Mineral Specimens & Crystals Buyer’s Guide

Mineral Specimens & Crystals Buyer’s Guide

Untouched, the ordered and geometrical formations of crystals and mineral specimens have long been held in high regard. Due to their unique properties, both ancient and modern day people has revered them. Their unique ability to form ordered and geometrical shapes in a world of chaos, to change color upon rotation, to always feel cool to the touch, to double images and their strong powers of reflection, all contribute to their attractiveness.

While some rough gems are set straight into jewelry, complete crystal formations are often better suited to this purpose. Their interesting geometrical shapes, smoother and more adamantine surfaces make them far more appropriate for Jewelry. This Minerals Specimens & Crystals Buyer’s Guide gives you a tour of popular Crystals and Mineral Specimens.

Crystal Formations & Structure

Crystal formations are due to the possession of crystal structure. Mineralogists split crystals into seven different systems, all slightly different from one another. Each system produces crystals with unique shapes and properties.

Popular Crystal Formations

The most popular Crystal formations include:

Tourmaline: The Trigonal crystal system is responsible for the long and acicular Tourmaline crystals.

With 3 or 6 sides to the crystal, Tourmaline sometimes exhibits Watermelon Color patterns. Large, bright and colorful Tourmaline crystals remain among the most popular of all crystal formations.


Spinel & Diamond: The Cubic crystal system often produces interesting bi-pyramids or octahedrons as seen on the right.

Both Spinel and Diamond produce octahedra as well as the “faceted spheres” known as Dodecahedra and Icositetrahedra. These formations are also found in many species of Garnets.


Emerald & Aquamarine: The Hexagonal crystal system produces both short and long elongated hexagonal barrels in Aquamarine and Emerald.

Having 6 symmetrical sides, these two varieties of Beryl also have a brother, Morganite, popular for its pastel pink hues.

Collectible Formations & Mineral Specimens

While many Crystals can be set into precious metals, some Crystal Formations and Mineral Specimens are not suitable for jewelry due to their unusual shapes and heavy weights. While sometimes used as paperweights, decorative items and curiosities, they often proudly feature in both public and private collections.

Collectible crystal formations include Gems that are still in their host rock. For example, both Ruby and Spinel from Myanmar set in their white marble-like primary hosts are highly collectible. Related but even more unusual and collectible, are different types of Gems that have grown entwined with one another. Examples include Gold & Quartz, Amazonite & Albite, Tourmaline & Quartz, Cassiterite, Quartz & Siderite, Tetrahedrite Crystal and Herkimer Diamond Quartz.

Rock hounds are among the most dedicated of all collectors and often develop passions for Unusual Minerals. Including everything from acicular formations to dendritic fern-like crystals to rare metallic elements, rock hounds can easily acquire specimens that will compliment any collection in the Mineral Specimens section of Canagem®.