List of gemstone species
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (February 2007) |
There are over 130 species of minerals that have been cut into gemstones with 50 species in common use. These include:
- Agate
- Alexandrite and other varieties of chrysoberyl
- Aquamarine and other varieties of beryl
- Chrysocolla
- Chrysoprase
- Diamond
- Emerald
- Feldspar (moonstone)
- Garnet
- Hematite
- Jade - jadeite and nephrite
- Jasper
- Kunzite
- Lapis lazuli
- Malachite
- Obsidian
- Olivine (Peridot)
- Opal (Girasol)
- Pyrite
- Quartz and its varieties
- Agate
- Amethyst (cardinal gem)
- Citrine
- Chalcedony (bloodstone)
- Tiger's-eye
- Ruby
- Sapphire
- Spinel
- Sugilite
- Tanzanite and other varieties of zoisite
- Topaz
- Turquoise
- Tourmaline
- Variscite
- Zircon
Minerals that infrequently occur in gem quality form:
- Andalusite
- Axinite
- Benitoite
- Bixbite (Red beryl)
- Cassiterite
- Clinohumite
- Iolite
- Onyx
- Kornerupine
- Natural moissanite
- Zeolite (Thomsonite)
Artificial or synthetic materials used as gems include:
- High-lead glass
- Synthetic corundum
- Synthetic cubic zirconia
- Synthetic spinel
- Synthetic moissanite
There are a number of organic materials used as gems, including:
