---Agate

Definition - Agate is an impure form of quartz. It consists of bands of chalcedony and can be used as a gemstone. The bands can be multicolored or remain the same color. South American agates are usually a dull grey color so they are usually treated so that they can have a better appearance. The agates that were mined in Germany were red, pink and brown separated by gray bands. There are many different colors found all around the world

History – Agates were very highly priced as talismans; it was thought that they quenched thirst and suppressed fevers. It also protected the wearer from storms and lightning. The most famous and well-known agate industry began in Idar-Oberstein , Germany . Agate has been mined there since before the sixteenth century. The word agate comes from the name of the Achates river in Italy where the agate was found olden days It is still used today for jewelry and in industry.

Composition - The chemical composition of agate is silicon dioxide. The hardness of this form of quartz ranges from 6 ½ to 7 on the Moh's hardness scale. It is very tough and resistant to chemicals

Birthstone – The agate is the Mystical Birthstone of September. Agate is the anniversary stone for the twelfth and fourteenth years.

---Amethyst

Definition - A violet form of transparent quartz used as a gemstone. These range in color from pale to dark violet. They can be found in various countries in South America such as Brazil , and can also be found in Africa in large quantity. The amethyst from Africa is not as big as the gemstones mined in South America .

History - The first acknowledgment of the amethyst was in Greece , and that is also where its name came from. The word amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystus which means not intoxicated. In the Ancient Greek society the amethyst was thought to protect against intoxication. It was said that if a person had amethyst jewelry or a cup with amethyst rocks on it then they would not get drunk when drinking alcohol. During the renaissance the amethyst became a symbol of humility. The legend of how the first amethyst was made has always been associated Dionysius, the god of intoxication. The people believed that Dionysius had been angered and vowed that the next mortal that crossed his path would be eaten by tigers. A beautiful young woman named Amethyst was going to worship the god Diana when she encountered Dionysius. Diana noticed and turned her into colorless quartz before she could get eaten. Dionysius noticed his mistake and cried tears of wine on Amethyst leaving her feet and legs without color. That is how ancient people explained the fact that Amethysts are uneven in color and that the base usually does not have color.

Composition – The presence of Manganese in the quartz is what gives the Amethyst its violet color. Amethyst is given a seven on the Moh's hardness scale with chalcedony and quartz. Quartz is made up of Silicon Dioxide.

Birthstone – Amethyst is February's birthstone. It is also the anniversary gem stone for the sixth year of marriage.

---Aquamarine

Definition- A transparent blue variety of beryl, used as a gemstone. Aquamarine comes in many shades of light blue. The color in aquamarine stones is very evenly distributed.

History- Legend has it that aquamarine originated in the treasure chest of mermaids; probably because of its similarity to the color of the sea. Aquamarine was thought to cure laziness, greatened courage, and quickened intellect. If in aquamarine was soaked in water it was believed it cured eye trouble and hiccups.

Composition- Aquamarine is a variety of beryl, and it is a cyclocilicate. The crystal systems are hexagonal. It is transparent or translucent at times, and ranks at a seven point five to eight on the Moh\\\'s scale of hardness.

Birthstone- Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. It is also the anniversary stone for the 19 th year of marriage.

---Citrine

Definition - A pale variety of crystalline Quartz. It is light to a lemon yellow. Natural citrine is very rare. The finest citrine is found in Minas Gerais, Brazil , France and Russia . The darker colored Citrine is more valuable

History - The name is derived from the French word for yellow, because of its coloring. It was believed that it helped relieve toxins from the body. It was also believed to have helped with the effects of radiation. Lastly, it was believed to stimulate a person's brain capacity.

Composition - The quartz is made up of silicon dioxide and has iron impurities that produce its yellow color. Citrine, like all other quarts ranges from 6 ½ to 7 on Moh's scale. It is often mistaken for other more valuable minerals and in some cases can only be identified by scientific analysis.

Birthstone - Citrine is the birthstone for the month of September. It is also the gem for the 13 th and 17 th years of marriage anniversary.

---Emerald

Definition - A brilliant green to grass-green transparent variety of beryl, used as a gemstone

History - The emerald was a very prized stone in ancient times for its rarity and its many powers. It was believe that it improved memory, made people speak more eloquently and even made the keepers more intelligent. Almost all green stones were known as emeralds then because of the lack of technology to distinguish them. Colombia and other South American countries have brought most of the best emeralds throughout history.

Composition - Emerald is in the beryl class; beryl being clear needs to have a chromium impurity to gain its emerald green color. It ranks at a 7 ½ to 8 on the Moh\'s scale of hardness

Birthstone - Emerald is the birthstone for May. Emerald is the anniversary stone for the 20 th and 35 th years of marriage.

---Garnet

Definition - A group of double silicate minerals that crystallize in the cubic form this family contains Almandine, Pyrope, Spessartine, Grossular and Andradite minerals. They are used as gemstones.

History - The word garnet could come from pomum granitum which is Latin for pomegranate. Pomegranate is a tree of which the fruit has a red color similar to the Pyrope form of garnet. Garnet was very popular in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. It is even thought that Noah used garnet to illuminate the Ark's path. Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks used this mineral family in their society commonly

Composition - Garnets have many different chemical formulas but they are mostly double silicates. They rank a 6.5-7.5 on Moh\\\\\\\'s scale of hardness. The red shades of garnet are known better, but this family of minerals can be a wide range of colors.

Birthstone - Garnet is the birthstone of January. It is also the anniversary gemstone for the 2 nd and 6 th years of marriage.

---Peridot

Definition - A yellow green variety of olivine used as a gem. The iron inside this variety of olivine is the cause for the green shades it comes in.

History- Peridot was mined during the night because it was believed that they couldn't be seen well during the day. It was called the evening emerald by the Romans because it could be seen with a lantern just as easily at night as during the day. It was believed that Peridot had the power to drive away evil spirits and it was also believed that it strengthened any potion or medicine that was drunk from a goblet carved from it.

Composition- Peridot is a nesosilcate and ranks at a 6.5 to 7 on the Moh's scale of hardness. It is one of the few form of olivine that is used as a gem. This form of the mineral is transparent to translucent.

Birthstone- Peridot is the birthstone of August. It is also the anniversary stone for the sixteenth year of marriage.

---Rose Quartz

Definition- Rose quartz is a variety of mineral quartz; it has a translucent pink color. Good rose quartz is found in Brazil , South Africa , and Madagascar . Rose quartz can be used to make many things varying from jewelry to even lamps.

History- Rose quartz has been believed to bring love, and enhance one's beauty, awareness and energy. The first rose quartz was found in Rumford, Maine, USA, but the market is now mostly in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Throughout history Quartz has been known as a common mineral beneath such specimens as diamonds, but more recently it has been more and more appreciated for its many interesting qualities.

Composition- Rose quartz, like other quartz, is made up of silicon dioxide; titanium and iron impurities cause the coloration of this Quartz. It ranges from 6 ½ to a 7 on the Moh's scale of hardness. It is also known to have many cracks and fissures in the actual stone making it a poor set stone, but when it is worked into beads and other structures it is a very beautiful form of quartz.

Birthstone- Rose quartz is the birthstone for January. It is also the anniversary stone for the second year of marriage.

---Ruby

Definition - A ruby is translucent mineral corundum. There are many types of colored corundum; reds are known as ruby, the rest are known as sapphires. The ruby is very highly priced in all parts of the world

History - Rubies have been valued highly for their beauty, strength, and rarity for thousands of years. During the 13 th century in India many believed that the ruby had many medicinal powers, such as healing digestive disorders, and many other cultures believed that wearing rubies brought health, wisdom, peace, prosperity, and love. Other cultures such as the Burmese even thought that rubies ripened. As the ruby matured they believed it became more red, and flawed rubies were thought to be too mature.

Composition - Both rubies and sapphires are composed of the mineral corundum. Since corundum is a colorless mineral, for a ruby to have its color there must be slight traces of chromium in the gemstone. Also, even though diamond is the hardest mineral, ranking a ten on the Moh's scale, ruby closely follows with a nine and therefore is known as the second strongest mineral. Corundum is the crystal form of aluminum oxide. The word ruby comes from the Latin word Rubeus which means red.

Birthstone - The ruby is the Birthstone of July and is also an anniversary gem stone for the fifteen and fortieth year of marriage. The season of the ruby is summer and the day is Tuesday.

---Topaz

Definition- A colorless, blue, yellow, brown, or pink aluminum silicate mineral; valued as a gemstone, especially in the brown and pink varieties. Citrine, a less valuable mineral, is often sold as the yellow brown topaz because of their common physical features.

History- Egyptians believed that topaz's golden glow came from the sun god. It was held with very high regard in their society. Many other societies such as the Romans also associated it with the sun god. Some also believed that it helped eyesight and strength. They believed it could even cause invisibility in times of great urgency. The word topaz comes from the Sanskrit word that means fire.

Composition- Topaz can contain aluminum, silicon, hydrogen, oxygen, and fluorine. This mineral ranks at an 8 on the Moh's scale of hardness. It is also usually found in connection with granite

Birthstone- Yellow topaz is a birthstone for November and blue topaz is a birthstone for December. It can also be the anniversary gemstone for the 4 th , 19 th and 23 rd year of marriage.

---Tourmaline

Definition- A complex silicate that comes in many color that can be used as a gemstone. It has more colors then most other minerals. It can also have more than one color or hue. Red, green, and the multicolored types are the better known tourmaline.

History- The word tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word touramali which means the means mixed colored stones. In the seventeenth century it was found that when tourmaline is heated or pressure is applied to it then it becomes electrically charged. This discovery made tourmaline a very powerful gemstone in those times. Some believed that pink tourmaline attracted love and the green brought success.

Composition- Scientifically speaking tourmaline is not one mineral, but a group of many minerals including elbaite, schorl, dravite, and uvite. The elbaite variety is more often used as gemstones because of the many colors it comes in. Tourmaline contains elements such as aluminum and boron.

Birthstone- Tourmaline is one of the October birthstones. It is also the anniversary stone for the 8 th year of marriage.