AMETHYST, CITRINE, GARNET, PERIDOT
 Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet and Peridot are less rare. and considered semi-precious gemstones.
Amethysts
One of the world’s most popular gemstones and has been in use for thousands of years. Here's a comprehensive overview of amethysts:
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Formation:
Amethysts form in long, prismatic crystals in geodes or hollow rocks. These geodes form when there are cavities in volcanic rock. As the rock cools, the mineral-saturated water, gases and volcanic material distill and crystallize, forming amethyst.
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Mining:
Amethyst is found in many locations around the world but is produced in abundance in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Between 2000 and 2010, the greatest production was from Marabá and Pau d'Arco, Pará, and the Paraná Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Sandoval, Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Artigas, Uruguay; Kalomo, Zambia; and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Amethyst is a fairly durable gemstone with a hardness of 7.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it is a durable gemstone for jewelry as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks
- Color: Amethyst is famous for its deep purple color. Although the stone can also have a reddish-purple tinge or a very pale purple tinge that fades into a lilac.
- Clarity: Although there isn't a set clarity scale for all colored gems, as a rule, they are rated on a scale from AAAA to B. AAAA stones are untreated and eye clean, with deep amethyst color.
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Carat Weight: The size of an amethyst is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger rubies are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
One of the most popular cuts for amethyst is the emerald cut, as it showcases the gemstone's clarity and color, making it a popular choice for engagement rings and other jewelry.
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Lab-Grown Amethyst:
Lab-grown amethysts have been around for almost two decades and can be manufactured quickly and are thus significantly cheaper. Synthetic amethysts are available in the same shades of purple and reddish-purple as natural amethysts.
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Symbolism:
The crystals represent purification and connection to spiritual and divine beings. The meaning of amethyst is attached to serenity, understanding, trust and grace. Many cultures have linked spiritual overtones to this gem.
CITRINE
Citrine is today's top-selling yellow-to-orange gem. Here's a comprehensive overview of citrine:
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Formation:
Natural citrine is formed by the gradual heating of amethyst, another variety of quartz, under high temperatures in the Earth's crust. This process causes the iron impurities within the amethyst to change color from purple to yellow, resulting in the creation of natural citrine.
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Mining:
Natural citrine is relatively rare and is typically found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Zambia.
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Citrine is a fairly durable gemstone with a hardness of 7.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it is a durable gemstone for jewelry as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks
- Color: Citrine is found in light to medium yellow and golden to reddish brown, with its current most popular shade being an earthy, deep, brownish or reddish orange
- Clarity: Clarity Dealers look for citrines without color zoning or visible inclusions. Much of the faceted citrine in the market is eye-clean
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Carat Weight: The size of an citrine is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger citrines are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
The round cut is the best cut as it will intensify its shine and greatly enhance its brilliance. If you're looking for something a bit more unique and oval cut will give many of the same benifits
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Lab-Grown Citrine:
Citrine can also lab grown with a quartz base and iron introduced to the process in an autoclave to produce uniform deep yellow gemstones.
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Symbolism:
Citrine, often referred to as the "merchant's Stone," "success stone," or "money stone" because of its yellow color, citrine is thought of as a joyous stone with sunshiny energy to brighten up the lives of those who work with it and wear it.
GARNET
Garnet have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives and continues as a popular gemstone today. Here's a comprehensive overview of garnets:
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Formation:
Most garnet forms when a sedimentary rock with high aluminium content, such as shale, is metamorphosed (subjected to heat and pressure). The high heat and pressure breaks the chemical bonds in the rocks and cause minerals to recrystallise.
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Mining:
Garnets are found all over the world and different types are found in different locations. Pyrope can be found in South Africa, Sri Lanka, China, and Madagascar, while Almandite originates from India, Brazil, and the USA.
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Garnets have a hardness of 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it is a durable gemstone for jewelry as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks
- Color: Pyrope and almandine varities of garnet range in color from purple to orangy red. Spessartine is found in a variety of orange colors, while andradite comes in yellow and yellowish green.
- Clarity: Although there isn't a set clarity scale for all colored gems, as a rule, they are rated on a scale from AAAA to B. AAAA stones are untreated and eye clean.
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Carat Weight: The size of an garnet is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger garnets are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
The round brilliant cut is the most popular as it will intensify its shine and greatly enhance its brilliance but garnet is also well suited to a heart shape.
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Lab-Grown Garnet:
Lab-created garnets use a method called flame fusion. This process involves dropping powdered chemicals through a high-temperature flame, where it melts and falls onto a rotating pedestal to produce a synthetic crystal.
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Symbolism:
Garnet is the official birthstone for January and signifies protection, friendship, trust, commitment, and love. Garnet is also said to keep the wearer safe during travel.
PERIDOT
Peridot is an extreme gem found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle. Here's a comprehensive overview of amethysts:
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Formation:
Peridot forms in extreme conditions. Found deep in the mantle of the earth, violent volcanic eruptions help the stones move the surface or the stones are deposited with magma, close enough to the surface for the stones to be seen and mined.
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Mining:
The principal source of peridot olivine today is the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. It is also mined in Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
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Characteristics:
- Hardness: Peridot rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale., so it is a durable gemstone for jewelry as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks.
- Color: Peridot's color ranges from pure green to yellowish green to greenish yellow.
- Clarity: Although there isn't a set clarity scale for all colored gems, as a rule, they are rated on a scale from AAAA to B. AAAA stones are untreated and eye clean.
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Carat Weight: The size of an peridot is measured in carats, with one carat equal to 200 milligrams. Larger Peridots are rarer and more valuable.
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Cuts:
There are many popular cuts for peridot, from emerald and oval, to pear and triangle. An emerald cut enhances the color of peridot, while round and oval cuts maximize sparkle.
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Lab-Grown Peridot:
Lab-grown peridot is 100% atomically the same as natural peridot. The cost difference between the two isn't as significant as we would typically see with diamonds or precious gemstones, however, the color of these stones are particularly vivid.
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Symbolism:
Peridot, the august birthstone, symbolizes purpose and focus and it is believed by some to carry the gift of "inner radiance". The earliest civilizations belived it to have protective powers to drive away fears and nightmares.