I gemstones

None yet but this resource is continually being added to.

None yet but this resource is continually being added to.

Kyanite

pieces in resin, being sold as lab created apatite.

Labradorite

that has either been impregnated and coated with coloured glass or just coated with the coloured glass. 

Lapis lazuli/Quartz doublet

a layer of clear quartz (rock crystal) has been glued onto a layer of lapis lazuli.

Lapis lazuli/rutilated quartz doublet

colourless piece of glass glued to a blue piece of glass with bits of gold coloured foil in between.

"Synthetic" Lapis Lazuli

A manmade material created by sintering (heating and compressing) calcite powder and pigmentation.

Leland Blue

is a glass-type material that's a by-product of iron smelting in Michigan, USA.

Lunasoft

Lucite with a soft, matt finish and a foiled back to reflect the light.

Malachite

a resin imitation.

Malachite

this is chips of natural malachite in a metallic resin.

Moissanite

Manmade gemstone commonly used to imitate diamond.

Mood Stone

A manmade stone - a thin layer of thermotropic liquid crystals (which move away from or towards a heat source) underneath a protective transparent capping.

Moonstone

sold as Moonstone but this is glass.

Moonstone/Quartz doublet

has a layer of quartz glued to the top of a layer of moonstone.

Rainbow Moonstone

You can see the dye concentrated as darker lines in the surface reaching fractures. 

Mother of Pearl/Quartz doublet

has a layer of quartz glued to the top of a layer of mother of pearl.

Mother of pearl/Blue Topaz doublet

has a layer of blue topaz glued to the top of a layer of mother of pearl.

Nano or Nanosital Glass

A manmade glass-ceramic material.

Aurora opal/Quartz doublet

Aurora opal is an imitation opal and this slice has a quartz cap glued on top.

Opal composite

A creative opal composite that has a layer of boulder opal on top, then red pigment and textured foil, backed by ironstone.

Opal composite

A cabochon of resin with chips of natural opal embedded within it.

Opal/Labradorite doublet

Another creative gemstone that has a layer of opal on top of a labradorite backing. 

Opal doublet

No, it isn't really! It was sold as a quartz/onyx doublet but it has some sort of scary coloured foil between the top and bottom, imitating opal...

Gilson opal

One of many different imitation opal materials found on the market, this one is described as having a ‘lizard skin’ or ‘chicken wire’ appearance. Available in a rainbow of colours!

Opal imitations

These imitation opals are glass cabochons (also known as Slocum Stones).

Opal imitation

Plastic with foil in the middle (you can see a bubble trapped inside).

Monarch opal

A manmade imitation opal.

Mosaic opal

This stone has fragments of natural opal in between a backing layer and a clear top layer.

Opalite

an opalized glass used to imitate opal or moonstone.

Opal - dyed

I have seen some of these being sold as "Paraiba opal" which is misleading.

Opal - treated

Opals may be "sugared" or "smoked" to darken the body colour.

Other imitation opals...

Other imitation opal names are Bello, Galaxy, Kyocera, Kyoto and Sterling.

Paste

Term used to describe manmade glass gemstones.

Paua (Abalone) shell

These are not natural colours but have been dyed and topped with a resin.