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Red Jasper: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake - featured image

Red Jasper: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake

Red jasper is opaque, iron-rich microcrystalline quartz used for amulets since ancient Egypt. Learn its real mineral facts, sources, history, traditional grounding meanings, easy care, the truth about trade-name jaspers and how to spot dyed and glass fakes.

Moss Agate: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake - featured image

Moss Agate: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake

Moss agate is clear to milky chalcedony filled with green, plant-like mineral inclusions. Learn what really forms the moss, where it is found, its history as mocha stone, traditional gardener's-stone meanings, care tips and how to spot dyed and glass imitations.

Sodalite: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake - featured image

Sodalite: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake

Sodalite is the royal blue, white-veined stone often mistaken for lapis lazuli. Learn its mineral facts, Canadian and Brazilian sources, glowing hackmanite, traditional meanings, gentle care and how to tell sodalite from lapis, dyed howlite and glass.

Opal: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake - featured image

Opal: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake

Opal is hydrated silica whose play-of-color comes from tiny stacked spheres. Learn the main opal types, Australian and Ethiopian sources, history and superstitions, traditional meanings, how to care for it and how to spot doublets, triplets, synthetics and imitations.

Hematite: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake - featured image

Hematite: Meaning, Properties, Care and How to Spot a Fake

Hematite is the heavy, metallic iron oxide behind red ochre, Babylonian seals and the red color of Mars. Learn its mineral facts, the red streak test, history, traditional meanings, care tips and why most magnetic hematite is a manufactured imitation.