| A semi-precious stone is just another word for a | | | | United States, Uruguay and Zambia. Fine |
| gemstone. These gems, like opal or quartz, are | | | | amethysts are also produced using synthetic |
| cut and polished to make jewelry. While | | | | lab-based methods. |
| semi-precious stone can mean any gemstone, | | | | Peridot: As the birthstone for August, this |
| right up to diamonds and emeralds, the term | | | | beautiful and transparent stone comes in a range |
| typically refers to gemstones like scapilite, peridot | | | | of colors from a yellowish green to a deep |
| or quartz topaz that tend to have a lower value, | | | | chartreuse shade. The remarkable Peridot was |
| though still exhibit brilliant beauty. In this article, | | | | originally believed to free the mind from jealous |
| we'll cover some basic semi-precious stones, | | | | thoughts and was seen as an aid to friendship. |
| including how to recognize them. | | | | Though not exceptionally brilliant, the Peridot stone |
| Amber: Amber is not technically a stone; it's an | | | | is prized for its rich color. Today, Peridot is mined |
| organic gem derived from fossilized tree sap. | | | | in Arizona, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Russia, Sri |
| Amber ranges in color from a honey yellow to an | | | | Lanka and Pakistan. |
| almost chocolaty orange-brown. While amber is | | | | Garnet: Depending on the type of garnet, its |
| often faked using high-quality plastic, it can be | | | | quality, color and size, a garnet can range |
| easily tested with intense heat. True amber will | | | | anywhere from $30 a carat to over $5000 per |
| produce a white smoke, while plastic will simply | | | | carat. These remarkable stones are found in all |
| smolder or melt. | | | | colors and shades, but are best known for their |
| Amethyst: Very popular thanks to its tranquil | | | | deep, blood red variety. Today, the rare green |
| purple tones, this quartz-based stone is very | | | | garnet (tsavorite) is mined in Kenya and Tanzania, |
| versatile and durable. Amethyst is typically mined | | | | while orange and red garnet can be found in |
| in Russia, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Canada, India, | | | | Madagascar, Namibia and Pakistan. |
| Australia, Madagascar, Namibia, Sri Lanka, the | | | | |