Black Agate

Diamonds are incredible minerals that are composed solely of humble carbon. First mined in India as far back as 400 BC, they have only become popular during the last few centuries. Cut stones are prized for their brilliance, their dispersion (also known as "fire" - or the ability to convert white light into many different colors of light), and their hardness. Indeed, their extreme durability makes even specimens that are below gem-quality extremely useful in all manner of industrial, commercial, and medical settings, particularly when cutting or grinding is involved.

This transparent stone has a complete lack of color or flaws. Its smoothness and clarity have made clear Quartz highly valued for use in jewelry or ornamental pieces. Modern-day crystal glassware derives its name from the clarity and fineness of this stone. Behind feldspar, this stone is the second most commonly found mineral in the crust of the Earth.

Carnelian Agate is a semi-precious stone prized for its beautiful yellow, orange, or amber bands combined with white. This banded form consists of Carnelian and Agate which are varieties of the mineral known as Chalcedony. Most of these polished stones are mined and produced in Botswana.

Aventurine is a variety of quartz that contains mica fragments that sparkle and give color in the light, making them attractive as gemstones or beads for jewelry. It is often mistaken for jade because of its most common green color. Faberge used aventurine in creating some of his famous decorative eggs.

Generally red, brown, yellow, or green in color, and sometimes even blue, jasper is an opaque microcrystalline quartz. Its smooth surface and high polish makes it a preferred rock for a gemstone or ornamental pieces. It is quite durable and withstands scratching.

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-size grains of rocks, minerals or organic material. It might be crushed for road and bridge construction projects. Due to its weather resistant nature, it is often used to construct buildings, fireplaces and outdoor furniture. Underground sandstone layers can be groundwater aquifers or oil and natural gas reservoirs.

Used since the earliest days of human civilization, green Jasper has been an important stone for ornaments and jewelry. Suitable for fine polishing, this attractive Jasper variety has been used for carved ornaments, beads, ring inlays, and cabochons. One of the most famous green Jasper varieties is the one with small red dots known as Bloodstone or Heliotrope.

This variety of yellow quartz can range in color anywhere from a golden yellow to a darker brown, and can have rainbow elements or a sparkle to it. The durability and brilliance of citrine have long made it a preferred choice for jewelry. This stone is November's birthstone.