Dendritic Agate
2011
The Wide World Of Gemstones
Most people know the world of gemstones as comprised of precious gems and semi-precious gems. The precious gems include diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald; and semi-precious gems includes the more common stones such as amethyst, topaz and garnet. But the world of gems is much richer than this simplified picture.
There are actually more than 100 different varieties of gemstones. Many are rare and exotic, but the internet has made it possible to find gem dealers who trade in many of these rare varieties.
What’s behind the growing interest in rare and exotic gems? It is not just gemstone collectors who are looking for the rare and unusual. Jewelry designers are discovering new colors and textures to incorporate in their designs, and consumers are eager for information about the lesser-known stones. Miners now understand there is a market for these stones, and material that was once ignored is now carefully collected and graded.
Some of the new gem types are not exactly new. Some, like prehnite, apatite and sphene, have been known for years, but haven’t been used much in jewelry because they were too soft. But jewelry designers have realized these stones are actually more durable than perennial favorites like opal, and when properly set in earrings or pendants they will last for many years.
Other gems in the lesser-known category are actually very durable and are suitable even for rings. Many of them — such as chrysoprase, dendritic agate, rutilated quartz and fire agate — are members of the quartz family and have very good hardness and no cleavage.
Many of the lesser-known gems are relatively inexpensive. That makes them economically attractive for jewelry designers. But like so many gemstones, supplies are variable and uncertain. You will not find every different kind of gemstone available in the market at any given time. The precious gems can always be found, but many semi-precious stones, such as demantoid garnet and alexandrite, are actually rarer than diamond or ruby.
About the Author
GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, topaz and zircon. All Varieties of Topaz
crystals and stones for the cold and flu
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Agate, variety of mineral quartz Photo Mugs Agate, a cryptocrystalline variety of the mineral quartz, whose variegated colours are distributed in regular bands or zones, in clouds or in dendritic forms, as in moss agate. The banding is usually in parallel lines of different colours, sometimes straight, sometimes undulating or concentric. The bands represent the edges of successive layers of deposition from solution in cavities in rocks. It … |
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Vintage Pressed Flower Cufflinks Dendritic agate and sterling silver Dendritic agate and sterling silver. Meticulous craftsmanship and the finest materials…The continuously evolving Daniel Dolce Italy collection of cufflinks are created from handmade glass, semiprecious and vintage stones, and sterling silver. This line also includes collar stays and pins, tie bars, and formal sets. These accessories provide the perfect finishing touch to the modern gentleman’s f… |
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White Antique Sky Cufflinks Dendritic agate and sterling silver Dendritic agate and sterling silver. Meticulous craftsmanship and the finest materials…The continuously evolving Daniel Dolce Italy collection of cufflinks are created from handmade glass, semiprecious and vintage stones, and sterling silver. This line also includes collar stays and pins, tie bars, and formal sets. These accessories provide the perfect finishing touch to the modern gentleman’s f… |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Agate, variety of mineral quartz from Science Photo Library Photo Puzzle, Agate, variety of mineral quartz. Agate, a cryptocrystalline variety of the mineral quartz, whose variegated colours are distributed in regular bands or zones, in clouds or in dendritic forms, as in moss agate. The banding is usually in parallel lines of different colours, sometimes straight, sometimes undulating or concentric. The bands represent the edges of successive layers of de… |
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