BE MINCOOL - COLLECT. LEARN. DISCOVER.

RUBY ZOISITE

• Characteristics: Ruby in zoisite is a rare mineral consisting of ruby coloured red to purple, which grows into a deep green zoisite matrix. Zoisite is chemically a silicate of calcium and aluminium and the green colouration is due to a small admixture of chromium oxide. A strong red to crimson fluorescence can be observed in ruby in zoisite, which is due to the chromium (Cr) content of the ruby crystal lattice. This effect is very pronounced and is often used to distinguish ruby from fakes. Green zoisite itself usually does not fluoresce and may contain impurities of vanadium or titanium that dim the fluorescence.
• Occurrence: It is mined at two localities in Tanzania (Longido and Lossogonoi), but these are now largely depleted, so the price of quality raw material is constantly increasing.

KUNZITE

• Characteristics: Kunzite is a pink to purple variety of Spodumene, a mineral from the pyroxene group. It was named after the American mineralogist George F. Kunz, who described it in 1902. Kunzite forms in lithium-rich pegmatites. It exhibits strong pleochroism, meaning its color changes when viewed from different angles, typically from almost colorless or pale pink to deep purple. This optical phenomenon is caused by light absorption. Kunzite often crystallizes in large columnar crystals and is a very valuable collector's specimen in mineralogical exhibitions around the world.
• Occurrence: The most beautiful and valuable samples of kunzite come from Afghanistan, specifically the Nuristan area. Other significant localities include the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, Pakistan, and Madagascar.

LAPIS LAZULI

• Characteristics: The name lapis lazuli, translated as "blue stone," originated over a thousand years ago from the combination of the Latin word "lapis" (stone) and the Arabic word "lazul" (blue). From a mineralogical perspective, it is a dark blue metamorphic rock consisting mainly of blue lazurite and sodalite, with admixtures of grey-white calcite grains, golden pyrite, and mica. Under UV light, we can observe orange and red fluorescence, which is emitted by the sodalite component (usually due to microscopic inclusions of sulfur anions that cause the bright orange fluorescence).
• Occurrence: Among the best-known and highest-quality deposits, known since ancient times, is undoubtedly Afghanistan (the Badakhshan region). This is mainly due to the deep blue color of lazurite and the low proportion of calcite.

SODALITE

• Characteristics: Sodalite is a mineral of the foid group containing sodium and aluminium. It is light to dark blue or blue-grey, often accompanied by white veins. In any case, it does not lack lustre - glassy to oily. It is usually found in combination with granite, when it is pure sodalite of blue colour with grains of grey-white feldspar. Under UV light we can observe orange and red fluorescence, which is caused by microscopic inclusions of sulphur anions that produce a bright orange fluorescence.
• Occurrence: It occurs in some types of igneous or altered rocks in many locations around the world. Namibia, Canada and Brazil are among the best known deposits. Our stone comes from China.

PINK ARAGONITE

• Characteristics: In terms of chemical composition, it is calcium carbonate. It is a very soft material, so it must be polished only by hand - the higher price of the stones corresponds to this. Aragonite is coloured in typical shades of white, green, grey, yellow-green, brown and pink. In pink aragonite, soft pink shades predominate, which are due to the increased manganese content. Pink aragonite glows pink to red under UV light, precisely because of its increased manganese content, which acts as a fluorescence activator under UV light.
• Occurrence: The most famous deposits of pink aragonite are in Spain, Pakistan, Morocco, Mexico and Peru. Our stone comes from Pakistan.

YELLOW FLUORITE

• Characteristics: Yellow fluorite is a very fragile and brittle stone that requires exceptional care. It was previously thought that its yellow colour was caused by a small admixture of iron compounds, but new research suggests that it is related to defects in the crystal structure - these cause yellow, brown or purple hues. Yellow fluorite has a wide range of colours under UV light, from blue to blue-violet to yellowish. Fluorescence activators can be trace amounts of rare earth minerals, sometimes uranium or manganese ions. Conversely, the presence of iron can suppress fluorescence altogether - which is why some fluorites do not glow at all.
• Occurrence: Among the best-known countries with occurrences of yellow fluorite are England, China, USA, and Germany. Our stone comes from China.

GREY AGATE

• Characteristics: Agates are varieties of chalcedony formed by the gradual deposition of siliceous solutions in the cavities of the parent rock. They are typically grey in colour and banded. Pure quartz or chalcedony itself does not usually fluoresce. In this agate, a striking green fluorescence can be observed under UV light - this is due to the presence of uranium compounds and ions that entered its structure from the surrounding environment during its formation. Sometimes the green fluorescence can also be caused by organic inclusions, carbonaceous substances, or other rare earth minerals in trace amounts.
• Occurrence: Agate deposits are abundant all over the world. The largest and most famous are in Brazil, Botswana and China, where our stone comes from.

YOOPERLITE

• Characteristics: From a petrographic perspective, yooperlite is a rock (Syenite) rich in sodalite. Syenite is an igneous, dark rock that, unlike granite, does not contain quartz. It forms by the slow cooling and solidification of molten magma deep beneath the Earth's surface. Sodalite is a mineral representing sodium aluminosilicate with chlorine. It forms irregular grains and granular aggregates of blue color. Yooperlite glows a bright yellow or orange colour under UV light due to its sodalite content. In daylight, it appears as an unremarkable gray stone.
• Occurrence: Yooperlite was discovered in 2017 on the shores of Lake Michigan and immediately gained great attention from collectors. In addition to Lake Michigan, new deposits have appeared in several Chinese provinces, which is also where our material originates.

GREEN FLUORITE

• Characteristics: Green fluorite is a very fragile and brittle stone, so the stones are cut and polished exclusively by hand. It was previously thought that its green colour was caused by a small admixture of microinclusions or trace elements, but new research suggests that the green colour is related to defects in the crystal structure. Green fluorite can turn blue to blue-violet under UV light. The activators of fluorescence can be traces of rare earth minerals, sometimes also uranium or manganese ions. Conversely, the presence of iron can suppress fluorescence completely - which is why some fluorites do not glow at all.
• Occurrence: The most famous countries with green fluorite are China, USA, Namibia and England. Our stone comes from China.