Gemstone Name Reference List


To simplify your pursuit of gemstone knowledge, the varieties discussed in this book will be described in the mineral species. The reason for doing it this way is that each variety of a particular mineral shares common physical and optical properties. To narrow the list to twenty or so minerals to learn about is far simpler than learning about a hundred or so varieties separately. Gemstones may be known by a common name or by a varietal name; some of the names in this list are actually incorrect in a mineralogical or gemological sense, but this list has been compiled to help you find a particular stone you may be interested in.

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By Sondra FrancisMore from this author

To simplify your pursuit of gemstone knowledge, the varieties discussed in this book will be described in the mineral species. The reason for doing it this way is that each variety of a particular mineral shares common physical and optical properties.

To narrow the list to twenty or so minerals to learn about is far simpler than learning about a hundred or so varieties separately. Gemstones may be known by a common name or by a varietal name; some of the names in this list are actually incorrect in a mineralogical or gemological sense, but this list has been compiled to help you find a particular stone you may be interested in.

See Also: Gem Dealers' Secrets - Handbook for the Gem Buyer - Table of Contents

Gemstone Name Reference List

Common NameMineral Name
Abalone pearlsPearls
AgateQuartz
AlexandriteChrysoberyl
AlmandineGarnet
AlmanditeGarnet
AmazoniteFeldspar
AmethystQuartz
AndraditeGarnet
AquamarineBeryl
AzuriteAzurite
Balas rubySpinel
BixbiteBeryl
Black onyxQuartz
Black opalOpal
Blister pearlsPearls
BloodstoneQuartz
Blue lace agateQuartz
Boulder opalOpal
Cat's eyeChrysoberyl
ChalcedonyQuartz
Chrome diopsideDiopside
Chrome tourmalineTourmaline
ChrysoberylChrysoberyl
ChrysoliteOlivine
ChrysopraseQuartz
CitrineQuartz
Conch pearlsPearls
CoralCoral
CrocidoliteQuartz
Cultured pearlsPearls
DiamondDiamond
EmeraldBeryl
Fire agateQuartz
Fire opalOpal
FluoriteFluorite
Freshwater pearlsPearls
Golden berylBeryl
GosheniteBeryl
Green berylBeryl
GrossularGarnet
GrossulariteGarnet
HeliodorBeryl
HelioliteFeldspar
HematiteHematite
HessoniteGarnet
HiddeniteSpodumene
HyacinthZircon
Imperial topazTopaz
IndicoliteTourmaline
IoliteCordierite
JacinthZircon
JadeiteJade
JasperQuartz
KeishiPearls
KunziteSpodumene
KyaniteKyanite
LabradoriteFeldspar
Lapis lazuliLapis lazuli
Mabe pearlsPearls
MalachiteMalachite
Mexican onyxCalcite
MoonstoneFeldspar
MorganiteBeryl
NephriteJade
ObsidianObsidian
OlivineOlivine
OnyxQuartz
OpalOpal
Oriental pearlsPearls
PadparadshaCorundum
PeridotOlivine
PyropeGarnet
RhodochrositeRhodochrosite
RhodoliteGarnet
RhodoniteRhodonite
Rock crystalQuartz
Rose quartzQuartz
RubelliteTourmaline
RubyCorundum
SapphireCorundum
SardQuartz
SardonyxQuartz
ScapoliteScapolite
Smoky quartzQuartz
SodaliteSodalite
South Sea pearlsPearls
SpectroliteFeldspar
SpessartineGarnet
SpessartiteGarnet
SpinelSpinel
SpodumeneSpodumene
Star quartzQuartz
Star rubyCorundum
Star sapphireCorundum
TanzaniteZoisite
Tiger's eyeQuartz
TopazTopaz
Trapiche emeraldBeryl
TsavoriteGarnet
Water sapphireCordierite (Iolite)
By Sondra Francis
About the Author
Sondra Francis has scoured every major colored gemstone market in the world since 1978. She was a charter member of the American Gemstone Association and served as a board member. She was a founding member of the International Colored Gemstone Association. A true gem lover, Sondra has marketed her treasures on the wholesale and retail markets.
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Acknowledgments: A special thanks to Pam Dulgar, Alex Edwards, Cheryl Kremkow, Kate Kirby, Helen Mitchell, Carol Morgan Page, David Pond, Elaine Proffitt, and Ray Zajicek for their help.
Photographs: Bart Curren and ICA Gembureau ; Alex Edwards, Pearl Sales Institute ; David Dikinis

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Sondra Francis

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