Mirror apophyllite
Unnecessary designation for the mineral apophyllite in which a mirror-like reflection can be seen in the crystals or on the cleavage surfaces of broken crystals.…
Category: Gem or Scam? Library
White turquoise
Misleading and incorrect designation for the mineral howlite. Howlite and magnesite are white porous minerals with a veined appearance that are often dyed to imitate…
Youngite
A local name for fractured pieces of jasper (breccia) covered with druzy quartz crystals. It is classified in Mindat as a variety of agate, but…
Spider web obsidian
Unregistered commercial name for a stone with black angular fragments with gray-green veins or fissures as in a breccia. This gives the stone a somewhat…
White jade
Tremolite jade with a low level of impurities is called white jade, it is usually cloudy white or not completely even white. White jade is…
Wonderstone (jasper)
Commercial name for most likely a banded sandstone derived from several sites in the United States. Kanab Wonderstone from Kanab, Utah and Sedona Wonderstone (also…
Stargate (Star Gate) Calcite
Commercial name for a specific calcite crystal growth form (habit), namely so-called dogtooth calcite. The mineralogical designation for such a crystal is a scalenohedron.
Snake jasper
Commercial name for a yellowish-brown to brownish-red rock from the Indian Himalayas with light brown lines and arches. The curved lines are cross sections of…
Spider web carnelian / Carnelian Fire Agate
Commercial name for carnelian that has been heated to produce a crackle effect (spider web). Also marketed under the name Carnelian Fire Agate or Crab…
Porcupine quartz
Commercial fantasy name used as a synonym for cactus quartz. Named for the similar orientation of a porcupine’s spines. Learn more about quartz growthforms? Take…
