Definitions of gemstone
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a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry
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types:
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cabochon
a highly polished gem that is cut convexly but without facets
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opaque gem
a gemstone that is opaque
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transparent gem
a gemstone having the property of transmitting light without serious diffusion
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chrysoberyl
a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone
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garnet
any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
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opal
a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
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amethyst
a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
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aquamarine
a transparent variety of beryl that is blue green in color
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cat's eye
any of various gems (as chrysoberyl or chalcedony) that reflect light when cut in a rounded shape
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calcedony, chalcedony
a milky or greyish translucent to transparent quartz
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chrysolite
a brown or yellow-green olivine found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a gemstone
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chrysoprase
a green variety of chalcedony valued as a gemstone
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citrine
semiprecious yellow quartz resembling topaz
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coral, precious coral, red coral
the hard stony skeleton of a Mediterranean coral that has a delicate red or pink color and is used for jewelry
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adamant, diamond
very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
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emerald
a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
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jade, jadestone
a semiprecious gemstone that takes a high polish; is usually green but sometimes whitish; consists of jadeite or nephrite
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jasper
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
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kunzite
a pinkish lilac crystal form of the mineral spodumene that is used as a gemstone
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lapis lazuli, lazuli
an azure blue semiprecious stone
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moonstone
a transparent or translucent gemstone with a pearly luster; some specimens are orthoclase feldspar and others are plagioclase feldspar
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morganite
a kind of pink beryl used as a gemstone
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peridot
a pale green variety of chrysolite; used as a gemstone
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ruby
a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a gemstone and in lasers
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water sapphire
a deep blue cordierite often used as a gemstone
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sapphire
a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone
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hiddenite
a green transparent form of the mineral spodumene used as a gemstone
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aventurine, sunstone
a translucent quartz spangled with bits of mica or other minerals
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topaz
a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
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tourmaline
a mineral that is a complex borosilicate and hydroxide of aluminum containing iron and magnesium and calcium and lithium and sodium; it is usually black but occurs in transparent colored forms that are used as gemstones
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turquoise
a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
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type of:
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crystal
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
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