Gemstones

Gemstones are very special and unique, with their own wonderful qualities. Rather than giving the "meanings" here, which vary widely depending on culture, era and spirituality, I suggest you consider gemstones of which you love the appearance, or hold special meaning to you.

The Mohs Scale of Hardness is used to describe gemstone hardness. Talc is 1 Gypsum is 2 Calcite is 3 Fluorite is 4 Apatite is 5 Feldspar is 6 Quartz is 7 Topaz is 8 Sapphire is 9 Diamond is 10. Generally, the harder the stone, the more resiliant it will be to hard knocks or scratches. Therefor, rings are best suited to being set with harder stones, whereas stones in pendants and earrings can be softer without the same potential for damage.

Common Name	Details	Gemstone Image
Agate	Gemstone Group: Chalcedony Quartz Typical Colours: Blue, Blue Lace, Moss, Pink, Red Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.0 Mohs
Almandine Garnet	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Orange-red, Purple-Red Hardness (out of 10): 7.0-7.5 Mohs
Amber	Organic Material Typical Colours: Translucent Yellow, Orange Hardness (out of 10): 2.0-2.5 Mohs
Amethyst	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Translucent Purple Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Aquamarine	Gemstone Group: Beryl Typical Colours: Translucent Light Blue, Blue-Green Hardness (out of 10): 7.5-8.0 Mohs
Aventurine	Metamorphic Rock (Multiple Minerals) Typical Colours: Translucent Green Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Beryl	Includes the varieties Aquamarine and Emerald Typical Colours: Blue-Green, Green Hardness (out of 10): 7.5-8.0 Mohs	See Aquamarine and Emerald
Bloodstone	Chalcedony Quartz Typical Colours: Dark Green with Red Flecks Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Cat's Eye	Gemstone Group: Chrysoberyl Typical Colours: Yellow, Green with Colour Streak Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Citrine	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Translucent Yellow, Orange Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Demantoid Garnet	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Green, Yellow_green Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.5 Mohs
Diamond	Hardest Gemstone Typical Colours: Translucent White, Champagne, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Blue Hardness (out of 10): 10 Mohs
Emerald	Gemstone Group: Beryl Typical Colours: Green, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green Hardness (out of 10): 7.5-8.0 Mohs
Fluorite	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Blue, Purple, Clear, Green Hardness (out of 10): 4.0 Mohs
Garnet	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Many colours depending on Garnet Variety Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs	See Demantoid, Rhodolite, etc Garnets
Hematite AKA Iron Oxide	Typical Colours: Opaque Metallic Grey Hardness (out of 10): 5.5-6.0 Mohs
Iolite	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Translucent Purple, Bluish-Purple, Lavender Hardness (out of 10): 7.0-7.5 Mohs
Jade	Jadeite, Nephrite Typical Colours: Translucent Green, Opaque Green Hardness (out of 10): 6.0-7.0 Mohs
Jasper	Gemstone Group: Chalcedony Quartz Typical Colours: Opaque Yellow, Orange, Brown, Green Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.0 Mohs
Kunzite	Typical Colours: Pink, Clear, Purple Hardness (out of 10): 6.0- 7.0 Mohs
Labradorite	Gemstone Group: Feldspar Typical Colours: Metallic Grey-Blue, Multi-coloured Hardness (out of 10): 6.0 Mohs
Lapis Lazuli	Typical Colours: Opaque Medium to Dark Blue with White/Gold Flecks Hardness (out of 10): 5.5 Mohs
Malachite	Typical Colours: Bright to Dark Banded Green Hardness (out of 10): 3.5-4.0 Mohs
Marcasite	Pyrite Typical Colours: Metallic Grey Hardness (out of 10): 6.0-6.5 Mohs
Moonstone	Typical Colours: Pink, White, Yellow Hardness (out of 10): 6.0 Mohs
Nephrite	Jade Typical Colours: Translucent Green, Opaque Green Hardness (out of 10): 6.0-7.0 Mohs
Onyx	Gemstone Group: Chalcedony Quartz Typical Colours: Black, Blue, Moss Green, Pink, Red Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.0 Mohs
Opal	Boulder Opal Typical Colours: Opalescent with internal colors, such as red, blue, green Hardness (out of 10): 5.5-6.5 Mohs
Peridot (AKA Olivine)	Gemstone Group: Peridot Typical Colours: Green, Yellow-Green, Olive-Green Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.0 Mohs
Quartz	Rose Quartz, Citrine, Amethyst Typical Colours: Many varieties depending on variety Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs	See Rose Quartz, Citrine, Amethyst
Rhodolite Garnet	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Purple-Red Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.5 Mohs
Rock Crystal	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Clear Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Rose Quartz	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Rose Pink Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Ruby	Gemstone Group: Corundum Typical Colours: Translucent Red, Pink, Purple-Red Hardness (out of 10): 9.0 Mohs
Sapphire	Gemstone Group: Corundum Typical Colours: Translucent Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Clear Hardness (out of 10): 9.0 Mohs
Serpentine	Typical Colours: Green, Black-Green, Brown-Red, Brown-Yellow, White Hardness (out of 10): 5.0 Mohs
Spessartine Garnet	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Yellow_Orange Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.5 Mohs
Spinel	Gemstone Group: Spinel Typical Colours:Blue, Blue Lace, Moss, Pink, Red Hardness (out of 10): 8.0 Mohs
Tigers Eye	Gemstone Group: Quartz Typical Colours: Translucent Yellow, Orange Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Topaz	Gemstone Group: Topaz Typical Colours: Yellow, Blue, Pink Hardness (out of 10): 8.0 Mohs
Tourmaline	Gemstone Group: Tourmaline Typical Colours: Green, Pink Hardness (out of 10): 7.0 Mohs
Tsavorite	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Dark Green Hardness (out of 10): 7.0-7.5 Mohs
Turquoise	Gemstone Group: Turquoise Typical Colours: Opaque Light Blue, Blue-Green Hardness (out of 10): 5.0-6.0 Mohs
Unakite	Typical Colours: Pink/Gren Hardness (out of 10): 6.0-7.0 Mohs
Uvarovite Garnet	Gemstone Group: Garnet Typical Colours: Green Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.5 Mohs
Zircon	Quartz Typical Colours: Many colours, Clear Hardness (out of 10): 6.5-7.0 Mohs