Category Archives: About Stones

About Stones: Bismuth

Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Chakra: All

Lore: Bismuth is a stone for transformation, allowing for orderliness and calm during the state of change. It stimulates cohesiveness in groups and relationships, supporting progression towards a common goal. Bismuth relieves feelings of emotional and spiritual isolation.

Geology: Bismuth is a silvery-white metal. Lab-grown “Hopper” crystals have a stairstep shape resulting from the edges growing more quickly than the crystal faces. Irridescent surface colors are due to surface oxides.

Locality: Laboratory grown in Germany

About Stones: Bertrandite

Astrological Sign: Pisces, Capricorn, Aquarius

Chakra: Root, Sacral

Lore: Bertrandite supports a smooth transition when undergoing change. It assists in the verbalization of hidden feelings. Bertrandite is reputed to enhance sexual energy.

Geology: This relatively new material, an opalized fluorite, is also called Beryllium Opal,  “Tiffany Stone”  and Ice Cream Opalite. It occurs in a mixture of cream or white opalite with purple fluorite, traces of yellow bertrandite, along with other red or black mineral inclusions. Mineralized beryllium nodules altered by a fluorine-rich solution form in the sequence dolomite-calcite-chalcedony-opal/fluorite. The nodules are recovered from an area where the bertrandite rock is mined commercially for the recovery of beryllium used in the manufacture of satellites and aircraft. Bertrandite is beryllium silicate hydroxide.

Composition: Be4Si2O7(OH)2

Hardness: 6-7

Locality:  Brush Wellman Beryllium Mine, Juab County, Delta, Utah

About Stones: Azurite/Malachite

Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Capricorn

Chakra: Brow

Lore: Azurite-malachite encourages an interest in our surroundings and fellow human beings. It encourages harmony between the intellect and feelings, and helps to release suppressed emotions.

Geology: Azurite-malachite is a rare alkaline copper carbonate formed by rainwater containing carbolic acid in the oxidation zone of copper ore deposits.

Localities: Arizona, West Germany

About Stones: Aventurine

Astrological Sign: Aries

Chakra: Solar Plexus, Heart

Lore: Aventurine enhances creativity and amplifies leadership qualities. It reveals what makes us happy or unhappy, stimulates dreaming, and helps make our dreams come true.

Geology: Aventurine is a massive green quartz that obtains its sparkling color from inclusions of fuchsite, a chromium mica. The name is from the Italian “a ventura” meaning randomly, a reference to the random deposits of mica contained within.

Localities: India, Brazil

About Stones: Apophyllite

Astrological Sign: Libra, Gemini

Chakra: Brow, Crown, Heart

Lore: Apophyllite helps create a conscious connection between the physical and the spiritual. It allows the recognition of truth and encourages tranquility, a calm attitude, and honesty. Use apophyllite on the higher chakras to facilitate astral travel.

Geology: Apophyllite is a sheet silicate that is formed hydrothermally. Tabular crystals are cubic or octahedral, sometimes dipyramidal or platy. Apophyllite may be colorless, white, or light shades of pink, green and yellow.

Localities: India, Mexico

About Stones: Apache Tear

Astrological Sign: Aries

Chakra: Root

Lore: Traditionally, the apache tear is said to be one of the tears shed by Native American women in mourning for their warriors who were driven from a cliff by the U.S. cavalry. It is used for comfort in times of grief, providing insight and acceptance.

Geology: The apache tear is a small black nodule of obsidian or volcanic glass. The main obsidian flow has been altered to a whitish porous rock called perlite containing unaltered transparent glassy nodules.

Locality: Arizona

About Stones: African Bloodstone

Astrological Sign: Taurus, Cancer, Leo

Chakra: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus

Lore: Bloodstone is also known as heliotrope, Greek for “solstice,” referring to its powerful healing power. It aids in the renewal of physical and emotional states. A stone of courage, it helps to revitalize love relationships and friendships. Bloodstone has the capacity to clear scattered thoughts in preparation for meditation.

Geology: Bloodstone is a chalcedony, a microcrystalline variety of quartz. It is colored an opaque green with red spots caused by hematite and other iron oxides. African Bloodstone is sometimes called “Seftonite.”

Localities: India, Africa, Australia

About Stones: Abalone Shell

Astrological Sign: Pisces

Chakra: Root, Solar Plexus

Lore: Abalone shells are used to enhance smudging activities. The shells, revered by ancient tribes as magical gifts from the sea, were one of the earliest forms of wealth. They stimulate fertility of mind and body and improve self-image and physical power.

Biology: Abalone are mollusks with one-piece shells. They belong to the genus Haliotis which means “sea ear.” They are rounded or oval with a row of respiratory pores along one side.

Locality: Mexico