Fun Facts about Minerals and Crystals

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she shares lots of fun facts about a gemstone named after a fruit, garnet. This January birthstone is full of personality…find out why!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she shares fun facts about the hardest natural substance on earth....diamonds! We think you'll agree, diamonds are one hot mama!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, on her quest to find a rare mineral prized by collectors, a pure gold crystal.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she discusses chrome diopside. Miners can only reach this beautiful green gemstone when temperatures warm… which is a very short window in frigid Siberia!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she shares the history of the blushing pink beauty, morganite.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she reveals the original source of a stone popular in southwestern style, turquoise.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she debunks some of the myths about rubies. This tantalizing gemstone may not have special powers…but it just might make you feel gorgeous!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she shares the lengthy and interesting history of birthstones. Hint: they may have shown up in the Bible.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she returns to her alma mater, the University of Arizona, to visit the lab where she was trained. You’ll be introduced to some geological tools and learn how to use a jeweler’s favorite, the loupe.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she shares an interesting myth about February’s birthstone, amethyst. This “intoxicating” purple gemstone has been popular for centuries and continues to shine today

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she debunks the myths about topaz gemstones

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she reveals some interesting facts about – and uses for - sapphire, a gemstone that is second only to diamond in terms of hardness

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she heads west to explore some favorite gemstones found in America like sunstone, fire opal, turquoise, peridot, sapphire, rhodochrosite, and garnet. Learn the role ants play in locating one of these stones!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she reveals the formation of a gemstone that is mostly found “down under”…opal! This sparkling beauty didn’t begin life quite so iridescent.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she explains the difference between two oft confused stones: zircon and cubic zirconia. Though similar in name, they are very different.

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she shares some fun facts about peridot. Cleopatra loved it, maybe you will too!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she tells of the interesting discovery of Tanzanite. This blue beauty took the market by storm and continues to be highly sought after

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata as she reveals the identity of a gemstone that is colorless, extremely hard, and has greater fire than a diamond…moissanite!

Join Gem Expert and Rockhound, Renata, as she debunks a common belief that all gemstone inclusions are undesirable. In fact, there are several gemstones that are more collectible and valued if they are included. Renata reveals a few.