The Most Unusual semi-precious gemstones You've Never Heard Of

Introduction

Gemstones have a long ancient history and have been adorned since ancient times. While we are familiar with many precious and semi-precious gemstones globally, many discoveries keep happening in the world of gemstones now and then. The recent discovery of the Padparadscha sapphire in Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring aroused people’s interest in knowing about more such unusual semi-precious gemstones that exist. With countless natural gemstones, we discuss some of the most unusual semi-precious gemstones that some of you might have never heard of.

The most unusual semi-precious gemstones for sale

Below are descriptions of a handful of today's most intriguing semiprecious stones that will almost certainly be present. Who knows, maybe one may show up in a royal ring someday.

1. Alexandrite is a relatively uncommon and costly chrysoberyl mineral due to its rarity, especially in bigger quantities. The diamond was discovered in Russia and named after the country's famous Czar, Alexander II. It is frequently copied. Its hue varies from a beautiful green to a brownish or purple-red as light is absorbed, chameleon-like. The change of the diamond is so remarkable that it is sometimes referred to as "the alexandrite effect."
2. Black Opal- Because of the carbon and iron oxide components contained in the crystal, black opals have a strange blackness. While not all black opals are valued, some of the most mystical and expensive examples have a dark body tone and brilliant colour and pattern, making the rainbows in the stone sparkle brighter than in other opals. Lightning Ridge in New South Wales has been known as the global centre of black opals and petrified opals for almost a century.
3. Muscovite- The unique structure of the mica mineral, as the most prevalent form of the mineral, is what makes this gem so intriguing. The hydrated aluminium and potassium mineral come in various hues, from steel greys to yellows to greens and reds, with a pearly sheen that sparkles with every glance. The giant crystals found in professional gem collections can weigh several hundred pounds. The translucent sheets may be thinly peeled and stacked in a doublet for more wearable jewellery.
4. Benitoite- The uncommon gemstone was first found in 1907 from a single restricted deposit in California, which is still the only source for it now. It has a stunning, brilliant fluorescence because of its spectacular, clear sapphire-blue hue. Large crystals of Benitoite are scarce and nearly invariably relatively tiny, seldom reaching two carats because of their scarcity and delicacy. Thus, the appearance of this mineral specimen, which is reserved for collectors and connoisseurs of beautiful jewels, is intriguing.
5.  The poudretteite-The unusual gemstone was called after the Poudrette family, who owned the quarry where it was discovered in Quebec, Canada. Still, it wasn't recognised as a new mineral until 1986. One of the world's rarest minerals, the gleaming jewel ranges in hue from colourless to pink to violet. The Smithsonian has a virtually perfect 9.41 carat light-pink oval faceted poudretteite, the only one of its kind in the National Gem Collection.
6. Grandidierite- Alfred Lacroix, a French mineralogist, initially found this little-known gem in Madagascar in 1902 and named it after Madagascar historian Alfred Grandidier. The material's unique blue-green hue is usually due to residues of iron. One of the rarest gemstones on the planet is apparent specimens.
7. Tanzanite- The gem was originally known as "blue zoisite," but geologists renamed it "tanzanite" because they thought it would be simpler to market. The mineral is still found at the original mine, named after a commercially important deposit in northern Tanzania. Although the uncommon stone wasn't discovered in commercial numbers until the 1960s, it quickly gained appeal once Tiffany started using it in jewellery. In the short period since then, the underappreciated ethereal blue stone has surpassed sapphire as the second most popular blue gem. It is without a doubt the most well-known of the stones on this list.
8. Pietersite- This unique gem's highly charged energy shines in a wide range of colours, from deep blue to bright flashes of gold, and frequently combining both. Quartz, naturally comprised of Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Jasper, was recently discovered in Namibia and steadily grew in value. The beauty and spirit of the gem, also known as the Tempest Stone, is said to help in safety and strengthening.
9. Red beryl, also known as bixbite, was found in 1904 in Utah, now the gem's only mining source. The peculiar development of an exceedingly uncommon type of beryl necessitates a specific geochemical environment for the mineral to crystallise. Manganese is responsible for the red hue. Most faceted stones are less than half a carat, and they are only found in highly tiny sizes. According to the Utah Geological Survey, one red beryl crystal is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds.

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