Crystals are an intriguing natural phenomenon because they are born from chaos and change as fluids shift potential orders themselves into something solid and tangible.
Some of the world’s rarest crystals are also some of the most beautiful gems on earth. Here are a few of them.
Black Opal
Opal is one of the world’s most precious gems. Its unique light effect and dark body tone make it a highly sought-after gemstone.
Opals are formed when silica-rich groundwater hardens in rock, diffracting light to create vibrant colors. Large silica spheres within the crystal create the play of color. These are what make each opal unique, but the exact colors in a stone can vary, from a milky white to a rainbow of pastel shades.
In addition to their rare beauty, black opals are also incredibly difficult to find. It takes five to six million years for a single 1cm opal to form, which makes it a rare and elusive stone that can be worth millions of dollars.
Miners spend tens of thousands of dollars on the latest and greatest equipment to find this prized gem. Then, they look for spots in the rock with trace amounts of opal. These areas are called nobbies, and are hoped-for signs of deeper deposits of this gem.
But for miners like Frederick, digging for a black opal is more than just a chance to find a gem. It’s a gamble that can result in losing a lot of money.
Even when a miner finds one, it may not be of the highest quality. That’s because many black opals contain trace elements of common opal (potch). These inclusions reduce the value of the opal, so the most valuable black opals are those that have no opal in them at all, or ones that feature the full spectrum of color.
The best black opals have a high level of red in the color spectrum, with varying stages of brilliance. These are the most valuable gems.
For this reason, they’re a powerful stone for conquering fear, especially when you need to push through the scariest experiences in your life. It’s the perfect way to break down any mental barriers that keep you from living your true potential.
It can also help you overcome your fear of water or heights, since it has a strong connection to the element of water. This is especially helpful for air signs, such as Gemini and Libra, who need the support of this stone to regain balance when they get too wrapped up in their thoughts.
Red Beryl
Red Beryl is a rare gem that only occurs in small quantities in a handful of locations around the globe. It is found in silica-rich volcanic rocks that contain rhyolites or topaz.
Red beryl formed when a younger rhyolite intruded and heated a mineral-rich lava to temperatures of 300-650 degrees Celsius. This process caused the gases in the rhyolite to flow up through the lava and precipitate red beryl and other amorphous materials.
The only known mines to produce gem quality red beryl are in Utah and New Mexico. The gem-quality red beryl crystals are very difficult to find, and those that do exist are very expensive.
When gem-quality red beryl is faceted, it can sell for an average of $2,000 per carat. This is a relatively high price for a stone that will only grow to a few carats in size.
As with other gems, the rarity of this gemstone makes its pricing fluctuate widely. The price can be as low as a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on whether you are buying a 1/5th or full carat.
In addition to being a gemstone, red beryl also has some unusual properties that are unique to this mineral species. It has a strong affinity for the energy of yin and yang.
It can be used to help you see both sides of an issue and decide on the best course of action. It can also be useful to dissolve your conscious and unconscious resistance to emotional healing and transformation, allowing you to open your heart to unconditional love.
Those who are prone to depression or grief may benefit from this gemstone as it can help them release their old and negative patterns. It can also be helpful to those who are attempting to heal a broken relationship as it can help them to rekindle their passion and bring the two people together again.
While natural red beryl is very rare, there are now lab-created stones available. These hydrothermally-manufactured lab-grown gems are very similar in composition to natural red beryl, but they do have some differences that distinguish them from the real thing.
Larimar
Larimar is one of the most rare and beautiful gems in the world. Only a small mine in the Dominican Republic produces this stunning blue stone. This luminous gemstone is a silicate mineral, which means it contains the elements Silicon (light gray metallic) and Oxygen (colorless gas).
It is part of the triclinic crystal system and is a watery stone that encourages peace, calms fears, and nurtures both the physical and emotional body. It is a perfect stone to use during meditation, to help you connect with the divine feminine, and to assist you in releasing stress.
This stone’s hypnotizing patterns and light blue shades are not found in other crystals. Its unique coloring is due to traces of copper within the crystal matrix. Unlike other blue stones, including Chrysocolla and Kyanite, larimar’s color is not caused by iron oxidation, which often produces darker blues in these minerals.
Despite its rarity, it can be purchased from Madagascan Direct in hand-polished free-shaped pieces and high-quality hand-made cabochons. This stone’s soft, smooth texture makes it easy to cut and handle.
A 4.5-5 on the Mohs hardness scale, Larimar is more durable than pectolite. Because of this, it is a great choice for jewelry designs that require durability and strength.
The name “larimar” comes from the Spanish word for “sea” and refers to its light, water-like look. Larimar’s base hue is a sky-blue hue with varying degrees of blue-green overtones, giving it a tropical water vibe. Sometimes, it also includes a sandy-colored streak, resulting from specific inclusions or other minerals present in the crystal.
Its calming energy is perfect for those born under the sign of Pisces. It helps Pisces to connect with their inner ocean, and to find absolute alignment in the heartbeat of the water creatures they share space with. It soothes out edges around communication and creates a sense of ease that is often elusive for Pisces.
Leos can also benefit from this stone’s soothing energies and a sense of ease. It can help them to communicate without the stress and tension that they sometimes feel during their birthday month.
Moonstone
Moonstone is one of the most beautiful and rarest crystals on earth. It is a sodium potassium aluminum silicate of the feldspar family that displays a pearly opalescent chatoyancy. This mineral is mined around the world, but most notably in Sri Lanka and India, as well as Australia, Brazil and Norway.
It is considered a feminine stone, and its use in balancing hormones can help ease pain during menstruation and childbirth. It also promotes intuition and gentleness in women.
Known for its ability to enhance clairvoyance and intuitive abilities, this stone can bring a greater awareness of the flow of energy within your auric field. It can also help you identify your deepest truths and dreams.
As a protective gemstone, it is believed to protect you from negative energies both within and outside your life. It is also used in feng shui practices to help balance your home environment and promote health.
Because of its strong connection to the moon, it is thought to be a stone of protection that helps guide you through times of transition and difficult challenges. It is also a stone of love and romance, and is thought to increase fertility and rekindle passion in your relationships.
Another use for this stone is to help you dream lucidly, especially if you tuck it under your pillow right before bedtime. This stone acts as a prism and diffuses your energy, which makes you feel clear of mind and ready for dreaming.
There are many different types of moonstones, and all have their own unique properties and uses. Some of the most popular include white, peach or yellow, gray and rainbow moonstones.
Traditionally, these stones were worn as jewelry by women to celebrate new beginnings and to strengthen the power of feminine energy. They also encourage creativity, intuition, and love in all relationships.
These stones can be sourced from many places on earth, including Sri Lanka and Madagascar, as well as the Aurora lands of Norway. They can be found in various shapes, such as cabochons and tumbled.
Blue moonstone, or Cat’s Eye Moonstone, is a great aid for meditators and those who are in a state of altered consciousness. It promotes clarity of mind and inner vision while helping you stay focused during a meditation or a guided visualization. It is particularly useful in identifying patterns of emotional behaviour and in balancing yin and yang energies.
