Ocean Jasper and Tourmalinated Quartz Sterling Silver Pendant

Also known as orbicular jasper, this rare gemstone is a type of highly silicate rhyolite found only on the coast near Marovao, Madagascar. Rhyolite is an igneous rock, rich in silica. As it cools, sometimes the silica starts to precipitate out of the magma, forming little spheres. Ocean Jasper has typical rhyolite formation except that the entire mass has been converted to pure silica. This deposit of Ocean Jasper can only be seen and collected at low tides. The area has no roads, so the material must be transported by boat.

Quartz

The colorless, transparent variety of quartz is composed of silicon dioxide, the most common mineral in Earth’s crust after ice and feldspar. The name “rock crystal” emerged in the Middle Ages to differentiate it from colorless glass. The Greeks called water-color crystals krystalos, hence the name “crystal.” “Quartz” comes from Old German, but its origins are unknown. Metaphysically, quartz is used for power, communication, and cleansing. Found worldwide, most fine quartz comes from Arkansas, Brazil, and Madagascar.

Tourmaline

Alternate October Birthstone (pink tourmaline)

Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral with the broadest color palette of any mineral group. The name derives from the Sinhalese turmali, meaning many-colored gems. Bi-colored and multicolored crystals are common, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallization. Each color has its own mineral name, including rubellite (red, pink), indicolite (blue), verdelite (green), dravite (brown) and schorl (black). Tourmaline is found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and California. Metaphysically, schorl is good for protection, rubellite for matters of the heart, verdelite for prosperity, dravite for self-healing, indicolite for intuition.