Gemologist Guide to Identifying Actinolite

๐—”๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ค๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜‡ cabochons

Actinolite is a green-to-black gemstone thatโ€™s generally translucent and sometimes displays the โ€œcat’s eyeโ€ effect. It has a fibrous amphibole composition similar to Tremolite and often forms glassy, flattened crystal prisms. These crystals are relatively common worldwide but gem-quality stones are actually somewhat rare. If you’re just starting out collecting rocks and minerals then you […]

Gemologist Guide to Identifying Amber

amber cabochons

Amber is not a mineral or a rock, it’s classified as an organic gemstone. Itโ€™s considered organic because it is fossilized resin from now-extinct species of coniferous trees that once flourished over thirty million years ago. You’ll want to remember the age range of 30 – 50 million years because there is another organic gemstone […]