Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite (aggregates of which also make up one form of asbestos). It is one of two different mineral species called jade. The other mineral species known as jade is jadeite, which is a variety of pyroxene. While nephrite jade possess mainly grays and greens (and occasionally yellows, browns or whites), jadeite jade, which is rarer, can also contain blacks, reds, pinks and violets. Nephrite jade is an ornamental stone, used[...]

Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral, and this green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms. Pseudomorphs after more tabular or blocky azurite crystals also occur. Category Carbonate mineral Color: Bright green, dark green, blackish green, commonly banded in masses; green to yellowish green in transmitted light Mohs scale hardness 3.5–4.0[...]

Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon. Crystal twinning is common and adds complexity to the observed crystal habits. Category Halide mineral Color: Colorless, white, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, brown, bluish black; commonly zoned Crystal habit Occurs as well-formed coarse sized crystals also nodular, botryoidal,[...]

Charoite is found where a syenite, the Murunskii Massif, has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite. Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly lustre. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is[...]

Name: Larimar Family: Pectolite Variety of: Pectolite, NaCa2Si3O8(OH) Composition: Hydrated sodium calcium silicate with manganese Origin: Barahona, Dominican Republic, La Hispaniola, Caribbean Hardness: 4.5-5 Color: varies between white, light blue, sky blue, green-blue, and deep blue Uses: ornamental stone and semi-precious stone Cleavage: perfect in two directions, but not seen in this compact form Crystal System: triclinic[...]