WorldLifestyle
Would you agree that Diamonds are the most beautiful mineral on
earth? Well we highly disagree. The rise in popularity of the diamond is
actually linked to the jewelry industry's decline in sales during the
beginning of the 20th century, so they tied the diamond to a band of
metal and made it signify monogamy. Yes friends, the wedding band is
literally just a ploy to sell more diamonds. Let’s look at 21 minerals
that are 10000x more beautiful than diamonds!
Bismuth
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Being 86% as dense as lead, Bismuth was commonly mistaken for it in
ancient times. Consisting of a trippy geometric design straight of out
your favorite sci-fi, this brittle metal is very colorful, with colors
ranging from yellow to blue. Twice as abundant as gold, this mineral can
actually be grown artificially.
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Lightning Ridge Black Opal
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| This electric looking opal was named after a town in New South Wales
in Australia which is the world’s largest known area that contains
deposits of black opal. It is Australia’s national gemstone, called “the
fire of the desert” by Australians indigenous people, the aborigines. |
Chrysocolla in Malachite
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| This quality gemstone is usually formed copper salts, iron and
manganese oxides through the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies.
Chrysocolla, although a lesser-Known stone, is absolutely fascinating
and one of the most beautiful on our planet due to its amazing patterns
in attractive colors. |
Azurite
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| Also known as the “stone of heaven”, this soft deep blue copper
mineral occurs as prisms and crystal masses. It is produced through the
process of weathering of copper ore deposits. It has been known since
ancient times and was first mentioned in Pliny the Elder’s Natural
History under the Greek name “kuanos”. |
Rhodochrosit
This manganese carbonate mineral is very rarely found in its rose
colored pure form, and can be more often seen in shades of pink to
brown. It is commonly used in low-cost stainless steel production, and
as jewelry and decorative stone.
Burmese Tourmaline
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| Classified as semi-precious stone, tourmaline is a mineral compounded
with any of the following elements: iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium,
potassium, or aluminium. This shining teardrop can therefore come in a
wide array of colors. The crystalline boron silicate mineral name
actually comes from the Tamil and Sinhalese word “Turmali” which is used
to refer to gemstones in Sri Lanka. |
Fluorite
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| Belonging to the halide group of minerals, this majestic purple and
black mineral can be used in the production of glass and enamel. Or, you
know, as beautiful knick knack. Surprisingly, fluorite is quite common
in nature and can be found in over 9000 locations throughout the world |
Opal
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| Able to found in virtually any rock, Opal has mostly been observed in
limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl, and basalt. Known for its “galaxy
trapping” properties, this hydrated form of silica is deposited at a
relatively low temperature. |
Rose Quartz Geode
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| Quartz Geodes might look plain at first sight, but on the inside they
are filled with crystals which form interesting shapes and look
absolutely stunning. The name ‘geode’ comes from the ancient Greek
language which means ‘shape of the Earth’. Their size can vary from a
couple of feet to a few inches. |
Petrified Opal Wood
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| The rarest opalized wood in the world probably comes from the Virgin
Valley. Nevada is home to the rare specimen of petrified fossilized wood
which leaves the mind wondering whether it’s actually possible for wood
to eat a rainbow. |
Scolecite
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| This stone is commonly found in Iceland and India and is thought to
be able to help you communicate with your spirit, as well as create a
resonance in your chakras. Its natural color is usually white, but can
also be found in pink, red, and yellow shades. Its form resembles a
forest of vertical spikes, or nodules. |
Watermelon Tourmaline
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| Tourmaline is a semi-precious gemstone which can come in a variety of
colors, but this particular pattern is created by the high
concentrations of Lithium. It was most likely created during the
development of the gemstone due to the sharp contrasts in fluid
chemistry. |
Sunset Fire Opal
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| If you stare closely in this mineral with enough imagination, you can
see all sorts of Earth formations such as clouds, flames, and soil. It
is chemically classified as mineraloid due to its amorphous character.
The fire opal is now regarded to be a national gemstone in Mexico, but
ever since ancient times, different nations marveled at its beauty and
intricate design. We all agree with ancient Persians and Amerindians
that this piece of paradise is the perfect way to honor love. |
Titanium Quartz
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| Also recognized under the name Rainbow Flame Aura, titanium quartz is
a natural quartz which has been metal-coated through heat infusion in a
vacuum chamber. The different selection of coatings that can be used
generate a spectrum of colors when the metals bond deeply with the
quartz. It is thought to have highly energizing properties, and is used
for decorative purposes such as jewelry. |
Botswana Agate
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| Botswana Agate is another mineral in the quartz family. In its design
we can see layers of different colors such as: pink, gray, brown, or
apricot. Many people feel that these stones has healing qualities, and
find it excellent for balancing different energies. It is named after
the area in Africa. |
Realgar on Calcite
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| Realgar is a soft arsenic sulfide mineral with an orange-red color
which melts at a temperature of 320 °C. It strongly resembles sulfur in
its structure, except for the color which creates a picture of bleeding
rock. |
Uvarovite
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| One of the rarest of the garnet group minerals, uvarovite with it’s
enchanting green-emerald color looks like something that would be in
possession of the Wicked Witch. It was named after a Russian amateur
mineral collector. |
Fluorite/Quartz/Pyrite Combination
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| This beautiful mineral looks like there was a shower of gold dust
that happened to fall and be captured on an iceberg. It is an inspiring
combination of contrasts. |
Crocoite
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| First found in Russia, and other parts of Europe, crocoite has now
been discovered to be abundant on the island of Tasmania. It comes in
the form of magnificent crystals consisting of lead chromate. |
Cobaltocalcite
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| Resembling a tightly held together bouquet of roses, cobaltocalite is
pretty and colored in pale pink due to the presence of cobalt in it. It
is thought to be a stone which encourages and aids self-discovery,
cherished as a symbol of love and forgiveness. |
Tourmaline on Quartz with Lepidolite and Cleavelandite
This specimen of tourmaline mineral is so unique, that there is
nothing even remotely similar to it. It can come in either a peach pink,
lilac gray, or transparent green color. It is also known as the flower
of pederneira.
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