Despite its prevalence, amethyst has been one of the world’s most revered stones for many centuries. Found in as many places as Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Africa, Canada, Russia, USA and Europe, this stone has a rich history of astonishing civilizations with its stunning, saturated beauty. While the Neolithic people in Europe it as a mere […]
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How Garnet got its Name
The distinctive title Garnet is derived from the Latin name Granatum, a pomegranate, because of the resemblance the granular varieties of Garnet bears to the seeds of that fruit. Garnets vary in size from a grain of sand to the size of an apple. According to the Roman historian Pliny, the large dull-colored “Carbunculus of […]
Types of Different Garnets
t Garnet is a powerful energizing and regenerative stone. It balances, strengthens and protects. While it is one of the most plentiful stones, it has several forms according to its mineral base, and in addition to all the healing and spiritual properties listed in this article, each type has additional properties listed on its specific […]
Garnet in Ancient Lore and Legend
Garnets were employed as inlaid stones in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon jewelry. Garnets the color of fire were also called Carbuncles (from fire-coals), and the Hebrew name for the carbuncle was Bareketh (flashing stone) or Barak (lightning). It was a stone in the breastplate of the High Priest. Eastern legends assert that a carbuncle was suspended by […]
Garnet’s Emotional Healing Energy
Garnet provides a protective influence and a calming stable vitality during use. It is thought to heal emotional problems. Placed under a pillow, Garnet is reputed to alleviate bad dreams. Medicine men used it to cure mental depression. Garnet is useful to have in a crisis, particularly in situations where there seems to be no way […]
The Origin of Garnet
Of the four designated origins of birthstones, three point to the garnet as being the January birthstone. The traditional, modern and Ayurvedic birthstone systems all indicate this ancient stone as bringing the most luck to those born in the month of January. Used since the Bronze Age, this multi-color gem can be found in six […]
The Story of Garnet
Garnet is found the world over, and though commonly known to be red, it is in fact found in a variety of colors and chemical formulas, each with its own set of spiritual properties. Legends and folklore place garnet among the most ancient of talismans. Not only was it prized as an ornamental jewel, but its […]
The Mystery of Blue Topaz
Are you one of those people who can’t get themselves to express what they’re thinking about and whenever you try to talk out loud, it comes out gibberish or anything but what you want to say? Then don’t feel alone because you’re not only one facing a hard time with it. There are a million […]
How Zircons Grow in Nature
Zircon crystals grow in many different types of rock and possess a range of optical and physical properties. Some zircons—usually green ones—display much lower values for these properties than others. Scientists have determined that the crystal structures of these gems were almost completely broken down by radioactive elements—often present in zircon as impurities—that damaged the […]
The Hues of Zircon
Colorless zircon is known for its brilliance and flashes of multicolored light, called fire. These zircon properties are close enough to the properties of diamond to account for centuries of confusion between the two gems. Zircon occurs in an array of colors. Its varied palette of yellow, green, red, reddish brown, and blue hues makes […]