For some, an extra dimension is added to a piece of jewellery when they know about the meanings and properties of the gemstones and minerals that make up a piece of jewellery. Below is some information about the gemstones that I regularly stock (indicated by *) - their properties, general information, and their use within healing lore.

(Please note: Metaphysical and healing lore is for inspiration, folklore, reference, and entertainment purposes only. Mystical lore on crystal healing and spiritual healing is not a prescription, diagnosis or healthcare information; they are alternative and complementary and are not scientifically substantiated. By using the information and associated materials on www.crystalsandjewelry.com site, and accessing this metaphysical and healing lore information, you acknowledge and agree that you personally assume responsibility for your use or misuse of this lore.)

You can use this information for your own entertainment, or should you wish to send someone a special gift this information may let you personalise it. In the table at the bottom are some uses and benefits of gemstones.  You may like to send a loved one who is studying for exams a bookmark with Agate, Moonstone and Malachite stones on it to wish them luck, a positive outlook on life and encourage logical thinking!

*AGATE:
Colour: Colourless, white, yellow, grey, brown, blue, or red

Agates generally form in the cavities of ancient lavas or other extrusive igneous rocks.  They are micro-crystalline varieties of quartz, characterised by concentric colour bands. The colours are due to impurities and less often by moss like inclusions ("moss agate")

Properties: Protection, good luck, balance body, mind, spirit, perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awaken talents.
Healing lore: Insomnia, teeth, gums, stomach problems, stamina, insomnia.

AMBER:
Colour: Yellow (golden yellow to golden orange), sometimes brownish or reddish. Transparent to translucent.

Amber is the fossilised resin from extinct coniferous trees and is generally found in association with lignite coal. The word "electricity" is derived from the Greek word for amber, electrum, as when rubbed, amber will acquire an electric charge and is a diagnostic feature of amber. This was described as early as 600 BCE by Thales. Amber has long been valued for jewellery due to its lightweight and warmth, and has been widely traded since ancient times. It is both mined and recovered from Baltic shores after heavy storms.

Properties: Soothing, calming, cleansing, remove toxins, wisdom, purifying, intellect.
Healing lore: Purify body, remove toxins, addictions, alcoholism, stress and anxiety related problems, poison, bone problems, heart problems, circulation, ears, hearing problems, endocrine system, fibromyalgia, intestinal and digestive disorders, kidney, bladder, lungs, general healing.

AMAZONITE:
Colour: Blue-green

Also called Amazon stone, after the Amazon River, this is a variety of microcline, a group of silicates used in ceramics. It's prized for its blue-green translucency. Gem quality amazonite is found in the Ilmen and Ural Mountains of Russia, the Pike Peak district of Colorado and Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Properties: Integrity, success, joy, honour, creativity, self-esteem, calming, stress, self-destructive behaviours, psychic abilities.
Healing lore: preventative, general health, heart problems, muscles, nervous system, tooth decay, osteoporosis.

*AMETHYST:
Colour: Violet, purple or red-brown. (When heat treated, Amethyst changes colour to yellow-brown colour - Citrine.)

Amethyst is the gemstone of virtue. Its ancient Greek name is Amethustos meaning "not drunk". The ancients believed that drinking wine out of an amethyst cup would make them immune to intoxication! In India it is associated with the Crown Chakra. And in Tibet amethyst is considered sacred to Buddha and is often used to make rosaries. In the Christian Church, it was adopted as the symbol of high spiritual state, and a ring with an amethyst stone soon became part of Bishops' regalia. Even now, the highest quality amethyst stones are known as "Bishops Grade". Traditionally it is a gemstone that have been favoured by royalty as purple is considered a royal hue. It is a vitreous quartz, found in most countries where granitic rocks are exposed, its colour from Iron impurities. Major sources being Brazil, often in human-sized geodes, Uruguay and North America.  If it of poor quality, the amethyst is heat-treated to create Citrine. If both stones are found together in the same stone it is called Ametrine.

Properties: Sobriety Stone, peace, calm, inner strength, spirituality, psychic abilities, dream work, legal problems, money issues.
Healing lore: addictions, alcoholism, headaches, insomnia, arthritis, pain relief, circulatory system issues, endocrine system problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, immune system deficiencies and general healing.

*AQUAMARINE:
Colour: Green, blue, yellowish

Aquamarine, meaning "sea water" is a gemstone variety of the mineral Beryl, as is Emerald. There are no large deposits of Beryl, but occasionally large columnar, hexagonal prisms are found. In ancient times, aquamarine amulets engraved with Poseidon were given to protect sailors.  In the 19^th-century sea-green aquamarine was preferred. Now sky-blue crystals (due to iron traces) are prized.

Properties: Courage, luck, purification, peace, intuition, inner strength, self-expression, balance, relieve fear, calms communication, angel communication, preparedness, protection during travel on water.

Healing lore: throat, speech, chronic fatigue, eyes, eyesight, fluid retention, headaches, intestinal and digestive.

AVENTURINE:
Colour: Various

Aventurine is the name given to a variety of quartz that has a spangled appearance due to sparkling internal reflections from uniformly oriented minute inclusions of other minerals.  Green aventurine is from green fuchsite mica; brown aventurine is from pyrite inclusions and reddish-brown aventurine is due to hematite. This mineral is found in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil, the Ural Mountains in Russia and the state of Tamil Nadu in India.

Properties: Healing, money, mental agility, see potentials, happiness, peace, opening heart, creativity, imagination, motivation, leadership, friendship, gambling luck, good fortune, career success, protection.

Healing lore: Strong healing, vision (physical), blood, headaches, sleep disorders, circulatory system.

*BLUE LACE AGATE:
Colour: delicate light blue with a fine interlayering of colourless agate

This agate is found in South Africa and is one of the most common agates for sale.

Properties: Tranquillity, grace, higher spiritual planes, calming, gentleness, ease communication, public speaking, perform miracles, protection.

Healing lore: Arthritis, headaches, digestive issues, growth and bones.

CARNELIAN:
Colour: Red - blood red to reddish orange translucent

The colouration of this mineral is due to Iron oxide, and is a variety of Chalcedony.  Finer quality carnelian comes from Scotland, Brazil and Washington, USA. India, also produces a lot of Carnelian. Freshly mined brown carnelian can be put in the sun to change its colour to red.

Properties: Creativity, manifestation, good luck, precision, analytical capabilities, verbal skill, protection, protection from anger, jealousy and fear, peace, spirituality, reduce sorrow.

Healing lore: Open sores, rejuvenate tissues and cells, rheumatism, kidney stones, other kidney problems, gall stones, colds, pollen allergies, neuralgia.


CHRYSOCOLLA:
Colour: Blue, blue-green

The name of this mineral relates to ancient times and the Greek philosopher Theophrastus in 315 BCE applied it to various materials used in the soldering of gold. Chryos means "gold" and kolla  means "glue". Chrysocolla is found worldwide, localities including Cornwall, Israel, Mexico and the Czech Republic .

Properties: Harmony, helps ease fear, anxiety, and guilt.

Healing lore: asthma, emphysema, TB, pneumonia, muscle cramps, spasms, arthritis, headaches, particularly tension headaches, and is used for protection during pregnancy and childbirth.

*CITRINE:
Colour: Yellow, yellowish-brown

It is a variety of crystalline quartz and the yellow colour comes from hydrous iron oxide. Naturally occurring citrine is much less common than amethyst or smoky quartz, both of which can be heated treated to form citrine.  Gem-quality citrine comes from the Isle of Arran, Ural Mountains France and Brazil.

Properties: Success, intuition, comfort, creativity, physical energy, wealth, mental awakening, protection, good fortune and luck, decrease nightmares, and removes toxins.

Healing lore: Depression, mood swings, trauma, grief, digestion, stomach, eliminating nightmares and other sleep disturbances, thyroid, general health, heart, kidney, liver, muscles, strength, endocrine system, circulatory system, tissue regeneration, urinary system immune system, fibromyalgia, addictions, OCD.

 *CLEAR QUARTZ (Crystal quartz, Rock crystal):
Colour: Colourless

It was once believed that rock crystal was ice that had been frozen so hard to melt. It is a colourless and transparent variety of quartz. Crystalline quartz is usually colourless, but there are also many coloured varieties (Smoky quartz, Rose quartz, Citrine, Milky quartz, Amethyst). In ancient Greece, water clear crystals were known as krystalos hence crystal. Quartz as a word originates from Old German, but its origin is unknown.

Properties: Power stone, intensify energy, spiritual development, healing, raising consciousness,  counter black magic

Healing lore: Master healer, diagnostics, pain, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, fibromyalgia, intestines, mental and physical energy, stamina, physical strength.

EMERALD:
Colour: Green

Most emeralds used in historical jewellery were mined from Cleopatra's Mines in Egypt. The other source of emeralds in antiquity was Habachtal near Salzburg, Austria. Modern sources include the Ural Mountains, New South Wales and Brazil. These gemstones are a variety of the mineral Beryl. The green colour comes from trace chromium. In Aztec culture emeralds were called quetzalitzli after the quetzal, a bird with long green plumage. It was a symbol of seasonal renewal.

Properties: Love, domestic bliss, sensitivity, loyalty, memory, mental capacity, harmony, focus, eliminating negativity, romance, memory, faith, truthfulness.

Healing lore: Remove mental causes of disease and unwellness, disease, general healing

*FLUORITE:
Colour: Occurs in most colours

Fluorite has the widest colour range of any mineral including purple, yellow and green.  It is made from Calcium fluoride, and when exposed to ultraviolet light it fluoresces - hence its name. This stone melts easily and is used in industry in a number of ways, including as a source of fluorine. Fluere is the Latin for "flow", and is the basis for the name. Due to its softness it is not widely used as a gemstone.  Fluorite is found in many places, including England, Poland, Spain and Germany. And is often associated with lead and silver ores.

Properties: Stability, peace and calm, impartial reasoning, responsibility, concentration, spiritual wholeness, psychic development, meditation, mental blocks, aura cleansing, protection from psychic attack, self-love. Healing lore: Health, skeletal system, muscular system.

FOSSIL STONE:

Properties: Accomplishments, improvement of one's environment, business, communication, innovation, get rid of old habits, quality, excellency, telepathic

Healing lore: Paranoia, schizophrenia, long life, abuse recovery

*GARNET:
Colour: Red, pink, yellow, orange

There are fifteen garnet species, and they are widespread mineral, particularly abundant in metamorphic rocks. The most common garnet is Almandine. The name comes from Alabanda (now Araphisar) in Turkey where it has been cut since antiquity."

Properties: Remove negativity, romantic love, passion, sensuality, intimacy, career success, self-confidence, protection from evil, awareness, commitment, regeneration, order, insight.

Healing lore: Health, cellular regeneration, blood, heart, lungs.

*HEMATITE:
Colour: Steel-grey

It is a relatively hard iron oxide, which is the most important iron ore because of its abundance and high iron content. When powdered, hematite has a red colour and is the reason for its name, from the Greek haimatitis meaning "blood-red". Bones of Neolithic burials have been found smeared with powdered hematite.

Properties: Mental attunement, memory, calming, balance, grounding, centring, focusing energy and emotions, peace, inner happiness, transforming negativity

Healing lore: Keep the body cool, blood disorders, nervous problems, insomnia, align the spine, mend broken bones, anaemia.

*IOLITE (Water Sapphire):
Colour: Blue

Ioloite is the name given to gem quality Cordierite. It was named after French geologist Pierre Cordier who first described it in 1813.

Properties: Intuition, spiritual growth, balance, releasing discord, awakening to inner knowledge, Shaman stone, visions.

Healing lore: Strong healing, addictions, sobriety, detoxification, sore throat, varicose veins, blisters.

JADE:
Colour: Cream, light to dark green

Nephrite is one of two minerals that are commonly known as jade. It is found in large quantities in New Zealand and China.  It has a "tough" structure that makes it stronger than steel and ideal for carving. In Europe Jade (Nephrite) was used to treat kidney disease.

Properties: Fidelity, dreams, realization of potential, peace, accord, resourcefulness, accomplishment, emotional balance, protection.

Healing lore: Heart, illness, kidneys.

JASPERS:
Colour: Red, yellow, brown and numerous others

The Babylonians believed that this stone influenced women's diseases, and was a symbol of childbirth.

Properties: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness, relaxation, tranquility, wholeness, astral travel, Yin and Yang.

Healing lore: Liver, gallbladder, stomach.

*LAPIS LAZULI:
Colour: Various intense shades of blue

Lazurite is the main component of lapis lazuli, however, pyrite, calcite, sodalite and hauyne are also found in the stone. Powdered lapis lazuli was used as a cosmetic (the first eye shadow). It was also used as a pigment, including for paints. Its modern name comes from the Persian word lazhuward meaning "blue" and the Arabic word lazaward meaning "heaven" or "sky".  It came to use in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Properties: Manifestation, wisdom, truthfulness, openness, communication, inner power, intuition, spiritual evolution, virility, self-confidence, objectivity, dreams, purity, serenity, guardian spirits, love and fidelity within marriage, protection.

Healing lore: Sinus ailments, insomnia, depression, recurring fevers, vision, hearing, throat, lungs, immune system.

*MALACHITE:
Colour: Bright green

It is probably the earliest ore of copper, having been mined since 3000 BCE in Egypt and Sinai. It has been used as eye paint, a pigment for wall painting and in glazes and colouring glass. It is a minor ore of copper, but its principal use is as an ornamental material and gemstone.

Properties: Transformation, insight, spiritual evolution, protection during pregnancy and childbirth, clarifying emotions, fidelity, loyalty, practicality.

Healing lore: Radiation sickness, asthma, arthritis, tumours

 *MOONSTONE:
Colour: Colourless, white

Important sources of moonstone are Scotland, Kenya, Sicily and Antarctica.

Properties: Introspection, reflection, beginnings, insight, tenderness, harmony, peace, travel, intuition, psychism, protection (especially during pregnancy, childbirth and travel at sea), substitute for pearl in crystal healing.

Healing lore: Pituitary gland, digestive system, obesity, water retention, hormonal problems, menstrual problems.

*MOTHER OF PEARL:
Colour: Cream, white, iridescent

This is also known as nacre. The pearl industry started out by the collection of this from oyster shells.

Properties: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation, psychic, protection of children, purify environment.

Healing lore: High blood pressure, dizziness, vision, cataracts, wound healing.

OBSIDIANS:
Colours: Black, brown, red

Obsidian is a natural volcanic glass, which forms when its cools too quickly for crystals to grow.

 Properties: Clarity, deflecting negativity, protection, healing, grounding.

Healing lore: Buried emotions causing illness, stomach, intestines, muscle tissue, bacterial infections, viral infections.

ONYX:
Colours: Black and white

Onyx is the striped semi-precious variety of agate, with black and white bands. The name comes from the Greek word onux for "nail" or "claw" referring to the minerals colour.

Properties: Self-control, decision making, conquer challenges, intuition, recognition of personal strengths, grounding, protection.

Healing lore: Stamina, childbirth, wound healing.

*PEARL
Colour: White, cream, black, blue, yellow, green or pink

Pearls are formed by molluscs whose shells are lined with mother-of-pearl, such as salt-water oysters and fresh water clams. Cultured pearls are those that have been grown on a pearl farm, in which a tiny seed of mother-of-pearl is implanted into a nacre-producing mollusc.

Properties: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity.

Healing lore: Fertility, childbirth, digestion, muscular system.

*PERIDOT:
Colour: Green 

Peridotite is one of the worlds most economically important rocks, as it is the ultimate source of chromium - the element which gives peridot gemstones their colour. Naturally occurring diamonds are found in Kimberlite, which is a variety of peridotite.

Properties: Warmth, friendliness, understanding, openness in love and relationships, regulation of cycles, ESP, find what is lost, protective shield.

Healing lore: High healing energy, slow aging, ulcers, digestion problems.

*ROCK CRYSTAL  (Crystal Quartz, Clear Quartz):

 Please see "Clear Quartz for information

*ROSE QUARTZ:
Colour: Pink, rose

 Its colour is attributed to traces of Titanium. Significant sources are Madagascar, Brazil, Sweden and Spain.

Properties: Love of all kinds including self-love, protection during pregnancy and childbirth, peace, happiness, gentleness.

Healing lore: Emotional wounds, heart, the circulatory system, fertility, headaches, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, sinus problems, throat problems, depression, addictions, ear aches, slows signs of aging in general, reduces wrinkles, spleen problems, fibromyalgia, and reaching one's ideal weight and weight loss.

 *RUBY
Colour: Red

Rubies rarely grow larger than 10 carats, due to the chromium, that gives the red colour, inhibits crystal growth. Rubies are a natural aluminium oxide called corundum and next to diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth. They are known as the "king of stones" in Sanskrit.  They have been mined from the gem gravels of Sri Lanka since 8^th Century BCE.

Properties: Integrity, generosity, nurturing, spiritual wisdom, attainment of values, economic stability and prosperity, protection from distress, home and contents protection.

Healing lore: Emotional problems, fever, constrictions in circulatory system, heart, blood flow, muscular system, throat, parathyroid glands, brain.

 *SAPPHIRE
Colours: Occurs in most colours

Corundum is the natural ore of aluminium oxide, and next to diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth. Red corundum is known as ruby, all other colours are known as sapphires. The term Sapphire has only been applied to blue corundum since the 19^th Century.

Properties: Joy, peace, beauty, creative expression, meditation, intuition, prosperity, fulfilment of dreams, mental clarity.

Healing lore: Relieve depression, lower fevers, reduce inflammation, burns, hearing problems.

 *SILVER
Colour: Silver-white

Next to gold, silver is the most malleable and ductile metal. The first electrics in houses used silver wire, instead of copper, as it's the best electrical conductor. To increase the durability of silver, it is alloyed with other metals, usually copper.  It has been mined in Mexico since 1500 CE.

Properties: Soul mirror, intuition, psychic, improve speech, eloquence, enhance and store energies of gemstones, draw out negative energies, moon energies, feminine/yin energy.

Healing lore: Hepatitis, eliminate toxins, headache, rheumatic pain, nausea, gastric, obesity, diabetes, increase assimilation of vitamins A and E.

SMOKY QUARTZ:
Colour: Light brown to black

It is relatively abundant and as such is worth less than amethyst and citrine. The Swiss Alps and Pikes Peak, Colorado are sources of Smoky quartz.

Properties: Dissolving emotional blockage, clearing the mind, cooperation, grounding and centring, personal pride, joy in living, attentiveness to the moment, protection, good luck.

Healing lore: Kidneys, abdomen, pancreas, reproductive organs, menstrual cramps, fertility issues, water retention.


*SODALITE:
Colour: Blue

It is a component of Lapis lazuli and is often mistaken for that stone.

Properties: Wisdom, logic, calmness, healing, stress reduction, companionship, self-esteem, work in groups, heal communication breeches, truth, intelligence, knowledge, learning.

Healing lore: Glands, digestive system, insomnia, calcium deficiency, head colds.

TIGER EYE:
Colour: Yellow-brown

It is a semi-precious variety of quartz exhibiting chatoyancy, a vertical luminescent,

Properties: Self-discipline, practicality, protection, grounding peacefulness, clarity, intelligence, intuition and psychic powers, new experiences, financial stability, calmness, releasing inhibitions, integrity, willpower, prosperity, personal power, kundalini.

Healing lore: Heal wounds, bruises, colon, digestion, stomach problems, eyes, night vision, reduce pain, alcoholism, reproductive system.

*TOURMALINE:
Colour: Black, green, brown, red, blue, yellow or pink

The origins of the name comes from the Singhalese word turamali meaning "gem pebbles".

Properties: Energizing, soul-searching, releasing, flexibility, happiness, objectivity, serenity, dispel negativity, ease grief, calm nerves, charisma, compassion, tolerance, psychic channelling, protection, raises vibrations. Healing lore: Endocrine system, reproductive system, cancer, genetic disorders, peaceful sleep.

TURQUOISE:
Colour: Blue, green

It was one of the first gemstones to be mined, beads have been found dating from 5000 BCE in present day Iraq. Turquoise from several sources was first transported to Europe through Turkey, which probably accounts for its name which is French for "Turkey".

Properties: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, communication, healing, protection, valour, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.

Healing lore: Master Healing Stone, prevents illness, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, all health issues in general.


Please note: Metaphysical and healing lore is for inspiration, folklore, reference, and entertainment purposes only. Mystical lore on crystal healing and spiritual healing is not a prescription, diagnosis or healthcare information; they are alternative and complementary and are not scientifically substantiated. By using the information and associated materials on www.crystalsandjewelry.com site, and accessing this metaphysical and healing lore information, you acknowledge and agree that you personally assume responsibility for your use or misuse of this lore.

  

The uses and benefits of gemstones
Readiness for action	Amethyst, Ametrine, Frie opal, Chrysoprase, Rhodonite, Turquoise
New beginnings	Garnet, Moss Agate
Cheerfulness	Amber, Fire Opal
Creativity	Ametrine, Amber, Garnet, Labradorite, Tourmaline
Unfinished business	Aquamaine, Carnelian
Fulfillment of desires	Amber, Malachite, Hematite, Fire opal
Devotion	Kunzite, Tourmaline
Solving difficulties	Carnelian, Garnet, Moss Agate. Smokey quartz, Tiger eye
Connection with earth	Petrified wood
Enthusiasm	Aventurine, Fire opal. Garnet. Labradorite, Rhodochrosite
Fertility	Chrysoprase, Imperial topaz, Moonstone, Rhodonite, Rose quartz
Foresight	Aquamarine, Turquoise
Friendship	Emerald, Lapis lazuli, Malechite, Peridot, Rhodonite. Watermelon tourmaline
Goal setting	Labradorite, Lepidolite, Watermelon tourmaline
Industriousness	Rhodochrosite
Intuition	Amethyst, Amazonite, Ametrine, Petrified wood, Kunzite, Labradodite, Moonstone, Turquoise
Love	Chyssoprase, Emerald, Moonstone, Rhodochrosite, Rose quartz, Ruby, Watermelon tourmaline
Luck	Agate, Ametrine, Aventurine, Amber, Chrysoprase, Garnet, Malachite. Moonstone, Sunstone, Turquoise
Increase motivation	Amber, Chrysoprase
Order	Aquamarine, Fluorite, Sodalite
Positive attitude towards life	Malachite, Chrysoprase. Imperial topaz, Rhodochrosite. Sunstone
Protection	Agate, Lepidolote, Smokey quartz, Serpentine, Tiger eye, Turquoise, Black tourmaline, Watermelon tourmaline
Self- confidence	Calcite, Citrine, Fluorite, Garnet, Imperial topaz, Sunstone
Stamina	Aquamarine, Garnet, Red jasper
Logical thinking	Agate, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Kunzite, Lepidolite, Black tourmaline

 

 References:

Bonewitz, R.L. (2005) Rock and Gem - The definitive guide to rocks, minerals, gems and fossils Dorling and Kindersley Ltd, London

http://crystal-cure.com/gemstone-meanings.html

Traditional and Modern Metaphysical and Healing Gemstone Properties Lore by Robyn Harton www.crystalsandjewelry.com