Beader’s dictionary
Q
QUARTZ
The term "quartz" refers to a family of minerals within the group of silicates. Quartz composes 12% of the lithosphere (outermost shell) and is the most common mineral. Quartzs are divided into different categories, among them the macrocrystalline quartz (amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, quartz smoke, rose quartz, blue quartz, quartz cat-eye, iron-eye, falcon-eye and tiger-eye ) and microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony, carnelian, onyx, agate, chrysoprase, jasper and petrified wood).
T
TIGER EYE
Tigers eye is an opaque stone that comes from the yellow gold to brown quartz family, it is characterized by its chatoyancy; a rippling chatoyant reflection. Its color can be attributed to iron. Its name is derived from the fact that when cut in cabochon, the chatoyancy of the stone recalls that of the similarly named feline. Tigers eye can be painted in any color just like the red tigers eye. Deposit are found mostly in South Africa, Australia, Myanmar, in The United-States, In India as well as in Namibia.
Z
ZODIAC STONES
During Antiquity as well as Middle-Ages, it was believed that the formation of gems was influenced by constellations, some gems were as bright as stars. They were thought to be the mirrors of the cosmos. Therefore each planet was associated with one or more gems that possess “magical” properties. These beliefs still circulate in todays modern society, even though there are no tangible proof to support them.
Sign | Stones |
---|---|
ARIES | Carnelian, red jasper |
TAURUS | Carnelian, pink quartz |
GEMINI | Citrine, tiger's eye |
CANCER | Chrysoprase, aventurine |
LEO | Rock crystal, golden quartz |
VIRGO | Citrine, yellow agate |
LIBRA | Orange citrine, smoked quartz |
SCORPIO | Blood red Carnelian |
SAGITTARIUS | Sapphire, chalcedony |
CAPRICORN | Onyx, rutilated quartz |
AQUARIUS | Turquoise, falcon eye |
PISCES | Amethyst, quartz amethyst |