcedony. Its color varies from Yellowish Orange to Orangey Red to brownish Orange. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 . Toughness: Good

CHALCEDONY

Fosters mental and emotional stability and harmonizes mind, body and spirit. Encourages and eases communication. Absorbs negative energy and dissipates it. Considered a sacred stone by the Native American Indians. It is one of world's oldest, most abundant and most popular gems. It was named after the Turkish Seaport of Chalcedony ( now Kadikoy) . Chalcedony comes in an incredibly wide range of colors and patterns. It is considered a variety of Quartz. Varieties of Chalcedony include: Agate, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Chrysocolla-in-Chalcedony , Chrysoprase, Dendritic Agate, Fire Agate, Iris Agate, Jasper, Onyx, Sard, Sardonyx. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Good

CHRYSOPRASE

Instils a state of peace. Helps get rid of negative thoughts and clarify problems. Helps make conscious what was unconscious. Soothes heartaches and heals old traumas. Facilitates self-expression. It protects on sea voyages. See Chelcedony for Gemological properties.

CITRINE

“The stone of the mind”. Enhances mental clarity, confidence and happiness. Delivers both comfort and optimism and dissipates negative energy. Citrine is a variety of Quartz and it comes in the yellow to orange color range. Citrine can be confused with Topaz because they come in similar colors. Hardness: 7 on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Good

CORAL

“Enhances fertility and facilitates pregnancy. Protects and calms babies. There are two basic types of Gem Coral. One type comes in a variety of lighter shades; white, cream or pink various shades of red and orange and occasionally purple and greys-violet. The other Coral Type is black, dark brown and brownish yellow, called “Golden”. All coral is composed of the remains of support structures built by colonies of tiny marine animals. These Coral Polyps are relatives of the more familiar Coral reef builders. Hardness: 3 to 4 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Fair to Good.

EMERALD

The symbol of hope and love. It is considered by many to be the stone of prophecy. Tranquilizes a troubled mind. Brings the wearer reason and wisdom. A variety of the Beryl Species. The first Emerald mines were discovered in Egypt and they date from at least 330 BC. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald and used them often in her royal Jewellery. One of the largest producers of Emeralds today is Colombia and its mines yield stones with excellent color , other famous sources are Zambia and the Sandawana Valley in Zimbawe.Hardness : 7 ½ to 8 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Poor to good.

FLUORITE

Diminishes stress. Cleanses and focuses the body. Grounds excess energy and aids in spiritual awakening. Arouses sexual energy

GARNET

Enhances sexuality and fertility. Brings positive thoughts and boosts energy.

GREEN AVENTURINE

Enhances creativity, individuality and independence. Gives clarity of mind, inner strength, and self-confidence. Enhances prosperity and brings good luck. A stone for leaders.

HEMATITE

Hematite's shiny metallic luster and dark-grey black color give it a special beauty. Hematite has the highest density (weight-to-size ratio) of any commonly available natural gem. Famous Sources are England, Norway, Sweden and the United States. Hardness: 5 ½ to 6 ½ . Toughness: Fair

HOWLITE

Absorbs and uplifts stress, tension and anxiety.

IOLITE

Stimulates spiritual awareness and promotes the intuition. A stone of vision and creative expression.Iolite gets its name from the Greek word for Violet and its shades vary from light to dark blue and violet. It's a transparent to translucent gem and strongly pleochroic, this means that it shows different colors from different viewing angles. Viking Navigators used this stone as a polirizing filter. Hardness 7 to 7 ½. Toughness: Fair

JADE

Brings emotional balance and stability. Protects against illness. In the Chinese tradition it is said to bring to the user a long, prosperous and fruitful life. Jadeite comes in a wide array of colours, shades of green, yellow and reddish orange and whites, grays, black’s browns and lavender. The finest quality Jade almost transparent with a vibrant emerald green color is known as Imperial Jade. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 on Mohs Scale. Toughness: exceptional ( better then diamonds).

JASPER

Enhances one's ability to relax and brings tranquillity. Gives courage and wisdom. See Chalcedony for properties. Gemology properties: see Chalcedony.

KUNZITE

Dissolves negativity and heals emotional instabilities, aids confidence, and relieves depression. Physically strengthens the heart and stimulates sensation. Named after Frederick Kunz (1856-1932) who was a pioneer Gemologist and buyer for Tiffany and Company. In 1902 he identified a new-quality variety of the mineral species Spondumenein the San Diego County. The gem was named Kunzite in his honour. Kunzite has poor toughness due to cleavage and its attractive color can fade with exposure to bright light. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Poor.

LABRADORITE

Clears the aura of negative energy and protects. Labradorite is a pehnomenal variety of Feldspar which shows an effect called Labradorence. It has been named after the peninsula of Labrador in Canada. Its Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs Scale.

LAPIS LAZULI

Lapis Lazuli is an aggregate of several different Minerals. It is typically opaque and its colors are medium to dark greenish navy blue, pure royal blue, or violets midnight blue. Depending on its source it sometimes shows white calcite veining, which lowers its value, or golden looking flecks of the mineral pyrite. Lapis has been mined in Afghanistan for more then 6000 years, it was considered an emblem of chastity and a cure for sadness. Hardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: Fair.

MALACHITE

Releases and draws out pain, inflammation, depression, anger; heals blocks. Protects well by powerfully cleaning the uric field, and rapidly absorbing undesirable energies. An opaque gem with a strong blush green to green color. It typically shows curved or circular banding in varying shades of green, which makes it immediately recognizable. One of the main components and the cause of its color is the mineral Copper. Hardness: 3 ½ to 4 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Poor.

MOONSTONE

Promotes the use of intuition and feelings rather than intellectual reasoning. Brings calmness and awareness of things greater than our human body and mind. Known as the wishing stone. The phenomenon that characterizers it is called Adularescence. The visual effect is reminiscent of the full moon shining through a veil of clouds. Legends say that one could see the future when holding a moonstone in the mouth during a full moon. Moonstone ranges from semi-transparent to opaque, it varies from colorless white or light bluish gray, light green yellow and sometimes gray to black. Hardness: 6 to 6 ½ on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Poor because of cleavage.

MORGANITE

Morganite is a variety of Beryl , which makes it a relative of emerald and aquamarine. It was discovered in Madagascar in 1911 . Tiffany named it after one of his loyal customer and avid gem collector, the banker John Pierpont Morgan. Eventually the production in Madagascar declined and Brasil became the first source of Morganite. Hardness: 7 ½ to 8 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: Good.

ONYX

Gives strength and stability. Helps control passion, emotions, and negative thinking. Creates balance with earth, making you more comfortable in your surroundings. Guards against negativity. Onyx is characterised by straight parallel bands of black and white. Ideal for Intaglio carvings. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: good.

OPAL

Clarifies by amplifying and mirroring feelings, buried emotions and desires (including love and passion). There are four main types of Opals: White Opal - translucent to semi translucent with play of color against a white or light gray body color. Black Opal - Translucent to Opaque with play of color against a black or dark body color. Fire Opal – transparent to translucent with brown, yellow and orange or red body colors. Fire opal doesn’t normally show play of color. Boulder Opal – translucent to opaque with play of color against a dark background. Host rock or Matrix is part of the finished gem. Hardness: 5 to 6 ½ on Mohs Scale. Toughness: very poor to fair.

PEARL

Calms and soothes. Nurtures faith, truth and loyalty. Aids fertility and helps ease childbirth. Promotes prosperity and success and encloses one with an aura of calm and beauty.

PERIDOT

Provides a protective shield around the body. Heals the heart. A symbol of purity and morality and considered sacred by early Christians. Peridot is usually transparent. It comes in a range of colors from brownish or yellowish green to greenish yellow. The word Peridot comes from the Arabic Faridat , which mean Gem. Some mineralogists refer to the stone as Olivine. Today the largest producer of Peridot is the San Carlos Indian reserve in Arizona. Hardness: 6 ½ to 7 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Fair to Good

ROCK CRYSTAL

A powerful stone. Helps remove physical and emotional blockages See Smokey Quartz for properties.

RHODONITE

Activates and energizes the heart chakra for the resonance of unconditional love. Brings an understanding to all relationships.

ROSE QUARTZ

Gently energizes and creates warmth. Brings healing and emotional balance. Clears negative feelings. Promotes love and passion, beauty and peacefulness. Awakens the imagination.

RUBY

A stone of nobility. Brings love, confidence, loyalty, and courage. It instils stamina, vitality and strength. Removes blocked energies in the reproductive system. It is used to cure blood and digestive disorders. Ruby, like sapphire is a variety of the species Corundum. The name ruby comes from the Latin word “rubber”. The most expensive ruby color is a deep, pure, vivid red. Stones that a re pinkish, purplish or orangey reds are also considered rubies but gem professionals make careful distinctions between ruby, and pink, purple and orange sapphire. Gems that would be considered pink or purple sapphires in the US are often classified and sold as rubies in some Asian Countries. Hardness: 9 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Usually excellent.

SAPHIRE

Enhances creative expression, intuition and meditation. Beneficial for mental clarity and depression. Lowers fever and inflammations. Cures eye problems. Symbol of heaven and joyful devotion to God.

SERPENTINE

Enhances creative expression, intuition and meditation. Beneficial for mental clarity and depression. Lowers fever and inflammations. Cures eye problems. Symbol of heaven and joyful devotion to God.

SMOKEY QUARTZ

Calms emotions. Neutralizes negative influences. Improves creativity and enhances joy. Color varies from light to very dark brown; some stones are so dark they are almost black. Smoky Quartz is a traditional gem in the Scottish Highlands. There, it's also known as Cairngorm, after the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland, and old but now depleted source. A very dark Smoky quartz - often called Morion _ was very popular in morning Jewellery during the Victorian Period. Hardness: 7 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Good.

SPINEL

Calms and alleviates stress, depression and mental rejuvenation. Some of the world most illustrious Rubies are actually Spinels. One of these is the Black Prince's Ruby, a polished but unfaceted red spinel that weights about 170 cts. It appears in historical records dating back to the 1300's and it's a central stone in the British Imperial State Crown. Limited availability contributes to spinel's lack of public recognition. Spinel's color range includes violet, blue orange, red, pink and purple. The reds of the Spinel can rivel very fine ruby. In addition to its attractive colors spinel is a hard tough stone that is suitable for daily wear in any kind of jewellery.Hardness: 8 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: good

TANZANITE

This gem was first discovered in 1962 in Northern Tanzania and was identified as a variety of the mineral Zoisite. Tiffany and Company recognised the potential of the new gem and made a deal to become the main distributor of it, a big advertising campaign was launched in 1968. Becuase of it's susceptibility to cleavage tanzanite should be handled carefully. Hardness: 6 to 7 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: Fair to Poor

TIGER EYE

Clears thinking. Helps separate thoughts from feelings. Tiger Eye varies from translucent to opaque, it comes in tones that includes brown, brownish yellow and reddish brown. Its main distinguished characteristic is its “eye” , a phenomenon called chatoyancy. Hardness: 7 on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Good.

TOPAZ

A strong, steady, high level gem for mental clarity, focus, perceptivity, high level concepts, confidence, personal power and stamina. Helps mood swings, insomnia, worries, fears, depression, exhaustion, nervous system stress, and stomach anxiety. Radiates warmth, sunlight energy, and protection. Brings emotions and thinking into balance. Some sources trace the name “topaz” back to Topazios, the old Greek name for an island in the red sea, now called Zabargad ( the Island was a source of Peridot which at the beginning of Mineralogy were often confused with Topazes) Topaz has an exceptionally wide color range that besides browns includes various tones and saturations of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple and colorless. Imperial Topaz (orange to orangey red) is one of the most expensive colors. Red is the most valuable topaz the biggest faceted gem ever recorded is a Topaz in the Smithsonian Institution , it's named the “American Golden” and it weights 22,982 cts (4.60 kg). Hardness: 8 on the Mohs Scale. Toughness: poor due to cleavage.

TOURMALINE

Balances, protects, calms, gives self- confidence and cheerfulness. Alleviates stress and obsessive behaviour. Attracts inspiration, goodwill and friendship. Protects from misfortune and anemia. Assists in changing patterns to better align with spiritual growth. In the late 1800's tourmaline became known as an American gem through the efforts of Tiffany gemologist George Kunz. He wrote about several deposits in California and praised their production. Tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any gem species. It occurs in various shades of almost every hew. There are a number of trade names for some of its colors: Rubelite : pink, red , purplish red, orangey red n brownish red. Paraiba: Intense violetish blue, greenish blue from the state of Paraiba , Brazil ( discovered in 1988). Chrome Tourmaline: intense green (mostly colored by Vanadium , the element that colors many Brazilian emeralds) Watermelon Tourmaline: Pink in the centre and green around the outside. Hardness 7 to 7 ½ on the Mohs scale. Toughness: Fair.

TSAVORITE

Discovered in the 1970's in Kenya's Tsavo National Park, Tsavorite is a variety of the Garnet species called Grossularite. In the 1974 Tiffany & Co. introduced it to the US market as Tsavorite. Hardness: 7 to 7 ½ on Mohs Scale. Toughness: Fair to Good.