Stone: Boulder Opal

Boulder Opal - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Australia

General Information: Boulder opal is one of the most valuable varieties of opal, second only to Australia's black opal. Fine specimens of boulder opal can exhibit all of the spectral colors through their distinct play of color. Boulder opal was first discovered in Quilpe, Western Australia, around the year 1870. Almost all boulder opal available today is from Western Queensland's opal-rich fields, confined to an area of about 200 to 300 square kilometers.

Physical Properties: Boulder opal is found embedded in large boulders of ironstone, which is how it earned its name. Occurring as pebble rock, precious opal develops within thin veins, fissures and hollows. As opal miners attempt to remove the embedded opal from the ironstone, some of the host matrix is preserved during the process. For this reason, boulder opal is sometimes referred to as 'opal in matrix'. 

Metaphysical properties: Boulder opal is thought to help alleviate depression and help find true love. Since boulder opal can display a wide array of colors, it possesses a range of healing abilities. Boulder opal is October's official birthstone. Boulder opal is also the zodiac stone for Cancer, Libra, Pisces and Scorpio, and it is the astrological gemstone for the sign of Virgo. Boulder opal is assigned to the element of fire, although it can enhance all of the elements. Boulder opal channels a projective energy that can benefit all chakras.

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Stone: Seraphinite

Seraphinite - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Turkey, USA

General Information: Seraphinite is the trade name given to a variety of clinochlore, which belongs to the chlorite group. The name seraphinite comes from the Greek word "seraphim", which refers to a celestial being with three pairs of wings. This could be due to the silvery feather-like chatoyant fibers that can be seen in seraphinite. These fibres are a result of mica inclusions.

Physical Properties: Seraphinite is typically dark-green to gray, with silvery chatoyant fibers. These silvery mica inclusions may be sparsely or densely distributed throughout the stone. The luster of seraphinite can be pearly, vitreous, greasy or dull.

Metaphysical properties: Seraphinite is sometimes referred to as "the angel stone" or "angel's wing stone" and is said to possess a great deal of spiritual energy that brings the physical self into harmony with the emotional self. Seraphinite is thought to encourage the flow of energy in the body and release blockages. It is also considered to be helpful in encouraging positive energy, harmony and balance. This stone stimulates the heart chakra

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Stone: Crazy Lace Agate

Crazy Lace Agate - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Russia, Africa, Australia, Brazil, USA, Chile, Romania

General information: Crazy Lace Agate is also known by the name of "Laughter Stone", "Happy Lace", or "Mexican Agate". It is associated with sunny Mexican fiestas and dancing, and brings joy to those who wear it. Historically, Agate has been discovered with the artifacts of Neolithic people, and was used as a healing amulet and ornamentation dating back to Babylon. Agate sparked a world renowned stone cutting and polishing industry in Germany that flourished from the 15th to the 19th century, and exists today.

Physical Properties: Crazy Lace Agate is a variety of banded Chalcedony, a mineral of the Quartz family. It is predominantly white, with layers of creamy browns, blacks and grays. Some include layers of yellow ochre, gold, scarlet and red. Agate is sometimes called the "earth rainbow" because the concentric bands in nature form nearly every color the earth can produce, including a colorless form.

Metaphysical properties: Crazy Lace Agate is said to help people stay focused. It is also a balancing and protective stone. It bring laughter and absorbs emotional pain. This agate is useful as a protective amulet when travelling, and is especially effective against traffic accidents, that is why it is also said to ward off the "evil eye". 

Stone: Malachite

Malachite - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Russia, Africa, Australia, Brazil, USA, Chile, Romania

General information: The name Malachite is said to have come from the Greek word malakee, or malache, signifying the resemblance of mallow leaves, or from the Greek work malakos, meaning soft. This stone was well known to ancient Egyptians and malachite mines were in use between the Suez and Sinai as early as 4000 B.C. This stone was also quite popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans, for various purposes, such as jewelry, ornaments, and in powdered form, for eye shadow. During the middle ages, Malachite was believed to protect against the "Evil Eye" and to cure various stomach ailments.  

Physical Properties: This stone is a carbonate of copper, and is sometimes intergrown with Azurite, forming Malachite-Azurite, or with Chrysocolla, forming Malachite-Chrysocolla. It may also be found with a number of copper based minerals. This stone is a very popular mineral with its intense green color and beautiful banded masses. The bands may consist of concentric rings with interesting patterns; such specimens are highly sought after. 

Metaphysical properties: The energy of this stone strengthens the auric field and is known to alert you to the approach of danger. Malachite has an excellent vibration within the heart chakra and other chakras surrounding it. This stone helps to stabilize your energy thus making you more emotionally balanced. Malachite is also known to clear difficulties/obstructions from your path. 

Stone: Wild Horse Jasper

Wild Horse Jasper - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Eastern Oregon, Western Idaho

General information: Wild Horse Jasper is one of the many varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz, which included others such as agates, chalcedony and various other jasper. he name Wild Horse Jasper is derived from the location in which it is mined, at the Wild Horse Canyon in Oregon. Mohr hardness is 7.

Physical Properties: Wild Horse Jasper is a member of the Picture Jasper family and is very rich in color combination of grays, tans, dark browns, and reds. These combinations of colors create stunning scenic landscape patterns much like that of Owyhee Jasper and other Picture Jasper varieties. 

Metaphysical properties: Wild Horse Jasper is considered to be a protective stone and is said to align our chakras and balancing the ying yand energies within our body. It is also believed to help with spiritual communication and can help you achieve balance in your life. This stone activates with Third Eye chakra, and the Root chakra. 

Stone: Chiastolite/Andalusite

Chiastolite/Andalusite - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Chile, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, USA

General information: Chiastolite is the brown variety of Andalusite which has a black cross on its surface. The name Chiastolite derives from the Greek word "chiastos" meaning "cruciform" or "cross marked". This stone also has the common name of Cross Stone. 

Physical Properties: The black cross inclusions that are present in this stone are a source of graphite. The crystals of Chiastolite have been pseudomorphically altered by a mixture that contains Muscovite, Paragonite, and Margarite. Margarite is known to be rich in calcium and tends to form along the graphite rich crosses/bands within this stone. 

Metaphysical properties: Chiastolite is a stone of both balance and harmony. It is known to help with mental/emotional balance, stability, enhancing problem solving skills, adapting to chance, memory, and ability to see all sides to a problem. In the distant past Chiastolite was used to ward off the "evil eye"  and curses by ancient people. This stone is associated with the root chakra, and third eye chakra.

Stone: Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper

Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Western Australia, Mexico

General information: Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper, also known by the names of Australian Rainforest Jasper, Orbiscular Jasper, and Spherulitic Rhyolite, came from a molten flow of magma from the now extinct Mount Hay volcano that was located near Queensland, Australia about 120 million years ago. The Rhyolitic magma that had escaped from the volcano was dense and settled down through the lighter magma. The cooling of the magma allowed for the spherical and phenocryst crystalline structures to form together. The final result of this unique occurrence is this beautiful Rhyolite. 

Physical Properties: This stone got its name from the striking colors of green, red, brown, yellow, creams, and oranges, which evoke scenes of a rainforest. The orbs and nodules that cover the surface of this stone contains Quartz and Feldspar. 

Metaphysical properties: A balancing stone, Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper is recommended for help with issues of self-esteem and emotional strength. This stone aids in finding your expression in the wake of problems and anxieties. Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper helps to stimulate insight into solutions and alternatives. This stone works primarily on the heart chakra.