They shine, they sparkle, they flash and shimmer. The crowns of kings and emperors were covered with them, and wealthy people have always worn necklaces, rings, and other jewelry made of them. They are only stones, but they are so beautiful and hard to find that they have been symbols of wealth and power for thousand of years. They are the "precious stones" - diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and opals.
Diamonds come from deep in the earth. They are buried in rock that is in or near dead volcanoes. Most diamonds are shaped like two pyramids with their bottoms stuck together. When they are taken from the ground they are dull and grayish. It is only after they are cut dan polished that they sparkle and flash.
A diamond is the hardest of all things that come from the earth. It can even cut rocks. The only thing that will scratch a diamond is another diamond. Most diamonds are used to make cutting and grinding tools. Only the biggest, most perfect diamonds become jewels.
Corundum is a stone that's like a cube with two corners cut off, so that it has six flat sides plus a top and bottom, instead of four sides. It is a very common mineral that is usually found stuck in other kinds of rock. But sometimes a piece of corundum has a tiny bit of another mineral, either titanium or cobalt, mixed in it - and then it is clear, blue stone called a sapphire. And, sometimes a tiny bit of a mineral called chromium is mixed into a piece of corundum. That makes it a dark red ruby.
Beryl is a rock that has eight or more flat sides. It is usually found in large chunks of granite or, sometimes, limestone. When a tiny bit of chromium is mixed into a piece of beryl, it makes a beautiful, deep-green stone called an emerald.
One of the most beautiful of all precious stones is mostly just a mixture of sand, water, and the gas called axygen. This stone, the opal, is often found in large patches near the top of the earth's crust. Opals come in all colors of the rainbow, plus black and brown. When they are cut and polished, they sparkle with many colors and glow as if there is fire locked inside them !
Precious stones are called gemstones. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and opals are the most precious gemstones, but there are others. The gemstone called a cat's eye is a beautiful, rich brown with a golden stripe running through it. Jade is a deep, glossy green or milky white. Zircon is a flashing, brilliant gemstone that may be pale red, brown, green, violet, or colorless, like a diamond. Turquoise is bright sky-blue or blue-green. These, and many other mixtures of minerals that are gemstones, are used in jewelry and beautiful works of art.
Diamonds come from deep in the earth. They are buried in rock that is in or near dead volcanoes. Most diamonds are shaped like two pyramids with their bottoms stuck together. When they are taken from the ground they are dull and grayish. It is only after they are cut dan polished that they sparkle and flash.
A diamond is the hardest of all things that come from the earth. It can even cut rocks. The only thing that will scratch a diamond is another diamond. Most diamonds are used to make cutting and grinding tools. Only the biggest, most perfect diamonds become jewels.
Corundum is a stone that's like a cube with two corners cut off, so that it has six flat sides plus a top and bottom, instead of four sides. It is a very common mineral that is usually found stuck in other kinds of rock. But sometimes a piece of corundum has a tiny bit of another mineral, either titanium or cobalt, mixed in it - and then it is clear, blue stone called a sapphire. And, sometimes a tiny bit of a mineral called chromium is mixed into a piece of corundum. That makes it a dark red ruby.
Beryl is a rock that has eight or more flat sides. It is usually found in large chunks of granite or, sometimes, limestone. When a tiny bit of chromium is mixed into a piece of beryl, it makes a beautiful, deep-green stone called an emerald.
One of the most beautiful of all precious stones is mostly just a mixture of sand, water, and the gas called axygen. This stone, the opal, is often found in large patches near the top of the earth's crust. Opals come in all colors of the rainbow, plus black and brown. When they are cut and polished, they sparkle with many colors and glow as if there is fire locked inside them !
Precious stones are called gemstones. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and opals are the most precious gemstones, but there are others. The gemstone called a cat's eye is a beautiful, rich brown with a golden stripe running through it. Jade is a deep, glossy green or milky white. Zircon is a flashing, brilliant gemstone that may be pale red, brown, green, violet, or colorless, like a diamond. Turquoise is bright sky-blue or blue-green. These, and many other mixtures of minerals that are gemstones, are used in jewelry and beautiful works of art.
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