Introduction To Exotic Gemstones
Charms and gemstones possess distinctive traits and qualities, which illustrate their splendid history as well as their physical characteristics. Exotic gemstones are those gemstones that are considered as ultimate gems for jewelry lovers and jewelry enthusiasts, who love to be different, cool, and classy. Generally, exotic gemstones are used in making beautiful gemstone jewelry that looks good, but many people also buy exotic gemstones for their healing properties and metaphysical benefits.
In the blog below, you will find some of the world’s most rare and exciting exotic gemstones along with their fun facts and beneficial information. These gemstones mentioned below add exceptionality to the jewelry products through their appearance, color, and mysterious healing properties for the people who wear them. The most popular exotic gemstones include cinnabar, bloodstone, carnelian, amazonite, amber, astrophyllite, azurite, moonstone, opal, larimar, turquoise, moldavite, and many more.
This blog consists of details about some of the exotic stones mentioned above, such as historical and cultural significance, healing properties, physical traits, and information about the gemstone’s origin. So, without further ado, let's dive straight into the list of exotic stones.
List of Exotic Stones
1. Cinnabar
Cinnabar is a vermillion red gemstone, which is also an ore of the metal mercury. The name ‘cinnabar’ has been derived from the Indian phrase that means “dragon’s blood”, which is a name given to this stone because of its vivid red hues. This gemstone has been used in various places throughout history, spanning from jewelry to art. This gemstone falls between 2 and 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is why it is easy to grind into a fine powder for pigments and other related applications. One interesting thing about cinnabar is, its density is exceptionally high, which is about 8.1. If you want to be specific, then cinnabar is nothing but mercury sulfide. Apart from its scientific applications of extracting mercury, cinnabar is also used by crystal healers because this gemstone is associated with vitality, the duality of life and death, and victory.
2. Bloodstone
Let's begin with what Bloodstone looks like. Have you ever seen Jasper? You might have mistaken Jasper for being a bloodstone if the vivid splashes of blood-red spots were not present in the bloodstone. If you talk with reference to Biblical mythology, you will find that bloodstone was created when the blood drops of Jesus fell onto a jasper stone at the foot of the cross. Also called a heliotrope, the bloodstone is also very famous as the March birthstone. Mineralogically, bloodstone is a chalcedony, which is a variety of the quartz family. Although India is considered the main source of mined, faceted, and gem-quality bloodstone, other origins of this stone include China, Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia.
3. Carnelian
Nicknamed the “Singer’s stone” and “artist’s stone”, the carnelian gemstone is a striking orange jewel that has been loved by kings and royalty since early civilizations. A member of the chalcedony family, carnelian is a type of silica mineral quartz. Historically, carnelian was associated with the month of August, but now, it is regarded as the modern birthstone of July. Since carnelian is composed of silicon dioxide, and has a hexagonal crystalline structure, it ranks an impressive seven on the Mohs hardness scale. Thus, our beautiful orange carnelians are literally tougher than knives and steel nails! Talking about the prime place where carnelians are mined, the Gujrat region in India is home to the biggest carnelian mine, and for five thousand years, this mine has supplied the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans.
4. Amazonite
As a green gemstone which is also found in bluish-green varieties, Amazonite is a tectosilicate mineral. This crystal clocks between 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Although the occurrence and supply of amazonite is limited, it has been found in various parts of the world, such as South Africa, China, and the United States. If you are thinking that there is a long story of how this stone got its name, let us enlighten you, this gemstone got its name from the green stones that were formerly found in the Amazon River. The most interesting part of amazonite is, that it has a rich history – it was used in creating jewelry in ancient Egypt, and beaded amazonite jewelry was also found in King Tut’s tomb.
5. Amber
Amber is a soft yellowish-orange stone, translucent in nature, which is composed of fossilized tree resin. This fossilized tree resin often contains plant remnants and insects inside it. Amber is considered a popular material because it can be used to understand the time before the ice age, both for learning about our earth’s history and learning about the flora and fauna trapped inside it. Some people claim that since amber is not a mineral, it cannot be considered a gemstone. However, amber’s innate ability to get cut and polished makes its use in the field of creating gemstone jewelry possible. The best part about amber is that it is not rare: it is accessible worldwide, the two prime locations of amber being the US state of Kansas and the Baltic Sea area.
6. Astrophyllite
Astrophyllite is a black or brown to golden gemstone that is generally formed inside other host rocks or crystals. Oftentimes, it is cut along with the host rock it is formed in. Astrophyllite joins the exotic gemstone list along with azurite, moonstone, opal, larimar, and many more. Collectors love astrophyllite not just for its scarcity, but also for the starburst crystal pattern it shows with submetallic glimmer. This gemstone is also popular among crystal healers and various psychics, who seek it for its innate ability to balance all seven chakras and also for its spiritual powers. On the Mohs scale of hardness, astrophyllite ranks 3, which is why it is considered a soft stone.
7. Azurite
As a blue copper carbonate mineral, azurite is known for its vibrant color and its long history in the field of arts. The vivid cobalt blue hue of this stone has led artists to grind this gemstone into paint and dye for centuries, and the color of this stone can be seen in some of the world's most famous pieces of art. Two notable artists who have used azurite dye are the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger and the Italian painter Raphael. As a semi-precious gemstone, azurite reflects the shifting blues of the sky. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, azurite ranks at 3.5 to 4, which is why it is considered a soft stone. In modern times, the most prominent azurite deposits are in the USA, Australia, and France.
8. Moldavite
Moldavite is a green silica glass that has a unique story behind its formation. The accepted theory behind moldavite’s formation states that they were formed at high pressures and temperatures, from superficial tertiary sediments during an impact of a very huge meteorite. This meteorite impact is said to have occurred over 14.75 million years ago in the Ries area in Germany. It is also one of the rarest gemstones found on Earth. Why is it rare? Well, because on the one hand, where the annual production of diamonds is 30 tons, while on the other, there are only 300 tons of moldavite total that are to be yet mined from earth! Moldavite is the most common gem-quality tektite mineral, which is found in colors of olive green, dark green, turquoise, or sea glass-green.
9. Moonstone
Moonstone is considered to be an oligoclase or orthoclase feldspar gemstone which shimmers like the beams from the moon. Unlike diamonds, moonstone jewelry is popular among both women as well as men. Moonstones are often set in sterling silver, white gold, titanium, and mixed metals. Moonstone is very liked by June babies since moonstone is the June birthstone. If you talk about the hardness of moonstone on the Mohs scale, it ranks between 6 to 6.5, right below topaz and quartz. Historically, India and Sri Lanka produced the highest quality of moonstones, but today, moonstone deposits are found all over the world, including Australia, Austria, Finland, Mexico, Norway, and parts of Africa.
10. Opal
One of the most unique gemstones in the world known for its fire-like appearance and beautiful iridescent is none other than opal. In the past century or so, people believed that opal was a gemstone that contained other stones. The red spots were assessed as ruby, the green spots were assessed as emerald, and each opal was believed to be a cluster of multiple stones. But this is just a myth since opals are found in a wide variety of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Unlike most gemstones, opal is a mineraloid and not a mineral and is composed of hydrated amorphous silica. It ranks relatively low on the Mohs hardness scale, between 5 and 6.5.
If you talk about the type of opals, majorly, there are two types of opal – precious opals, and common opals. The only difference between the two is precious opals demonstrate an optical effect, like a rainbow, called the play of colors.
11. Larimar
Larimar, which is also sometimes referred to as lorimar, is a rare sea green to blue gemstone, which is a sub-type of pectolite. This gemstone is considered one of the rarest gemstones on earth because it comes only from the Dominican Republic. It is a semi-precious stone with cloudy whites and blues, representing its Caribbean origin. Also known as Atlantis stone and Dolphin stone, it can be used to substitute turquoise as the December birthstone. This stone is also the 11th wedding anniversary gemstone. When it comes to durability, larimar ranks between 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, but the deep blue sections can be as hard as quartz. It has been noted that white sections of larimar are softer.
12. Turquoise
Turquoise is a bluish-green phosphate mineral which is rich in copper and aluminum. Throughout centuries, it has been celebrated for its soothing energies and oceanic beauty, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a fan of pendants, rings, or beaded necklaces, turquoise is definitely a stunning pick. Considered the December birthstone, turquoise is the perfect zodiac stone for those born under Sagittarius and Capricorn. Since turquoise is hydrated phosphate full of copper and aluminum, if you throw your turquoise in water, it will absorb liquid. On the Mohs hardness scale, turquoise ranks between 5 and 6 and ranks just below quartz. Although historically, Iranian mines have supplied a highly prized turquoise variety called “Persian grade”, in today’s times, the US and China are top global producers of turquoise.
13. Libyan Desert Glass
The Libyan desert glass, which is also known by the name Great Sand Sea Glass and Libyan Gold Tektite, is a special and nearly pure silica tektite. This silica tektite is said to have been created from the meteorite impact about 26 million years ago, but even to this day, it is highly debated because there is no evidence of a physical impact that would have consequently formed Libyan desert glass. This particular meteorite impact is said to have occurred over today’s Sahara desert in what is now eastern Libya and western Egypt. Pieces of this gemstone are found scattered across many square miles and they range in color from a full-bodied gold to a transparent yellow. Officially, this gemstone was discovered by P. Clayton in 1932.
Explore The Cluster of Exotic Gemstones
There are so many of these exotic and rare gems that must be explored by anyone interested in these gems. The paradox with these exotic gemstones is that their rarity (in terms of their use in making jewelry) and exoticness do not make them high value. They are not like your traditional diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds: their rarity does not inflate their price. One reason behind this might be the fact that these exotic stones are not in high demand, which is why their price is very reasonable.
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