R
RHODONITE
Name: derived from the Greek “rhodon” meaning “rose”.
AKA: Rescue Stone.
Description: It has a rose-red base color, usually interrupted by dramatic, dark veins of manganese oxide that look like ink splattered across a pink canvas, patches, or dendritic veins.
Chemical Composition: ((Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO3) Manganese Silicate.
Color: rose-pink, raspberry red, or brownish-red with black.
Treatments: Rarely treated. Occasionally impregnated with wax or resin to improve stability and luster on lower quality or porous material.
Moh’s Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5.
Toughness: Fair to Good.
Location Found: Australia (Broken Hill); Brazil; Canada; Peru; Russia (Ural Mountains); USA (Massachusetts; New Jersey).
Birthstone: May; September.
Wedding Anniversaries: NA
Zodiac Signs: Aries; Taurus.
Chakra Associations: Heart; Root.
Historical Associations: soft love; protect babies; ward off bandits; ward off accidents; hear the truth; forgiveness; new love; clear away heartbreak; remaining centered; discover hidden talents; harmonize masculine and feminine energies within the self.
Historically Used to Treat: joint pain; inflammation; arthritis; autoimmune issues; bruising; swelling; scarring; wound; sting; inner ear disorders; lungs; oxygenation of the blood; emphysema; stress; shock; heartbreak.
Care: Avoid ultrasonic cleaners as this can cause the stone to split along its cleavage planes and manganese inclusions. Avoid acids and harsh cleaners which can dull the polish and react with the manganese content. Clean using warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Store it wrapped in a soft cloth away from harder gemstones (quartz; sapphires; rubies; diamonds, ect.). It can be scratched by household dust as well.
Imitations: Rhodochrosite; Pink Glass; Dyed Marble; Pink Jasper.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetics.
ROSE QUARTZ
Name: The word “quartz” is believed to come from the German “quarz”, which may have origins in the Slavic word for “hard”.
AKA: Stone of Unconditional Love.
Description: a quartz that typically ranges in color from very light to medium dark pink. Can have internal reflections in the semitransparent range a “floating light” effect. Sometimes a multitude of tiny inclusions provides a star effect. Usually occurs in massive form.
Variety: quartz; specifically the pink range.
Color: very light to medium dark pink. Pale pink to deep rose-pink. The color is traditionally attributed to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, though recent studies suggest microscopic inclusions of a pinkish fibrous mineral are the true cause.
Treatments: Rarely treated. Occasionally, it may be irradiated to deepen the pink, but this is unstable and can fade. Most “high-clarity” rose quartz on the market is simply high-grade natural material.
Moh’s Hardness: 7.
Toughness: Good.
Location Found: Brazil (Minas Gerais); India; Madagascar; South Africa; Sri Lanka; United States of America (South Dakota).
Birthstone: January; April.
Wedding Anniversaries: 5th.
Zodiac Signs: Libra; Taurus; Cancer; Capricorn; Gemini; Pisces; Scorpio; Virgo.
Chakra Associations: Heart.
Historical Associations: love; beauty; rebirth; heart tonic; cooling; self-acceptance; self-forgiveness; release unexpressed emotions; release heartache; attract a new romance; add trust to existing relationships; comfort during times of grief; forgiveness; vulnerability; the ability to receive; reconnecting with the soul’s longing.
Historically Used to Treat: Wrinkles; preserve youthful complexion; soothe complexion; skin health; clear skin; reduce scarring; stabilize a racing heart; broken heart syndrome; improve flow of fluids and blood through the body; support pregnancy and the health of the reproductive system.
Care: High heat can cause change or loss of color. Sudden temperature change can cause fracturing. Sometimes fades with prolonged exposure to bright light. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause it to fade over time. Avoid harsh household chemicals or bleach, which can dull the polish. Soluble in hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride; very slightly soluble in alkalis. Clean with warm, soapy water and a soft brush.
Imitations: Glass; Plastic; Pink glass; pink plastic; and dyed quartz or howlite.
Synthetics: Hydrothermal synthetics exist in laboratories, but because natural rose quartz is so abundant and inexpensive, synthetic versions are rarely found in the commercial jewelry market.
RUBY
Name: Ruby comes from the Latin word “Rubeus,” meaning “red”. Ruby has been known as the ‘king of precious stones’.
Family Group: Ruby is a red corundum.
Color: It's color comes from chromium and has a color range from a deep cochineal-red to pale rose-red, purplish-red, and orangey-red. Ruby’s pleochroism is a strong orangey-red or a purplish-red. Today, the most sought-after color of ruby is a medium or medium dark vivid red.
Treatments: Heat and fracture filling with oil, epoxy, or glass are done to improve clarity and/or color. Dyeing is sometimes done to improve color.
Moh’s Hardness: 9.
Toughness: excellent; but certain treatments or large fractures or inclusion scan be less durable.
Locations Found: Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and the United States of America (North Carolina and Montana).
Birthstone: July (1912, National Association of Jeweler’s; Polish).
Wedding Anniversaries: 15th and 40th.
Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Leo, Capricorn, and Taurus.
Chakra Associations: Heart, Root.
Historical Associations: courage; passion; vitality; good fortune; invincibility; love; romance; prosperity; peace; willpower; fire; protection.
Historically Used to Treat: protect against illness; hemorrhages; flatulence; biliousness; inflammatory diseases; to staunch bleeding; an antidote to poison.
Care: High heat can cause a change in color or clarity. It can damage or destroy fracture- and cavity-fillings. Generally stable in light, but heat from bright lights can cause oil to leak or dry out. Chemicals can harm fillings and remove oil; soldering flux containing boron, and firecoat made with boric acid powder, will etch the surface of even untreated stones. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning is usually safe, but never for fracture- or cavity-filled stones. Warm, soapy water is safe but avoid strong detergents and vigorous scrubbing on oiled stones.
Imitations: Glass.
Synthetics: Czochralski; Flame Fusion; Floating Zone; Flux; Hydrothermal.
RUTILATED QUARTZ
Name: Rutile comes from the Latin “rutilus,” meaning “red” or “reddish”, as the mineral often appears deep red or golden-copper. Quartz comes from the German “quarz”.
Mineral Name: macro-crystalline quartz with inclusions of rutile
AKA: reticulated quartz. Venus Hair Stone. The Hair of Thetis Stone. Sagenitic Quartz (when net-like patterns are formed).
Description: rutile in quartz.
Chemical Composition: SiO2 and TiO2
Color: rutile—golden, red, brown. Matrix: usually clear, smoky, or milky quartz. Rutile Needles: most commonly golden-yellow, but can be copper-red, red, brown, silver, or black.
Treatments: N/A.
Moh’s Hardness: Matrix: 7. Rutile Needles: 6 – 6.5
Toughness: Good.
Location Found: Brazil (primary source); India; Madagascar; Sri Lanka; USA (North Carolina).
Birthstone: April; August.
Wedding Anniversaries: 15th.
Zodiac Signs: Gemini, Leo, Pisces, Taurus, Virgo.
Chakra Associations: all; Crown; Solar Plexus; Third Eye.
Historical Associations: healing; illumination; energy activation; truth revealed; hidden patterns exposed; energy body amplified; healing; manifestation; releasing spiritual blockages; amplify intentions; supercharges your manifestations; bridges gap between physical reality and spiritual insight; clarity in chaos; protection; shielding. It is used to find a path through chaotic or confusion situations. Acts as a shield against the evil eye or psychic energy vampires.
Historically Used to Treat: vitality; cellular regeneration; boosts vitality; endocrine system; immune system; clears energetic stagnation; pierce through illusions; clear and charge the energetic body; torn muscles; broken bones; bronchitis; chronic cough; mercury poisoning.
Care: Be careful when cleaning. If the rutile needles reach the surface, aggressive scrubbing can pull them out leaving “pits”. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe, but use with caution if the stone has many surface-reaching inclusions or internal fractures. Use lukewarm, soapy water and a very soft cloth to clean. Store separately to prevent damage.
Imitations: Glass or plastic with wires inside.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetic rutilated quartz.