Feldspar
You may not have realized this, but chances are you’ve crossed paths with Feldspar hundreds of times throughout your life. Feldspar isn’t exactly a gemstone. Instead, it’s an Alumina and Silica inclusive mineral. Feldspar holds the title of being Earth’s most abundant mineral, and it makes up approximately sixty percent of the rocks we see […]
Sapphire
Sapphires are considered precious gemstones because of their rarity and intense colors. If you’re new to gemstones then you probably think Sapphires only come in blue but that is not the case. Fancy Sapphires come in a rainbow of colors and intensities which make them highly collectable. As you’ll see from the photos below some […]
Topaz Crystals
Topaz crystals come in different varieties and colors which makes them great for specimen collectors and lapidar artists. Some of the highest-quality specimens can be mined in Colorado, Afghanistan, and Brazil. Natural Topaz colors include rare and valuable yellows, orange, red, pink, and light blue. The more frequently purchased and affordable Topaz varieties include Blue […]
Blue Crystals
Blue is one of the most sought-after colors when it comes to gemstones. Don’t believe me? Take a look around a jewelry store or gem show and you’ll notice most of the stones are a shade of blue and red will be a close second. From beautiful, bold, fresh colors to deep blue hues, blue […]
Tourmaline Crystals
Tourmaline is very popular and there are a ton of reasons why. For one, there are so many different varieties with each one having unique colors. Now take into consideration the crystal structure and you have yourself a world-class specimen for collectors to go after. From single crystal points all the way to unique crystal […]
Types and Varieties of Green Crystals
From beautiful, bold, fresh colors to deep, rich forest green hues, green crystals, and gemstones are incredibly calming and inviting. Green crystals are highly sought-after by collectors and are commonly seen in modern-day jewelry. Before we get started we should take a minute and talk about the color green. I know this sounds boring but […]
Types and Varieties of Yellow Crystals
From beautiful, bold, sunny colors to deep, rich golden hues, yellow crystals, and gemstones are incredibly warm and inviting. While yellow crystals might not be as commonly purchased or sought-after by some collectors, many know and appreciate their true value. Before we get started we should take a minute and talk about the color yellow. […]
Sluice Box
Sluice boxes are simple, inexpensive (mostly) equipment used to find and recover placer gold from streams and rivers. For hundreds of years, a basic sluice box design has been effectively used, with a significant amount of gold sourced during the early gold rushes being found in them. Since the days of old, modern designs have […]
Types and Varieties of Coal
Coal is kind of interesting when you look at it through the lens of a rockhound. I don’t know about you but I’ve never gone digging for coal or filled a 5-gallon buck full of coal to take home with me. I’ve also never put one on a dop stick to cut a cabochon or […]
Kimberlite Stone
Kimberlite is also referred to as blue ground and yellow ground. These stones are dark-colored, heavy, often altered, and brecciated (fragmented). This intrusive igneous rock contains diamonds within its matrix. The porphyritic texture of Kimberlite contains large, usually rounded crystals (phenocrysts) surrounded by a fine-grained groundmass or matrix. How To Identify Kimberlite You’d be […]