Guide to the Observatory mineral bank

The Observatory keeps a study bank of 171 stones. This page is the index. The write-up for each stone — formula, mineral class, locality, science note, metaphysical note, and care warning — lives on the Observatory, on that stone’s card.

Read the care warning before you put a stone in water, in sunlight, or on your skin. Some names in this bank are cabinet specimens. They are here to be studied. They are not all meant to be worn, and they are not all on the shop shelf today. If you want to take one home, ask in the shop which of these are in stock. How to find the stone that fits.

Beryl family

Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Aquamarine — Santa Maria, Bixbite (Red Beryl), Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl, Emerald, Goshenite, Heliodor, Morganite, Phenakite, Rhodizite.

Borates

Ulexite.

Carbonates

Aragonite, Azurite, Azurite-Malachite, Calcite, Cerussite, Cobaltoan Calcite, Gaspeite, Malachite, Rhodochrosite, Siderite, Smithsonite, Stichtite.

Feldspar family

Amazonite, Labradorite, Moonstone, Oregon Sunstone, Sunstone.

Glasses and mineraloids

Moldavite, Obsidian, Opal, Shungite, Tektite.

Halides

Fluorite.

Native elements

Native Copper.

Organic gems

Amber, Ammolite, Jet, Whewellite.

Other silicates and stones

Apophyllite, Astrophyllite, Benitoite, Bowenite, Cavansite, Charoite, Chrysocolla, Danburite, Diopside, Dumortierite, Epidote, Eudialyte, Garnet, Hackmanite, Iolite, Jade, Kunzite, Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Larimar, Lepidolite, Neptunite, Nuummite, Okenite, Peridot, Piemontite, Plancheite, Prehnite, Rhodonite, Septarian Nodule, Serandite, Seraphinite, Serpentine, Sodalite, Staurolite, Stilbite, Sugilite, Tanzanite, Tanzanite (Zoisite group) / Thulite, Thomsonite, Tiger Iron, Topaz, Unakite, Zircon.

Oxides

Adamite, Antlerite, Brochantite, Cuprite, Descloizite, Dioptase, Goethite, Hematite, Hemimorphite, Howlite, Ilmenite, Legrandite, Lepidocrocite, Limonite, Limonite Pseudomorph, Magnetite, Psilomelane (Romanechite), Ruby, Sapphire, Shattuckite, Specularite, Spinel, Tenorite, Wavellite, Zincite.

Phosphates and related

Apatite, Brazilianite, Childrenite, Crocoite, Ferberite, Mimetite, Purpurite, Pyromorphite, Strengite, Turquoise, Vanadinite, Variscite, Vivianite, Wulfenite.

Quartz, agate, and jasper

Amethyst, Ametrine, Bloodstone (Heliotrope), Blue Chalcedony, Blue Lace Agate, Blue Tara Quartz, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Crazy Lace Agate, Dendritic Agate, Elestial Quartz, Fire Agate, Flint / Chert, Garden Quartz (Lodolite), Lemon Quartz, Lemurian Seed Quartz, Lithium Quartz, Moss Agate, Ocean Jasper, Onyx, Phantom Quartz, Picture Jasper, Pietersite, Prasiolite, Red Jasper, Rose Quartz, Rutilated Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Tourmalinated Quartz.

Sulfates

Angelite, Barite, Celestite, Selenite.

Sulfides and related

Arsenopyrite, Berthierite, Chalcopyrite, Cinnabar, Covellite, Marcasite, Nickeline, Pyrite, Stibnite.

Tourmaline

Black Tourmaline, Indicolite, Tourmaline.

Names follow the Observatory bank. A variety such as amethyst is listed with the quartz family even when a collector would also file it by color.

More guides

Each subject has its own page. They all belong to the same set.