People believe crystals contain healing powers for both mind and body, making incorporating crystals into meditation or mindfulness practices an effective way of sharpening focus and improving concentration.

However, not all stones can be classified as crystals and gemstones differ from them in that they don’t possess a defined crystalline structure. A key difference lies in the way crystals arrange their atoms geometrically whereas gemstones do not.

Origins

Light interacts with mineral’s internal arrangement of atoms in unique ways to produce its chemical and physical properties, creating different colors. Crystals in their pur state are colorless; however, impurities like quartz cause their hue to change drastically with light. The Greek term for crystal (krystallos in Greek), refers to its physical similarity to ice; thus crystal is often called an ice-like substance in its colorless state.

Forest-inspired crystals such as tree agate have an intimate link to nature, with green hues and moss-like inclusions evoking memories of walking through lush forests. You may also encounter this earthy energy in crystals like petrified wood which reflect upon ancient trees fossilizing over millennia.

Formation in the Earth’s mantle

As magma cools, it forms different minerals, some of which come to the surface through volcanic eruptions while other gems form deep within Earth’s mantle.

As magma cools, water initially present at low concentrations becomes concentrated as its concentration rises with time. Furthermore, this final fraction contains other unusual elements which cannot be integrated into traditional minerals, creating what’s known as pegmatite: an unusual mineral which sometimes contains precious stones such as rubies and sapphires.

Some gemstones are formed through hydrothermal deposits; for instance, opals form when mineral-rich water seeps through cracks in rocks to form them. Other gemstones undergo metamorphism – the process by which their chemical composition changes when exposed to high temperatures and pressures – known as metamorphism.

Growth inside gas bubbles

Gemstones typically form in open cavities caused by gas bubbles in volcanic rocks, including rubies, zircons, and topaz.

Beryl and tourmaline are unique gemstones formed when beryllium and boron crystallize within pegmatites, creating unique gemstones like beryl and tourmaline.

Changes in temperature, pressure and chemistry of the fluid that fills cavities result in different mineral crystals forming over existing ones. For instance, beryl can change to emerald with chromium; and with manganese it becomes pale pink morganite. These unique impurities make each gem truly precious; gemologists look out for these to tell between natural and synthetic stones.

Volcanic eruptions

Symmetry can be found everywhere in nature-from butterfly wings and whorls on sunflower petals to minerals with crystal-line structures. Its key feature distinguishes natural gemstones from their synthetic counterparts that may look very similar.

Magma usually contains volatile gasses (volatils). These volatiles influence its viscosity; lower silica concentrations result in fluidized basalt flows with long distance travel capabilities while high silica concentrations produce fluidized eruptions with explosive results.

Magma emerges from fractured and cavities in Earth’s crust, providing ideal conditions for crystal growth: chemical-rich fluids provide all of the ingredients, while cavities offer space to grow crystals. But this process takes time: as magma cools, ingredients become available.

Mountain building

Many crystals are believed to have healing properties, from increasing energy or spiritual connection, to helping release emotional blocks.

Raw celestine exudes tranquillity, inspiring spiritual development and inner peace. It has also been known to facilitate clear communication, improve meditation practices, and facilitate dream recall.

Morganite is a variety of beryl, named for the way it takes on subtle hues due to trace amounts of manganese in its make-up. Additionally, this gemstone has become well known as the “bridal veil gemstone”, often touted for its ability to calm both mind and heart while encouraging inner peace and tranquility.

Erosion

Gemstones are formed through complex geological processes, but erosion and mountain building can play an essential role in their formation. Erosion wears away layers of rock and sediment to expose gemstone-bearing rocks closer to the surface or bring them closer.

Igneous gemstones such as diamonds are formed deep within Earth’s mantle under intense pressure and temperature conditions, while pegmatites provide ideal environments for growing rare gemstones such as beryl and tourmaline.

Sedimentary gemstones like opal are formed when rainwater containing minerals mixes with heated fluids to penetrate fractured and creviced rocks and deposit mesmerizing minerals that collectors and enthusiasts seek out.