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Articles On Gems, Minerals & Crystals
An index of articles related to gems, minerals and crystals by FossilEra.
Latest Articles
Stibnite: The Metallic Mineral That Shaped Medicine, Warfare & Beauty
Discover stibnite — the shiny metallic mineral prized since antiquity for cosmetics, medicine, and industry. History, geology, and collector facts.
Amazonite: A Feldspar Shaped by Radiation and Time
An in-depth guide to amazonite feldspar—covering color origins, geology, Colorado mining history, and collector-grade specimens.
Lapis Lazuli: The Legendary Blue Stone of Kings & Gods
Discover the history of lapis lazuli—from ancient mines and sacred art to ultramarine pigment, formation, and uses across civilizations.
Wulfenite: One of Nature’s Most Striking Lead Minerals
Learn about wulfenite—its formation, crystal structure, vibrant colors, famous localities, and commonly associated minerals.
Are Serpentine and Jade the Same Mineral?
Serpentine: Formation, Varieties & History
A comprehensive guide to serpentine: how it forms deep in Earth, main mineral types, global occurrences, and its historical and decorative uses.
Rhodonite: A Deep Dive into the Rose-Colored Mineral
Learn about rhodonite’s formation, history, types, uses, and famous localities in this in-depth guide to the world’s most iconic pink manganese mineral.
Chinese Writing Stone - About This Geological Calligraphy
Explore the geology, history, and origins of Chinese Writing Stone, the striking patterned rock known for its script-like mineral inclusions.
Andradite: The Garnet Family’s Colorful Chameleon
Discover andradite garnet: its colors, varieties, formation, history, uses, and the world’s top localities for this rare and dazzling mineral.
Rainbow Garnets: Nature’s Fireworks Trapped in Stone
earn about iridescent rainbow garnets—the rare garnets that display vivid natural color flashes. Discover how they form, where they’re found, and what makes them so prized.
Striped Flint: A Polish Geological Teasure
Polish striped flint blends stunning natural banding, Jurassic origins, and 6,000 years of human craftsmanship—discover its geology, rarity, and rich mining history.
Vanadinite – Nature’s Fiery Red Lead Mineral
Explore vanadinite’s brilliant red crystals, unique chemistry, and fascinating journey from “brown lead” to a collector favorite.
Dioptase – Nature’s Emerald Made of Copper
Dioptase: Discover the vivid emerald-green copper mineral prized for its rarity, history, and stunning crystals formed in the oxidized zones of ancient copper deposits.
Uvarovite - The Green Jewel of the Garnet Family
Learn what makes uvarovite the rarest green garnet, from its chromium-rich color to its scarce deposits and sparkling crystal druses.
Banded Iron Formations (BIF): Ancient Records of Earth's Atmosphere
Banded Iron Formations, or BIFs, are one of Earth's oldest and most intriguing geological records, providing a fascinating window into the planet’s early atmosphere, oceans, and the dawn of life.
Ammolite Announced As Alberta's Official Gemstone
As of Thursday, the 17th of March, Alberta’s government announced plans to name ammolite as the official gemstone of the province. This revelation should surprise no one, as Alberta has become nearly synonymous with the iridescent, fossil ammonite shell.
How Is Tiger's Eye Formed?
Minerals, Crystals, Rocks & Stones: What’s The Difference?
Does Rose Quartz Form Crystals?
Rose quartz is a pink colored variety of quartz that is coarsely crystalline. It is found only in a massive state and does not form individual crystals with external faces.
Purple Crystals & Stones
Outside of amethyst and fluorite, purple is one of the rarer colors in the mineral world.
What Is Amethyst Worth? Amethyst Price & Valuation
Up until the discovery of large amethyst deposits in Brazil during the early 19th century, amethyst was considered a precious gemstone comparable to diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
How Do Geodes Form?
What is the largest geode in the world?
Two geodes geodes are claimed to be the largest in the world, the Pulpi Geode in Spain and Ohio's celestite crystal cave.
Agate, Chalcedony & Jasper - What’s the Difference?
Chalcedony is a broad term to describe a microcrystalline form of silica. Agate is any type of chalcedony which is translucent, while jasper is any type of chalcedony which is opaque.
Is Amethyst Quartz?
Yes, amethyst is a purple variety of quartz which owes its color to a combination of trace amounts of iron in the quartz and that has been naturally irradiated.
Celestite: The Sky-Blue Mineral of Ancient Seas
Celestite is a strontium based mineral that frequently has a deep, sky-blue coloration. It tends to form attractive, well-shaped crystals often found inside of geodes.
Is Kambaba Jasper A Stromatolite?
Kambaba jasper is a greenish stone full of black orbs that superficially resembles fossil stromatolites. But, is it one?
About Minerals & Crystals
Minerals are the building blocks of almost everything earth and crystals are some of nature's most spectacular wonders. But, how do they form.
10 Most Popular Crystals
Crystals are very trendy right now. We've created a list of some of the most popular and colorful ones.