Gems Galore

GEMS GALORE
by Ed Greenwood

Ornamental Stones (10 gp) Semi-Precious Stones (50 gp) Fancy Stones (100-500 gp) Gemstones (1000 gp+) Hardstones

Shells - - - Dragon 72

Q: "Gems Galore" (issue #72) does not say
how some of the gemstones described in
the article may be found.

A: DMs may create their own random-roll
tables as extensions of the ones given in
the DMG (p. 26), for <gems> found in
treasure hoards in their campaigns; the
gems described in the article may be
included therein.
(79.14)

Besides serving as adornment and
a form of great wealth, gems in our real
world have served as representations of
gods or guardian spirits, protections
from magick and evil creatures, healing
and divining forces, and repositories of
spells. Gems in myth, legend, and literature
have been thought to be formed
from tears, spat out by heroes or deities,
grown on trees, or excreted by horses.
Gems have also served as recognition
symbols, and as the hearts of demons or
the brains of serpents and other monstrous
creatures.

-
Some people believed that gems’
powers came from the carvings made on
them, or from the wearing of them in
certain combinations and arrangements,
as in ancient India. The Hindus believe
that only perfect gems have virtues and
that inferior gems are a source of misfortune
and unhappiness. Others say that
gems from tropical climates are more
powerful than those from colder areas.
Theophrastus of ancient Greece, writing
circa 315 B.C., advanced the theory that
gems were male and female and reproduced
in the ground. In line with this
theory, many small gems were buried in
the hope that they would grow larger and
multiply.

The Forgotten Realms (the author’s
game world) abound with similar beliefs,
and those who walk the many worlds
have brought back tales of gems hitherto
unknown. The precious stones and substances
I have set down herein are by no
means an exhaustive list, but added to
those presented in the AD&D™ Dungeon
Masters Guide (p. 26), they provide
enough variety to encourage characters
to consult jewelers and the like, and not
regard gems merely as a convenient currency
equivalent to gold pieces. Many
precious substances not used in carvings
or directly for ornament (such as
ambergris and scented resins) that have
a high market value have been omitted;
DMs would do well to remember that
more mundane things, like food, will be
the most valuable commodity in many
areas.

If a party should discover rough gemstones,
they must either sell them for
much lower prices than given on the
tables, or cut, polish, and mount them
personally. (Hiring a gemcutter usually
costs too much to be able to resell cut
gems at a profit.) A player character
must have a dexterity of 17 or more and
the secondary skill of Jeweler/Lapidary
to cut a gem so as to obtain its full value
(86% chance). The character must also

have spent at least 20% of his time,
according to the DM’s time records,
practicing the skill for a period of some
months before undertaking the gemcutting
in question. Such work can be interrupted
without loss, but is very timeconsuming:
preparing a single gem from
rough to finished form can take 10-20
days entirely devoted only to the work,
plus eating and sleeping. Doing a carving,
or making a piece of jewelry involving
several gems in a simple setting, can
take from 20-30 days, and this time can
be doubled or tripled for large or ambitious
works. Work that is rushed, or
attempted by a character with a dexterity
of 16 or less, will not result in the best
possible product— but bear in mind that
the financial return such ornamentation
will bring is not always directly related to
its value. To get the best prices for gems,
one must sell them in an area of “culture”
and large population (such as a wealthy,
bustling city), with careful attention to
the fads and fashions of high society.
Certain hues or types of gemstones will
soar in popularity or vanish altogether in
response to current preferences of highprofile
individuals (such as heads of
state) or changes in trade (for example,
contact with a new culture having different
clothing styles and gemstones).
Gemstone ore is usually found in veins
or seams within other rock, and fairly
often as streambed pebbles or in hardened
lava flows, but there are four other
noteworthy forms in which particular
gemstones are found: vughs, geodes,
enhydros, and thundereggs.
Vughs are cavities within rock where a
vein of gem ore (once flowing water)
opened out into a wider space in the rock
and deposited gem crystals around its
walls.
Geodes are small, round nodules of
rock (usually formed when mineral-rich
waters percolated into steam cavities in
lava), sometimes called “potato stones”
due to their shape. Within is a hollow
cavity lined with gem crystals, most often
amethyst or rock crystal.
Thundereggs are spherical nodules of
silicified claystone and rhyolite, which
display star-shaped masses of agate
when cut into sections.
Enhydros (“water-agates”) are masses
of cloudy-white chalcedony within which
water is sealed. When one is shaken, the
trapped water can be heard splashing
about.
A prepared gemstone is priced according
to size (weight), color, clarity
(freedom from flaws such as cracks,
bubbles, and inclusions of other substances),
and its cut or shape. Some
gems are polished glassy-smooth and
curved (“cabochon”); others are cut with
many symmetrical facets, an art requiring
much skill. Fashions in cutting vary
from place to place and with time, so any
list or guide to cutting patterns is of too
little general use to be given here.

Ornamental Stones -- base value 10 g.p.

1. Agni Mani

2. Agate <Algae>

3. Augelite

4. Bluestone

5. Chrysocolla

6. Corstal

7. Crown of silver

8. Disthene

9. Epidote

10. Fire Agate

11. Fluorspar

12. Frost Agate

13. Goldline

14. Greenstone

15. Hyaline

16. Lynx Eye

17. Microcline

18. Nelvine

19. Nune

20. Oolite

21. Ophealine

22. Rosaline

23. Saganite

24. Sanidine

25. Sarbossa

26. Satin Spar

27. Sharpstone

28. Sheen

29. Silkstone

30. Snowflake Obsidian

31. Sunstone

32. Thuparlial

33. Variscite

34. Violane

35. Webstone

36. Wonderstone

37. Woodtine

38. Zarbrina

39. Azurite

40. Banded Agate

41. Blue Quartz

42. Eye Agate

43. Hematite

44. Lapis Lazuli

45. Malachite

46. Moss Agate

47. Obsidian

48. Rhodochrosite

49. Tiger Eye

50. Turquoise

51. Azurite

<expand the tables with the DMG gems>

STONES AND SHELLS BY TYPE
In the following lists and text, the
names of transparent gems are printed
in type; translucent gems are in
italic type; and opaque gems are in regular
type.

Agni Mani —

a name given to certain
tektites; bits of glass of celestial (meteoric)
origin found in desert regions. The
term has been carried to the Realms,
where it is applied only to black tektite
material, and it is used so here.

Algae — a type of quartz covered with
dark brown wavy patterns, cut in slices
or cabochon, and polished to bring forth
the pattern.

Augelite —a soft, fragile gem found
naturally in clear, colorless crystals. It is
easily worked without special skill or
tools but does not last long in normal use
for adornment, and cannot be carved
into delicate or intricate shapes without
splitting.

Bluestone —

a colloquial name in our
world for sodalite, which is rich blue in
color, soft and brittle. Sometimes it has
veins of pink, white, cream, and yellow,
and can be found in old and weathered
rocky environments (such as the Canadian
Shield, or, in the Realms, the Dalering
Mountains) in large blocks. It is usually
cut cabochon or tumbled in barrels
of gravel and sand; very rarely it is hard
enough to be cut in facets. In our world it
is sometimes called “ditroite,” but appears
here under the name it is known by
in the Realms.

Chrysocolla — a translucent variety of
chalcedony, colored blue-green to green
by traces of copper. It is most highly
valued when of uniform color and free of
inclusions. Most specimens are tumbled
for use as earrings and pendant stones;
some are faceted for the same uses.
Corstal — the name by which petalite
is known in the Realms. This rare mineral
is found in colorless to pink crystals. It is
fairly hard, brittle, and commonly has
inclusions; when free of these inclusions
it can be faceted, but otherwise is cut
cabochon.

Crown of silver — a colloquial name
on our world for psilomelane chalcedony,
a variety containing abundant minute
plumes of black manganese arranged
in bands. These polish to a brilliant
metallic black. It is usually sliced and
polished for inlays so as to best show the
black bands, but can be tumbled or cut
cabochon.

Disthene — also known as kyanite. It is
abundant both here and in the Realms. It
is easily cleaved, but difficult to cut in
facets without unintended splitting occurring,
and usually has many inclusions.
It is found in crystals ranging in
color from dark blue to pale green; fine
blue facet-grade crystals are the most
prized.

Epidote — an abundant gem, cut in
cabochons or facets. Its smallest crystals
are clear, but larger crystals are
darker and darker shades of red. A variety
(known here as piedmontite) can be
cut into large cabochons of a deep rose
color.

Fire Agate —

the name given to chalcedony
which contains thin lines of iridescent
goethite. When properly cut, the
iridescence displays red, brow n, gold,
and green hues, and the finest specimens
are partly translucent—this allows
the best display of color.

Fluorspar (fluorite) — a soft, readily
cleavable gemstone occurring in many
colors. If the rough gemstone is pale
blue green, yellow, purple, or (the rare
varieties) pink or red, or is small in quantity,
it is usually cut into faceted gems.
These are sometimes known as “cabra
stones.” A massive, purple-and-white
banded variety is used for carving (see
Hardstones: Archon or “Blue John”).
<>
Frost Agate — also known as “Frost
Stone.” This is agate with white markings
which resemble frost patterns. It is
rare and beautiful, and is usually tumbled
and polished glassy smooth. A gemcutter
of unusual skill can cut the fragile
stone in facets, without splitting, so that
at each point where facets meet (such as
in a polyhedron cut, the shape of a d20),
a “snowflake” of white “frost” appears.

Goldline — the name given in the
Realms to what is sometimes called
“cacoxenite” (quartz with lines of goldcolored
goethite imbedded in it). The
stone may be citrine, amethyst, or smoky
quartz — the goethite appears as brilliant
yellow or gold fibers or tufts that run
in parallel lines. Goldline is tumbled or
cut cabochon, and usually occurs naturally
in pieces of two to three inches in
diameter. Sometimes larger slabs are
found, but these rarely survive travel
unbroken.

Greenstone —

the common name,
both here and in the Realms, of chlorastrolite
(a grey-green variety of pumpellyite)
found in nodules of up to ¾-inch
diameter in solidified lava flows. It is so

and is usually cut cabochon; the finest
quality greenstone can be polished to a
glassy finish, and such stones are sometimes
called chlorastras.

Hyaline — often used in silver settings,
cut as plates or cabochon; it is milky (or
“white”) quartz. This milkiness is caused
by tiny droplets of water or carbon dioxide
trapped in the crystals. There are
also often grains of gold in hyaline.

Lynx Eye —

a specific type of labradorite
(a feldspar gemstone). Labradorite is
pale to dark grey and has patches of
colored reflections. This “flash” is most
commonly blue but can be of all shades:
“green flash” labradorite is Lynx Eye, a
name more often used in the Realms
than here. Lynx Eye is usually cut cabochon,
and fractures easily, so that most
stones are less than an inch in diameter

Microcline — a feldspar gemstone
usually tumbled or cut cabochon. It is
deep green to blue-green, and is sometimes
referred to here as “amazonstone.”
Microcline is the same material as that
known as orthoclase, save that it consists
of crystals of a different form. The
tridinic crystals cleave easily, so that finished
stones may split if handled carelessly.
Tiny cleavage cracks reflect light,
so that a polished microcline stone
shimmers.

Nelvine — the name by which albite, a
feldspar variety, is known in the Realms.
It is soft and fragile, but easily cut with
crude tools. It is found in large amounts
in older rocks. Here, but not in the
Realms, this substance is sometimes
called “pigeon stone” due to its white,
cream, fawn, or brownish-pink color. It
exhibits a beautiful celestial-blue flash
of iridescence, or play of reflected color,
known as peristerism; this is similar to
the adularescence or blue (sometimes
silver) sheen of moonstone, another variety
of feldspar (which is included in the
gem tables of the DMG).

Nune — the name by which staurolite
(sometimes called “cross stone” or “fairy
stone”) is known in the Realms. It is
translucent brown or nearly clear, and
occurs in small (up to one inch across
either arm) cross-shaped crystals, which
are commonly polished to a smooth
sheen and pierced to be worn as pendants
or, linked, as bracelets. In the
Realms, the cross is used as an ornamental
and not a holy symbol, and is
often seen.

Oolite — a quartz variety which occurs
in minute spherules. It is solid brown in
color, and is very similar to Algae (see
above), which is wavy brown. Too small
(commonly up to 1/16-inch diameter) to
be cut, oolite spherules are usually polished
to bring out the color and mounted
in silver jewelry (particularly tiaras or
pectorals).

Ophealine — the name by which axinite
(“glass stone” or, if violet in hue,
“yanolite”) is known in the Realms.
(The name is pronounced “oh- fee -leen.“)

It is commonly brown in color — such a
vivid brown that large crystals appear
almost opaque. Ophealine is cut in
facets, and although not possessing one
of the most attractive gemstone hues, it
can yield finished gemstones of considerable
size, both hard and durable. On
the streets of Waterdeep, such gems
were once known as “knuckle stones”;
when polished and mounted on rings,
their sharp edges have laid open many a
noble’s or thief’s face at many a drunken
party.

Rosaline— also known as “unionite,”
thulite, or pink zoisite. This is a stone
found in massive, soft quantities (usually
cut in one-pound blocks for trading, and
later cut cabochon), or in harder crystals
of vivid trichroism — purple, blue, and
red, or purple, green, and red —which is
cut in facets. Large crystals of this latter
variety have brought prices approaching
1,000 gold pieces when fashions have
turned to brooches and rings adorned
with rosaline. Purple zoisite is also a
common ornamental gemstone, usually
called “purple rosaline” in the Realms,
whereas the purple is thulite or zoisite
here, and the pink variety only is known
as rosaline.

Saganite — a variety of chalcedony
with numerous straight needle-like inclusions
of a different color (usually ivory or
yellow with brown or greenish-black
needles). The needles often radiate, starlike,
from a common center. Saganite
occurs in large deposits and is often sold
in fist-sized (or larger) chunks. In Amn
(the merchant-kingdom of the Realms),
one may well hear two tradesmen discussing
the sale price of “a fist of saganite.”
In this world, saganite is sometimes
called “needle stone,” “love stone,” or
“hairstone.”

Sanidine — a feldspar gemstone, pale
tan to straw-yellow in color, found on the
surface of gravel screes or sand dunes. It
is cut into faceted gems of ring-stone
size or smaller, and is a favorite of the
nomadic desert peoples.

Sarbossa —

the name by which what
we call thomsonite, lintonite, comptonite,
ozakite, “eye stone,” or (to the Inuit)
“fire rock,” is known in the Realms. It is
found in small (up to 1-inch diameter)
nodules in small cavities in rocks formed
during volcanic eruptions, is fibrous,
and therefore both tough and soft. It is
basically grayish-green in color, but is
sometimes beautifully colored with rings
of pink, red, white and green.

Satin Spar — the sparkling variety of
gypsum, also known as “feather gypsum,”
used in gemstone carvings. It is
very soft but accepts a good polish. It is
naturally white, pink, pale orange, or
pale brown, but can be dyed to almost
any solid hue. (This process, however,
kills its sparkle.)

Sharpstone — the name given in the
Realms to novaculite, a quartz variety
that occurs in various colors. Commo
quarried as a gritty sharpening stone, it
is sometimes fine enough for gemstone
use, cut cabochon. It is difficult to polish
to a high luster, but can yield large
stones.

Sheen — a variety of obsidian which
has many minute spangly inclusions,
ranging in color from mahogany to silver
and gold (the most valuable — see the
section on semi-precious stones). It is
usually tumbled (if large and attractive)
or cut cabochon, and can be polished to
a glossy, gleaming finish.

Silkstone — a quartz gemstone, a special,
fibrous variety of Tiger Eye (properly
called “binghamite” here) which has
a faint chatoyance, or sparkle. It is found
in many colors, yellow being the most
abundant, and is cut cabochon, tumbled,
or used for engraved gems.

Snowflake Obsidian — an obsidian
variety found here and in the Realms in
large deposits (of volcanic origin); it is
black with greyish flower-like patches
that often, especially if some stone can
be cut away, radiate symmetrically, resembling
snowflakes. It is brittle and
weak, but often used for small carvings.
In the Realms, it is either finished to
tumbled gemstone form for sale, or sold
in “trade blocks” (large irregular chunks,
as quarried, of up to 25 pounds).

Sunstone —

a feldspar gem, closely
related to moonstone, and more properly
known as oligoclase. Oligoclase
may be colorless or faintly greenish and
of facet grade, but most common by far
is its softer (cabochon) sunstone variety.
This rarely yields gemstones of over ¾-
inch diameter, and has bright red or
orange spangles (minute crystals of goethite
or hematite) suspended in a nearly
colorless background in a parallel fashion,
giving the whole a rich golden or
reddish-brown color. It is far rarer in the
Realms than it is here, but has a similar
value.

Thuparlial — the name by which prehnite
is known in the Realms: this hard,
tough gemstone varies in color from rich
green through pale greenish-yellow and
yellow to brown. It is translucent and is
cut in facets if light-colored, but otherwise
cut cabochon. It is abundant in hardened
lavas as crusts lining gas cavities in
the rock, but only rarely is this crust thick
enough or colorful enough to be cut into
gemstones.

Variscite — a translucent stone, deep
to pale (yellowish) green, found in
nodules or in rock seams. It is also
known as lucinite and peganite here, but
these names are unknown in the Realms.
It is cut cabochon, and (rarely) displays
grey and yellow bands and “eyes” (rings)
when so cut.

Violane — a purple variety of diopside,
found in patches mixed with other minerals.
It is cut cabochon, and occasionally
yields stones of unusual size.

Webstone — the stone known by this
name in the Realms is the substance

known as spiderweb obsidian here; it is
anobsidian variety in which small pieces
of the stone have been cemented together
by heat and pressure in an irregular
mass, the joints showing as irregular,
web-like lines. It is usually black, the join
lines sometimes showing white, but
brown, reddish-brown, and rust-red varieties
have been found.

Wonderstone — a rhyolite variety displaying
bands of red, brown, tan, or purple.
It occurs in large deposits, and can

be cut into blocks of almost a cubic foot
in size when quarried. It is typically cut
cabochon, and takes a fair to good polish.

Woodtine — almost unknown in the
Realms; its name there is a corruption of
the odd term “wood tin,” applied colloquially
here to a variety of cassiterite. It is
found in large nodules, is brownish and
fibrous, and is cut cabochon.

Zarbrina — the name given in the
Realms to cerussite, an extremely soft,
lead-like mineral, colorless and easily
cut into brilliant faceted gems. It is usually
mounted in ceremonial, little-used
jewelry, or set in small metal claw mounts
into the sleeves or collar-hems of gowns
because of its softness.

Semi-Precious Stones — Base Value 50 g.p.

1 Alestone

2 Andar

3 Aventurine

4 Boakhar

5 Clelophane

6 Datchas

7 Dioptase

8 Gold Sheen

9 Hambergyle

10 Hydrophane

11 Hypersthene

12 Iol

13 Irtios

14 Luriyl

15 Malacon

16 Mellochrysos

17 Mykaro

18 Mynteer

19 Orprase

20 Phenalope

21 Rainbow Obsidian

22 Samarskite

23 Serpentine

24 Skydrop

25 Spodumene

26 Tabasheer

27 Tchazar

28 Witherite

29 Bloodstone

30 Carnelian

31 Chalcedony

32 Chrysoprase

33 Citrine

34 Jasper

35 Moonstone

36 Onyx

37 Rock Crystal

38 Sardonyx

39 Smoky Quartz

40 Star Rose Quartz

41 Sircon

Alestone — named for its color; it is
brown to yellowish-brown, the hues of
old ales. More properly called clinozoisite,
it is found in crystals and cut into
faceted gems of handsome appearance.
It is far more plentiful in the Realms than
here.

Andar —

the name by which andalusite
is known in the Realms. Andar is
hard and durable, yielding translucent
gems (“andars”) that flash green-red or
brown-red when properly faceted. Andar
is found in crystal form (sometimes as
streambed, waterworn pebbles) of small
size, averaging ½” in diameter.

Aventurine — a species of quartz containing
numerous mica crystals; these
give a spangled appearance to such a
stone when viewed from certain angles.
Aventurine can be golden, medium to
light green, and dark to pale blue in
color, and is used for tumbled gems,
cabochons, and ornamental inlays or
carvings. It occurs in large deposits;
twenty-pound blocks are not uncommon.
It is sometimes called “love stone” here,
but this name is unknown in the Realms.

Boakhar — the name by which wulfenite
is known in the Realms; this material
is extremely soft and fragile, but its tabular
red or orange crystals yield small
transparent faceted gems for use in ornamental
gem-work (i.e., gems on furniture
inlays in areas that will not be
handled, such as the begemmed spires
atop the high back of a throne).

Clelophane — the exceptionally beautiful
pale green variety of sphalerite
(which also occurs in hues of yellow,
orange, brown — which is dull and not
used in gem work — and red). It yields
transparent gems of green “flash” (color
play reflection), of unusually large size.
Faceted specimens three inches across
have been known. Cleiophane is, however,
soft and fragile, and such gems
wear quickly.

Datchas — the name by which datolite
is known in the Realms. It is cut into
faceted gems of very pale yellowishgreen
if of the fine variety. Massive datolite,
colored by copper and other minerals,
is found in the form of warty nodules
of up to 10 inches in diameter. Such
nodules range from white to red, reddish-
brown, and orange (the most valuable),
and are usually cut cabochon or
sliced and polished for inlay-work. Pink
datolite is also called “sugar stone.”

Dioptase — a soft, brittle gemstone of
vivid emerald-green hue. It is found in
small, flawed crystals, and yields only
the smallest of faceted gems. Larger
specimens are extremely rare, and in the
Realms command the same prices as
emeralds.

Gold Sheen — a rare variety of obsidian,
golden in color and flecked with
minute spangles. It is polished to a
glassy, gleaming finish, usually tumbled
so as to retain as much of the stone as
possible. It is brittle but in the past was
often used to ornament belts or shields
in the Realms. (Chips of gold sheen were

frequently used as a form of currency in
armed camps.)

Hambergyle — the name by which
hambergite is known in the Realms. It is
very rare, colorless, and fairly hard,
yielding small faceted gems. It is found
in crystal (or fragmentary) form.

Hydrophane — a gemstone much favored
by sailors and aquatic races in the
Realms; it is a variety of opal that looks
rather unattractive — opaque, of a frostywhite
or ivory color — when dry, but
when soaked in water, it becomes transparent
and iridescent, reflecting a rainbow
spectrum of colors like a prism.

Hypersthene — also known as bronzite,
this is cut cabochon. It is brown and
opaque (sometimes reddish or greenish),
and contains silvery spangles (see
Sheen in the Ornamental Stones section
above). It is rare in uncracked pieces
larger than ½” across, and as a result
yields small gemstones.

Iol —

the name by which iolite (cordierite)
is known in the Realms; nicknames
for it here include “violet stone,”
although its overall hue is usually blue.
lols are usually cut into faceted gems to
best display their pleochroism: that is,
the change in color of a stone as it is
viewed from different directions. loIs so
viewed appear straw-yellow, blue, and
dark blue. Small cut iols may be clear,
but larger specimens usually contain
silky inclusions of another substance,
giving a star effect, or even trapped
hematite crystals, which give the same
rich golden “flash” of color as in sunstones
(see the section on Ornamental
Stones).

Irtios — the Realms’ name for danburite,
a hard, transparent gemstone that
yields faceted gems of middling size.
lrtios are pale yellow or colorless, and
are found naturally as crystals or waterworn
pebbles in streambeds or gravel
deposits.

Luriyl — a soft stone, easily worked
and widely used in the Realms; here it is
known as apatite and is similarly abundant.
Found in crystals, it yields attractive
faceted gems of vivid yellow, green,
yellow-green, and (rarely) blue and purple.
Large specimens of blue or purple
command high prices, and are much
used in necklaces, pendants, belts and
insets in gowns or cloaks.

Malacon — a glassy brown zircon variety,
which is found in crystals and provides
large faceted gems. These are hard
but easily chipped, and are not used in
rings or the like.

Mellochrysos — a vivid yellow variety
of zircon, found in large crystals which in
the Realms are seldom cut, but rather
polished as is, and mounted in metal
claw settings for use in rings, brooches,
and knife-hilts. It is hard and, left in crystal
form, resists chipping.

Mykaro — the name in the Realms for
smithsonite, a massive gemstone found
in many hues (yellow, straw-yellow, pale

brown, reddish-brown, green, blue, bluegreen),
as crystals or as crusts of up to
two inches thick in rock cavities. Mykaro
is soft and tough when found as a crust,
but brittle when in crystal form. It is usually
cut cabochon, particularly if it is
patterned with thick bands of varying
colors, but is sometimes faceted.

Mynteer — the name given in the
Realms to phenakite, a hard, colorless,
and rare gemstone that occurs in crystals,
usually with inclusions so that it
yields only small faceted gems.

Orprase — the name in the Realms for
pollucite, a brittle, colorless or faintly
straw-yellow gemstone of medium hardness.
Orprase is found as clear areas in
fragments of rock, and yields faceted
gemstones of small to middling size.

Phenalope — the name by which rhodonite
is known in the Realms. This
gemstone is found in crystals with galena,
or in massive deposits cut into
slabs for sale (the fragments thus produced
are tumbled into gems). It is rosered
or pink in color, and yields attractive
faceted stones.

Rainbow Obsidian —

an obsidian variety
in which all colors save yellow are
included in the black or grey base, sometimes
in pronounced bands. These may
or may not have spangles, and are usually
tumbled into irregular gemstones.
Like other obsidian, rainbow is hard but
brittle, and rarely finds use in places that
will receive some wear.

Samarskite — a hard and heavy, velvet-
black rare-earth mineral with a metallic
luster, cut cabochon for mourning
gems or black ceremonial finery in the
Realms.

Serpentine — the name refers to a
wide variety of related materials known
as williamsite, ricolite, verde-antique,
picrolite, taxoite, bowenite or “soochow
jade,” and so on. Those varieties used
extensively for carving are dealt with in
the section on Hardstones; here we are
concerned with the finest translucent,
vivid pure green williamsite, which is cut
into faceted gems or cabochons. In the
Realms serpentine of this type is widely
used in cabochon form, set into ornamented
weaponry and harness, rings
and courtly jewelry of all types.

Skydrop —

the name given in the
Realms to clear or lightly colored tektite
material; fragments of glass of celestial
(meteoric) origin, found in the vast shifting
sands of the deserts. Such stones are
usually buffed and polished to sparkling
clarity, and fixed in claw mounts as
pendants or “teardrop” earrings.

Spodumene — a hard and quite durable
stone, also known as kunzite (pink to
purple varieties) and hiddenite (emerald-
green). It is readily cleaved, cut into
faceted gems often of great size, but the
kunzite varieties suffer from a strange
condition: Their colors fade with the
passage of time.

Tabasheer — an opal-like silica found
in the joints of certain types of bamboo.
It is irregular in shape and is usually
tumbled and buffed to a velvet-smooth
finish and worn as tiny stones on rings,
or fringe stones on jeweled pectorals or
shawls.

Tchazar —

the name given in the
Realms to aragonite, a straw-yellow
gemstone found in elongated, prismshaped
crystal form. It is soft and fragile,
and requires skilled cutting to yield
faceted gems. Cabochon-cut tchazar is
much less valuable; consider it as Ornamental
grade.

Witherite — occurs in large fibrous
deposits containing translucent areas
large enough to yield faceted pale yellow
to whitish gems, or, more rarely, in clusters
of translucent yellowish crystals
which are cut similarly.

Fancy stones — base value 100-500 g. p.

1. Angel’s Skin²

2. Brandeen¹

3. Euclase⁵

4. Flamedance⁵

5. Heliodor⁴

6. Horn Coral ³

7. Jargoon¹

8. Kornerupine¹

9. Laeral's Tears²

10. Octel ¹

11. Orbaline⁵

12. Raindrop⁴

13. Rusteen ⁴

14. Scapra ¹

15. Shandon¹

16. Sinhalite¹

17. Sphene ⁵

18. Star Diopside¹

19. Tremair¹

20. Ulvaen ¹

21. Waterstar²

22. Ziose ³

¹ — base 100 g.p.
1. Amber +
2. Alexandrite +
3. Amethyst +
4. Chrysoberyl +
5. Coral +
6. Garnet +
7. Jade +
8. Jet +
9. Pearl +
10. Spinel +
11. Tourmaline +
12. Brandeen
^13.Jargoon¹
^14.Kornerupine¹
^15.Octel ¹
^16.Scapra¹
^17.Shandon¹
18. Sinhalite¹
^19.Star Diopside¹
^20.Tremair¹
^21.Ulvaen¹

² — base 200 g.p.
³ — base 300 g.p.
⁴ — base 400 g.p.
⁵ — base 500 g.p.

Angel’s Skin — fine pink coral suitable
for use in jewelry; usually found in shallow
tropical seas, upon isolated reefs or
atolls. It is delicate and easily shattered
unless properly treated and mounted. In
the Realms, it is slowly sun-baked on
large flat rocks to drive off water and tiny
animal life (dead from lack of water but
still present in the coral) that otherwise
would give it an offensive odor not conducive
to use for adornment.

Brandeen — the name given in the
Realms to what is known here as “stibiotantalite,”
a rare mineral which sometimes
contains clear areas of reddishbrown
to honey-yellow hue which can
be cut to yield small, hard faceted gems.

Euclase —

a rare gemstone found in
small, readily cleavable crystals ranging
from colorless to pale yellow, vivid yellow,
pale green, and blue — this last hue
being the most prized.

Flamedance — the name by which
rhodizite is known in the Realms; there,
as here, it is an extremely rare gemstone
found in small crystals or fragments
used in lapidary work only when faceted
gems can be cut from them.

Heliodor — a deep yellow variety of
“golden beryl” varying in hue from greenish
yellow to reddish yellow and yielding
large or medium-size faceted gems.

Horn Coral — deep black coral; like
Angel’s Skin (see above), it is used for
jewelry in polished twig or branch form,
or is cut cabochon.

Jargoon — a rare, red variety of zircon
much prized in the Realms (slightly less
so here). The name “jargoon” has been
carelessly applied here to a large variety
of gem materials.

Kornerupine — a hard, rare, green or
brown translucent gemstone that yields
faceted gems of up to medium size. It is
usually found in streambed or ridge-pit
gravel.

Laeral's Tears —

gems named in the
Realms after the famous sorceress of
that world: soft, brittle colorless crystals
and crystal fragments of large size. Here
the same gemstone is called beryllonite.

Octel — the name by which scheelite
is known in the Realms; it occurs in soft
crystals which yield sparkling faceted
gems of pale yellow or orange hue.
Large, irregular crystals are often used
for carved pendants or inlays.

Orbaline — the name given in the
Realms to what is known here as benitoite.
It is a relatively soft gemstone usually
found in fragments. These can yield blue
to colorless faceted gems, usually small.

Raindrop — the name given in the
Realms to cassiterite, specifically to the
flawless, colorless crystals or areas in
larger dark brown crystals. These can
yield small, hard, durable faceted gems.
In the Realms, the stones are usually
fashioned into velvet-polished teardrop
shapes for use on cloaks and other garments,
hence their name. The colored
material is much less valuable. (See
Woodtine in the section on Ornamental
stones.)

Rusteen — the name by which microlite
is known in the Realms. This dark
reddish-brown to pale brown gemstone
yields small faceted stones much prized
for sword and harness ornamentation in
the North due to their durability; rusteen
is less rare in the Realms than it is here.

Scapra — the name given in the Realms
to the finest scapolite, which yields pale
to medium yellow faceted gems. Found
in rough crystal form, scapra is somewhat
soft, lending itself to easy cutting
by the unskilled — but proving unsuitable
for the wear and tear of serving as
clothing ornamentation, or in ring stones.

Shandon —

the name by which natrolite
is known in the Realms; its slender,
colorless crystals yield tiny faceted gems
used often in veils and robes to capture
the effect of beads of water glistening
upon the material. Such gems will fetch
their true value only when sold to gemcutters
and others familiar with them —
they are too small (and colorless) to
impress the eye of the uninitiated.

Sinhalite — a rare stone, found in both
worlds only in streambed gravels (or the
deposits left by vanished streams) as
pale straw-yellow to yellow-brown waterworn
pebbles. It yields cabochon gems
of up to an inch in diameter.

Sphene —

a soft, brittle gemstone
(and, like Scapra, thus easily worked by
unskilled cutters) of various yellow to
green shades. A fine emerald green is
the most prized hue. Sphene crystals
can be cut into beautiful sparkling faceted
gems of small and medium size.

Star Diopside —

the most prized form
of a hard, durable gemstone that is rarely
found in attractive colors. It is usually
too dark in color for beauty, but mountain
and streambed-pebble crystals of
pale green hue provide attractive semiprecious
stones (see Diopside in the section
on Semi-precious stones). A few
specimens of darker green provide fouror
six-rayed stars when cut, and these
are valued at 100 gp (or more) each.

Tremair — the name given in the
Realms to “hexagonite” (the pink variety
of tremolite). Tremair is found in small,
clear crystals which yield even smaller
faceted gems.

Ulvaen — a stone which is prized in the
Realms; soft but shatter-resistant, it can
be easily worked by unskilled cutters
into large cabochons or faceted gems of
pale to rich yellow hue. It is rare, and
less prized (due to its softness) here,
where it is known as amblygonite.

Waterstar —

as rare in the Realms as it
is here (where it is known as achroite or
colorless tourmaline). The only material
valued for gem use is that entirely free of
flaws and inclusions, which can yield
quite large faceted gems, colorless but
sparkling.

Ziose —

the name given in the Realms
to a particular facet-grade variety of zoisite;
a rare mineral that yields cut stones
that flash three vivid hues depending on
how the light catches them or in what
direction they are viewed: purple, blue,
and red, or purple, green, and red. Very
large (fist- or foot-sized) specimens are
sometimes found, and are prized for use
in pendants for humans, demi-humans,
and humanoids of large stature.

Gemstones — 1000 g.p. or more g.p. base value

1. Amaratha⁴

2. Beljuril ⁵

3. Jasmal ³

4. King's Tears⁵

5. Moonbar ¹

6. Orblen ¹

7. Orl ¹

8. Ravenar ¹

9. Red Tears ¹

10. Tomb Jade ¹

11. Water Opal¹

12. Zendalure ²

¹ — base 1,000
² — base 1,000
³ — base 1,000
⁴ — base 1,000
⁵ — base 1,000

Amaratha — also known as “shieldstone,”
this is a soft, greenish-white or
very pale green sparkling gemstone. It is
thought to be unique to the Realms, and
is found there in the form of small lumps
or nodules in deep rock strata. Too soft
to wear well in exposed settings (such as
in rings, at the top of a staff, or at the
peak of an ornamented helm), it serves
magnificently as a gem set in large body
jewelry or other protected positions.
Shieldstone attracts and absorbs electricity
in a 10-foot radius, and can be
used to protect those who wear it or
accompany the wearer. A one-inch diameter
sphere of shieldstone will absorb
up to 6 hit points worth of electrical
damage, so that a large number of shieldstones
worn as a necklace could absorb
a natural or magical lightning bolt, electric
eel shock, or the like. In absorption,
the shieldstone is consumed, vaporizing
at the rate of a 1”-diameter volume per 6
hit points of damage absorbed. If an
attack exceeds the capacity of a shieldstone
or group of shieldstones, all will
vaporize and the excess hit points of
damage will be suffered by creatures or
objects in the vicinity.

Beljuril — presently unknown outside
the Realms; found there as smoothsurfaced,
fist-sized stones, asymmetrical
but roughly spherical. Beljurils are
durable and very hard; cutting one typically
wears out several sets of metal
tools, so they are usually worn in pectorals
or shoulder-plates which are fashioned
with claw settings. Normally a
deep, pleasant “seawater” green, beljurils
periodically blaze with a sparkling,
winking, flashing light. This discharge is
pleasantly eye-catching in a candle-lit
great hall or a lantern-lit dancing grove,
but in a dark chamber or murky night, it
is dazzling. At random, beljurils absorb
some heat, light, and vibratory energy
from their surroundings (up to 3” distant),
and periodically — usually about
once per turn, but rates vary from stone
to stone, regardless of size or age and for
no known reason-discharge this stored
energy in a “flash.” The discharge is
silent and cold; the sparks given off are
few and do not carry a strong electrical
jolt. Beljurils are sometimes used in experiments
by mages, alchemists, and
artisans, but have not yet proven useful
as a power source. Beljurils are often
used for warning lamps or night beacons
by the wealthy. Beljurils occur in old
rock, usually in blue claystone. No beljurils
significantly larger or smaller than
fist-sized have yet been found.

Jasmal — a durable, very hard gemstone
found in the form of small veins or
(very rarely) larger seam deposits in certain
mountain ranges in the Realms. It is
so hard that it can hold a cutting edge
and can even be worked into small weapons.
When polished, jasmals catch sunlight
or torchlight and, although themselves
remaining transparent and colorless,
give off haloes of amber light
Jasmals are usually cut cabochon, and
thus appear as small glassy globes of
orange light when worn on cloaks or
tunics.

King's Tears —

sometimes called
“Frozen Tears,” these are known only in
the Realms, and are rare indeed. Clear,
teardrop-shaped, smooth-surfaced, and
awesomely hard (as yet unbreakable,
even by hammer and forge), these stones
are said to be the crystallized tears of
long-dead necromancer kings. In each
gem can be seen that which the weeping
king loved long ago: in some, women; in
some, lands now lost and forgotten or
greatly changed with time; in some,
dreams. The true nature of these stones
and the images seen within them is
unknown, but sages value these gems
above all others.

Kings’ Tears. . . are said to be the crystallized tears
of long-dead necromancer kings. In each gem can
be seen that which the weeping king loved long
ago. . . . The true nature of these stones and the
images seen within them is unknown, but sages
value these gems above all others.

Moonbar —

pearly white, opaque gemstone
crystals found in desert and tropical
areas of the Realms. Moonbars are
naturally large and rectangular (with
curved corners), and have a smooth,
shiny surface, so when found and washed
clean, specimens are immediately suitable
for use as gems; cutting is only
required when fragments are found. The
largest known moonbar serves as the lid
of an unknown king’s casket in a barrow
on the Trollmoors, and is almost seven
feet long, but most are approximately a
foot long and four inches wide.

Orblen — a rare gemstone unique to
the Realms, yielding deep golden gems
of large size. The hue of the material has
earned it the nickname “honeystone,”
and it is much favored in the North.

Orl —

a gemstone believed unique to
the Realms, where it is found only in
“blue caves” such as those at Whaeloon.
Orls are found in the softest rock, as
sharp-edged, spindle-shaped, symmetrical
crystals of red (sometimes tawny or
orange) hue. Red-hued orls are the most
valued, and some orl fanciers prefer to
wear the unfaceted, natural crystals
rather than faceted cuttings.

Ravenar — the name given in the
Realms to schorl, the black variety of
tourmaline. Highly valued in the Realms,
it is rarely used in jewelry here and has
little value. Ravenar is commonly used in
the Realms for inlay-work on daggers,
buckles, and the like.

Red Tears — gems unique to the
Realms, where legends say they are the
tears of lovers for their men slain in battle,
stained red by the spilled blood of the
fallen. Red tears are teardrop-shaped,
glossy-surfaced crystals of unusually
vivid fiery orange, cherry red, or bloodcrimson
hue. Most such gems are found
in deep mines or gorge-walls, where old
rock has been exposed.

Tomb Jade — rare and highly prized
both here and in the Realms, this is jade
which has been buried for great lengths
of time, and has turned red or brown.
Buried jade can also be turned green by
bronze objects buried near it; jade of
such hue is no more valuable than normal
jade.

Water Opal —

colorless, clear opal
with a “play” of color. It is rare and valuable
both here and in the Realms. Colorless,
transparent opal without such a
play of color is known as “hyalite,“ and is
much less valuable (10 gp base value).

Zendalure — a gemstone presently
unknown outside the Realms, where it is
found as large (2- to 6-inch diameter)
egg-shaped crystals in solidified lava
flows. These mottled blue-white crystals
are polished to a glassy finish and most
often seen as inlays and tiny cabochons
for rings, earrings, and pendants.

Hardstones — prices are per 10 g.p. (weight) amount

1. Alabaster (5 sp)

2. Archon (2 gp)

3. Hornbill Ivory (7 sp)

4. Iris Agate (2 gp)

5. Ivory (1-5 gp, depending on quality)

6. Lumachella (26 sp)

7. Luspeel (3 gp)

8. Marble (3 gp)

9. Meerschaum (2 gp)

10. Pipestone (1 gp)

11. Psaedros (6 sp)

12. Serpentine Stone (3 gp)

13. Soapstone (9 sp)

14. Star Metal (10,000 gp)

15. Sulabra (7 sp)

16. Tempskya (1 gp)

17. Turritella (8 sp)

18. Xylopal (22 sp)

“Hardstone” is a collective term given
to natural substances valued for their
appearance which are found in large
quantities and lend themselves readily to
carving. Such carvings may take the
form of screens and panels, furniture
inlays, figurines, bowls and trays, bookends,
spheres, scarabs, beads, and rings.
Artwork can also be carved in gems
(intaglios), or the material carved away
so that the artwork appears in relief
(cameos). Cameos are almost exclusively
carved in shells (see the section following
this one).

In the Realms, as in our world, many of
the cheaper gems found in massive form
are cut for stones if of the highest value
(most desirable hue and texture, flawless
composition), or if not, they are sold
by weight for carving applications. These
include jade (jadeite and nephrite), chalcedony,
agate, tigereye, jasper, idocrase,
grossular, rhodonite, beryl, tourmaline,
rock crystal, rose quartz, and serpentine.
Weaker (softer and/or more brittle) materials
used for carving include amber,
jet, obsidian, moonstone, turquoise,
malachite, and opal. (These weaker
stones are rarely used unless of low
gemstone value.)

Serpentine, for example, ranges from
fine faceted gems (the details for which
are given in the section on Semi-precious
stones) to the dark green variety used in
ornamental screens and furniture inlays.
In our world, this variety is usually known
as “verde antique”; in the Realms it is
called “serpentine stone,” and so it appears
in the Hardstones section of this
text.

Alabaster — the finely textured but
brittle white form of gypsum (plaster). It
has the same ornamental uses for structure
interiors in the Realms as it does
here.

Archon — the name by which “Blue
John” (see Fluorspar in the Ornamental
Stones section) is known in the Realms.

Hornbill Ivory — not ivory at all, but
rather material from the beak of the
hornbill bird. Avery similar bird (heavier,
and with grey plumage) is found in the
Realms, and the material is used in the
same fashion.

Iris Agate — a massive variety of agate
much used in temples in the Realms for
effect; its vivid colors can be seen only
when light shines through it.

Ivory (or dentine) — the substance
that provides the teeth of all mammals;
whenever the teeth or tusks are large
enough, they can be used for carving —
thus, ivory in our world comes from the
tusks of the elephant, the teeth of the
hippopotamus, and the tusks of the walrus,
narwhal, and boar, and the teeth of
the cachalot whale. Tiny quantities of
fossil ivory (from prehistoric elephants,
mastodons, and sabre-toothed tigers)
can also be found here. In the Realms,
ivory also comes from creatures that are
not found in our world. Unicorn horns, it
should be noted, are not used for ornamental
carving, and command prices of
thousands of gold pieces from alchemists.
The price of ivory depends on its
hardness and durability, its hue and any
mottling of colors, and the shine or surface
it can take. Prices depend on current
preferences; what is valued highly in
a particular place or time may be extremely
cheap elsewhere and else when.

Lumachella — also known as “Fire
Marble,” this is a rare, dark-brown fossil
marble variety containing small, iridescent
opal-like snails (lumachella means
“little snail”), known both here and in the
Realms.

Luspeel — the name by which magnetite
is known in the Realms; it is used in
temples for its properties — i.e., a kneeling
worshipper will find his ferrous metal
weapons and accoutrements adhering
to the floor.

Marble — also called calcite, it is as
widely used here as in the Realms, for its
beautiful colorations, its ability to take a
polish, and its abundance. It is extremely
heavy, but is easily quarried in precise
dimensions without fracture or wastage.

Meerschaum — sometimes known as
sepiolite, this is used in the Realms as
here, for small carvings and for pipes.
White and porous, it is light and can
therefore be quarried and transported in
large pieces without much equipment.

Pipestone — a soft, easily carved
brown to red-hued carving stone used
both here and in the Realms. It is also
known as catlinite.

Psaedros — the name by which lepidolite
is known in the Realms; it is a soft
pink to mauve mica rock used in lowpriced
carving. With time, its colors fade.

Serpentine Stone — the name by which
“verde antique” is known in the Realms
(see text above); the massive variety of
serpentine (see the Semi-precious stones
section).

Soapstone — a brittle and soft stone, it
is thus unsuitable for fine carving, but is
easily worked by unskilled hands, and
can be quickly brought to a warm, glossy
finish.

Star Metal — another name for meteorite,
this stone is as rare in the Realms as it
is here, but smiths there have mastered
the technique of forging it (adding small
amounts to alloys of more common metals)
to make weapons of great strength
and durability — hence the material’s
high price. Tiny pieces are sometimes
sliced and polished for inlay work.

Sulabra — the name by which argillite
(or “haida slate”) is known in the Realms.
It is not as rare there as here, and is
widely used for inexpensive carvings. It
is soft and grey, cleaving easily in planes,
and is low-priced due to its hue and
softness.

Tempskya — a form of quartz which
we refer to in this world as petrified
wood; the silicified woods vary widely in
hue (black or white through red, yellow,
tawny, brown and sometimes pink), and,
like the original wood, vary in size from
twigs to huge logs. Some are difficult to
polish because of differences in hardness
across a tempskya surface, and
most have fractures and inclusions of
clear quartz, opal, or chalcedony. In the
Realms, as here, tempskya of pretty
grain and hue is sometimes cut and polished
cabochon for personal ornamentation,
but usually is cut in flat slabs,
polished, and fitted for inlay-work.

Turritella — a type of agate (quartz)
consisting of many small silicified shells.
The shells are conical and spiral in appearance,
less than an inch long, and the
rock is dark brown in color. It is quarried
in slabs and used in inlay work or for
facings (as a cheap alternative to marble).

Xylopal — the name used in the Realms
for opalized wood, or “lithoxyle”; it is
more highly prized there than here,
where it is usually fashioned into bookends,
polished for collectors, and so on.
In the Realms it is more often used for
table inlays and personal adornment.

Shell — price per specimen
1. Abalone (10 gp red, 25 gp green)
2. Black Helmet (45 gp)
3. Conch (10 gp)
4. Cowrie (10-4,000 gp)
5. Flame Helmet (40 gp)
6. Horned Helmet (50 gp)
7. Mother of Pearl (5 sp for 1 gp-weight;
see text)
6. Nacre (1 gp for 1 gp-weight; see text)
9. Nautilus (5 gp) .
10. Red Helmet (20 gp)
11. Sardonyx Helmet (40 gp)
12. Shambos (1-5 gp per shell plate;
see text)
13. Trochus (4 gp)
14. Turbo (2 gp)
15. Unio (1 gp)

Shells are valued for their vivid coloration
(which often fades in the sunlight)
both here and in the Realms. Shells are
never used as currency there, but in both
worlds certain rare shells are sold for
high prices to collectors (for example,
the “Glory-of-the-Sea” cone shell here,
and the “Purple Star Cowrie” — not
found here — in the Realms). Bear in
mind that price and resale value for rare
shells vary wildly.

A few notes on the entries of the table:
The price given for Conch is paid only
for large, unblemished specimens usable
in cameo-work; Cowrie prices vary
according to color, pattern, and rarity,
from 10 gp for pale “Tiger” black-andwhite
specimens to 4,000 gp for “Purple
Star” specimens; and the various Helmet
shell species are prized for cameo work.
A special note concerning Trochus
(“Great Top Shell”) and Turbo (“Green
Snail”) shells: The prices quoted in the
table are for giant specimens — and
Turbo fetches such a price only when it
has been polished to a pearly sheen.
Smaller shells of both species are sold
for as little as 5 cp per pound, and are cut
and polished to be sold as Mother of
Pearl (the ordinary pearly material used
for inlay work, buttons, etc.) or, if of “fire
luster,” are sold as Nacre for similar
uses.

Shambos is the name given in the
Realms to what we call “Tortoise-Shell.”
This name is a misnomer; the plates of
shell are not from a tortoise at all, but
from a sea turtle found in tropical waters.
A single undamaged carapace will yield
thirty-seven separate plates if properly
handled. Thirteen of these plates are
valued in gem work, and are known as
“blades.” The twenty-four remaining
edge-plates are of little value and are
usually damaged from activity during
the turtle’s life. The plates are separated
from the turtle’s skeleton by heat, but the
fire must be tended with skill, or excessive
heat will darken the color of the
shell, ruining it for ornamental use.

Unio shells are simply unusually large
fresh-water pearl mussels, drag-netted
from rivers for buttons and similar uses.
Gambling tokens in the Realms are often
fashioned of such material.

The many facets of gems
Stories behind the stones listed in the DMG
by Michael Lowrey

Almost all adventurers have had the
experience at some time: You?ve solved the
riddling sonnet, defeated the guardians of
the treasure, and evaded the clever trap in
the lock. You open the age-hallowed coffers
and ask, ?What do we find??
The DM consults her records and replies:
?The chest contains 3900 silver pieces, 610
gold pieces, and 86 platinum pieces, all of
archaic design with inscriptions in a language
unknown to any of you ? although
Dickon the Cutpurse believes it may be an
ancient Ogrish tongue ? and 23 gems.?
?Gems!? Of what sorts??
?Oh, the usual. Seven hematites, four
rhodochrosites, six green spinels, and six
pink diamonds.?
?What are these hematites??
?Well, they?re these opaque gray-black
s t o n e s . . . ?
?Yeah, right, but what do they look
like?? At this point, your DM begins to lose
a little of her legendary icy calm and dignity.
?I don?t know, Willie, I?ve never
actually seen one. . . .?
And you end up losing a little of that

?willing suspension of disbelief? that makes
fantasy gaming such fun.

In order to prevent such distressing situations,
the following information has been
unearthed regarding the ?usual gems,? to
supplement what may be found in the
AD&DTM Dungeon Masters Guide.

Gem terminology
First, a few definitions are in order. Most
minerals (and gems are usually minerals)
are one of two types: either crystalline,
occurring as single stones or clusters of
stones, each with a definite structure that is
regularly repeated throughout crystals of the
same sort; or massive, occurring as continuous
masses of that mineral, having no regular
structure that is readily discernible. (But
technically, massive minerals are actually
composed of a great number of microscopic
crystals in most cases.)

Crystalline stones are often faceted, a
process by which they are flaked or ground
into a series of flat faces that together usually
form one of several customary cuts, in
the shape of symmetrical but irregular

polyhedra. Both crystalline and massive
stones may be smooth cut, which is the act
of forming them into regular shapes with
flat surfaces suitable for engraving (such as
often found in rings). They may be made
into cabochons, which are oval or round
dome-like shapes with one flat side for
mounting on various surfaces. They may
also be carved into beads, figurines, symbols,
and other shapes, or simply polished
in the natural shape of the stone. Massive
stones are sometimes found in large enough
masses to be shaped like one would shape
wood or architectural stone; sections may be
sawn off a large stone and used decoratively
as slabs; or, they may be carved (or even
turned on lathes) into jars, bowls, and other
functional shapes.
Inclusions are any of the specks of other
materials, bubbles, tiny flaws, impurities,
and the like which affect the appearance of a
stone by their presence. Cat?s-eye stones,
found among many mineral families, are
caused by certain patterns of inclusions
which, when a stone is shaped properly,
present an appearance like the slit-shaped

pupil of a cat?s eye. Star gems have analogous
patterns creating the illusion of a pale,
six-rayed star. Both cat?s-eyes and stars
must usually be cut into cabochons to display
these effects (known by the terms chatoyancy
and asterism respectively). The
value of a given stone will depend on its
size, color, relative freedom from flaws, and
the skill with which it has been polished
and/or cut.
Those mystical properties associated with
the various gems are to be associated with
the ?classic? form thereof; thus, while topaz
exists in blue, colorless, and pink varieties,
the mystic properties with which topaz is
credited are linked only with the traditional
honey-yellow stone (and the similarly colored
?oriental topaz?). When stones normally
occur in a number of different colors,
such as with agate, jade, jasper, and spinel
(to name a few), this stipulation does not
apply. In the following text, each type of
gem mentioned in the Dungeon Masters
Guide is referenced by at least one of its
popular names. The information on gem
category (ornamental, fancy, etc.) and base
value in gold pieces is taken from the
DMG.
Emphatic reminder: Despite any reported
mystical effects, the mere possession of
gems by characters will not ?trigger? such
effects ? if in fact they exist at all in the
particular gem. Rather, these alleged effects
are usually only useful as guidelines, indicating
certain stones as being suitable for

decorating (or comprising) a magic item, as
appropriate ingredients in a magical formula
or components for a spell, and so on
? nothing more. This applies alike to good
and ill effects.

THE GEMS

Agate (general notes)
The term ?agate? includes the banded
agate, eye agate, and moss agate (qq.v.).
The sages attribute many virtues to agates.
The Book of Saexan Leechdoms says, ?Of
the stone which hight Agate it hath eight
virtues for them who hath this stone with
them; against thunder, sorcery, fiendish
possession, venom, or poison, disease, the
evils of strong drink, and outbreaks on the
skin.? The cleric-alchemist Benoni wrote,
?The Agate quenches thirst, if held in the
mouth, and soothes fever?; Nostradamus
claimed it ?renders a man eloquent, prudent,
amiable, and agreeable?; Gygax notes
its value for ?restful and safe sleep.? It is
considered hostile to poisons, and is therefore
made into drinking bowls and other
such vessels. Another method for securing
its protection is to touch all foods and cooking
utensils with an especially valuable
agate before preparing or serving food; it
would seem to be a very suitable periapt of
proof against poison. According to Pliny the
Elder, the ancient Magii taught that storms
may be averted by burning agates.

Alexandrite (fancy; 100 gp)
Alexandrite is a unique variety of chrysoberyl
(q.v.). In daylight, an alexandrite is
brilliant green with a vague bluish tint; in
magical light it appears yellow or reddishyellow;
and in the light of a flame (candle,
lantern, torch) it appears red with a hint of
blue. It is normally faceted, although cabochon
cat?s-eye alexandrites have been reported.
Gygax tells us it is a stone of good
omens; this would be especially true for
those whose colors (personal, religious, or
national/tribal) are green and red. It might
also be suitable for magics involving shifting
and changing colors, such as a ring of
shooting stars.

Amber (fancy; 100 gp)
Amber is the congealed and hardened
resin of ancient giant conifers. It appears as
lumps of pale-gold to deep-gold color as a
rule, but also ranges from an opaque, frothy
white form called ?bone amber? to the
murky, near-black ?bog amber.? The most
transparent golden pieces are more valuable,
and the rarest and most precious of
these have bits of plants, or even whole
insects, preserved within. Amber is carved
into beads and cabochons, and sometimes
larger, more intricate shapes. It is quite a
brittle material, somewhat flammable, and
comparatively soft.
Amber is said to ward off diseases; the
cleric-alchemist Benoni affirmed that ?Amber
is curative of sore throat, and glandular

Amethyst (fancy; 100 gp)

Amethyst is the pale- to deep-purple form
of transparent crystalline quartz. To be of
real value, it should be entirely clear; such
stones are faceted. Pale stones, or those with
many inclusions, are often polished and
used as beads. A massive, translucent-toopaque
form of quartz, often with bands of
agate or milky quartz, far less valuable, is
made into cabochons and beads, carved into
bowls, and so forth; this stone is called
?amethyst quartz? to distinguish it from
true gem-quality amethyst (see also oriental
amethyst).
The sages are unanimous in telling us
that this is the stone of sobriety and temperance.
It prevents drunkenness and druggedness,
restrains one from indulging in too
much sleep, quickens the wit, and drives
vapors from the head. It is much used
within temples, for prayer beads and the
like, as it is believed to create an atmosphere
of mental peace and calm meditation;
it is also suited for a rod of
similar clerical magics.
sun and the moon are
resurrection and I f
the names of the
engraved upon an amethyst, and it is hung
about a person?s neck, together with a
clump of baboon?s hair or a swallow?s
feather, this is said to act as a protection
against witchcraft.

Aquamarine (fancy/precious; 500 gp)
The aquamarine is a transparent crystalline
stone of a pale blue-green; like the
emerald (q.v.), it is a species of beryl, but it
shows far fewer flaws (as a rule) than an
emerald of equal size. It is normally cut as a
faceted stone.
Regarded as the sailor?s talisman (and
thus suitable to decorate a trident of warning),
the aquamarine is also said to cure
liver complaints, and jaundice; to reconcile
married folks; and to chase away idleness
and stupidity. In the Magick of Kiram one
may read: ?Take an Aqua-marine Stone,
and engrave a Crow upon it; and under its
feet a Crab; wear it as you will; for Joy, and
Exultation, and Acquisition, and Union,
and Conjugal Love; and it will make the
Bearer cheerful, and Rich . . .?

Azurite (ornamental; 10 gp)
Azurite is a form of copper ore, an
opaque massive stone of a deep pure blue
color, generally uniform but sometimes
slightly mottled. It is polished and cut into
beads, cabochons, and similar shapes; a
stone of uniform color is more valuable. It
often
occurs in deposits with malachite
(q.v.). It is not reputed to have any particular
mystic properties.

Banded agate (ornamental; 10 gp)
This is the translucent-to-opaque, multi-
layered variety of massive quartz. The
layers may include brown, black, or white
(onyx), pale blue (chalcedony), red-orange
(carnelian), and many others, each in a thin
layer. It is usually carved into vases, beads,
figurines, and so-forth; intaglios and cameos
are sometimes carved from pieces with
(comparatively) thick layers. Pieces with
smoothly concentric bands may be cut into
eye agates (q.v.); otherwise, banded agate is
considered to have the properties common
to all agate (q.v.).

Black opal (gem; 1,000 gp)
Black opal is that variety of opal (q.v.) in
which the body color is smoke black, deep
green, and dark blue, forming an almost
opaque background in which its opalescent
color play is displayed. It otherwise has the
properties
of the other forms of opal.

Black sapphire (gem/jewel; 5,000 gp)
The black sapphire is a blue-black form
of the sapphire (q.v.), so dark as to ap-
proach translucence. It is usually faceted, or
can be cut into a cabochon, especially the
cat?s-eye and star varieties. It has no reputation
for mystic properties.

Bloodstone (semi-precious; 50 gp)
Bloodstone is an opaque massive stone, a
form of jasper (q.v.). It is dark green, sprinkled
with deep red patches or flecks. It is
cut as cabochons, beads, pendants, and the
like, or smooth-cut to display the ?blooddrops.
? It is also called ?heliotrope.?
One sage claims that bloodstone ?. . .
maketh the water sethe in the vessel that it
is in, and resolveth it . . . into mist, and
soon after . . . into rain-drops. Also . . . if it
be put in a basin with clear water, it
changeth the sunbeams by rebounding of
the air, and seemeth to shadow them, and
breedeth in the air red, and sanguine colours,
as though the sun were in eclypse, and
darkened.? Thus, Gygax has suggested that
the bloodstone is related to weather control.
?Magus? claimed that it ?makes the wearer
constant, renowned, and famous, conducing
to long life?; also, ?it so dazzles the
eyes of men, that it causes the bearer to be
invisible; but then there must be applied to
it the herb bearing the same name, viz.
Heliotropum, or the sun-flower.? Note:
Hematite (q.v.) is sometimes called ?bloodstone
? as well.

Blue quartz (ornamental; 10 gp)
This is the pure, transparent, pale- to
medium-blue form of crystalline quartz.
Fine specimens are faceted for use in inexpensive
jewelry. It has no reputed magical
powers.

Cairngorm: See smoky quartz.

Carnelian (semi-precious; 50 gp)
Carnelian is the translucent to nearopaque,
yellow-brown to brownish-red
variety of massive quartz, often resembling
the color of flesh. It is made into rings,
bowls, cabochons, small figures, and the
like. It is also called ?sard.?
It is said that carnelian ?appeases anger,
makes cheerful minds, expels fear, makes
courage, destroys and prevents fascinations
[i.e., charms], and defends the body against
all poysons,? and generally benefits the
wisdom and protects from evil. It is also
said to cure tumors, to stanch bleeding, and
to heal wounds not made by iron; it would
be appropriate as the gem set into a ring of
regeneration .

Chalcedony (semi-precious; 50 gp)

This is the translucent-to-opaque, blue-white
to pale blue or blue-gray form of
massive quartz. It occurs in evenly colored
and in banded forms. If evenly colored and
translucent, it may be made into cabochons
or beads; all sorts are carved into bowls,
beads, boxes, figurines, etc.
Chalcedony is said to increase strength,
and Gygax tells us that it wards off undead.
The fur seal is said to swallow chalcedony
pebbles "with choice thereof, and relish."

Chrysoberyl (fancy; 50 gp)
Chrysoberyl is a transparent, greenishyellow
to green, crystalline stone. It also
occurs as cat?s-eyes of a yellow or brownish
color, which are sometimes called ?precious
cat?s-eyes,? since they are quite beautiful
and valuable. Occasionally, chrysoberyl
crystals will occur in six-fold forms resembling
simplified snowflakes. Clear stones are
faceted; the cat?s-eyes are cut as cabochons,
and the ?snowflakes? are simply polished to
emphasize their beauty and symmetry.
This gem is said to be endowed with
virtue, assuring wearers of good luck in all
their doings. It is believed by some to be the
abode of djinns or other beings (thus being
appropriate for a ring of djinni summoning),
and conversely to confer protection
from possession upon the bearer (perhaps
attackers end up ?occupying? the stone
instead?). The gem, in whatever form it is
employed, is often dedicated to one?s deity.

Chrysolite: See peridot.

Chrysoprase (semi-precious; 50 gp)
This is the translucent apple-green, or
sometimes darker, form of massive quartz.
It sometimes occurs with a brown veining
which, though attractive, reduces the value
of the stone. It is made into beads and
cabochons, and sometimes carved into
figures.

Chrysoprase is said to be emblematic of
eloquence, and of good luck; Gygax also
associates it with invisibility.

Citrine (semi-precious; 50 gp)
This is a transparent form of crystalline
quartz, ranging from pale yellow to medium
yellow to a clear yellow-brown. Many
stones are polished and made into beads, or
carved into small cups, figurines, and other
shapes; good, clear specimens are faceted. It
has no reputation for mystic virtues or
powers.

Coral (fancy; 100 gp)
Coral is the clean, dry skeleton of tropical
marine polyp colonies; jewelry-quality coral
is exceptionally compact, solid, and free of
pores. The chief, ?red? variety also occurs
in shades ranging from pure white to very
dark oxblood red; black and blue varieties
also exist. All forms are polished and worn
as bangles, or carved into beads, cabochons,
figurines, and so forth. The black
variety is traditionally used for dagger
handles, walking sticks, and the like, usually
with additional silver decoration. It is a
soft but not brittle ?stone,? and quite vulnerable
to acid.
The black variety is worn in the form of
bangles to guard against poison, and to cure
gout. The red kind was said by Paracelsus
to make ?an amulet against fear, and
frights, fascinations [i.e., charms], incantations,
poysons, epilepsies, melancholy,
devil?s assaults, and thunder.? It is worn as
a protection from the evil eye, by females as
a cure for sterility, to baffle witchcraft,
counteract poisons, and protect from tempests
and robbers. The cleric-alchemist
Benoni affirmed that ?the red Coral is a

cure for indigestion when kept constantly
next the person?; it is also praised as a
purifier of the blood and for use against the
black choler, derangements of the liver, and
pains of the stomach; and to stanch bleeding.
Gygax says also that it calms weather,
brings safety in river crossings, and (as
Paracelsus implied) cures madness.

Diamond (gem/jewel; 5,000 gp)

Diamond is a transparent, crystalline
stone, the hardest substance known in nature.
The most valued color is a clear bluishwhite;
most lesser stones are clear white or
off-white, but other less valued color varieties
are known, among them mauve, pink,
peach, and chartreuse. The gem is always
faceted.

Various sages agree that diamond is
supposed to preserve the wearer from various
spirits, ghosts, nightmares, and the like;
probably from all types of undead. Camillus
Leonardus, in his Mirror of Stones, wrote
that "It is a help to lunaticks, and such as
are possessed with a devil; being bound to
the left arm it gives victory over enemies; it
tames wild beasts; . . . makes him that
wears it bold, and daring in his transactions
." It is said to preserve the wearer from
sorrows, and to make him ?more fearless
than careful? (thus, a cursed berserking
sword might bear one). The cleric-alchemist
Benoni wrote that it ?impels to all good
things . . . [but is] capable of producing
somnambulism.? Nostradamus wrote that
?the Diamond renders a man invisible?;
and it supposedly preserves against lightning.
It is said to be an antidote to poisons
when worn as a finger jewel; yet for many
centuries it was believed to be the most
deadly of all substances if swallowed.

Emerald (gem; 1,000 gp)

This is a deep bright green stone, transparent
and crystalline, always showing a
number of inclusions. Usually it is faceted;
an occasional stone with a vast number of
inclusions will be made into a cabochon, as
will the infrequent cat?s-eye emerald. A
large, comparatively flawless stone will be
more valuable than a diamond of similar
qualities ? and much, much rarer.
Emerald is said to be soothing and refreshing
(especially to the eyes); to
strengthen and restore the sight (thus, a
suitable gem of seeing) and memory; to
bolster friendship, and constancy of mind.
Garcias wrote that ?the Emerald takes away
foolish fears, as of devils, and hobgoblins,
with folly, and anger?; it is believed to
?send evil spirits howling into space? (to
their home planes?), and to stifle epileptic
fits and other ailments. Being linked with
fertility, it is worn to ease the pain of childbirth.
In the Magick of Kiram, this is written
of the emerald: ?Engrave thereupon the
Bird Harpe [i.e., a harpy]; and under its
feet a Sea Lamprey; and wear the Stone
against disturbance, and dreams, and stupidity.
It causes Rest to Lunaticks, and to

them that are troubled with the Cholick;
and it is better if the Fat of the Sea-
Lamprey be put underneath.?
The falling of an emerald from its setting
is accounted an extremely bad omen to the
wearer. The gem is said to make its owner
rich; the tyrant Polycrates of Samos threw
his prized emerald signet into the sea as an
offering to the gods, for he and his allies
feared that he might incur their wrath or
resentment with all the good fortune the
ring had brought him. But, a few days later,
he found the signet ring in the stomach of
his freshly caught dinner fish, and he knew
his sacrifice had been rejected. And, indeed,
Polycrates was soon overthrown.

Eye agate (ornamental; 10 gp)
The eye agate is simply a piece of banded
agate (q.v.) whose bands form a concentric
pattern resembling an eye, and which has
been cut in a form, such as a circular slice
or cabochon, that emphasizes the ?eye.?
It is worn normally as an amulet to ward
off evil, and for protection from spirits; and
it is valued more for this than for any of the
powers generally attributed to agate (q.v.).
As such, it is appropriate for an amulet of
proof against detection and location.

Fire opal (gem; 1,000 gp)
This is an orange to orange-red form of
opal (q.v.), ranging from transparent to
transparent with mottled translucence. It
does not always have the intricate color play
of other opals; when play is present, the
stone is more valuable. If transparent, it is
often faceted; usually it is made into cabochons
otherwise.
In addition to those virtues normally
associated with opals, one may guess that
the fire opal is also associated with fire
magics, being thereby suited for flame
tongue swords, wands of fire, and the like.

Garnet (fancy; 100 gp)
(Violet variety: fancy/precious; 500 gp)
Garnet is a transparent crystalline stone;
in addition to the usual orangish- to
purplish-red or red-brown, garnets also
occur in black, violet, and even green color
varieties. The violet form, also called ?rhodolite,
? is the rarest, most prized, and most
valuable. Small crystals, the most frequently
occurring form, are sometimes
drilled and strung into necklaces; larger
stones are faceted.

Benoni wrote that ?the Garnet preserves
health and joy?; Psellus claimed in his De
Lapidus that if hung around the neck,
garnet gave the power of seeing in the dark.
Its possessor is (supposedly) likely to be
faithful and true (making it appropriate for
a phylactery of faithfulness); it is said to
resist melancholy, cure palpitations
heart, and stop spitting of blood.

Golden sapphire: See oriental topaz.

Green sapphire: See oriental emerald.

Heliotrope: See bloodstone.

Hematite (ornamental; 10 gp)

This is an opaque, gray-black massive
stone that when powdered or crumbled
shows itself to be made up of minuscule
blood-red particles (it is a major iron ore).
Gem-quality hematite is deep black, finegrained,
and glossy (it is sometimes imitated
with steel). It is made into beads,
cabochons, pendants, and the like, or
smooth-cut for signet rings (which traditionally
depict the head of Athena or some other
war deity or warrior).

Hematite is widely believed to stop bleeding,
and is considered a warrior?s talisman
(making it ideal for a periapt of wound
closure). It is sometimes called ?bloodstone
? ? but see bloodstone for details.

Hyacinth: See jacinth, and also zircon.

Jacinth (gem/jewel; 5,000 gp)
The jacinth is the orange to fiery redorange
variety of the hard, transparent

crystalline mineral corundum (ruby and
sapphire
[qq.v.] are also corundum). It is
faceted, except in the case of the rare translucent
cat?s-eye and star jacinths. It is also
known as the ?true? or ?greater jacinth,?
the ?greater? or ?oriental hyacinth,? and
the ?orange sapphire."

It is said to dispel evil spirits from the
wearer, and to strengthen the heart, being
often worn close to that organ and fashioned
in the form of some animal or saint. One

sage called it a ?specifick against the
Crampe, and Convulsion; . . . hung about
jewthe
neck, for an Amulet against the Plague;
or, set in a Ring.? Nostradamus wrote that
?the Hyacinth provokes Sleep?; Boetius, in
his De Natura Gemmarum, agreed, and
added that the jacinth ?brings honour,
riches, wisdom.? Gygax mentions also luck
in traveling and protection from fire; and in
Natural Magic by ?Magus? was written
that it ?possesses virtues from the Sun
against poisons, pestilence, and pestiferous
vapours; likewise it renders the bearer
pleasant, and acceptable; conduces also to
gain money; being simply held in the mouth
it wonderfully cheers the heart, and
strengthens the mind.? It would seem to
make a suitable periapt of health or a jewel of flawlessness.
<check above text carefully>

Jade (fancy; 100 gp)
Jade is a translucent-to-opaque, massive
stone with an oily luster. It occurs in several
color varieties: shades of green, including
the near-transparent bright green ?imperial
jade? (highly prized) and the rare spinachgreen
jade with its golden glints; white,
waxy-looking ?mutton-fat jade,? which may
have patches of green or (rarely) streaks of
carmine; and the uncommon yellow,

cinnabar-red, earth-brown, black, and
lavender varieties. It has been carved into
beads, cabochons, pendants, vases, buttons,
figurines, bottles, weapons, musical instruments,
and a myriad other forms, for it is
hard and dense, and carves well.
Wherever it appears, in any of its colors,
jade is respected. In some cultures it is
almost venerated, regarded as a diviner of
judgments and a charm of happy omen,
and esteemed as most precious. (It seems
suitable for a talisman of pure good or a
holy avenger sword.) When it is struck, jade
is said to give forth a note that floats sharply
and distinctly to a distance; thus, Gygax
associates it with skill at music and musical
instruments.

Jargoon: See zircon.

Jasper (Semi-precious; 50 gp)
Jasper is an opaque form of massive
quartz composed of tiny, interlocking grains
and having an oily luster. It occurs in a
variety of colors, including blue, black,
brown, red, green, and yellow; and in
banded, spotted, veined, etc., varieties in
almost any conceivable combination (see
bloodstone). It is carved into beads, cabochons,
and the like; it is a traditional stone
to smooth-cut for carving signets, seals, and
so on.

The healer Galen and others recommended
jasper against epilepsy, fevers,
dropsy, bleeding, and above all stomach pains;
Galen records that King Nechepsus
wore a green jasper cut in the shape of a
dragon surrounded by rays; when the jewlery
as applied over his digestive organs, it
was found to be wonderfully strengthening
to their function. St. Vincentius wrote that
some jaspers were ?carved with the figure

of a man bearing on his necke a bundle of
hearbs and flowers; with the estimation and
value of them noted that they have in them
a facultie, or power restrictive, and will in
an instant, or moment of time, staunch
blood.?
Jasper also is esteemed as an amulet
against phantasms and witchcraft. The
Lapidarium of Marbodeus the cleric says:
?Againe, it is beleeved to be a safegarde
franke and free, to such as weare, and beare
the same; and if it hallowed be, it makes the
parties gratious, and mightie too, that have
it, and noysome fansies (as they write that
ment not to deprave it) it dooth displace out
of the mind; the force thereof is stronger in
silver, if the same be set; ? and will endure
the longer.?
The stone would be an appropriate ornament
for rings ofprotection and bracers of
defense.

Jet (fancy; 100 gp)

This is a glossy black, opaque and massive
stone, actually a very hard, dense,
compacted form of coal. It is usually faceted,
or simply polished, for beads and
pendants; it is sometimes carved into figurines
and other shapes. The stone is flammable
under great heat.
Jet is said to relieve toothache, and serves
as an ointment for reducing tumors when it
is powdered and mixed with beeswax. Gygax
recommends it as a material for creating
soul objects (such as an amulet of life
protection).

Lapis lazuli (ornamental; 10 gp)

Lapis lazuli is a dense, opaque and massive
stone of a medium to deep blue color
(the deeper and more uniform the blue, the
more valuable), usually flecked with golden
specks of pyrites (fool?s gold). It is carved
into cabochons, beads, or figurines, and is
used in slabs for tables, boxes, etc., and for
inlay work. It is a fairly soft stone.
Ancient kings sharpened their weapons
on lapis lazuli, believing they (the weapons
and the kings) would become invulnerable.
One healer advised that ?it purgeth chiefly
melancholy, cures quartans, apoplexies,
epilepsies, . . . and many others from dementia.
? It is said to give sleep, to relieve
asthma, to sharpen the intellect, and relieve
anxieties and obsessions (thus, Gygax tells
us, it raises morale and courage), and to
cure eye troubles and diseases of the spleen.

Malachite (ornamental; 10 gp)

This is an opaque massive stone, striated
in bands of lighter and darker green. It is
carved into beads, figurines, cabochons,
and the like, and is also sawn into slabs that
are used as inlays or veneers. It often occurs
interspersed with azurite (q.v.); both are
ores of copper.
Malachite is used as a talisman to protect
children and expectant mothers, often in a
form similar to the eye agate (q.v.). Gygax
associates it with protection from falling,
thus making it appropriate for a ring of
feather falling.

Mocca stone: See moss agate.

Moonstone (semi-precious; 50 gp)

Moonstone is a white, translucent, massive
stone that shows a distinctive white or
blue-white play of light, resembling moonlight;
there are also greenish, gray, and even
red-brown varieties. It is always carved into
beads, cabochons, and similar shallow,
rounded forms to bring out this effect.

It is said by Pliny the Elder to display an
image of the moon, which waxes or wanes
according to the state of the moon at the
time; in a related vein, Gygax suggests that
it may induce lycanthropy.

Moss agate (ornamental; 10 gp)
Moss agate is a near-transparent to translucent
form of massive quartz with greenish
or grayish inclusions resembling tendrils of
moss. It may be vaguely yellowish or pinkish,
sometimes with a smoky tinge. The
most valuable variety is almost transparent
with pure green ?moss.? Smoky stones with
brown, gray, or black moss are also called
?mocca stones.? It is usually made into
cabochons, beads, or pendants; sometimes
the pebbles are simply polished and strung
into necklaces. Moss agate is credited with
the mystic properties of all agate (q.v.); the
finest stones are also associated with plant
fertility.

Obsidian (ornamental; 10 gp)
This is a volcanic natural glass,
opaque to semi-opaque, that occurs in
black, gray, and red-brown varieties, as well
as ?snowflake obsidian,? which is black with
whitish specks. It is carved or flaked into
figures and ornaments; and, an obsidian
blade can be flaked to a sharpness not attainable
by any (non-magical) metal edge.
(Thus, it would fittingly adorn a sword of
sharpness or a vorpal weapon.) Obsidian
tools and weapons are often used in religious
rituals, and have been considered by
some societies the only tools suitable for
carving images related to deities.

Onyx (semi-precious; 50 gp)

Onyx is a porous and opaque form of
massive quartz, occurring in black or white
or a black-and-white layered variety. It is
made into beads and cabochons; smooth-cut
for signets and the like; and carved into
bowls and figurines.
It is said to prevent epileptic fits when
worn around the neck. The cleric Benoni
wrote that "the Onyx is a demon imprisoned
in stone, who wakes only of a night,
causing terror, and disturbance to sleepers
who wear it." The cleric Marbodeus asserted
that the wearer is exposed to the
assaults of demons, and to ugly visions, by
night, besides being plagued with quarrels
and lawsuits by day. (Thus, it would seem
suited for a phylactery of monstrous attention
or a scarab of enraging enemies.) However,
Gygax affirms that it causes discord
among enemies (emphasis the author?s).

Opal (gem; 1,000 gp)
This is a translucent, massive stone,
usually pale blue-white but displaying an
array of red, yellow, green, and violet highlights
when light is reflected from its surface.
Many varieties exist: a mosaic of small
colored areas of play is the mark of a ?harlequin
opal? ; near-transparency and a
moonstone-like appearance distinguish a
?water opal?; near-opacity, paleness, and
limited play of color indicate the common
?milky opal?; and there are several others
(see black opal and fire opal). It is made
into cabochons and other low, rounded
forms to best display the play of colors. It is
a soft and somewhat brittle stone; and,
heated opals may lose part or all of their
opalescent color play, and thus much of
their beauty and-value.
The sage Macer wrote of the opal that
?The stone is reported to have as many
virtues as it has colours; but what they are
authors are something silent about.? Its
virtue is said to prevail against all diseases
of the eyes, to sharpen and strengthen the
sight. The cleric Marbodeus tells us it confers
the gift of invisibility on the wearer; but
the alchemist-cleric Benoni warns that ?the
Opal is fatal to love, and sows discord between
the giver and receiver.? The stone
seems fitting to use as a tip for a wand of
wonder or a wand of illumination.

Orange sapphire: See jacinth.

Oriental amethyst (gem; 1,000 gp)
Oriental amethyst is a variety of the
hard, transparent, crystalline mineral corundum
with a color closely resembling that
of the amethyst (q.v.). It is normally faceted,
except for the rare cat?s-eye and star
forms. It is also called a ?purple sapphire.?
The stone is generally credited with the
same mystic properties as a true amethyst.

Oriental emerald (gem/jewel; 5,000 gp)
This is the variety of corundum whose
color most closely resembles that of the
emerald (q.v.). Normally faceted (except for
stars and cat?s-eyes), it is also known as
?green sapphire,? and is said to have the
same mystic properties as a true emerald.

Oriental topaz (gem; 1,000 gp)
Oriental topaz is the variety of corundum
whose color most closely resembles the
yellow topaz (q.v.). Normally faceted (except
in the star and cat?s-eye forms), it is
also called a ?golden sapphire,? and is
alleged to have the same mystic qualities as
a true topaz.

Pearl (fancy; 100 gp)
(Black variety: fancy/precious; 500 gp)

The pearl is the end product of layers of
secretion with which certain mollusks surround
bits of foreign matter in their shells.
When the secretion hardens, it takes on a
unique luster which originates in its dispersion
of light just below its surface. It occurs
in many shapes: round, teardrop, ?button?
(flat on one side), and the myriad irregular

forms known collectively as the ?baroque?

pearl. This is generally the order of value as
well, with only the most lustrous and largest
baroques being treasured. As well as the
traditional ?pearly white,? these stones
come in less common color varieties in a
range from yellow and pale rose to the rare,
lustrous deep black. They are mounted in
all sorts of jewelry settings (mountings often
use half-pearls), and, being easily drilled,
are strung in various ways ? by graduated
sizes or in a uniform string; in single, multiple,
or even braided strands. Fresh-water
mollusks sometimes yield pearls, but these
are usually of much poorer quality than
pearls from a salt-water mollusk.
Pearls are quite vulnerable to acid, fire,
and electrical attacks, to crushing blows,
and other physical trauma. They may be
damaged by sudden changes in temperature,
and are alleged to deteriorate if left
untouched for great lengths of time, although
sea water will supposedly negate any
such deterioration.
The pearl is said to symbolize innocence,
and to preserve virtue and chastity. Many
healers and sages commended its use in
various powdered mixtures, for clearing the
spirit; resisting poison, pestilence, plague,
and putrefaction; strengthening the heart;
fortifying the nerves; curing weak eyes; and
preserving the body from the decay of old
age (making pearls appropriate for a phylactery
of long years). We are also warned
by the sages that ?pearls portend a torrent
of tears,? especially when they appear in
dreams and prophecies.

Peridot (fancy/precious; 500 gp)
Peridot is a transparent, crystalline stone,
usually a clear yellow-green, although it can
vary from near emerald-green to almost an
olive-green. The better stones are faceted;
flawed or cloudy stones are polished for
beads, or made into cabochons, as are the
occasional cat?s-eye peridots. The stone is
also known as ?chrysolite.?
Set in gold and worn around the neck or
left arm, peridot is said to be a charm
against all magic and sorcery. It is credited
with the power to dispel night terrors, to
cure cowardice, to ?cool boiling water, and
assuage wrath,? to calm anger and madness
while being able to brighten the wit. It is
said to be ?good against hemorrhages, and
all manner of fluxes of blood, as likewise to
stop bleeding,? and also to ward off fevers.

Precious cat?s-eye: See chrysoberyl.

Purple sapphire: See oriental amethyst.

Rhodochrosite (ornamental; 10 gp)

This is an opaque stone ranging in color
from pale pink to medium red. It occurs
mostly in a massive, banded form, and
occasionally in single-colored opaque crystals.
It is made into beads, cabochons,
boxes, vases, and the like. It is a somewhat
soft stone, and fairly vulnerable to acid; no
mystic or magical properties are attributed
to it.

Rhodolite: See garnet.

Rock crystal (semi-precious; 50 gp)
Rock crystal is the colorless, transparent
variety of crystalline quartz. The most
valuable pieces are free of inclusions; lesser
stones often have needle-like inclusions
euphemistically termed ?love?s darts.? The
stone is often faceted, or carved into crystal
balls or fine sculptures; poorer pieces may
be polished for use as beads.
The stone is purported to be superhardened,
unmeltable ice; thus, it is said to be
able to slake thirst. Round, smooth balls of
it are carried to cool the hands or forehead
on hot days, and crystal rings are worn for
the same purpose. (Because of this property,
it might be suitable adornment for a frost
brand sword or a wand of frost). Crystal
worn on the finger, as a solid ring or as a
stone in a setting, is said to protect the
wearer from frostbite as well. Benoni wrote
that ?the Crystal promotes sweet sleep, and
good dreams,? and of course real crystal
balls are standard for use as scrying devices
and the like.

Ruby (gem/jewel; 5,000 gp)

The ruby is a moderate-to-deep red,
transparent variety of the hard crystalline
mineral corundum (sapphire and jacinth
[qq.v.] are also corundum). The finest
rubies are absolutely clear and uniformly of
that deep red color called ?pigeon?s blood?;
lesser stones may vary from a paler red to a
somewhat garnet-like red tinged with
purplish-brown. It is usually faceted, but
cloudy specimens may be made into cabochons,
as may the rare cat?s-eye; see also
star ruby
The ruby is said to ward off plagues and
pestilences, dispersing infectious airs; if the
corners of a house, garden, or vineyard are
touched with a ruby, they will supposedly be
thus preserved from lightning, tempests,
and worms. Cardamus wrote that ?it has
the power of making the wearer cheerful,
whilst banishing idle, and foolish thoughts?;
the healer Schroder says that ?it resists
poyson, resists sadness, restrains lust, drives
away frightful dreams, keeps the body safe.?
It is said to give warning if misfortune
threatens the wearer, becoming much
darker in hue; when the peril or evil is
averted or over, it then resumes its former
color. It is supposed to prevent loss of
blood, and to strengthen the heart; a bloodred
stone, held in the mouth, is said to
stimulate the mind. When powdered, it is
taken to make the body capable of resisting
decay; and to ?sweeten the sharpness of the
humours, to strengthen the vitals, to drive
away melancholy, and to restore lost
strength.? It might appropriately decorate a
defender sword, for example.

Sapphire (gem; 1,000 gp)

This name is traditionally reserved for
the moderate-to-deep clear blue tradum,
one of the hardest substances in existence;
?sapphire? is also sometimes used to refer
to other color varieties of corundum, such

as the ?orange sapphire? or jacinth (q.v.).
The sapphire is usually faceted, but there
are the occasional cat?s-eye sapphires; and
see also black sapphire and star sapphire.
Among the color varieties of corundum that
are not given other names, and are therefore
called ?(color) sapphires,? are pinkish,
chartreuse, clear/white, and brown; and
each color of corundum occurs in cat?s-eye
and star forms as well.
The true blue sapphire is credited with
many virtues. The great cleric St. Jerome
wrote that it ?procures favour with princes,
pacifies enemies, and gives freedom from
enchantment, or captivity?; the clericalchemist
Benoni said that ?it impels to all
good things? (though he warned that it was
?capable of producing somnambulism?);
and some sects teach that it can bring purity
and spiritual enlightenment. In fact, like the
amethyst (q.v.), it is often considered a
highly suitable stone for clerics, being alleged
to render the wearer ?pacific, amiable,
pious, and devout, confirming the soul
in good works,? to prevent wicked and
impure thoughts, to render evil magic powerless,
and help the wearer to discern falsehood
and guile. It will supposedly refuse to
shine when used for the purpose of beautifying
the impure.
The sapphire is supposed to be such an
enemy to poison that if a stone is put into a
container with a spider (or other venomous
creature) it will kill the creature; it is
thereby suitable for a periapt of proof

against poison. It is said to preserve the
sight and cure diseases of the eyes, as well
as sharpening the intellect. When powdered,
it is recommended to heal tumors,
sores, boils, and pustules. St. Epiphanius
alleges its power of extinguishing fire, because
of a natural antagonism to heat;
similarly, the Celestial Intelligencer tells of
its ?contrariety . . .
feverish heats? ;
against hot biles [and]
the stone might be appropriate
as the tip of a wand of frost.

Sard: See carnelian.

Sardonyx (semi-precious; 50 gp)

This is a form of massive quartz consisting
of bands of the translucent to opaque
?sard? (see carnelian) and opaque white
onyx (q.v.). It is carved into beads, cabochons,
figures, seals, and other shapes.

Sardonyx is said to make one cheerful,
averting melancholy. In the Magick of
Kiram is written, ?Upon the Sardonyx
engrave a Quail; and under its feet a Sea
Tench; and when you are willing not to be
seen, put a little of the concoction under the
stone in the hollow of the ring, and wear the
ring; and no man shall see you, if you do
anything in the house; no; not if you should
take away anything that is in the house.?
However, of the nature of the ?concoction?
little is known.

Smoky quartz (semi-precious; 50 gp)

Smoky quartz is the transparent variety
of crystalline quartz that ranges from graybrown
to brown-black; regardless of hue, it
must be clear rather than cloudy to be of
value. The very clearest and palest stones
are faceted; lesser ones are polished and
made into beads, or carved into figurines,
small cups, and the like. Certain varieties,
especially the paler gray-brown stones or
those with a bluish tinge, are also called
?cairngorm.? No particular mystic properties
are attributed to this stone.

Spinel (fancy; 100 gp)
(Deep blue: fancy/precious; 500 gp)
This is a transparent, crystalline stone
that occurs in a range of colors from graygreen
to blue-black to purple to deep red to
rose. The most valuable ?non-precious?
stones are a pure deep red; the deep blue
form is more valuable still, but also much
more scarce. Spinel is usually faceted, but
extremely large specimens of the better sorts
are simply polished and put into highly
elaborate mountings. The stone has no
reputation for mystic qualities.

Star rose quartz (semi-precious; 50 gp)
The star rose quartz is the only valuable
form of rose quartz, a translucent-to-opaque
quartz variety usually found in massive
form. Star rose quartz is a rose-pink, translucent
crystalline stone (not as red as a
ruby) with the usual whitish six-rayed
?star? displayed therein; and, like all stars,
it must be cut in a cabochon to bring out

this quality. It has no alleged mystic or
magical properties.

Star ruby (gem; 1,000 gp)
The star ruby is a translucent ruby with a
whitish ?star? at the center, cut into a
cabochon to display the asterism. It otherwise
conforms in all respects to the description
and properties of ruby (q.v.).

Star sapphire (gem; 1,000 gp)
The star sapphire is a translucent, deep
blue sapphire with a whitish ?star? at the
center, cut in the cabochon shape to display
this phenomenon. Gygax credits the stone
with special efficacy as a protection from
magic (thus making it suitable as a scarab of
protection); otherwise, it conforms in all
respects to the sapphire (q.v.).

Tiger eye (ornamental; 10 gp)
This is a translucent to semi-opaque form
of massive quartz, displaying a much richer
color and luster than most ?cat?s-eye?
quartz does. It is a rich golden-brown, with
the ?pupil? a pure yellow-gold color. It is
cut into cabochons, pendants, beads, and
the like; and the stone in masses is also
carved into figurines, bowls, and so forth. It
is not alleged have any special mystical
qualities.

Topaz (fancy/precious; 500 gp)
Topaz is a transparent, crystalline stone,
normally yellow to golden yellow-brown in
color; colorless, pink, and blue varieties are
also known. Because it cleaves easily, it is
often difficult to cut well; it is generally
faceted, but cloudy specimens may be cut as
cabochons or pendants. Occasionally, large
crystals of startling clarity are discovered.
One writer alleges that topaz wards off
evil spells; the Celestial Intelligencer contains
praise of the ?contrariety of . . . the
Topaz against spiritual heats, such as covetousness
.? It is supposed to cure inflammations,
and The Honest Jeweller has a claim
that ?when thrown into boiling water the
Topaz at once deprives this of its heat?
(thus, it may be set in a ring of fire resistance).
Powdered, it is said to prevent bleeding,
to be favorable against hemorrhages, to
impart strength and good digestion; to cure
asthma, lack of sleep, and diverse other
maladies. It is said to keep the wearer from
sleepwalking, and a whole stone applied
within or to the side of the nose is said to
halt a nosebleed.

Tourmaline (fancy; 100 gp)
This is a transparent, crystalline stone
(some specimens are so cloudy as to be
nearly translucent). It occurs with fair
frequency in a bewildering variety of colors:
white, blue, gray, purple, red, orange,
yellow, brown, green, near-black; and in
combinations of two and even three colors
in a single stone. Clear stones are faceted;
cloudy ones are cut into cabochons or
beads, or carved into figurines. The largest

and cloudiest crystals are often sawn into
slices, especially in order to display such
color combinations as the ?watermelon
tourmaline? : deep green exterior, bright red
interior. Stones with deep, pure colors are
usually more valuable, even when the colors
are combinations. Cat?s-eye tourmalines
occur in all colors and combinations, and
are made into cabochons. Tourmaline has
no mystic or magical reputation, but it
shows an affinity for electricity similar to
that of amber (q.v.).

Turquoise (ornamental; 10 gp)
Turquoise is a translucent-to-opaque
massive stone, blue to greenish-blue in
color; it frequently occurs with brownish
veining. The most valuable is sky-blue,
translucent, and without veining; the least
valued (and most common) is green-blue,
opaque, and heavily veined. It is usually cut
into cabochons, or beads and pendants;
large pieces may be cut into figurines, and
pebbles of a size may be polished and
strung together.

Camillus Leonardus wrote that turquoise
is ?useful to horsemen; as long as the rider
has it with him, his horse will never tire
him, and will preserve him unhurt from any
accident.? Crown Jeweler Ove Dragsted
agrees that it is a special talisman for
horses, and adds that it is a ?stone of victory.
? Boetius claimed that it ?strengthens
the eye, and cheers the soul of the wearer; it
saves him from suffering a fall [and thus
may be an ingredient in feather fall magics],
by cracking itself instead; it grows pale as
the wearer sickens, loses its colour entirely
on his death, but recovers it when placed on
the finger of a new, and healthy possessor.?

Zircon (semi-precious; 50 gp)

This is a transparent, crystalline stone; in
addition to the usual pale blue-green and
orange-red varieties (these two being the
most valued), the stone also comes in
brownish-yellow, reddish-brown, green,
and purple varieties. It is brittle and diffcult
to cut, and is traditionally finished as
small faceted stones. The orange-red variety
is called the ?lesser? or ?common hyacinth,
? or the ?lesser jacinth?; the smokier
form is sometimes called a ?jargoon.?

The zircon (the pale blue-green kind), it
is said, ?procures sleep, honour, and wisdom;
besides driving away evil spirits.? To
the so-called ?lesser jacinth? are attributed
a lesser degree of the properties of the true
jacinth (q.v.).

ON SAGES AND SOURCES
Unlike the situation with the Tarot or I
Ching, belief in the mystic virtues of gems
is, if not dead, certainly moribund. The
?classic? sources for such information are
thus less likely to be available to the ordinary
searcher. For example, Fernie (see
?Sources?) described the Magick of Kiram,
etc. (q.v.) as ?a work much sought after by
the learned, but seen by few, and said to be
in the Vatican, at Rome? ? and that was
written several decades ago! What I found
in my sources was a mass of fragmentary
citations and quotations, often very poorly
credited (if at all) to the ?sages? being
quoted.
The following notes on sages may appear
skimpy; yet, there were others so inadequately
identified that I cannot even cite
them by name. Quoted matter in the text
that is not attributed to a named sage was
generally taken from one or more of the
below-named sources, which either did not
identify the person being quoted or gave a
name which a further search could not turn
up in a second source. I trust that Messrs.
Dragsted and Gygax will forgive me for
numbering them among the sages.

Sages (biographical notes)
Benoni: 14th-century rabbi and mystic;
one of the most respected alchemists of his
time.

Boetius (Anselme Boece de Boodt): Flemish
doctor, court physician to Emperor
Rudolf II. His De Natura Gemmarum et
Lapidum Historia was published in Hanau
(Hesse) in 1609.

Book of Saexan Leechdoms, The: Fernie
(see "Sources") dates this volume from
1864; I can find no other references.
Cardamus (Girolamo Cardano, 1501-
1576): Italian mathematician, physician,
and astrologer. His works include De Subtilitate
Rerum (155 1) and De Gemmis.

Dragsted, Ove: 20th-century gemologist;
the Crown Jeweller of the Kingdom of
Denmark.

Epiphanius, St. (AD 315-403): Judean
priest, Bishop of Cyprus. His De Duodecim
Gemmis Quae Erunt in Veste Aaronis was
written about AD 400.

Galen (c. AD 130-200): Greek doctor,
physician to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius
and Commodus. His works on medicine
were the standards of both Western and
Islamic cultures throughout the Middle
Ages.

Garcias (Garcia da Orta): Portuguese
traveler, the first Occidental to publish true
accounts of Asia?s gem trade. His Portuguese
original was published in Goa in
1563, and a Latin translation (Aromaturn
Historia) in 1579.

Gygax, E. Gary: 20th-century Wisconsinite
writer and game designer; author of
the ADVANCED DUNGEONS &
DRAGONS® game rules, and co-creator of
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® game
rules.

Honest Jeweller, The: A work by a nameless
German writer of the 17th century.

Jerome, St. (Sophronius Eusebius
Hieronymus, c. AD 340-420): Pannonian
priest and monk. Author of the Vulgate
translation of The Bible, and many other
works, some of which deal in passing with
gems and their properties.

Leonardus, Camillus (Camillo
Leonardo): Umbrian doctor, court physician
to Cesare Borgia. His Speculum Lapidum,
Cui Accesserunt Metallorum
Sympathiae (?Mirror of Stones?), published
in Venice in 1502, was widely translated
and sometimes plagiarized.

Macer, Aemilius (died 16 BC): Roman
didactic poet; author of Theriaca, a poem
on antidotes against the poison of serpents.

Magick of Kiram, King of Persia, and of
Harpocration: An English translation of this
work was published in London in 1685; see
the preceding section of text.

"Magus" (Francis Barrett): English
professor of chemistry; his Celestial Intelligencer
and Natural Magic were both published
in 1801.

Marbodeus (Marboeuf, 1037-1125):
Bishop of Rennes (Brittany); his lengthy
poem on gems, the Lapidarium, is said to
be the first original didactic poem of the
Middle Ages.

Nostradamus (Michel de Notredame,
1503-1566): French astrologer and physician;
his cryptic prophecies are still discussed.
His patrons included Catherine de
Medici and Charles IX. His published
remarks on gems are merely an approving
repetition of the ideas of the 14th-century
alehcmist Pierre de Boniface.

Paracelsus, Phillipus Aureolus (real
name: Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim,
1493-1541): Swiss physician and
alchemist. After (supposed) extensive travels
in the East, he proclaimed various
radically new, if logical, theories and prin-
ciples of medicine, angering many in the
field. (He died after an attack by a gang of
his opponents.) His works include De Natura
Rerum.

Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus,
AD 23-79): Roman scholar and scientist (he
died from fumes he inhaled while investigating
Mt. Vesuvius). His Naturalis Historia,
the 37th book of which deals with gems, was
a respected authority for more than 1,500
years.

Psellus, Michael Constantius (1018-
1110): Byzantine politician and natural
philosopher; author of De Lapidibus Virtutibus
(?Virtues of Stones?).

Schroder, Dr. Johann: German physician;
author of a scientific work in Latin
published in 1660, the English translation of
which was entitled The Compleat Chymical
Dispensatory.

Vincentius Lerinensis, St. (Vincent de
Lerins; died 450): Gaulish priest; his Commonitorium
pro Catholicae Fidei Antiquitate
et Universitate, written under the
pseudonym ?Peregrinus? in 434, includes
some remarks on gems.

Sources (bibliographical information)
Christian, Paul. The History and Practice
of Magic (revised, supplemented, and
emendated translation). New York, 1963.
From the French original Histoire de la
Magie, du Monde Surnaturel et de la Fatalite
a travers le Temps et les Peuples (Paris,
1870).

Crow, W. B., D.Sc., Ph.D. Precious
Stones: Their Occult Power and Hidden
Significance (2nd edition). New York, 1980.
Dragsted, Ove. Gems and Jewelry in
Color. New York, 1975. From a Danish
original.

Fernie, William T. Precious Stones for
Curative Wear; and other Remedial Uses;
Likewise the Nobler Metals. London, 1906.

Gygax, E. Gary. Dungeon Masters
Guide. Lake Geneva, 1979.

Kunz, George Frederick. Curious Lore of
Precious Stones. Philadelphia, 1913.

Uyldert, Mellie. The Magic of Precious
Stones. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire,
1981. From the Dutch original Verborgen
krachten der edelstenen.

OUT ON A LIMB
-
More facets
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Dear Dragon:
I am the editor of a gem and mineral club
newsletter and an avid reader of DRAGON
Magazine. Needless to say, I found issue #83 a
double delight. I do have a few technical remarks
to make, though, concerning Michael Lowrey's
"The many facets of gems."

Regarding the mystical properties, only a true
stone would hold these, not those such as "oriental
amethyst," "oriental emerald," or "oriental
topaz." These are merely different colored varieties
of carborundum. If these properties were
"transferrable," those stones which had been
dyed or heat-treated to alter their color would
also have to be considered as talismans. For
example, lapis lazuli is commonly copied by
dyeing cracked quartz (called Swiss lapis) and
jasper (called German lapis or blue onyx). If I
were to use lapis lazuli as a talisman, I certainly
wouldn't put my faith in something that wasn't
"the real McCoy." Incidentally, in the jewelry
trade the term "oriental" is used to denote an
imitation.

Chalcedony is a fibrous, microcrystalline
variety of quartz. The differences in color and
banding give rise to the following: carnelian,
chrysoprase, agate, onyx, and bloodstone. The
red patches in bloodstone are jasper (granular,
microcrystalline quartz).

Most of the prices given in the article are a fair
representation of current market prices and the
stone's worth. However, azurite, lapis lazuli,
malachite, tiger eye, and turquoise should not
have the same value as agate! They are all comparable
to opal in price and are purchased by the
gram or carat, where agate is sold by the pound.

The research into the mystical properties was
excellent; however, Mr. Lowrey should have
extended this to include materials on mineralogy
such as "The Manual of Mineralogy" by J. D.
Dana. After all, a good DM has to have accurate
information and in some cases this requires
research beyond the DMG. <link>

Lori Adrian
Chippewa Falls, Wis.
(Dragon #86)

I was going to run this letter without a response;
I know better than to argue with an
expert, and Lori’s tangible criticisms seem valid
and well expressed. It’s the intangible criticism at
the end of the letter that bothers me.

I don't know exactly how or where Mike got
his “hard” information on the gems covered in
the article; if he didn't look at any books specifically
on the subject of mineralogy, then it appears
he should have. But I know that his research did
go well “beyond the DMG,” especially in the
scouring for information about the (alleged)
mystical properties of the gems. If the criticism in
Lori’s last sentence implies something different,
then I ought to point out that the roster of gems
covered in the article did not go “beyond the
DMG,” because it was our intention from the
start to only offer details about the gemstones that
were given in the official AD&D® rules.

— KM
(Dragon #86)

Ornamental Stones (10 gp)	Semi-Precious Stones (50 gp)	Fancy Stones (100-500 gp)	Gemstones (1000 gp+)	Hardstones
Shells	-	-	-	Dragon 72

1.	Agni Mani
2.	Agate <Algae>
3.	Augelite
4.	Bluestone
5.	Chrysocolla
6.	Corstal
7.	Crown of silver
8.	Disthene
9.	Epidote
10.	Fire Agate
11.	Fluorspar
12.	Frost Agate
13.	Goldline
14.	Greenstone
15.	Hyaline
16.	Lynx Eye
17.	Microcline
18.	Nelvine
19.	Nune
20.	Oolite
21.	Ophealine
22.	Rosaline
23.	Saganite
24.	Sanidine
25.	Sarbossa
26.	Satin Spar
27.	Sharpstone
28.	Sheen
29.	Silkstone
30.	Snowflake Obsidian
31.	Sunstone
32.	Thuparlial
33.	Variscite
34.	Violane
35.	Webstone
36.	Wonderstone
37.	Woodtine
38.	Zarbrina

39.	Azurite
40.	Banded Agate
41.	Blue Quartz
42.	Eye Agate
43.	Hematite
44.	Lapis Lazuli
45.	Malachite
46.	Moss Agate
47.	Obsidian
48.	Rhodochrosite
49.	Tiger Eye
50.	Turquoise
51.	Azurite

1	Alestone
2	Andar
3	Aventurine
4	Boakhar
5	Clelophane
6	Datchas
7	Dioptase
8	Gold Sheen
9	Hambergyle
10	Hydrophane
11	Hypersthene
12	Iol
13	Irtios
14	Luriyl
15	Malacon
16	Mellochrysos
17	Mykaro
18	Mynteer
19	Orprase
20	Phenalope
21	Rainbow Obsidian
22	Samarskite
23	Serpentine
24	Skydrop
25	Spodumene
26	Tabasheer
27	Tchazar
28	Witherite
29	Bloodstone
30	Carnelian
31	Chalcedony
32	Chrysoprase
33	Citrine
34	Jasper
35	Moonstone
36	Onyx
37	Rock Crystal
38	Sardonyx
39	Smoky Quartz
40	Star Rose Quartz
41	Sircon

1.	Angel’s Skin²
2.	Brandeen¹
3.	Euclase⁵
4.	Flamedance⁵
5.	Heliodor⁴
6.	Horn Coral ³
7.	Jargoon¹
8.	Kornerupine¹
9.	Laeral's Tears²
10.	Octel ¹
11.	Orbaline⁵
12.	Raindrop⁴
13.	Rusteen ⁴
14.	Scapra ¹
15.	Shandon¹
16.	Sinhalite¹
17.	Sphene ⁵
18.	Star Diopside¹
19.	Tremair¹
20.	Ulvaen ¹
21.	Waterstar²
22.	Ziose ³

1.	Amaratha⁴
2.	Beljuril ⁵
3.	Jasmal ³
4.	King's Tears⁵
5.	Moonbar ¹
6.	Orblen ¹
7.	Orl ¹
8.	Ravenar ¹
9.	Red Tears ¹
10.	Tomb Jade ¹
11.	Water Opal¹
12.	Zendalure ²

1.	Alabaster (5 sp)
2.	Archon (2 gp)
3.	Hornbill Ivory (7 sp)
4.	Iris Agate (2 gp)
5.	Ivory (1-5 gp, depending on quality)
6.	Lumachella (26 sp)
7.	Luspeel (3 gp)
8.	Marble (3 gp)
9.	Meerschaum (2 gp)
10.	Pipestone (1 gp)
11.	Psaedros (6 sp)
12.	Serpentine Stone (3 gp)
13.	Soapstone (9 sp)
14.	Star Metal (10,000 gp)
15.	Sulabra (7 sp)
16.	Tempskya (1 gp)
17.	Turritella (8 sp)
18.	Xylopal (22 sp)