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The Mohs Hardness Scale And Chart For Select Gems

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The Mohs hardness scale measures a mineral's resistance to scratching. Find the traditional scale here and a chart of select gems ordered by hardness.

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Crystals and gemstones have been associated with months of the year for almost 2,000 years. Today, we call them birthstones. Each birthstone is a unique mineral or mineraloid that has distinct characteristics. What is your birthstone?

Garnet - January's Birthstone

January's birthstone is Garnet. Garnets are often found in metamorphic rocks such as schist. Garnets are actually a family of minerals which are all similar. The garnets which are often used as gemstones are typically a dark red color; however, the brilliant green of variety of uvarovite is rare and very prized.

Amethyst - February's Birthstone

Amethyst is a common, purple form of the mineral quartz. Fairly hard, amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which has a range from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Crystals of the mineral often form in clusters, which are also called druze, and also commonly form in geodes. The purple color of amethyst is due to the presence of ferric iron (Fe3+) in the quartz crystal and can range from light to dark. When heated, amethyst will turn brown, into citrine.

Amethyst is considered a semi-precious gemstone that is most commonly used in jewelry and for collecting. Beautiful samples of amethyst can be found in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States.

Aquamarine - March's Birthstone

Aquamarine is a pale blue form of the mineral beryl. Aquamarine crystals can occur in such rocks as granite and pegmatite.

These beautiful gemstones have a glassy luster (shine) and are either translucent or transparent. These properties make aquamarine a prized stone for all types of jewelry.

Diamond - April's Birthstone

Did you know that pencil lead and diamonds are made of the same thing? It is hard to believe but they are both made of carbon! The carbon forms in different crystal types or shapes, which is why they are different. Diamond is the hardest mineral, being a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.

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What Mineral is My Birthstone and what are its Properties?

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Crystals and gemstones have been associated with months of the year for almost 2,000 years. Today, we call them birthstones. Each birthstone is a unique mineral or mineraloid that has distinct characteristics. What is your birthstone? January's birthstone is Garnet. Garnets are often found in metamorphic rocks such as schist.

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We explore the facts, legends, and history behind each birthstone.

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Birthstones by Month: Colors and Meanings

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Birthstones by month, birthstone colors, birthstone meanings and symbolism from The Old Farmer's Almanac.