This is a list of gemstones, organized by species and type.

Minerals

There are over 300 types of minerals that have been used as

gemstone A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, ...

s. These include:

A–B

* Actinolite ** Nephrite () *

Adamite Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral, Zn2 As O4O H. It is a mineral that typically occurs in the oxidized or weathered zone above zinc ore occurrences. Pure adamite is colorless, but usually it possess yellow color due to Fe compounds a ...

* Aegirine * Afghanite *

Agrellite Agrellite ( Na Ca2 Si4 O10 F) is a rare triclinic inosilicate mineral with four-periodic single chains of silica tetrahedra. It is a white to grey translucent mineral, with a pearly luster and white streak. It has a mohs hardness of 5.5 and a spe ...

* Algodonite *

Alunite Alunite is a hydroxylated aluminium potassium sulfate mineral, formula K Al3( S O4)2(O H)6. It was first observed in the 15th century at Tolfa, near Rome, where it was mined for the manufacture of alum. First called ''aluminilite'' by J.C. Del ...

* Amblygonite * Analcime * Anatase * Andalusite ** Chiastolite * Andesine * Anglesite * Anhydrite *

Annabergite Annabergite is an arsenate mineral consisting of a hydrous nickel arsenate, Ni3(AsO4)2·8H2O, crystallizing in the monoclinic system and isomorphous with vivianite and erythrite. Crystals are minute and capillary and rarely met with, the mineral ...

Anorthite Anorthite is the calcium endmember of the plagioclase feldspar mineral series. The chemical formula of pure anorthite is Ca Al2 Si2O8. Anorthite is found in mafic igneous rocks. Anorthite is rare on the Earth but abundant on the Moon. Mineralo ...

Antigorite Antigorite is a lamellated, monoclinic mineral in the phylosilicate serpentine subgroup with the ideal chemical formula of (Mg,Fe2+)3Si2O5(OH)4. It is the high-pressure polymorph of serpentine and is commonly found in metamorphosed serpentinite ...

** Bowenite *

Apatite Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. The formula of the admixture of the three most common e ...

* Apophyllite * Aragonite * Arfvedsonite *

Asbestos Asbestos () is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere b ...

* Astrophyllite * Atacamite *

Augelite Augelite is an aluminium phosphate mineral with formula: Al2( P O4)(O H)3. The shade varies from colorless to white, yellow or rose. Its crystal system is monoclinic.Richard V. Gaines, H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, and Ab ...

* Austinite * Axinite group: **

Ferroaxinite Axinite is a brown to violet-brown, or reddish-brown bladed group of minerals composed of calcium aluminium boro-silicate, . Axinite is pyroelectric and piezoelectric. The axinite group includes: *Axinite-(Fe) or ferroaxinite, Ca2Fe2+Al2BOS ...

Magnesioaxinite Axinite is a brown to violet-brown, or reddish-brown bladed group of minerals composed of calcium aluminium boron, boro-silicon, silicate, . Axinite is pyroelectricity, pyroelectric and piezoelectric. The axinite group includes: *Axinite-(Fe) or ...

** Manganaxinite ** Tinzenite *

Azurmalachite Azurmalachite is a mixture of azurite and malachite. It is alternatively called azuromalachite, azurite-malachite and malachite-azurite. Azurmalachite has a distinctive mottled green and blue coloration. It is relatively rare but can sometimes be ...

* Azurite *

Baryte Baryte, barite or barytes ( or ) is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate ( Ba S O4). Baryte is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of the element barium. The ''baryte group'' consists of baryte, celestine (strontium sulfate), ...

* Bastnaesite * Bayldonite * Benitoite * Beryl subgroup: ** Aquamarine *** Maxixe **

Emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr. and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991) ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, p ...

** Goshenite **

Golden beryl Beryl ( ) is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium Silicate minerals#Cyclosilicates, silicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18. Well-known varieties of beryl include emerald and Aquamarine (gem), aquamarine. Naturally occurring, Hex ...

Heliodor Beryl ( ) is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium silicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2Si6O18. Well-known varieties of beryl include emerald and aquamarine. Naturally occurring, hexagonal crystals of beryl can be up to several met ...

** Morganite **

Red beryl Red beryl, formerly known as bixbite and marketed as red emerald or scarlet emerald, is an extremely rare variety of beryl as well as one of the rarest minerals on Earth. The gem gets its red color from manganese ions embedded inside of beryllium ...

(Bixbite) *

Beryllonite Beryllonite is a rare sodium beryllium phosphate mineral with formula NaBePO4. The tabular to prismatic monoclinic crystals vary from colorless to white or pale yellowish, and are transparent with a vitreous luster. Twinning is common and occurs ...

* Beudantite * Bismutotantalite *

Biotite Biotite is a common group of phyllosilicate minerals within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . It is primarily a solid-solution series between the iron-endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more alumino ...

* Boleite * Boracite * Bornite * Brazilianite * Breithauptite * Brookite * Brucite * Bustamite *

Bytownite Bytownite is a calcium rich member of the plagioclase solid solution series of feldspar minerals with composition between anorthite and labradorite. It is usually defined as having between 70 and 90% An (formula: (Ca0.7-0.9,Na0.3-0.1) l(Al,Si)Si2O ...

C–F

Calcite Calcite is a Carbonate minerals, carbonate mineral and the most stable Polymorphism (materials science), polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is a very common mineral, particularly as a component of limestone. Calcite defines hardness 3 on ...

Manganoan calcite Manganoan calcite or manganocalcite is a variety of calcite rich in manganese, which gives the mineral a pink color.Man ...

() * Caledonite *

Canasite Canasite is a mineral whose name is derived from its chemical composition of calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and silicon (Si). It was approved in 1959 by IMA. Properties It is a relatively rare mineral. It occurs as aggregates in charoite, creatin ...

* Cancrinite ** Vishnevite *

Carletonite Carletonite is a rare silicate mineral with formula KNa4Ca4(CO3)4Si8O18(F,OH)·(H2O). It is a phyllosilicate and a member of the apophyllite group. Its tetragonal crystals are a translucent blue, white, colorless or pink with a vitreous to dull l ...

* Carnallite *

Cassiterite Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral, SnO2. It is generally opaque, but it is translucent in thin crystals. Its luster and multiple crystal faces produce a desirable gem. Cassiterite was the chief tin ore throughout ancient history and remains t ...

Catapleiite Catapleiite (•2) is a dimorph of Gaidonnayite rarely found by itself. Its name derives from the Greek words “κατα” (kata) and “πλειον” (pleion) meaning “with more” as it is mostly accompanied by a number of rare mineral ...

Cavansite Cavansite, whose name is derived from its chemical composition, ''calcium vanadium silicate'', is a deep blue hydrous calcium vanadium phyllosilicate mineral, occurring as a secondary mineral in basaltic and andesitic rocks along with a variety o ...

Celestite Celestine (the IMA-accepted name) or celestite is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate ( Sr S O). The mineral is named for its occasional delicate blue color. Celestine and the carbonate mineral strontianite are the principal sources of t ...

* Ceruleite * Cerussite * Chabazite * Chalcopyrite *

Chambersite Chambersite is a manganese borate mineral with formula . It is a member of the borate mineral seriesGrice ''et al.'', 2005 that includes other minerals such as ericaite () and boracite ().Yawn ''et al.'', 1997 When chambersite was first discovered ...

* Charlesite * Charoite *

Childrenite Childrenite is a rare hydrated phosphate mineral with elements iron, manganese, aluminium, phosphorus, oxygen and hydrogen. Its chemical formula is and it has a molecular weight of 229.83 g/mol. Its specific gravity is 3.2 and it has a Mohs hard ...

* Chiolite * Chondrodite * Chrysoberyl **

Alexandrite The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula Be Al2 O4. The name chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words χρυσός ''chrysos'' and βήρυλλος ''beryllos'', meaning "a gold-white spar". Despite ...

() **

Cymophane The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula Be Al2 O4. The name chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words χρυσός ''chrysos'' and βήρυλλος ''beryllos'', meaning "a gold-white spar". Despite ...

Chromite Chromite is a crystalline mineral composed primarily of iron(II) oxide and chromium(III) oxide compounds. It can be represented by the chemical formula of FeCr2O4. It is an oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. The element magnesium can s ...

* Chrysocolla * Chrysotile * Cinnabar * Clinochlore * Clinohumite * Clinozoisite * Clintonite * Cobaltite *

Colemanite Colemanite (Ca2B6O11·5H2O) or (CaB3O4(OH)3·H2O) is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits of alkaline lacustrine environments. Colemanite is a secondary mineral that forms by alteration of borax and ulexite. It was first described in 18 ...

* Cordierite ** Iolite () * Cornwallite *

Corundum Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide () typically containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It is a naturally transparent material, but can have different colors depending on the pres ...

** Ruby () ** Sapphire () ***

Padparadscha Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sapphir ...

** Golden sheen sapphire * Covellite * Creedite * Crocoite * Cryolite * Cuprite *

Danburite Danburite is a calcium boron silicate mineral with a chemical formula of CaB2(SiO4)2. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 and a specific gravity of 3.0. The mineral has an orthorhombic crystal form. It is usually colourless, like quartz, but ca ...

*Datolite *Descloizite *Diamond **Bort ***Ballas *Diaspore *Dickinsonite *Diopside *Dioptase *Dolomite (mineral), Dolomite *Dumortierite *Ekanite *Elbaite *

**Trapiche emerald () *Enstatite **Bronzite **Hypersthene *Eosphorite *Epidote **Piemontite *Erythrite *Esperite *Ettringite *Euclase *Eudialyte *Euxenite *Fayalite *Feldspar, Feldspar subgroup: ** Andesine **Albite **

**Anorthoclase **Amazonite **

**Celsian **Microcline **Moonstone (gemstone), Moonstone ***Adularia () ***Moonstone (gemstone), Rainbow () **Orthoclase ***Unakite **Plagioclase ***Albite ***Labradorite ***Oligoclase **Sanidine **Sunstone ***Oregon sunstone ***Rainbow lattice sunstone *Fergusonite *

*Fluorapatite *Fluorapophyllite *Fluorite *Forsterite *Friedelite

G–L

*Gadolinite *Gahnite *Gahnospinel *Garnet, Garnet group: **Garnet#Pyralspite garnets – aluminium in Y site, Pyralspite ***Almandine ***Pyrope ***Spessartine **Garnet#Ugrandite group – calcium in X site, Ugrandite ***Andradite ****Demantoid ****Melanite ****Topazolite ***Grossular ****Hessonite ****Hydrogrossular ****Tsavorite ***Uvarovite **Almandine-pyrope ***Rhodolite **Andradite-grossular ***Grandite (Mali garnet) **Pyrope-almandine-spessartine ***Malaia garnet **Pyrope-spessartine ***Umbalite *Gaspeite *Gaylussite *Gibbsite *Glaucophane *Goethite *Goosecreekite *Grandidierite *Gypsum *Gyrolite *Halite *Hambergite *Hanksite *Hardystonite *Hauyne *Helenite *Hematite *Hemimorphite *Herderite *Hexagonite *Hibonite *Hiddenite *Hodgkinsonite *Holtite *Howlite *Huebnerite *Humite *Hureaulite *Hurlbutite *Hyperitdiabas *Ilmenite *Inderite *Jade **Jadeite ***Jadeite, Chloromelanite ** Nephrite *Jasper *Jeremejevite *Kainite *Kämmererite *Kaolinite *Kornerupine *Kutnohorite *Kurnakovite *Kyanite *Langbeinite *Lawsonite *Lazulite *Lazurite *Legrandite *Lepidolite *Leucite *Leucophanite *Linarite *Lizardite *Londonite *Ludlamite *Ludwigite

M–Q

*Magnesite *Malachite *Marialite-meionite **Wernerite () *Marcasite *Meliphanite *Mellite *Mesolite *Microcline *Microlite *Milarite *Millerite *Mimetite *Monazite *Mordenite *Mottramite *Muscovite **Fuchsite () *Musgravite *Nambulite *Narsarsukite *Natrolite *Nepheline *Neptunite *Nickeline (Niccolite) *Nosean *Nuummite *Olivine *Opal **Fire opal **Moss opal *Painite *Palygorskite *Papagoite *Pargasite *Parisite *Pectolite **Larimar *Pentlandite *Peridot *Periclase *Perthite *Petalite (castorite) *Pezzottaite *Phenakite *Phlogopite *Phosgenite *Phosphophyllite *Phosphosiderite *Piemontite *Pietersite *Plumbogummite *Pollucite *Polyhalite *Poudretteite *Powellite *Prehnite *Prismatine *Prosopite *Proustite *Psilomelane *Pumpellyite **Chlorastrolite () *Purpurite *Pyrite *Pyrargyrite *Pyromorphite *Pyrophyllite *Pyroxmangite *Pyrrhotite *Quartz **Amethyst () **Ametrine () **Aventurine () **Chalcedony () ***Agate ****Chalcedony#Agate, Iris agate ****Onyx ****Sardonyx ***Heliotrope (mineral), Bloodstone (Heliotrope) ***Carnelian ***Chalcedony, Chrome chalcedony ***Chrysoprase ***Dendrite (crystal), Dendritic agate ****Moss agate ***Fire agate (iridescent ) ***Jasper ***Petrified wood ***Sard **Citrine quartz, Citrine () **Druzy () **Flint () **Herkimer quartz () **Milky quartz () **Prasiolite () **Radiolarite () **Quartz#Rose quartz, Rose quartz () **Rock crystal () **Shocked quartz () **Smoky quartz () *Quartzite

R–Z

*Realgar *Rhodizite *Rhodochrosite *Rhodonite *Richterite *Riebeckite **Crocidolite () *Rosasite *Rutile *Samarskite *Sanidine *Sapphirine *Sarcolite *Scapolite **Marialite **Meionite *Scheelite *Schizolite *Scorodite *Selenite (mineral), Selenite *Sellaite *Senarmontite *Sepiolite (Meerschaum) *Sérandite *Seraphinite *Serendibite *Serpentine subgroup **

** Bowenite ** Chrysotile **Lizardite **Stichtite *Shattuckite *Shigaite *Shortite *Shungite *Siderite *Sillimanite *Simpsonite *Sinhalite *Smaltite *Smithsonite *Sodalite **Hackmanite () *Sogdianite *Sperrylite *Spessartite *Sphalerite *Spinel **Ceylonite () *Spodumene **Hiddenite () **Kunzite () **Spodumene#Triphane, Triphane () *Spurrite *Staurolite *Stibiotantalite *Stichtite *Stolzite *Strontianite *Strontium titanate *Sulfur *Sugilite ** Bustamite () **Richterite () *Sylvite *Taaffeite *Talc *Tantalite *Tektites **Moldavite *Tephroite *Thomsonite *Thaumasite *Tinaksite *Titanite (sphene) *Topaz *Tourmaline, Tourmaline subgroup: **Tourmaline#Species and varieties, Achroite () **Tourmaline#Africa, Chrome () **Dravite **Elbaite **Fluor-liddicoatite **Indicolite **Olenite **Tourmaline#Brazil, Paraiba () **Rossmanite **Rubellite () *Tremolite **Hexagonite () *Triphylite *Triplite *Tugtupite *Turquoise *Ulexite *Ussingite *Vanadinite *Variscite *Väyrynenite *Vesuvianite (idocrase) **Californite () *Villiaumite *Vivianite *Vlasovite *Wardite *Wavellite *Weloganite *Whewellite *Wilkeite *Willemite *Witherite *Wollastonite *Wulfenite *Wurtzite *Xonotlite *Yugawaralite *Zektzerite *Zeolites ** Analcime ** Apophyllite ** Chabazite **Goosecreekite **Natrolite **Scolecite **Stellerite **Stilbite **Thomsonite *Zincite *Zinnwaldite *Zircon **Jacinth () *Zoisite **Tanzanite () **Thulite () *Zultanite *Zunyite

Artificial and lab created

There are a number of artificial and lab grown minerals used to produce gemstones. These include: *Lab alexandrite *Lab corundum *Cubic zirconia *Lab diamond *Lab emerald *Fordite *Gadolinium gallium garnet *Lab moissanite *Synthetic opal *Metal-coated crystals hyped as ''rainbow quartz'' *Lab spinel *Synthetic turquoise *Terbium gallium garnet *Trinitite *Yttrium aluminium garnet#Gemstone YAG, Yttrium aluminium garnet *Yttrium iron garnet#Gemstone YIG, Yttrium iron garnet

Organic

There are a number of organic materials used as gems, including: *Amber *Ammolite **Ammonoidea *Bone *Copal *Coral (precious), Coral *Ivory *Jet (lignite), Jet *Nacre (Mother of pearl) *Operculum (gastropod), Operculum *Pearl *Seashell

Rocks

Some Rock (geology), rocks are used as gems, including: *Anthracite *Anyolite *Bauxite *Concretions *Heliotrope (mineral), Bloodstone (Heliotrope) *Eilat stone *Epidosite *Glimmerite *Goldstone (glass), Goldstone (glittering glass) *Hawk's eye *Helenite (artificial glass made from volcanic ash) *Iddingsite *Kimberlite *Lamproite *Lapis lazuli *Libyan desert glass *Llanite *Maw sit sit *Moldavite *Obsidian *Apache tears *Pallasite *Peridotite (also known as olivinite) *Siilinjärvi carbonatite *Soapstone (also known as steatite) *Tactite *Tiger's eye *Unakite

Chatoyant gems

Some minerals made into gemstones may display a chatoyancy or cat's eye effect, these include:Walter Schumann (gemologist), Walter Schumann, ''Gemstones of the World'', 5th edition, 2013 * Actinolite * Andalusite *

* Beryl **Aquamarine (gemstone), Aquamarine **

**Morganite * Beryllium *

* Cerussite * Chrysoberyl *

* Diaspore * Diopside * Enstatite * Garnet * Grandidierite * Hawk's eye * Hypersthene * Iolite * Kornerupine * Kunzite * Kyanite * Moonstone (gemstone), Moonstone * Opal * Peridot * Peristerite (Albite variety) * Pezzottaite * Phenakite * Prasiolite * Prehnite * Quartz * Rhodonite * Rutile * Scapolite * Selenite (mineral), Selenite * Serpentine subgroup, Serpentine **

** Bowenite * Sillimanite * Smoky Quartz * Spinel * Sunstone * Tanzanite * Tiger's Eye * Topaz * Tourmaline * Ulexite * Zircon

Asterism

** Ruby ** Sapphire

References

*Gemstones of the World revised 5th edition, 2013 by Walter Schuman (gemologist), Walter Schumann *Smithsonian Handbook: ''Gemstones'' by Cally Hall, 2nd ed. 2002 {{Gemstones Gemstone-related lists, Species Gemstones,