Taking the shape of a rounded octahedron, a red spinel is a brilliant and durable stone. Its vitreous finish sets off the nearly opaque dark red hue, as vivid as any ruby.
It wouldn't take much polishing to bring out the beauty of this raw crystal. Almost too perfect to believe, this rock crystal is a long, slender prism with clean, flat faces.
It is as clear as day and satisfyingly solid. Taking the shape of a rounded octahedron, a violet spinel is a brilliant and durable stone. Its vitreous finish sets off the barely translucent lavender tone, somewhere between blood red and sky blue. It wouldn't take much polishing to bring out the beauty of this raw crystal.
In the shape of a lumpy, irregular nugget, a turquoise stone looks like a piece of the sky. The rock is a deep turquoise blue laced with a spiderweb of black pyrite, and has a waxy finish.
The sharp edges and clean faces of the green zircon's prismatic form shine with a diamond-like luster. It has a pale greenish cast, mostly translucent but with transparent patches here and there.
Layers of nacre create the soft iridescence of a tiny pink pearl. Not a single spot or flaw mars the smooth, even texture. Many colors are contained in the luminescent pink surface.
Layers of nacre create the soft iridescence of a tiny grey pearl. Not a single spot or flaw mars the smooth, even texture. Many colors are contained in the refractive grey finish.
The sharp edges and clean faces of the yellow zircon's prismatic form shine with a diamond-like luster. It has a sunny yellow tint, mostly translucent but with transparent patches here and there.
Branched like a knobby tree, this red coral spreads outward and upward from a sturdy trunk. The deep red color is breathtaking, and the polished surfaces just beg to be touched.
Shaped like a double pyramid, a green sapphire has a dull, pearly finish. The crystal has a rich green hue and a subtle cloudiness that makes it appear almost opalescent.
The green tourmaline is an elongated, three-sided prism ending in a pyramid. Each face of the prism is striated, and the translucent crystal has a glassy surface. The soft green color appears darkest when seen through the long axis of the prism.
Roughly oval in shape, a piece of amber is broad and flat, providing an excellent view of its transparent interior portion. Trapped within the golden yellow fossilized pine tree sap are several small flying insects and a dried flower.
Shaped like a double pyramid, a yellow sapphire has a dull, pearly finish. The crystal has a pale golden yellow coloration and a subtle cloudiness that makes it appear almost opalescent.
Shaped like a tapered spear, a piece of citrine quartz has a delicate translucence and a slightly dulled luster. It is a warm lemon yellow with diffuse clouds of milky white near the base.
Volcanic in origin, a fire opal is a deep, transparent orange, seemingly bright enough to glow in the dark. A color play in shades of purple, blue, and green contrasts vividly with the fiery hot background.
Shaped like a double pyramid, a clear sapphire has a dull, pearly finish. The crystal has no color to it at all and a subtle cloudiness that makes it appear almost opalescent.
A pink rhodocrosite stone has such a vivid rosy color it almost seems to be lit from within. Shaped like a leaning cube, it is beautifully translucent with a pearly sheen.
Like a tiny piece of driftwood, this pink coral bends and branches in a pleasingly organic fashion. The color is an extremely pale, delicate pink with a slightly darker blush here and there.
Shaped like a double pyramid, a violet sapphire has a dull, pearly finish. The crystal has a vibrant reddish-blue tint and a subtle cloudiness that makes it appear almost opalescent.
Rainbows and lightning shift to and fro deep within a white opal, playing out the drama of a storm in a tiny raindrop. With its bright pearly luster and milky white background color, this opal is a delight to behold.
Taking the shape of a rounded octahedron, a blue spinel is a brilliant and durable stone. Its vitreous finish sets off the intense cobalt blue coloration, as dark as the evening sky.
It wouldn't take much polishing to bring out the beauty of this raw crystal. Shaped like a tapered spear, a piece of citrine quartz has a delicate translucence and a slightly dulled luster.
It is a warm lemon yellow with diffuse clouds of milky white near the base. Some of the crystal planes that make up a golden topaz are frosted while others are transparent, displaying the deep golden color to great advantage.
Small, black inclusions near the base look like dark stars against the milky streak that runs from top to bottom. Some of the crystal planes that make up a pink topaz are frosted while others are transparent, displaying the blush pink color to great advantage.
Small, black inclusions near the base look like dark stars against the milky streak that runs from top to bottom. This single, water-clear crystal has formed in the shape of a flattened prism, with a few veil-like inclusions.
It is an extraordinarily pale blue with just the faintest hint of green. Although small, this cubic garnet crystal has such perfect natural facets that it appears to be already cut. It is a transparent apple green, with the pure luster of clean glass.
