You might associate gemstones with far-off countries and exotic places, but you may be able to find gemstones closer than you think. With a little digging and a keen eye, you can turn up gemstones in your own backyard (or close to it). Here are some common gemstones that might be just a few feet away.
- Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a colorful gemstone that occurs in a variety of colors. Tourmaline actually refers to a group of related minerals, and prices for tourmaline vary depending on the color and size of the gemstone.
You can find multi-colored tourmaline as well, and the color of tourmaline may vary depending on the light and viewing angle. Black tourmaline is particularly distinctive, with a dark, opaque, shiny finish. Tourmaline can be used in bracelets and necklaces, and large stones can be carved into unique shapes. In the United States, tourmaline is most commonly found in California and Maine. It’s easy to confuse colored tourmaline with other gemstones, but you can have your find confirmed by a gemologist.
- Quartz
Quartz is one of the easiest materials to find. Amethyst, agate, carnelian, and citrine are some gemstone varieties of quartz. Pure quartz is colorless, and impurities in the quartz are what can give it the vibrant colors you find in gemstones. Quartz is typically affordable and can be cut into jewelry as well as formed into spheres and sculptures. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, and it’s considered the most valuable. You can find amethyst in Colorado, Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, and several other states.
Agate is a form of chalcedony, which is a variety of quartz. Agate isn’t the most attractive gemstone in its natural state. Once it’s polished, though, it is colorful and can be found in white, blue, red, purple, and more. Slabs of agate are sometimes used for decoration, and they are also perfect for beads and other jewelry pieces. You can find agate in Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico, Michigan, and other states.
- Topaz
Topaz is a hard gemstone that comes in a variety of colors. It’s relatively inexpensive and can be found in large crystals. It’s one of the hardest minerals and forms inside igneous rocks. It can be found in streams as well. Natural topaz is lightly colored, and colorless topaz is sometimes used as a diamond simulant. Topaz is used in everything from earrings to pendants. Topaz is most commonly found in the western United States and is the official gemstone of Utah.
- Jade
Jade is a stone that is most commonly green, although it can come in other colors like purple and white. Jade is actually two different minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Jade has been used since ancient times in jewelry and sculptures and is often used to make jewelry beads. It was also used as a tool in ancient times. In its rough form, it has a dull, greenish color. It’s typically found in metamorphic rocks and can be found in California, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Malachite
This is a dark green gemstone with rings, giving it a distinctive appearance. Although it isn’t the most durable gemstone, it is still popular and is considered by some to have healing properties. It usually forms within limestone. It is often used to make beads and is used to make ornate carvings and, until the 16th century, it was often used as a pigment for painting. In the United States, it is most commonly found in Arizona.
- Garnet
Garnet is another gemstone with ancient roots. It was popular in Ancient Rome and has been found in Egyptian burial sites. Garnets are actually a group of minerals. The color most commonly associated with garnets is dark red, but you can find garnets in orange, yellow, pink, and black.
Some common varieties of garnets include almandine, pyrope, and rhodolite. Almandine is the deep red color and is the type most often used in jewelry. Spessartite is an orange form of garnet. Garnets are relatively affordable and are popular in jewelry.
The hardness of garnets varies depending on the type of garnet, but it is hard enough to be considered a good abrasive, and it has several industrial uses, including cutting steel. They can be found in Arizona, North Carolina, California, Utah, Montana, Colorado, and Idaho.
- Obsidian
Obsidian is an igneous rock. It forms when molten rock cools and is technically a mineraloid. It has a glass-like appearance and is often found above the Earth’s surface. Obsidian is usually associated with the color black, but it can come in other colors as well, including green and brown. It was used by Stone Age cultures as a cutting tool.
Today, obsidian is sometimes used as a surgical cutting tool. It is also popular in jewelry and can be shaped into gemstone beads. It’s not the most durable stone, so it’s most often used in pendants and earrings. It can be found in Arizona, Nevada, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming.
- Turquoise
Turquoise has been used for thousands of years for jewelry, tools, and sculptures. Its distinctive color is one of the reasons for its popularity. It is most commonly found in the southwestern United States. It is often used to make beads and other small jewelry pieces.
It’s also very porous, so, if you do find it, don’t clean it with anything other than water. It is also sensitive to sunlight and should be properly stored. Turquoise in the rough has the same color as the finished gemstone.
- Opal
Opal is a form of silica, and precious opal has an iridescent quality that makes it appealing. Some rare opals can be more valuable than diamonds. It comes in a variety of colors, including white, black, purple, pink, brown, and green. Black opals are the most desired form of opal. White opals and fire opals are also popular. They are often used in jewelry, and common opals can also be used to carve figures.
Opals in the rough have an iridescent quality, making them relatively easy to find. It can be found in Idaho, California, Oregon, and Nevada, and it is the birthstone for those born in October.
- Peridot
Peridot is the gemstone version of the mineral olivine. It is usually found in variations of the color green, which occurs due to the amount of iron in the olivine. Olivine is usually found in igneous rocks. As a gemstone, peridot is relatively soft. It is easy to scratch and can burst under pressure. It’s relatively affordable and is popular in beads, necklaces, and bracelets. Peridot can be found in Arizona, Hawaii, and Colorado, and olivine in the rough has a distinctive green color.
Written by Joe Smith