BE MINCOOL - COLLECT. LEARN. DISCOVER.

FLUORITE

• Characteristics: Fluorite is a very fragile and cleavable stone that requires exceptional care. Chemically, it is calcium fluoride (CaF2 ), crystallizing in the cubic system. Its color spectrum includes green, blue, yellow, and purple. When these shades are combined, it is referred to as Rainbow Fluorite. It is highly popular among collectors not only for its high aesthetic value but also for its fascinating fluorescent properties.
• Formation: The stone is formed by hydrothermal mineralization - hot solutions enriched with fluorine crystallize and fill veins and cavities in rocks. It often forms alongside calcite, dolomite, and quartz, frequently in the presence of sulfides such as pyrite or chalcopyrite.
• Occurrence: Fluorite for industrial use is mined in many locations worldwide, with the largest industrial deposits found in Mexico, China, and Namibia. Gem-quality crystals are primarily supplied by mines in Namibia (Okorusu area) and China. Our fluorite specifically comes from Changbao in Hunan Province, China.

SHUNGITE

• Characteristics: Shungite is a fascinating carbonaceous rock with unique properties and a remarkable history. It is an amorphous carbon rock containing up to 90% carbon, which forms spherical or oval molecules. In addition to industrial use, shungite is valued in jewelry, primarily for the powerful harmonizing and protective properties traditionally attributed to it.
• Formation: Various theories circulate about the origin of shungite, including those of extraterrestrial origin. However, scientists lean towards the view that it was formed by the transformation of organic sediments of prehistoric seas under the influence of extreme pressure and high temperature. The age of this rock is estimated to be up to 2 billion years.
• Occurrence: Although smaller shungite deposits have been discovered in India, Congo, and Kazakhstan, the most famous and significant deposits are located in the Karelia region of Russia. Our shungite originates precisely from this source.

TREE AGATE

• Characteristics: Unlike moss agate, tree agate is characterized by an opaque, white base material composed of a mixture of opal and chalcedony. Its great decorative value lies in the contrast between the stone's white color and the prominent green chlorite inclusions. This makes it a popular choice for crafting decorative objects.
• Formation: Dendritic agates were formed during the formation of the Deccan Traps in India, 65-66 million years ago. Similar to other agates, this occurred during hydrothermal processes when solutions rich in silicon oxide filled cavities in the rock. The larger proportion of the opal component caused the base matrix to be opaque and white. The dendritic chlorite inclusions that formed in this mother rock give the stone a unique appearance resembling tree branches.
• Occurrence: The main occurrence of tree agates is linked to the Deccan Traps in the state of Maharashtra, India. Our stone also comes from this area.

SUNSTONE

• Characteristics: Sunstone belongs to the plagioclase group of feldspars, which are rich in sodium and calcium. It is known for its gentle shimmering glow, which is caused by internal inclusions, most often of hematite. These inclusions cause the stone's colouring, which transitions from orange, red, brown, to golden tones. As early as ancient times, this stone was associated with the sun god.
• Formation: This stone forms in magmatic rocks, such as andesite, syenite, or granite. During the cooling process of the magmatic melt, tiny platelet-like inclusions (e.g., hematite) are exsolved; these are arranged parallel to each other and cause the characteristic glitter.
• Occurrence: Sunstone occurs in many places worldwide. Stones from Oregon in the USA are extremely valued for their coloring caused by copper inclusions. Hematite inclusions are found primarily in stones from Tanzania and India. Our stone comes from the Tamil Nadu region in India.

ARAGONITE

• Characteristics: Aragonite, chemically calcium carbonate (CaCO3), is a mineral that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system. It is a polymorph of calcite (they have the same chemical composition but a different crystal structure). It typically forms radial aggregates or needle-like crystals. It is a very soft material that must be polished exclusively by hand, which is reflected in the higher price of the finished stones. Aragonite occurs in a range of shades from white, green, gray, yellowish-green, honey, to pink.
• Formation: Aragonite is formed by precipitation from carbonate-rich waters in an environment of low temperature and pressure. It forms, for example, in cavities of volcanic rocks, in sedimentary environments as stalactites, in hydrothermal veins, or as a component of the shells of marine animals.
• Occurrence: Aragonite is widespread throughout the world, especially in limestone and dolomitic areas (e.g., Spain, Austria, Czech Republic). Among the most important localities is Pakistan, where aragonite is mined and processed primarily for decorative use. Our stone comes from the Balochistan region of Pakistan.

AJOOBA JASPER

• Characteristics: Ajooba jasper, also known as Fruit jasper, is the trade name for a unique conglomerate that fascinates with its structure and color combinations. It is a decorative aggregate of green, yellow, and red fragments embedded in a dark brown matrix. Although this stone is a newcomer to the gemstone market, its predecessor was used as early as ancient times to decorate the majestic buildings of Mughal rulers in Agra, India.
• Formation: The latest theory suggests that this stone formed by the transformation of fossil limestone during the Silurian period.
• Occurrence: Ajooba jasper has the only known locality in the world, which is in India. It is mined in the Gora quarry in the state of Madhya Pradesh, in the Sabalgarh area. Our stone also comes from this deposit.

MOONSTONE

• Characteristics: Moonstone is the trade name for a gemstone variety of feldspar. Mineralogically, it is a intergrowth of the orthoclase variety with albite. It is precisely the intergrowth of these two modifications that causes the blue shimmer and the optical phenomenon called adularescence, which gave the stone its poetic name. It is primarily processed into the shape of cabochons, where this effect is best highlighted.
• Formation: Moonstone forms in pegmatites and veins rich in feldspar. During the slow cooling process of the magmatic melt, the growth of orthoclase and albite alternates. This layered growth creates the conditions for the formation of adularescence, the optical phenomenon characteristic of this stone.
• Occurrence: The main deposit of the highest quality gemstone variety of moonstone is located in Sri Lanka. India also provides important reserves, primarily of stones that are less transparent but exhibit a high intensity of adularescence. Our moonstone comes from India.

LAPIS LAZULI

• Characteristics: Lapis lazuli acquired its name more than a thousand years ago by combining the Latin word "lapis" (stone) and the Arabic "lazul" (blue). It is a dark blue metamorphic rock that consists mainly of blue lazurite and sodalite, with typical admixtures of gray-white calcite grains, golden pyrite, and mica. Lapis lazuli is among the oldest gemstones in human history. In ancient Egypt, it was used for making jewelry, decorating the masks of pharaohs, and its ground pigment was considered the most valuable ultramarine blue for centuries.
• Formation: Lapis lazuli is formed by the process of contact metamorphism of limestones rich in calcium. Under high temperature and pressure, the mineral composition of the original rock changes, with lazurite primarily crystallizing along with accompanying minerals.
• Occurrence: Among the most famous and highest-quality deposits, known since ancient times, is the Badakhshan region in Afghanistan. Afghan lapis is especially valued for its deep blue colour (high lazurite content) and low calcite content. It also occurs in Russia (near lake Baikal), Chile, and Pakistan. Our stone comes specifically from the Pakistan region.

WHITE AGATE

• Characteristics: White agates are typical for the alternation of chalcedony and opal layers. Indian agates can be recognized by their beige and gray shades accompanied by white bands. Due to their unique appearance, these stones were often used in the past for making decorative objects.
• Formation: The rocks in the Bhilwara area in the state of Rajasthan were formed approximately 1 billion years ago. However, the agate fillings were formed later, and their age is estimated to be hundreds of millions of years old. The white bands are evidence of a cleaner phase of chalcedony precipitation without colored oxidizing elements.
• Occurrence: This type of agate occurs in the vicinity of the city of Bhilwara, specifically in the area known as the Bhilwara Supergroup, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Our stone also comes from this location.