Unusual Gemstones

1 + 2 are fluorite. They occur naturally in different colours. Especially sought after are the stones that combine several colors in one stone.

3 is a moonstone, sold as chocolate moonstone due to the dark brown colour. They have a fabulous silvery sheen, but very hard to take a photo off (see second photo).

#4 is a Tiffany stone. "Tiffany stone" is a trade name used for a purple, blue and white gem material that can be cut and polished into beautiful beads, cabochons and tumbled stones. Geologically, Tiffany stone is a rock composed primarily of fluorite with smaller amounts of opal, calcite, dolomite, quartz, chalcedony, bertrandite and other materials. Other names used for Tiffany stone are "opalized fluorite," "ice cream stone," and "bertrandite."

 #5 is chrysoprase, a variaty of chalcedony. The colour is completely natural.

 #6 is lepidolite. It’s a lithium-bearing mineral. It is one of the major sources of the rare alkali metals rubidium and caesium. Trace amounts of manganese cause the purple colour.